The COVID-19 pandemic may have negatively impacted the Philippine economy and the daily lives of Filipinos in general. Nevertheless, this crisis has also imparted valuable lessons, like the importance of digitizing government operations and processes. For many years, government leaders and policymakers have tried to adopt digital technologies to improve their services, save resources, and make their agencies more accessible to the people.
However, despite the passing of Republic Act No. 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act, as well as other similar laws promoting digital transformation in public service, actual digitization efforts have been relatively slow. If not for the ongoing global health crisis, many government agencies would probably have preserved the status quo, continuing to rely on cash transactions instead of introducing cashless payment options.
Today, the Philippine government has become more aggressive in its bid to make the Philippines a more cashless society, primarily to reduce cash handling due to concerns that it may continue to perpetuate person-to-person and indirect contact between individuals, which are among the reasons why the coronavirus disease is spreading rapidly. The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) already released Memorandum Circular No. 2020-06, which requires all government offices to accept digital payments, which include those made through third-party channels like Maya Disbursement Solutions.
Although compliance with this directive is far from 100 percent, you may be interested to know that numerous national government agencies already adopted digital payment systems to better serve the public under the new normal. Here are some of them:
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
If you experienced paying for your taxes manually in the past, you’ll know full well how tedious and frustrating the process can be. You will likely lose hours of your time waiting for your turn at the bank or at the BIR Revenue District Office (RDO). And with the COVID-19 pandemic, engaging in transactions like this within enclosed spaces has become risky as well.
Fortunately, the BIR recently introduced an online payment system to offer a safer and hassle-free alternative to manual payment. You can now skip the lines and settle your dues online in the comfort of your own home using your bank account, credit or debit card, the Maya app, and other electronic means.
According to the BIR, their agency collected over PHP 1.6 trillion in taxes via digital channels in 2020, or a whopping 86 percent of their total revenue. This only shows that most taxpayers now prefer e-payments rather than physically going to the bank, district offices, or payment centers, especially with the current health crisis still ongoing.
Bureau of Customs (BOC)
Another agency that introduced an online cashless payment system to improve revenue collection and efficiency of services is the Bureau of Customs (BOC) through its partnership with Maya. Beginning in 2020, stakeholders and clients of BOC have had the option to pay their accreditation fee and miscellaneous fees and charges online through the Maya Checkout payment gateway, which can accept payments made by credit and debit cards, e-wallets, and other payment solutions.
BOC offices are now also equipped with Ma ONE POS terminals so that clients can continue to experience cashless transactions should they need to physically visit a BOC office to settle fees that are not available online. Maya ONE supports credit, debit, and prepaid cards, as well as QR payments. Clients and stakeholders may also opt to pay via the Maya app.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
Not too long ago, passport applicants still needed to leave their homes and visit the nearest DFA-accredited payment center just to pay for the passport application fee. This is despite the fact that Filipinos have long been able to submit their passport applications online. That the payment aspect of the application was not integrated into the process was definitely counterproductive and inefficient.
It’s a good thing the DFA expanded its options in 2020 to include electronic and contactless payments. Passport applicants can now settle their fees using Maya’s Pay Bills feature to eliminate the risk of close face-to-face contact and the hassle of traveling and waiting in line.
Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
In 2017, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) launched OneSTore.ph, an online platform designed to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) market their business, expand their reach, and ultimately succeed. This online selling platform currently offers high-quality Filipino food, furniture, agricultural produce, and other locally made products.
After two years of operation, DOST integrated the Maya Checkout facility into the OneSTore.ph platform to ensure efficient and convenient payment transactions for merchants and customers alike. With this solution, buyers can now pay their orders online and in real-time, and sellers can receive the payments the following day, which is much faster than the usual process. Before the Maya partnership, the OneSTore.ph used to take around two months to disburse the sales to merchants.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
Starting a business in the Philippines used to be taxing and time-consuming. Entrepreneurs endured long queues and an inefficient system just to register their companies at the various Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) offices nationwide. Thankfully, this archaic system is now a thing of the past as the DTI now relies on its Business Name Registration System (BNRS), which was launched in 2019 and is currently powered by the Maya Checkout payment gateway.
Entrepreneurs can now conveniently register their business and pay the corresponding fees through the BNRS site using their payment card or e-wallet. They can also pay through the Maya app or via Maya QR to settle their due. DTI’s BNRS is one giant step that made the agency’s services more public-friendly and competitive.
Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG Fund
If you are employed in a company or organization, your Pag-IBIG membership fee and housing loan payments are readily deducted from your salary by the human resources department. But if you already left your job and are now self-employed or are doing freelance work, you have no choice but to make voluntary contributions.
Manually paying for your Pag-IBIG dues can be time-consuming and tiring if you will make over-the-counter payments. Fortunately, the Pag-IBIG fund offers an online payment facility that accepts payment cards. You can also pay using your smartphone via the Maya app. Just go to the “Pay Bills” option and choose the Pag-IBIG transaction you want to complete in the biller list.
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
Applying for a PRC ID and for license registration used to be as challenging as passing the board exam, so the joke went. You had to travel to the nearest PRC office, queue for hours, and endure the slow process. ID renewal or replacement was no different. In fact, it was sometimes even more stressful, especially for a vacationing OFW with very little time to go back and forth to a PRC office.
However, thanks to PRC’s online services, Filipino professionals can now apply and renew their PRC license whenever they want and wherever they are. All they need to do is create an online account using the PRC Licensure Examination and Registration Information System (LERIS) to access the services they want and then settle the fees using the agency’s online payment portal powered by Maya.
The government agencies discussed above are just some of the many organizations that stepped up their digitalizing efforts to provide more efficient and convenient services to the public. Hopefully, more offices will follow suit to ensure accessibility of government services and streamlined operations, especially under the new normal.
