Valenzuela City transactions go online

As part of its preparation for the so-called “new normal,” the Valenzuela City local government will start processing all its transactions online.

Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said they are eyeing for the heightened implementation of the Paspas Permit system to cater to business renewal applications and payments.

As early as 2007, Valenzuela City has pioneered a program called 3S (Simple, Speed, Service) known for streamlining city hall transactions with automation. The program has evolved into the 3S Plus Valenzuela City Online Services, or the Paspas Permit.

Through the Paspas Permit system, taxpayers are allowed to create their accounts, upload documents, pay online and get their temporary business permits in just 10 seconds.

“The [COVID-19] pandemic — the new normal — has taught us to disrupt the way we do government. Now, it is not a choice to go online. It is actually mandatory to go online. I am excited because there is no reason not to do it. We enabled it. It is for the citizens now to use it,” Gatchalian said.

Preparing for the new normal as businesses enter a digital economy because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city plans to add “upgrades” to the current system, integrating the services of the Zoning Office, issuance of temporary sanitation permits and application for health cards.

“Valenzuela has always been very aggressive when it comes to the permit system. We wanted businesses up and running at the fastest possible time. Initially, everything was automated, but it was not online. That (Paspas Permit) was for making everybody more efficient. We wanted people, especially taxpayers, not to fall in line but to go online,” the mayor stressed.

The Paspas Permit system currently has access to services of the Office of the Building Official, City Assessor’s Office, the Local Civil Registry and the Treasurer’s Office.

With the upgrades, Paspas Permit is expected to become a fully-automated system covering the entire business spectrum — a one-stop shop for businessmen and a vantage point to sell Valenzuela City to investors while ensuring that health standards and protocols are observed to become the new way of life.