The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) on Tuesday, Aug. 15, inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Bureau of the Treasury for E-Governance Pay (eGovPay) at Ayuntamiento de Manila in Intramuros.

In his opening speech, DICT Undersecretary David Almirol Jr. emphasized the significance of the partnership to ensure the success of the implementation of the eGovPay to provide a more efficient online payment process that is beneficial both for the government and the transacting public.
eGovPay envisions modernization
The undersecretary pointed out that eGovPay envisions the modernization of payment processes, encompassing government fees, taxes, and various transactions.
He said that eGovPay is the integration of diverse payment channels, such as online banks, eWallets, eCards, and kiosks, into a unified platform.
The data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that the share of monthly digital payments to total monthly retail payments volume in the Philippines rose to 42.1 percent in 2022.
It was from 30.3 percent in 2021, with merchant payments, salaries or wages payments, and in-person transfers further digitalized by 35.6 percent, 41.1 percent, and 91.2 percent, respectively from 2021.
Almirol acknowledged the opportunity and challenge presented by the surge in digital payment adoption."We view these encouraging numbers as an opportunity for us to implement projects and initiatives that will make digital payments with the government more accessible and convenient," he stated.
Meanwhile, the undersecretary underscored that eGovPay not only aims to eliminate the need for time-consuming visits to government offices but also enables “efficiency and transparency” in public services by minimizing administrative expenses and providing “detailed and accurate payment records.”
Moreover, Almirol encouraged everyone to download the eGovPH App to enjoy faster government service at their fingertips. (Rhowen Del Rosario)