14 September 2005
SP sessions via cyberspace
By SHEILA H. AQUINO
THE advent of modern technology has greatly influenced the local legislative work in the city government of Dagupan.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod recently adopted Resolution No. 5109-2005 to allow its presiding officer, Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, to preside over its sessions via cyberspace.
Fernandez, now acting city mayor in the absence of Mayor Benjamin S.; Lim who is abroad, bared this development during the weekly meeting of department heads. He announced that the controversial measure is probably a first in the Philippines.
“This means that I can preside over SP sessions even if I am not physically present at the session hall so long as I am in the Philippines,” he explained, adding that if he were outside Philippine territory, he will not be part of the quorum.
The acting mayor said he can call the sanggunian via its IP address and connect to the SP information technology system. Using Microsoft’s Netmeeting software, he can then see and hear all discussions in the SP session.
The city councilors, in turn, could see the vice mayor via an LCD projector screen and hear him preside clearly through its surround sound system as though he were there.
“There will only be a second’s delay in the transmission on both ends. This is why the SP will apply for a higher bandwidth to offset the delay and minimize it the best way possible,” Fernandez said.
The resolution, however, gives a condition that SP members be informed of the vice mayor’s presiding via cyberspace at least three days before the actual session date and there must be a minimum of eight councilors present to allow such a session to proceed.
Fernandez said Dagupan City is now leading the way in cyberspace Philippine local legislation, earning the distinction in the same way that Olongapo highlights its cleanliness program and San Fernando City, its waste management program.
He noted that in the September 2 visit of British Ambassador Peter Beckingham to dagupan City, the diplomat was impressed by the conduct of the SP session with the councilors using laptops, making the meeting virtually paperless.
THE advent of modern technology has greatly influenced the local legislative work in the city government of Dagupan.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod recently adopted Resolution No. 5109-2005 to allow its presiding officer, Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, to preside over its sessions via cyberspace.
Fernandez, now acting city mayor in the absence of Mayor Benjamin S.; Lim who is abroad, bared this development during the weekly meeting of department heads. He announced that the controversial measure is probably a first in the Philippines.
“This means that I can preside over SP sessions even if I am not physically present at the session hall so long as I am in the Philippines,” he explained, adding that if he were outside Philippine territory, he will not be part of the quorum.
The acting mayor said he can call the sanggunian via its IP address and connect to the SP information technology system. Using Microsoft’s Netmeeting software, he can then see and hear all discussions in the SP session.
The city councilors, in turn, could see the vice mayor via an LCD projector screen and hear him preside clearly through its surround sound system as though he were there.
“There will only be a second’s delay in the transmission on both ends. This is why the SP will apply for a higher bandwidth to offset the delay and minimize it the best way possible,” Fernandez said.
The resolution, however, gives a condition that SP members be informed of the vice mayor’s presiding via cyberspace at least three days before the actual session date and there must be a minimum of eight councilors present to allow such a session to proceed.
Fernandez said Dagupan City is now leading the way in cyberspace Philippine local legislation, earning the distinction in the same way that Olongapo highlights its cleanliness program and San Fernando City, its waste management program.
He noted that in the September 2 visit of British Ambassador Peter Beckingham to dagupan City, the diplomat was impressed by the conduct of the SP session with the councilors using laptops, making the meeting virtually paperless.
