Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) president Luis “Chavit” Singson have partnered to enhance the city’s digital platform in the community level amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Belmonte, Singson—also mayor of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur—and Gracia Telecommunications Corp. president and chief executive officer Charisse Singson on Monday led the launch and turnover of automated payment machines (APM) to select barangays in Quezon City.
“The technology of Gracia Telecoms is of big help to enable us deliver aid and services to our residents under the new normal,” Belmonte said.
“Through this, we can limit face-to-face transactions at city hall so we could help prevent the spread of the disease,” she added.
The APM is a joint project of LMP and Gracia Telecoms to provide local government units and their constituents with a safer and more convenient payment alternative.
Gracia Telecoms initially provided the city government with nine APM kiosks to be installed in select villages within Quezon City’s six districts and in strategic areas within the city hall complex.
The city will provide debit cards for free to residents for online payments, purchases and withdrawal of money.
Margarita Santos, QC Business Permits and Licensing Department chief, said the city government plans to include Gracia Telecoms as one of its gateways for tax payments and other fees due to the city in the long run.
“We will also tap Gracia Telecoms to help in cashless transactions for upcoming programs,” she said.