An e-payments caravan recently had its stopover in Valenzuela City to increase public awareness and usage of various electronic channels for paying local government fees.

Dubbed “e-Bayad Tour 2016,” this e-payments fair conceptualized by the United States Agency International Development (USAID) E-PESO was held on July 19 and 20 at the lobby of the Geronimo Angeles Building, Valenzuela City Government Center.

In the two-day activity, an event passport scheme was devised to encourage tax payers’ visit to the booths of the city government and its partner-agencies – Mynt (G-Cash), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Citibank, and Landbank.

Mynt, a subsidiary of Globe Telecom, put up a dedicated area which taught the participants on how they could process their tax payments using their mobile phones. They also promoted the Beep Card, a prepaid MasterCard that can prove to be very useful for commuters, online shoppers, G-Cash users, and other individuals who go for transactions via plastic cards.

DBP, the forerunner of making online tax collection possible in Valenzuela City, was also one of the booth presenters at the fair. This financial institution is presently synching its innovations to the growing trend of e-government payments in the country. It was in 2013 when DBP completed linking internet payment gateway on the official website of the City Government of Valenzuela.

Citibank and Landbank, which both offer Visa debit and credit card products, also showcased its line of products and services.

All the participating agencies gave away freebies and raffle prizes during the e-Bayad tour.

On a side note, Valenzuela City Mayor REX Gatchalian also presented recently the 3S (Simple, Speed, Service Excellence) Plus in Public Service Program before international and local government leaders at this year’s International Conference on Urban Development: Accelerating Resilience and Inclusive Growth, held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City on July 12, 2016.

Mayor REX's presentation showcased the projects that comprise the 3S Plus Program: streamlined business permitting processes; GIS Geographical Information System for Real Property Tax; complete online and electronic payment systems; 3S Plus Automated Building and Construction Permits Application System;the Online Business Permit Billing and Payment System; ValenzuelaTrabaho, a job-matching web site; Online Police Clearance Application System, the first of its kind in the country; GIS for Business Permits; 3S (Sentro ng Sama-samang Serbisyo) Centers, “little city halls” built by the city government at strategic points to bring government services closer to the people; and the city’s joint venture initiatives, projects undertaken with the private sector.

Mr. Randy Sison, head of the City Information and Communications Technology Office was also resource speaker at the event. He talked about Technological Innovation for Urban Governance, highlighting the city government’s journey on the conception of our modern payment matrix.

Over 1,200 delegates from national and local governments, industries, multilaterals, civil society and academe attended the conference.