THE Davao City Information and Technology Center is still waiting for another memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the city government of Davao and the Land Bank of the Philippines to facilitate online payments in district offices of the City Treasurer's Office.
CITC head Ricarte D. Franco Jr. told Sun.Star Davao last Wednesday, May 9, that while their technology is ready as well as the Landbank's they would still need another MOA.
Based on previous reports, the proposed ordinance for online or electronic payment system of the Davao City Treasurer's Office was approved by the 18th Davao City Council last year.
With this, payments for business taxes, business permits and occupancy permits can be done through Landbank, but the owners will still have to obtain official receipts manually from the CTO.
Only these manually issued receipts can be displayed in establishments.
In a previous interview, Davao City Councilor Joanne Bonguyan said the taxpayers will obtain the official receipt by showing their online receipt and its validity will be checked real-time by the system.
In the committee report for the said item, it was clarified that the online means of payment is not exclusive for Landbank, other authorized government depository banks (AGDBs) shall also enter a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the city government of Davao.
Franco, in the same interview last Wednesday, said that he hopes that aside from Landbank, other banks will also collaborate and cooperate with the city for the online payment.
Last year, during the committee hearing for the online payment, The Landbank of the Philippine assured that they developed the system ready with security measures and it has never been hacked.
It was stated on the report of the committee that the transactions with Landbank would cost a convenience fee of P10 to P15. Other taxpayers who wish to pay through Bancnet shall pay a convenience fee of P20 as Bancnet would become third party before it will reach Landbank.
The convenience fee will be deducted from the account of the payer which will be an advantage to them instead of falling in line at CTO. Cases of fraud will be dealt with.
PayMaya, Gcash, TAPP Commerce and others that wish to be partners with the system implementation shall enter into a MOA with an AGDB that has existing MOA with the city government of Davao.
She added that they intend to include the payment of real property taxes soon after the changes and revisions of the real property taxes will be approved and finalized.