As the pandemic started to restrict travel and in-person transactions, the local government of Valenzuela City was among the earliest to exploit automation and the digital integration of its units whose daily dealings with the public couldn’t afford long lulls.In March 2020, as the lockdowns began, the deadline for tax payments, permit applications and renewals were first extended. Fortunately, as early as November 2019, the city’s 3S Plus Online Services, or the “Paspas Permit” system was already in place, allowing online payments and the paperless issuance of various documents and permits for Valenzuelaños to resume.
Meant to fight graft
The system covers permit applications or renewals for businesses and construction projects; real-estate tax payments and property appraisal; tax declaration and tax mapping certificates; birth, death, marriage, and court decision certificates; sanitary permits and health certificates, among others.
“Don’t fall in line, go online!”—this summed up the mindset that City Hall sought to instill, especially among local business owners. With Paspas Permit, what was initially intended as a way to streamline operations and deter graft and corruption became a safety tool to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Also to ease the payment process, the city government got PayMaya, Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines and Union Bank on board to better facilitate cashless systems for businesses and residents.
In 2021, a total of 36,097 transactions were made through the different Paspas services, reflecting an 865.64-percent increase from the 4,170 transactions logged the previous year. This translated to a 52.09-percent increase in city revenue collected via the online channels.
Aside from simple business transactions, Valenzuelaños can now apply for their health certificates online, schedule their laboratory appointments, and take the examination and orientation virtually. They can also have the zoning process integrated in their business application. The issuance of provisional sanitary permits can also be done online.
Gatchalians’ vision
According to the city’s public information office, Paspas Permit is considered the country’s “first and only end-to-end online platform for permits payment” adopted for use at the local government level.
It was the result of “a long journey that was pioneered by then mayor and now Sen. Win Gatchalian, sustained by former Mayor Rex Gatchalian, and now being enhanced by current chief executive, Mayor Wes Gatchalian,’’ it said.
The city has continuously consulted the national government, mainly the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Anti-Red Tape Authority, on how to further improve its systems, since Paspas is not a mere short-term solution.
It has since tapped IT professionals to teach the general public how to navigate Paspas. A technical support and dispatch center has also been set up just for this purpose and can be reached at 8352-1000 (local 1309 and 1531). This also allows for a feedback or data-gathering mechanism for measuring the program’s overall efficiency.
Paspas was among the more recent innovations that have earned accolades for Valenzuela. In 2020, the city was again recognized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the “Most Business Friendly” among the country’s highly urbanized cities.
In 2021, Valenzuela also won a Galing Pook Award for Innovation in Good Governance for its initiatives related to the pandemic response, which covered not only business transactions and permits but also contact tracing and distance learning when it was still the norm in public schools. —CONTRIBUTED INQ
