Angeles City—The city government here is in the final stages of upgrading the city hall computer network, as it implements an online transaction system by the end of the year.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. said the city government is upgrading the cable network at the city hall to achieve the goal of being the next “Smart City.”
As early as 2002, during the term of the late mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin “• the father of the incumbent mayor and the first three-termer mayor of the city “• all revenue-generating offices at the city hall were already fully computerized.
The computerization project was undertaken by the current mayor’s Chief Adviser and Tactician Director IC Calaguas who was then head of the Information Communications and Technology Division (ICTD).
The computerization project was later certified ISO 9001:2003 by the Certification International Philippines, making Angeles City the first ISO-certified local government unit outside Metro Manila in 2002.
By upgrading the city government’s centralized computer network, all transactions in the city hall will become cashless and paperless, which is also part of the Lazatin administration’s 6-point agenda, in particular the “Ease of Doing Business in the City.”
“Despite the challenges we are facing in this time of pandemic, we want to assure everyone that the city government will continue with its programs and services to improve the quality of life of all Angelenos,” Lazatin said.
Meanwhile, according to Calaguas, apart from the online transaction system, the city government plans on installing 14 facial recognition machines for time-keeping system of city hall employees.
For faster and more efficient services to transacting city folks, Calaguas added the city mayor also wants to improve the flow of communication among offices by connecting and activating all telephone lines at all times.
Upon instruction of the city mayor, ICTD personnel headed by Michael Lising, started the cable nstallation around the city hall last September 2.
“Once we finish with the cabling, the online system will be put in place and we can already start testing our cashless and paperless transactions particularly for business payment and Real Property Tax payment,” Lising explained.
ICTD Assistant Network Administrator Gilbert David added that they have also upgraded the city hall network equipment and the internet connection in order to make the online payment more efficient.
He said they have already installed 16 data cabinets and consolidated all networks to create a centralized server.
“We have a designated data server room, where all the offices can have their very own back-up, so that data storage will be more efficient,” David said.
The installation for the online transaction system, according to him, will be scheduled this week.
Once installed, it will be subjected to testing first to ensure smooth operation. This is also to avoid possible glitches, and provide immediate solutions, he said.