Senatorial candidate Herbert “Bistek” Bautista on Friday pushed for more digital transactions in government offices, saying this will help curb corruption.
That is why, Bautista, said he will push for internet reforms should he win a seat in the Senate in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
“We want to remove corruption so we should strengthen our Internet connections so that our government services will go online,” Bautista said in a statement.
“We won’t need to go and pay to city hall or the municipal building. No need to go there anymore,” added the former Quezon City mayor.
He pointed out receipt of payments can also be sent online too, via email and Facebook and even through SMS. Another option in government payments is also making it available through Bayad Centers or in banks.
“It’s like when you pay your Meralco, your water...all these are good things that can reduce corruption,” said Bautista, who is running under the UniTeam Alliance of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Bautista noted, that Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have already started to shift to digital transactions and he supports these initiatives.
Among the agencies that have been rated high for corruption include the BIR, BoC, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“I would like to congratulate these revenue agencies for seeing the wisdom of non-contact transactions,” said Bautista.
“But more push is needed to make it easier for these agencies’ clients to go online,” he further said.