The Golden Province shines in the latest Digital ICT National Awards

Davao de Oro Province---In the middle of the emerging crisis, just like gold’s luster, Davao de Oro strongly proves its capacity to shine even in the darkest of times.

 

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the golden province innovated ways to continue delivering government services to its people with golden standards. For Dabawenyos, Covid-19 does not just bring fear and confusion, instead it paved the way to unleash the spirit of creativity and innovativeness among them.

Through the unity of the people both from the provincial and municipal local government units, including the national agencies, Davao de Oro was able to pull off new ways of delivering essential government services to its people amidst the pandemic. With clear priorities and common necessity, a digital form of bayanihan was made possible.

 

During the recently held Digital Governance Awards 2020, digital innovations of the province romped awards.

The awards were given by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NiCP).

 

Winning the first place in the Government to Government Category is the 1DdO Helpline, a program that interlinks government services of the provincial government, municipal local governments and the national government agencies. The Funds Utilization Management System (FUMS) also won first place in the Government Internal Process Category.

 

Serbisyo Oro Mismo, the Neteleradyo platform of the PLGU took the 3rd spot in the Government to Customer Category and Call DdOC: Your Virtual Doctor also placed third in the Government’s Covid-19 response category.

 

Even when the world experiences the worst of times, the golden province still looks at the brighter side of it, continuously acting in a proactive manner for the greater good. (Jasteen P. Abella, Information Division, Davao de Oro)

SPECIAL REFLECTIONS

 

Can you imagine that there are some benefits from keeping old newspaper clippings? I mean my old previously published columns. For me yes.

From life experiences, I see that progress and failure are both parts of my journey. My columns are mostly a view into a mirror. I am reminded of God's grace when I read (and wrote before) how He helped me to find solutions to problems. I also gained insight from past struggles that help with issues I am currently facing during this pandemic times. I remember one of my previous columns entitled "If failures get results".

God has indeed been faithfully working in my life.

I read a story by Dennis Fisher, who didn't keep publishing clippings but a spiritual journal. He advised: "Journaling may be useful to you too. It can help you see more clearly what God is teaching you on life's journey. To begin a journal, record your struggles, reflect on a verse that is especially comforting or challenging, or write a prayer of thankfulness for God's faithfulness."

Pandemic and Christmas. The most awaited season of the years has finally come. For many of us, December should still be a glow that blossoms across the eastern horizon bringing the promise of a new beginning. December and Christmas should be the song to awaken our hardened hearts, to touch those people around us, who might have waited a long time for such a move. Let's become "new people" at last.

Yes, I won't lose hope and belief in a better next year. The virus may be there but it can't erase Christmas.