Manila taxpayers enjoy convenience amid storms

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso announced Monday that the city’s digital platforms, Go Manila and the Electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS), enabled sustained government operations and revenue collection despite a week-long suspension of work due to severe weather.

Domagoso highlighted that these digital tools allowed residents and businesses to conveniently pay taxes and other obligations online, saving them time and effort while ensuring transactions remained uninterrupted.

“Last week, we had no work, but the government was still earning. Before, you would never hear such a story,” Domagoso said during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony.

“Through Go Manila and eBOSS, even in the early morning, even at night, when offices are closed, or during a typhoon or an emergency, people had the opportunity to participate by fulfilling their obligations to the city government,” he added.

Domagoso stressed that these digital systems were designed not only for convenience but also as a measure to control corruption.

Citing a lesson from a professor, the mayor said, “You cannot solve and stop corruption… for corruption to die, you must limit human discretion in government transactions. Then corruption naturally dies.”

He also cited that online payments have continued to generate significant revenue for the city, even on weekends and during typhoons, citing instances of P35 million being collected.

“The most important reason for this app is to provide convenience to people who pay taxes or their obligations to the government,” Domagoso said, contrasting it with past experiences of long queues and inconvenience for taxpayers.

Domagoso also assured city government employees that careful fiscal management guarantees their salaries, despite the financial strain inherited from the previous administration.

“We are taking care of the General Fund… at least, somehow now, I can say that until 15 August, I am comfortable that my colleagues serving the public will receive their salaries,” Domagoso said.

He admitted that ensuring timely salaries might seem trivial, but it was a basic obligation often compromised due to past fiscal mismanagement.

“It is so petty, me, telling you, [you’ll] have salary. But before, there was truly no money. You would feed your families with mere words. What is due to you must be given to you,” said the mayor.

Domagoso credited the sustained government operations to the cooperation of the city workforce, especially those on the frontlines. He thanked city employees for their dedication, stressing their crucial role in keeping Manila functional even during crises.

“Let me take this opportunity this morning to thank each and every one of you, especially those on the frontlines,” Domagoso said. “Rest assured, we’ll do our best. We’ll always do our best so that you are not affected by politics or misguided government management. I need each and every one of you. I cannot serve alone. I need you. I need you to serve our people.”