23/09/2025
BENCHMARKING ACTIVITY – SANTIAGO CITY
On September 18, 2025, the Office of the Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod – Santiago participated in a benchmarking activity led by OIC City Secretary of the Sanggunian of Santiago, Mary Magdalena Velasco, together with staff members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Santiago City. The activity aimed to deepen their understanding of digitalized legislative services and secretariat practices.
This initiative was organized in collaboration with the Office of the Vice Mayor and the Office of the Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod – Quezon City, supporting the Quezon City Council’s continuous efforts toward digitalization.
The program began with an overview of the Quezon City Council Digitalization Effort presented by Ms. Aya Dela Peña, followed by Mr. Edwin Baytamo, who shared insights on the Lotus Notes database and the upgraded City Council website. This was succeeded by the presentation of OSSP’s innovative systems by Atty. John Thomas Alferos III, alongside Executive Assistant Angelo De Leon, Mr. Al Hadjie Salting, Mr. Francis Christian Virgen, and other IT personnel.
Atty. Alferos showcased the in-house innovations of the office, including the Data Tracking System, which allows real-time monitoring of legislative documents; the Legislative Database, which streamlines access to records and ordinances; and the ongoing development of the OSSP website, designed to strengthen transparency and public accessibility.
Overall, City Secretary Mary Magdalena Velasco expressed her gratitude to the Quezon City Council and its OSSP team for serving as their guide in improving their session hall facilities, advancing digitalization in legislation, and moving toward paperless governance. The benchmarking activity proved to be a highly enriching experience for all participants, equipping them with practical knowledge and forward-looking solutions that can be adapted to enhance the legislative and administrative functions of Santiago City.