TABUK CITY, Kalinga – This component city is the first local government in the Cordillera to implement the full automation and online payment of real property and business taxes based on the report of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) based in the fast-growing city.
Mayor Darwin C. Estrañero claimed the city government is now implementing the digitalization programs in close coordination with concerned government agencies as this will translate to the effective and efficient delivery of quality services by the city to the people.
The city chief executive pointed out that local officials are always receptive to possible changes that may be implemented by the new administration in the national and provincial levels provided that such changes are for the welfare of the greater majority as change is really inevitable.
Mayor Estrañero disclosed that the city government is always open to changes in programs, projects and activities that will help in further improving the delivery of quality basic services so that concerned offices will be efficient and effective in charting the city’s direction for growth and development.
According to him, the city government is now trying to align other offices that are charging fees from the people to the already established system so that the collection and payment of the fees will be easier for the public to transact business with the various city offices.
Estrañero added that the city government is also closely working with the various telecommunication companies to fast track the improvement of the internet signal in the different parts of the city for the local government to have a much easier time to roll out the government’s digitalization program towards paving the way for better transactions with the different government offices, either national or local, as full digitalization is the becoming the new normal in the present age of information and communication technology development.
The two-term mayor also revealed that local chief executives from the different parts of Northern Luzon will be meeting next month to discuss the proposed establishment of Smart cities in various parts of the country that will boost interconnectivity among local governments and for easier access by the people of the different services offered by agencies and local governments alike.
He admitted that digitalizing government transactions will definitely help in reducing human contact, aside from ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of quality services because this is now a well-accepted trend in governance which must be embraced by concerned government agencies and local governments so that they will not be left behind in the present digital age, thus, everyone is trying to adjust to the situation where change happens in the wink of an eye so that people will not be left behind in their transactions with the government.
Tabuk is the second city in the Cordillera and it recently celebrated its 15th founding anniversary as a city by virtue of the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9404 that was ratified by the people on June 24, 2007.
