MANILA – House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles has expressed strong involvement for the Philippines in e-Technology, saying that it is “the most powerful language that links the global community.”
In an official statement released today, Nograles, who is in Washington, D.C. leading a seven-man House contingent in the World e-Parliament Conference 2009 that is being attended by parliamentary leaders worldwide, said the Philippines must not be left out when it comes to embracing communications technology.
In particular, he articulated the intention to effectively shore up “the commitment of parliaments for transparent governance, accountability and active participation of the citizenry through e-technology,” noting the limitless potentials e-Tech can provide.
He underscored also the need for Congress to open new opportunities for engagement in technology whereby public awareness and participation in decision-making and governance can be enhanced and institutionalized.
This year’s gathering bring together parliamentary figures from the European Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament, and the Southern African Development Community–Parliamentary Forum (SADCPF), to name a few.
Co-organized by the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament, the conference, which runs from Nov. 3 to 5, is the annual forum of the community of parliaments. It addresses and adopts policies and technical perspectives on how information and communication technology can help advance representation, transparency, accountability, openness, and effectiveness in the complex parliamentary environment.
The Philippine delegation led by Nograles is composed of Rep. Joseph A. Santiago, chair of the Committee on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), Rep. Liwayway P. Vinzons-Chato, CICT vice chairman, Reps. Florencio G. Noel and Justin Marc Chipeco, who both represents the minority in the CICT, Anak Mindanao party-list Rep. Mujiv S. Hataman and CIBAC party-list Rep. Emmanuel Joel Villanueva, and House Secretary General Atty. Marilyn B. Barua-Yap, who is scheduled to chair a vital forum on e-technology in the conference relative to options to promote efficiency in the parliamentary processes.
Nograles’ attendance in the e-Parliament took place a couple of days after he met with Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the U.S. House of Representatives to discuss support mechanisms that may be extended to the Philippines as result of the recent typhoons that hit the country.
One of the contentions issues raised in the meeting is the issue of summary executions in Davao City, which the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) had elevated to the United Nations last year.
Over the decade, nearly 900 documented extrajudicial killings have so far been reported in the city. Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, once called by Time magazine as ‘The Punisher,’ has denied involvement in the crimes.
Nograles is one of three congressmen representing Davao City, one of the world’s largest cities in terms of area.
