As almost everyone relies on online transactions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Government of Valenzuela prepares for more projects and technologies to cope with the new normal in the business environment.

Known for its disruptive innovations in public governance, Mayor REX Gatchalian shares “the way we do things” in Valenzuela City at the 4^th Online General Membership Meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) this June 09, 2020, joined by distinguished city mayors in the country -- Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City, Mayor Abigail Binay of Makati City, Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig City and Mayor Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City.

As early as 2007, Valenzuela City has since pioneered the 3S Program (Simple, Speed, Service) known for streamlining city hall transactions with automation. Evolving into the 3S Plus Valenzuela City Online Services or the Paspas Permit, Mayor REX can only be more committed and excited to bring more innovations to the platform, with online transactions becoming more indispensable in almost all industries.

 “The [COVID-19] pandemic -- the new normal, has taught us to disrupt the way we do government. Now it is not a choice to go online, it is actually mandatory to go online… I am excited because wala ng [there is no] reason not to do it. We enabled it… It is for the citizens now to use it,” Mayor REX said.

Taking inspiration from the private sector, Mayor REX emphasized the use of the Paspas Permit system launched last November 2019, just in time to cater to the business renewal application and payments by early 2020. The system enabled taxpayers to create their accounts, upload their documents, pay online and get their temporary business permits in ten (10) seconds. A post-audit scheme was adapted for compliance measures and delivery of plates and permits is also possible through courier partners.  

 “I always envied how the private sector always uses online [systems] to disrupt things. It has disrupted the way you shop, book hotels, the way you book airlines. But here in Valenzuela we wanted to disrupt the way we do permits that is why we came up with Paspas Permit,” Mayor REX stated.

Preparing for the new normal as businesses enter a digital economy because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Government of Valenzuela plans to add “upgrades” to the current system, integrating the services of the Zoning Office, issuance of a temporary Sanitation Permits and application for Health Cards.

The Paspas Permit system currently has services of the Office of the Building Official, City Assessor’s Office, the Local Civil Registry and the Treasurer’s Office. With these new upgrades, Paspas Permit is expected to become a fully-automated system covering the entire business spectrum – a one-stop shop for businessmen and a vantage point to sell Valenzuela City to investors while ensuring that health standards and protocols are observed to become the new way of life.

“Valenzuela has always been very aggressive when it comes to the permit system… We wanted businesses up and running at the fastest possible time. Initially, everything was automated but it was not online… That [Paspas Permit] was for making everybody more efficient… We wanted people, especially taxpayers, not to fall in line but to go online. So now, that tool which was supposed to be for efficiency is becoming a safety tool for us,” Mayor REX said.