• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Embracing digitalization and leveraging technology to enhance government services, the component city of Victorias and highly urbanized Bacolod City in Negros Occidental are now accepting cashless payments.
Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez yesterday signed the memorandum of agreement for the partnership with GCash, a mobile payment service, in launching the Digital Service Payment Acceptance held at the City Mayor’s Office of Victorias City.
Victoriahanons, including taxpayers, tenants of Victorias Commercial Center, TODA and various clients of LGU, may now pay their taxes and other government payments through GCash, whenever or wherever, with just a scan of the City’s official QR code.
“[This partnership] means we are empowering our citizens for a digital cashless future, accountability, transparency, and convenience,” Mayor Javi said in his message, during the signing of MOA with Cathlyn Pavia, GCash AVP Head of Public Sector and Partnerships, JR Marfori, LGU Leader for Visayas and Mindanao, Councilor Audie Malaga, chairman of the SP Committee on Digitalization, Innovation, and Smart Governance, and City Treasurer Maria Rosielyn Gustilo.
Under the leadership of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, the Bacolod City government also announced its partnership with G-XCHANGE INC. (GXI), a corporation in the Philippines specializing in remittance services and mobile payment solutions, as it commits to Digitalization and Integration of Technology in Government Procedures.
This collaboration signifies Bacolod City Government’s commitment to embracing digitalization and leveraging technology to enhance government services, a statement from its City Public Information Office said.
Under the implementing agreement signed on April 12, 2023, GXI will provide Bills Payment services to the City Government of Bacolod through its widely-used GCash platform.
With this, Bacolod City will scale up their GCash payment acceptance to more than just real property and business taxes.
Locals will now be able to use the GCash QR payment method to pay for other taxes such as Amusement Taxes and as well as other fees such as marriage license fee, market rental charge, among others, the CPIO statement further said.
On the other hand, Mayor Javi, the son of Mayor Albee, said he that he is thrilled to let Victoriahanons experience the convenient and efficient services of GCash.
He also emphasized that the partnership is part of the administration’s promotion of a clean, efficient, and inclusive government, and future in Victorias.
A statement from the CPIO disclosed that the partnership between the Bacolod City government and GXI marks a significant milestone in the digital transformation of government services.
By leveraging the power of technology, the City Government aims to enhance convenience, efficiency, and accessibility for its constituents.
This collaboration showcases Bacolod City Government’s dedication to embracing digitalization and integrating technology into its procedures, it added.*
