EDP programmers cut costs, develop own programs
The Division of Electronic Data Processing (EDP) has begun a series of projects aimed at reducing the government’s dependence on outside contractors for computer programming, a move that has already saved tens of thousands of dollars on the first project alone.
The Board of Elections has become the first government entity to secure a new computer program written exclusively by EDP programmers who have recently trained on several projects with hired private consultants.
“BOE Director Gregorio Sablan called me up earlier this year and said he couldn’t afford to pay the estimates he had received for the program he wanted, so I issued the challenge to my programmers,” said EDP acting Director Danny Quitugua. “They had never created modules before, but they still managed to create the entire program from scratch within a month.”
The just-completed program will be used to collect data on voters and has saved BOE thousands of dollars in costs to outside contractors.
At the request of the Legislative Bureau, EDP programmers are now developing a Youth Congress voter application for elections on Sept. 18th.
“Although we have only a week left before the election, we’re going to do our best to finish the job on time,” Mr. Quitugua said.
Finance Secretary Lucy Nielsen credits staff development for the new programming being produced by the Division, which also expects to add motor vehicle registration and drivers license data to the newly installed AS/400 Mainframe in the near future.
The EDP programmers are Nick Ramon, Canice Diaz and Marie Muna.
