THE proposed ordinance for the online or electronic payment system for Davao City Treasurer's Office (CTO) was approved by the City Council in seconding reading on Tuesday, August 1.
The ordinance proposed by Davao City Councilor Joanne Bonguyan seeks to cater payments of business taxes and payments for business and occupancy permits through Landbank of the Philippines.
Based on the committee report, the online electronic payment system was initially proposed by the City Information Technology Center which is the initial office to partner with Landbank in developing a system for online payment.
Through this system, payment can be done through Landbank but its official receipts will still be issued by the City Treasurer's Office.
Bonguyan, during the Pulongpulong ni Pulong media forum, clarified that the official manual receipts are still honored by the Business Bureau, and only these manually issued receipts from CTO can be displayed in establishments.
She added that tax payers will obtain the official receipt by showing their online receipt, which the validity of it 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 with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the City Government.
The Landbank of the Philippines, during the hearing, ensured the body that they developed the system ready with security measures and same system has never been hacked.
It was stated that 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 death by the bank and payer who committed illegal act.
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 government of Davao.
Bonguyan in a separate interview said the city will still have to sign a separate MOA with Landbank before the implementation of the project.
She also 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.