The day-to-day activities at the government’s command center in Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday (20/5/2017). The command center is part of the e-government system that implements e-monitoring, one function of which is to provide technology-based support to develop an automatic transportation management and information system.
The electronic government program based on technological advances established by the Surabaya city administration in East Java in 2009 has produced real results for the locals. The program has been successful in protecting locals from all forms of illegal levies.
It all began with the creation of the electronic government (E-Gov) system by Surabaya administration civil servants without any involvement from third-party or foreign consultants. Today, the system has been further developed to comprise e-budgeting, e-planning, e-HR, e-monitoring, e-education, e-office, e-permit and e-health. There are also a disaster preparedness system, an electronic transportation agency system, a media center and a public services information system (Simprolamas) for locals to monitor the city administration’s intervention and training programs.
All of these systems are interconnected with one another to ensure full transparency. They organize the city’s budgeting, licensing, tax receipts, processing of citizenship documents, such as family cards and ID cards, and filing of public complaints.
The head of the Surabaya communications and information agency, Antiek Sugiharti, said that locals can monitor the licensing process through the Surabaya Single Window website at www.surabaya.go.id. For instance, locals can monitor the progress of their business permits (SIUP) and registration certificates (TDP). The TDP will be printed at district offices and the applicants do not need to visit the relevant agencies.
The head of the Surabaya investment and one-stop integrated services agency, Eko Agus Supiadi, said that the city administration had established a “licensing mall” at the Siola Building. There, locals can process 152 types of licenses and all of the processes use mobile-based information technology. Through mobile applications, applicants and officers can process all licenses without having to meet one another and therefore they avoid any potential for illegal levies.
Through an internet-based system, applicants do not need brokers or middlemen. “As long as they have all the documents and requirements, the licenses will be processed smoothly,” Eko said.
Avoiding direct meeting
Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini said that the technology-based system was implemented to reduce the need for face-to-face meetings between applicants and government officers. “No meeting between applicants and officers is involved in the entire administrative process, thereby avoiding any possibility of illegal transactions,” she said.
Thanks to the system, Surabaya is now a place of learning for officials from other cities, including 100 financial officers from 50 cities and regencies across Indonesia in early May. The Surabaya city administration continuously receives people wishing to learn about financial management because of its integration of the e-planning and e-budgeting systems.
Information technology is used to provide data on local businesses and services, city revenues, city spending and financial evaluations. The systems are run optimally as the city administration has a well-managed database.
Another benefit is the improvement of transparency and assistance for the duties of the state civil apparatus (ASN). By using the system, civil servants are no longer burdened by documentation work and can focus on their main duties of serving people and helping them prosper.
The presence of the e-registration system has also assisted developers in the City of Heroes. The head of licensing of Ciputra Surabaya, Nada Putri Parastati, said that the system was helpful in the processing of building permits (IMB). The company has processed all IMBs electronically since 2015 through the website www.surabaya.go.id. Through the electronic system, it is easier and faster for developers to enter the data required for the IMBs. Companies are no longer required to deliver the data to the Surabaya one-stop integrated service unit (UPTSA).
This is most beneficial when Ciputra Surabaya needs to process the IMBs for landed houses. Previously, two months were required to process such licenses. “The ease of processing IMBs has positively affected the investment climate, as more people want to buy houses,” said Nada in an interview in Surabaya recently.
For instance, the Ciputra Surabaya developer has seen an increase of landed house construction in its Citraland area in Surabaya. In 2014, before the e-licensing system was in place, the company could only build 150 landed houses in Citraland. In 2016, the company constructed more than 300 houses in the area.
Apart from that, the presence of the e-government system has helped developers make sure of the designations of urban areas through the website surabaya.go.id. Previously, developers had to consult with the city’s Cipta Karya and spatial planning agency to make sure of an area\'s designation. “Now we can just see the designation of areas on a computer screen,” Nada said.
Locals can also process birth certificates, death certificates, moving-in and moving-away notices, marriage certificates and divorce certificates through the e-lampid page at lampid.surabaya.go.id.
Since it was launched in 2015, 80,401 Surabaya residents have processed birth certificates through the e-lampid system.
Also, 10,650 death certificates have been processed, 21,355 filing moving-away notices, 4,183 marriage certificates and 149 divorce certificates. This year, the booths for processing birth and death certificates at the UPTSA are to be closed in stages.
IT-assisted government will not only facilitate the people, but also assist the evaluation of government officials’ performances. People are freed from illegal transactions.
