NDMU MIT Graduates’ Software Engineering Project Deployed at DOH SOCCSKSARGEN, Advancing Digital Health Licensing

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — Demonstrating how academic innovation can translate into real-world impact, graduates of the Master in Information Technology (MIT) program of Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU) developed a software engineering project that has since been deployed as a digital licensing system of the Department of Health (DOH) – Center for Health Development SOCCSKSARGEN.

The project, titled E-Lisensiya: Digitizing Facility Accreditation Through Improved E-Health Licensing Portal with Databanking Support, was designed and developed by Garizaldy B. Epistola, MIT and Norajed A. Maguid, MIT in collaboration with other interested parties as part of their Software Engineering course during the first semester of School Year 2023–2024. The project was presented to Brenda M. Balala, MIT, as part of their graduate studies at NDMU.

Now implemented as the Electronic Licensing System (e-Lisensya) of DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN, the platform supports the online processing, monitoring, and management of health facility licensing and regulatory requirements. Its implementation highlights the potential of graduate-level IT projects to evolve into practical digital solutions that serve government agencies and healthcare stakeholders.

From Graduate School Project to Government Implementation

The project reached a significant milestone when e-Lisensya was officially launched by DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN, through its Regulation, Licensing, and Enforcement Division (RLED), on September 23, 2026, at The Farm at Carpenter Hill in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.

The launch brought together DOH officials, representatives of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), health facilities, and other stakeholders. The activity included a presentation and demonstration of the system, showcasing how the platform can facilitate applications and renewals for health facilities’ License to Operate (LTO).

The initiative aims to reduce repeated physical transactions, simplify the submission of licensing requirements, and make regulatory services more convenient and accessible to healthcare establishments across the region.

Streamlining Health Facility Licensing Through Digital Technology

The e-Lisensya system is designed to streamline licensing processes by providing online access to application submission, document management, application tracking, and regulatory compliance monitoring.

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Its features include electronic submission of new applications and renewals, uploading and management of supporting documents, monitoring of application status and processing updates, and electronic communication between health facilities and regulatory offices. The system also supports centralized records management to facilitate the organization and retrieval of licensing information and transaction histories.

Through these capabilities, e-Lisensya seeks to improve coordination between healthcare establishments and DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN while supporting more organized and efficient management of regulatory transactions. Its intended users include hospitals, infirmaries, clinics, laboratories, pharmacies, birthing homes, and other healthcare establishments subject to applicable licensing requirements.

By providing a digital alternative to paper-based transactions, the platform supports the regional health office’s efforts to deliver simpler, faster, and more accessible regulatory services.

NDMU Graduates’ Contribution to Digital Transformation

The deployment of e-Lisensya highlights the practical value of the Master in Information Technology program at Notre Dame of Marbel University. Through their Software Engineering course, Epistola and Maguid applied software development principles to address an institutional need, demonstrating how graduate-level IT education can contribute to the development of solutions with practical applications.

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Their achievement reflects the importance of connecting academic learning with real-world challenges and demonstrates the potential of NDMU graduates to contribute to digital innovation beyond the university. The project's progression from an academic requirement to an implemented government system also underscores the value of developing technology solutions that respond to the needs of public institutions and their stakeholders.

For NDMU’s Computer Studies Department and Graduate School, e-Lisensya stands as an example of applied IT innovation and the continuing contributions of its graduates to the digitalization of public services.

As DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN advances the implementation of e-Lisensya, the project illustrates how academic knowledge, software engineering, and institutional collaboration can help improve health facility licensing and regulatory service delivery in the region.