By Joel Mapiles / Correspondent
MASANTOL, Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda launched on Monday the German-made Integrated Taxation Management System, which is known as iTax, in this coastal town.
Pineda said the iTax system of the provincial government is aimed at creating an enduring tax culture in the whole province of Pampanga.
Mayor Dan Guintu expressed the local government gratitude to the provincial government for putting up the iTax system, which he said will greatly benefit the town.
Fourth District Board First Member Ricardo Yabut said that, with the installation of iTax system in this coastal town, the provincial government will be automatically updated on what is going on in the tax-collection process, as the system is connected with the concerned offices in the Capitol.
Yabut said that more collection will mean more delivery of integrated social services. The iTax management system was launched as part of the efforts toward a holistic development of Pampanga’s tax system, in line with Pineda’s commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability. It is also aimed at boosting real-property tax (RPT) collection.
It was learned that the iTax system would solve the problems in RPT manual computations and fully digitize other tax collections in the town.
“No additional fees will be charged to the tax payers for the implementation of the new iTax system,” she said.
The governor is also optimistic that iTax will help the provincial government to be less dependent on its internal revenue allotment, as she announced that Pampanga is one of the debt-free provinces in the country.
Provincial Assessor Romeo Dizon said the iTax system aims to transform the province’s current tax collection from a lengthy, tedious and manual process to an efficient, transparent and automated system that will benefit the taxpayers.
Pampanga Mayors’ League President Oscar Tetangco Jr., Frances Olga David Dizon and Executive Assistant Edna Vitug also graced the iTax launch.
Ryan Concepcion, information-technology consultant of Pampanga, disclosed that the iTax will set aside human errors, as it is efficient and accurate when it comes to verification and computation of fees on RPTs and tax declarations, among others.