RESIDENTS of Angeles City, Pampanga can now virtually pay Real Property Tax (RPT) as Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. implemented the city's online payment system on October 25, 2021.

“This is very timely for the payment of RPTs especially under the new normal setting,” Lazatin said.

This initiative of the City Government is also part of Lazatin’s program for Ease of Doing Business.

“With the help of our online system, we could lessen the people’s movement from place to place,” he added.

Lazatin’s Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, who supervised every stage of the online payment, said payment can be made using the site www.cityofangeles.ph.

“A taxpayer can even use a mobile phone to pay their taxes,” Calaguas said.

Calaguas herself successfully paid her real property tax through the online payment system using her mobile phone and GCash account.

The step-by-step walk-in procedures on how to access the system were posted on the official Facebook page of City Information Office Angeles City.

Calaguas also explained that all shared information in the online portal is protected in line with the Data Privacy Act.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Angeles, led by Vice Mayor Vicenta Vega-Cabigting, has approved Resolution No. 9081, Series of 2020 authorizing Lazatin to enter and sign a memorandum of agreement for the adoption of an Electric Payment and Collection System (EPCS) in facilitating payments for local government unit-imposed taxes.

Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, City Treasurer Juliet Quinsaat, City Assessor Officer-in-Charge Michael Calaguas and staff Noel Vidal, Editha Arceo of City Accounting Office, Information Communication and Technology Division Consultant Allan Anonuevo, Tom Pabalan of Civilian Security Unit, Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions Officer-in-Charge Irish Bonus-Llego, and the MultiSys Corp were also involved in the implementation.

It can be recalled that in 2002, then-Angeles City Mayor Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin pioneered the full-computerization of revenue-generating offices in the City Government and became the first ISO-Certified system outside Metro Manila.

Calaguas was then the project officer and chief implementor of Tarzan Lazatin’s computerization program.