E-Governance in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM): Digitalization of Public Services in its Component Cities and Local Government Units (LGUs)"

Abstract

The shift to digital public services has been underway for most local government units (LGUs), and the LGUs of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are taking the challenge of e-governance. This research endeavors to arrive at a descriptive answer to two pressing queries: first, on how public services, through the digital platform, are provided in the LGUs of the BARMM, and second, is the extent of the implementation of e-governance. The research utilized the two pillars of e-democracy – e-government and e-participation – as tools of analysis, is used the concept of e-democracy as a framework for analysis. The former refers to information and communication technologies (ICTs)/digital technologies that enable participatory mechanisms to enable citizen participation in democratic governance. In contrast, the latter refers to the provision of an online platform for e-government that facilitates the e-participation or online/virtual participation for citizens where they can express their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech regarding the quality of information, the manner of consultation, and in decision-making on matters concerning social policies. Both concepts reveal that the core of e-democracy and e-governance models is communication. Nonetheless, two forms of content analysis were utilized in this research. The first is website content analysis, using the Criteria list developed by Sobaci & Eryigit (2015) as a measure for electronic democracy (e-democracy), modified in terms of utility for the present study, and the second is documentary content analysis. This method examines relevant documents, publications, and research that helps establish and strengthen explanations propounded by the research based on the study's findings. Purposive sampling was used to initially consider the websites of the three component cities of the BARMM, namely: Marawi City, Cotabato City, and Lamitan City. The same sampling method was utilized to purposively choose three other LGUs, specifically Jolo in Sulu and Buldon and Datu Abdullah Sangki in Maguindanao – these LGUs were the recipient of the 2021 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI). The LGU's competitiveness is determined by scores of four pillars: infrastructure, resiliency, government efficiency, and economic dynamism. Given that one of the pillars considered is their local governments' efficiency in accessing their respective LGU websites allows a point of comparison with the BARMM's component cities. Relevant to the purposes of this exploratory research is the following: the assessment model constructed by Mahlangu & Rhode (2020), the criteria list developed by Sobaci & Eryigit (2015), and the early work on e-democracy tools and methods by Gronlund (2003). This study found that the digitalization of public services in the identified LGUs of the BARMM is extremely limited because their social media accounts serve no purpose other than to advertise, restrict communication flows from the top down, and mainly serve relevant e-information. In addition, e-governance implementation in the LGUs considered in the study is merely on a superficial level. The digital infrastructure is in its infancy, and information and communications technology (ICT) tools are merely used for advertising. Moreover, other factors affecting the shift to the digitalization of public services involve culture, attitude, and the absence of the required level of maturity of democracy.