President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the use of digital payments for government financial transactions to promote efficient delivery of services and to expedite transactions.
Under the just-released Executive Order 170, all departments, agencies, and clusters of the government, including the state universities and colleges, as well as those in the local government units (LGUs) are ordered to apply the practice of digital payments for any financial transactions.
This is to maintain a “clean, safe, and efficient” payment of goods and services, including distributing any financial assistance, payment of salaries, wages, allowances, and other disbursements or compensation to employees nationwide.
The order also entails several departments that are assigned to provide and promote the “guidance of the cost-efficient and transparent” transactions; Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Bureau of Treasury (BTr), Bureau of Internal Revenue, Government Procurement Policy Board Technical Support Offices, along with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Commission of Audit, and other relevant agencies, expected to share the necessary implementing rules and regulations within 90 days from the effectivity of the EO.