CAGAYAN de Oro City bagged the top prize in one of the five categories of the 6th Awards for Excellence in ICT for Good Governance for Local Government Units, or eGov Award Friday, November 17.
The city won first in the Best in eGov Digital Finance Empowerment Award, an award that commends the initiative of the local government unit (LGU) to promote e-commerce or e-payment facilities and systems to ensure effective revenue generation and collection and improving the over-all financial management of the LGU as well as giving convenience to the public.
The city's winning entry is the Internet Online Service (IOS) of the City Treasurer's Office which is an online tax payment and billing system that promotes fast and convenient transaction.
"The Internet Online Services allows the constituents or the clients of the City Government to pay their taxes, real property, business permit, penalties and any financial matters, through online payment, so they can pay it anytime, anywhere, but they also have the option to pay the taxes by visiting the office," Jose Angelo Lorenzo Gomos, the sales and promotions supervisor II of Cagayan de Oro City Trade and Investment Promotions Center, said.
According to engineer Leonil Mistula, assistant city treasurer, the IOS, which includes payment for taxes such as business permit, real property taxes, market for rental, road and traffic violation penalties, and among others, is one of its kind.
"I think, siguro in the entire Philippines, tayo lang ang may ganitong klaseng technology (I think in the entire Philippines, we are the only local government unit that has this kind of technology)," Mistula said, adding that this is one of the reasons why they expected to win the eGov Awards.
The online payment started in January 2017, with bills can be paid using Visa card.
By January 2018 Mastercard can also be used, Mistula added.
At present, the treasurer's office has four online service kiosks and three tablets designed for sedula application.
On Monday, November 20, Eileen San Juan, the Local Economic and Investment Promotions officer, said it is a challenge for the City Government to incorporate automation, and information and communications technology (ICT), "in our public services in order to cope with the times since we are now in a digital generation."
"Through this award, the public will know the City Government has these services," Gomos said.
One of the reason why they joined the eGov Awards is for the recognition, he said.
"During the awarding ceremony, there are various LGUs (local government units) from around the country who went there and they witness that Cagayan de Oro City has these services and at the same time, it is also to disseminate information, to be known that Cagayan de Oro City has these services and it is available particularly for the people in Cagayan de Oro," Gomos said.
The sales and promotions supervisor said there are various investors coming in to the city, like China and Japan, and some are from other cities within the country.
"If they are introduced to these services, all the more that there is an award already, the credibility might increase and they might get interested to really build here in Cagayan de Oro," Gomos said.
Cagayan de Oro City also participated and a finalist to other three categories such as Best in Customer Empowerment, Best in Government Inter-Operability, and Best in Business Empowerment.
List of winners of the eGov Awards are the following:
- Best in Government Inter-Operability Award:
Champion: Quezon City
Second Place: Cebu City
Third Place: Municipality of Pulilan, Bulacan
r- Best in Digital Finance Award:
Champion: Cagayan de Oro City
Second Place: Municipality of Cavinti, Laguna
Third Place: Municipality of Silang, Cavite
- Best in Data-Driven Governance Award
Champion: Cebu City
Second Place: Province of Davao del Norte
Third Place: Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
- Best in Customer/Citizen Empowerment Award
Champion: Baliwag, Bulacan
Second Place: San Fernando, La Union
Third Place: San Mateo, Rizal and Cebu City. (Jo Ann Sablad)