Amid the complex economic circumstances, the national government continues to prioritize making the management of public administration and services more efficient and transparent through digital technologies, data utilization, information, and citizen participation.
In response, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, accompanied by the Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, visited the Digital Government Center, an entity attached to the Council of Ministers, responsible for the Sovereignty platform, the main tool in the management of digital government, facing the citizens.
The director of the Digital Government Center, engineer Wilfredo González Vidal, explained how the management of digital procedures and their connection with citizens and institutions is being expanded and improved.
After one year of operation, he noted that there are 18 online services, which citizens can access from their phones or other connected devices.
He highlighted that more than 43,000 digital identities have been verified for use on the platform, and that more than 24,000 passport applications for adults over 18 and almost 40,000 civil registry applications have been processed through it; figures he considered insufficient.
Díaz-Canel stated that as people appreciate that procedures are resolved more quickly and obtain results through the use of this platform, trust will grow.
CHALLENGES
Among the challenges, the Digital Government Center is working to help legitimize the use of digital documents in the country, based on Resolution 284 of the Ministry of Justice, which states that a digital document that corresponds to the data in the National Central Registry has the same legal value as a printed one.
"This requires, first, that public officials understand and respect this citizen's right," noted Wilfredo González. "It also requires training and a culture of understanding that Soberanía (the digital platform) now offers an alternative to in-person methods for accessing new services."
The platform currently offers, among others, 12 applications related to the Civil Registry, five services associated with citizen identity and changes of electoral location, and recently enabled passport processing for adults over 18, as well as social services for vulnerable individuals.
He argued that "public administrations must act more agilely, simplify processes and achieve greater use of technologies, to avoid the displacement of citizens and unnecessary economic expenses."
EXPANDING SERVICES
At the same time, two projects are underway: one will facilitate public participation and analysis of the 176 recently approved economic and social reforms, which could enrich their content and increase citizen participation in decision-making; the other aims to provide access to job opportunities in both the state and non-state sectors.
The Head of State highlighted the contributions this digital communication channel can offer in both cases.
