Authorities in Bemori suku (village), Nain Feto Administrative Post, Dili Municipality, are using digital technology to help the community access information and public services through the Digital Suku programme, run by the State Secretariat for Social Communication (SEKOMS).
Bemori Suku Chief Francisco Siqueira said the initiative was an important step towards helping the community use modern technology and making local information and public services easier to access.
“We have received training and today we were able to launch Digital Suku in Bemori. This is a great opportunity for us to access information and share news about activities in our suku online,” Francisco Siqueira said after the official launch at the Bemori suku headquarters in Dili.
He said the community had welcomed the programme because people could now access information quickly online. He added that it helped suku authorities be more transparent and made it easier for local leaders and the community to communicate.
“The community has welcomed this programme. Now that we are part of Digital Suku, we can share information about activities and development in our suku,” he added.
State Secretary for SEKOMS Expedito Dias Ximenes said Digital Suku had been introduced in Bemori at the community’s request and as part of the government’s strategy to expand access to information across the country.
“So far, the government has launched Digital Suku in about 25 suku in the capital, Dili. The government plans to bring all suku into the digital system during this term,” SEKOMS Expedito said.
He said the programme included an information centre that allowed local authorities to share information about their suku through a digital platform, including population figures, progress on development and how budgets were spent.
He said suku authorities could now use the platform to share information quickly and efficiently instead of relying solely on traditional methods such as going from place to place to make announcements.
“The platform also provides public services. Residents can complete documents digitally and get information through the contact numbers provided,” he said.He added that residents could use the platform to access services such as declarations, death notices, administrative documents and other services that previously took time and required travel.
