Mandaue goes digital with 24/7 phone communication

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government has gone digital with its adoption of a new telephone communication system which is accessible 24 hours a day whole week.

With the installation of these new digital communication resources, it will give a lot of savings for the city, according to Krister Cosedo, head of the city's Management Information System Office.

Cosedo said the city has now cut off its analogue land lines to pave way for a digital communications system which is seen to improve its service to transacting public and, at the same time, save money for the city.

He said with the new system, all City Hall offices, including remote offices and barangay halls, are now inter-connected 24/7.

Cosedo noted that although the city has invested an initial P400,000 for the purchase of 70 units of IP phones, it will still be a lot of savings on the part of the city as they will only spend P39,000 per month for its maintenance, unlike before where the city  used to pay P230,000  per month for their phone bills.

According to Cosedo, an added feature of the new system allows the mayor to have an audio conference with barangay captains or department heads.

Furthermore, when government offices close at 5 p.m., the command center automatically takes over the trunk lines.— Flor Z. Perolina (FREEMAN)