Social media to play a role in the Aquino administration

Newly elected Philippine President Noynoy Aquino is looking to use social-networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, which helped him jump-start his political campaign, for feedback and reporting law violations.

El Presidente said that Facebook and Twitter "undoubtedly will help in our communication processes," what with how popular the two are in the Philippines. Aquino said social networking sites also help “channel the people’s sense of civic duty and volunteerism.”

Aquino mentioned that the sites will especially be of help as more and more Filipinos are indulged into social media technologies nowadays and the number are still increasing at a rapid pace. The Department of Finance makes use of social media, in its Facebook and Twitter accounts in monitoring and catching smugglers and tax evaders. "We will have all of these eyewitnesses and people who can give us leads on all of these activities that should be stopped.”

And you thought that our own justice system is too old and outdated mature and formal to join the social-networking scene? Think again, folks, as the Philippines' very own Supreme Court has hopped from their Padre Faura headquarters to the Web and is now part of the gazillions of Facebook and Twitter members.

The Supreme Court's Facebook page, which was only created about a month ago, is being updated with the highest judicial body's most recent decisions and proclamations. What's more, you can check out some of the profiles of the Justices there.

And while Aquino won't be handling any of the social-networking accounts and will instead have hired guns, so to speak, to fire up the government's advocacies, we're proud. Proud that President Noynoy has recognized the role of social media in nation-building.

In a country where a lot of businesses still look at social networking as time wasters, no less than the Chief himself has delivered home the point that companies should re-assess their beliefs.

Currently Aquino’s Facebook fanpage has over 1.6 million fans, while he has over 90,000 followers on Twitter. His Twitter account is also among the first accounts in the Philippines to have had the “Verified Account” icon.