ANGELES CITY –The city government is already in the final stages of upgrading its existing computerized network, in line with the implementation of an online transaction system by the end of the year.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. said the city government is gearing up for the upgrading of the cable network at the City Hall, to achieve the goal of being the next “smart city.”
It can be recalled that as early as 2002, during the stint of Mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, the first three-termer Mayor of Angeles City, all revenue-generating offices of the Angeles City local government were already fully computerized.
This computerization project was headed by the younger Mayor Lazatin’s current Chief Adviser and Tactician Director IC Calaguas, who was then the head of the Information Communications and Technology Division (ICTD). Later on, the computerization project was certified ISO 9001:2003 by the Certification International Philippines, making Angeles City the first ISO-certified local government unit outside Metro Manila in 2002.
By upgrading the city government’s centralized network, all transactions in the City Hall will already be cashless and paperless, which is also a part of the Lazatin administration’s 6-point agenda, particularly on improving the “Ease of Doing Business in the City.”
“Despite the challenges we are facing during this pandemic, we want to assure everyone that the city government will continue with its programs and services to improve the quality of life of all Angeleños,” Lazatin said.
Meanwhile, according to Calaguas, apart from the online transaction system, the city government plans on installing 14 facial recognition machines for time-keeping system, for all City Hall employees.
In order to provide faster and more efficient services for Angeleños, Calaguas added, Mayor Lazatin also wants to improve the flow of communication among offices, by connecting and activating all telephone lines, at all times.
Upon the instructions of Mayor Lazatin, ICTD personnel headed by Michael Lising, have begun cabling installation around the City Hall on September 2, 2020.
“Once we finish with the cabling, the online system will be put in place and we can already start testing our cashless and paperless transactions particularly for business payment and Real Property Tax (RPT) payment,” Lising explained.
ICTD Assistant Network Administrator Gilbert David added that they have also upgraded the City Hall’s network equipment and the internet connection in order to make the online payment more efficient.
David shared that they have already installed 16 data cabinets around City Hall, and consolidated all its networks to create a centralized server.
“In fact, we have a designated data server room, where all the offices can have their very own back-up, so that data storage will be more efficient,” David furthered.
The installation for the online transaction system, according to David, will be scheduled this week. Once installed, it will be subjected for testing first to ensure a smooth operation. This is also to avoid possible glitches, and provide immediate solutions.
