With technical assistance from the National Computer Center (NCC) for the planning and endorsement of their Information System Strategic Plan (ISSP) for 2005-2008, finally, a blueprint was laid down for the computerization efforts of  PGNS.

In particular, the ISSP took the "guess work" out of evaluating current and future Information Systems (ISs) to be implemented at the local government, having likewise provided the necessary tools for maximizing the investment PGNS made in new technology.

The ISSP particularly indicates the acquisition of communication facilities as well as computing hardware and software, conduct of IT trainings, and recommendations for the overall implementation of their ISs. 

Within the given timeframe for ISSP implementation, the local government was able to get things going and moving towards ICT development.   For instance, the LGU undertook in-house IS development, hardware acquisition, organization of its core software development team, among others.  It would be noted that the LGU has embarked on piloting the Electronic Real Property Tax System (eRPTS) under the National Computer Center – Field Operations Office’s flagship project, “Jumpstarting Electronic Governance in Local Government Units,” otherwise known as the eLGU Project.  To date, PGNS has also re-piloted the eRPTS to three of its member municipalities. 

The ISSP, indeed, helped to advance and pursue the LGU’s plans for IS development and has primarily helped in the decision-making activities of the local Executive Committee, the Provincial Inter-Departmental Monitoring and Evaluation Team and its Technical Working Groups. 

Truly, the ISSP spelled major changes in the way things were pursued for the local government unit.  Even with a meager budget allocation for the current year, the LGU appeared unfazed and continued to implement its computerization activities. 

More recently, PGNS revised and updated its ISSP for 2009-2011.   Again, with technical assistance provided by NCC-FOO, the local government was able to prioritize its current IT requirements and computerization activities last September 19, 2008 at the local Skills Training Center during the conduct of an ISSP Workshop held for the purpose

Representatives from the different provincial offices, including department and office heads, participated in the workshop. Noting a meager budget allocation, proposals for hardware acquisition and outsourced software development were not prioritized.   Plans on the acquisition of open source software technology, the development and enhancement of in-house ISs and intensification of existing networked systems were then given the favored nod. 

With the previous ISSP as one of its reference document, past failures were investigated and new strategies were proposed so as to sustain proposed activities for the new ISSP, and as based on available resources, manpower and facilities.  

It can be said that, now, everything is in place for the local government unit in terms that it has already identified its activities and the corresponding strategies for its computerization endeavor. 

PGNS knows where it has left off, and where it shall proceed to where it hopes to be. 

As Northern Samar Governor Raul Daza once said: “We have embarked on an Information Technology highway, and there is no turning back.”