Davao City, Aboitiz ink MOA for digitalization of biz processes

The City Government of Davao and representatives from AboitizPower Distribution Unit, and the Davao Light on Wednesday signed the Memorandum of Agreement for Project Bilis –the digitalization of the business processes of LGU- Davao City to enhance and promote the ease of doing business within the city.

Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, Senior Vice President and COO of AbotizPower Distribution Unit, Mr. Anton Perdices, and President & COO of Davao Light Engr. Rodger S. Velasco signed the MOA that pertains to the coordination for the development/enhancement of some of the City’s existing revenue-generating systems.

These revenue-generating systems are the Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS}, Real Property Tax Administration System (RPTAS), Tax Mapping System, Integrated Infrastructure Permit System {IIPS), and Online Payment System of the City Government of Davao.

In his speech, Mayor Baste said that Project Bilis will serve as a significant platform to sustain the demand and the inevitable increase and usage of online services, especially with Davao City’s booming economy.

The MOA was a product of a series of meetings conducted in 2022 for the proposed coordination with the Aboitiz Group, which were attended by the City Treasurer’s Office, the City Legal Office, and the City Information and Technology Center.

In support of the signing of the MOA, the Sangguniang Panlungsod on 15 November 2022, approved Ordinance No. 094-22, Series of 2022, which granted legislative authority to the City Mayor to sign the MOA between the City Government of Davao and the Aboitiz Group for the enhancement and development of the City’s systems, which will first focus on the Real Property Tax Administration System (RPTAS)/Tax Mapping System.

Davao City Treasurer Atty. Lawrence Bantiding, said in line with this cooperation, Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte will also soon issue an Executive Order creating a Technical Working Group to oversee the project and to take charge of the supervision of the project and promptly address issues that may arise during the development.

Perdices said that Aboitiz Davao expressed commitment to the project.

“We the Aboitiz Davao Business Units (BUs) (Apo Agua, Davao Light, Hedcor, and Therma South) are honored to partner once again with the Davao City LGU in streamlining its business processes under the Project Bilis Davao through the digitalization of the issuance of the building and business permits, tax mapping, and the use of online payment channels,” Perdices said.

City Information Office Officer-in-Charge Harvey Lanticse in an interview Wednesday said that the enhancement of the revenue-generating systems is part of the city’s 12-point agenda on good governance through innovations and information communications technology. Lanticse reiterated that this shall promote a much more efficient delivery of public service especially in conducting business and other related activities that serve the best interest of Dabawenyos. (CIO)