DAVAO CITY (PNA) – Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte highlighted this city’s digitalization initiatives during his first State-of-the-City Address on Friday, July 29. In his report to Dabawenyos, Duterte said the city government has introduced more convenient methods to access government services in compliance with the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act. These include the full digitalization of the Electronic Business Permits and Licensing System (e-BPLS) for business applications and renewal; online payment for real property tax; online application for community tax; Davao cockpit operations management system; and the recently launched online building-related permit system. “In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s thrust towards digitalization, it is also our thrust. We must leverage technology to be more efficient and transparent and to improve the quality of service we provide to the public,” Duterte said. He pointed out that when he became the city mayor, the city government focused on the welfare of Dabawenyos and the streamlining of business processes and public transactions to ensure economic recovery and sustain peace and order. Duterte noted that Dabawenyos live in a highly urbanized city, hence the need to innovate and not stick with the conventional methods alone. “We have to innovate because the movement of the people around the city and things that are going on is not what it used to be. With technology, if you embrace it, it will make a difference for all of us,” Duterte said. He, however, assured that despite the digitalization, Dabawenyos could still submit their documents in person. “The government is not eradicating the old ways of processing government transactions,” he said. Meanwhile, the city is set to launch the E-Scholar app that would enable applicants to upload their requirements online. Duterte said the E-scholar app would resolve the long queues outside the City Hall every time the application period for scholarships opens. The applicants will register at the app and choose the type of scholarship they wish to apply for, and with one click, they would be able to see the requirements and be instructed how to upload them, he said.