Despite the severe weather conditions brought by continuous rains, taxpayers in the City of Manila were able to enjoy convenience through local government digital platforms such as Go Manila and the Electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS).
With this, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso noted that the City Hall managed to sustain its operations and revenue collection despite a week-long suspension of government work due to inclement weather.
Domagoso said these platforms allowed residents and businesses to pay their taxes and other obligations online, saving them time and effort while keeping government transactions uninterrupted.
“Last week wala tayong trabaho, pero kumikita ang gobyerno. Before, you will never hear such story,” the mayor said during a recent flag-raising ceremony.
“Through Go Manila and eBOSS, kahit madaling araw, kahit gabi, sarado na ang opisina, may bagyo, nagkakaroon ng aberya, ang tao ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataon to participate by fulfilling their obligations to the City Government.”
“Through Go Manila and eBOSS, kahit madaling araw, kahit gabi, sarado na ang opisina, may bagyo, nagkakaroon ng aberya, ang tao ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataon to participate by fulfilling their obligations to the City Government,” he stressed.
Domagoso emphasized that these digital systems were designed not only for convenience but also as a corruption-control measure.
Quoting a lesson he learned from his professor in Boston, Domagoso said, “You cannot solve and stop corruption… for corruption to die, you must limit human discretion in government transactions. Then corruption naturally dies.”
He noted that online payments have continued to generate significant revenue for the city, even during weekends and typhoons: “Bumabagyo, ₱35 million pesos, Sabado, Linggo, may nakakabayad.”
“Ang pinakamahalagang dahilan ng app na ito ay bigyan ng convenience ang mga taong nagbabayad ng buwis o kanilang obligasyon sa pamahalaan. Saan ka nakakita, nagbabayad ka ng amilyar, business tax, pitong oras ka nasa second floor, pitong oras ka nasa ground floor? Nagbabayad ka na, pinahihirapan ka pa,” Domagoso said.
He also assured city government employees that the city’s careful fiscal management guarantees their salaries despite the financial strain left by the previous administration.
“Iniingatan namin ang General Fund… at least, kahit papaano ngayon, kaya kong sabihin, hanggang akinse ng Agosto, komportable akong may seswelduhin ang mga kasamahan kong naglilingkod sa taumbayan,” Domagoso said.
He admitted that ensuring the timely salaries of city employees may sound trivial, but it is a basic obligation that was often compromised due to past fiscal mismanagement.
What is due to you must be given to you.”
“It is so petty, me, telling you, may sweldo. But before, wala talagang pera. Laway pa ipapakain ninyo sa inyong mga pamilya. What is due to you must be given to you,” Domagoso stressed.
He also credited the success of maintaining government operations to the cooperation of the city workforce, especially those deployed on the frontlines.
Domagoso thanked city employees for their dedication, highlighting that their efforts are crucial in keeping Manila functional even in times of crisis.
“Let me take this opportunity this morning to thank each and every one of you, especially those on the frontlines,” he said.
“Pumanatag kayo, we’ll do our best. We’ll always do our best na hindi kayo apektado ng pulitika o maling pagpapatakbo ng gobyerno. I need each and every one of you. I cannot serve alone. I need you to serve our people,” Domagoso concluded.
