CEBU CITY is one of seven highly-urbanized cities in the country that is vying for the best in customer empowerment award in the 2018 Digital Cities Philippines Awards for Best Practices in e-Governance at the local government unit (LGU) level.
The contest aims to encourage the effective and efficient use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the delivery of services and performance of duties and responsibilities by LGUs.
It was launched by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines last July.
Acting City Treasurer Veronica Morelos said that one of the city’s entries is the recently launched online cedula (community tax certificate) application.
“We’re hoping to get the award since we’re the first in the country to have an online cedula,” she said.
The city’s online cedula application is submitted under the Best in Customer Empowerment category, which recognizes the measurable effect of an LGU’s outstanding practices using ICT solutions in the education and engagement with the public, and in the use of electronic facilities towards providing improved, timely and relevant delivery of public services.
The online cedula application was launched last March to help reduce the transaction time at City Hall.
“It is accessible through cebucity.gov.ph and now, processing is faster, they just come here to pay. Fewer people line up,” Morelos said.
In a related development, Morelos said they have collected around P4.5 billion in fees and taxes as of August. (RTF)