The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has expressed support for Senate Bill (SB) 1764 or the proposed Use of Digital Payments Act that allows the digital collection of taxes and fees, payments, and other disbursements.
SB 1764 mandates the use of digital payment in the collection of taxes, fees, tolls, imposes, and other revenues, and in the payment of goods, services, and other disbursements.
Through this measure, government payments such as cash aid will also be directly transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts.
In a statement, ARTA said the measure, authored by Senator Sonny Angara, is in line with its mandate to improve the ease of doing business and delivery of government services in the country.
It is also in accordance with the agency's vision of a highly efficient and technology-enabled Philippine government.
"With ARTA's goal to streamline, re-engineer, and automate government systems, we have long been pushing for the use of digital payments," ARTA said Wednesday, September 15.
The agency added that many Filipinos have been enjoying the convenience of digital transactions, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
"Many Filipinos have enjoyed the safety and convenience of making payments online. We hope that our respected lawmakers share our vision and pass this measure into law," it said.
ARTA added that no less than President Duterte has been advocating for the country's transition to e-governance.
"We believe that digital payment is an important requirement for its realization," ARTA said.
Meanwhile, a digital payment system is one of the main requirements for some of ARTA's projects like the electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) and the Central Business Portal.