Slow delivery of services in the government has become a norm and to break this pattern in government processes, Valenzuela City implemented the Paspas Permit. Using only one log in account at www.valenzuela.gov.ph, the system integrates the following online services: (a) application, billing and payment for Business Permit; (b) Real Property Tax assessment and payment; (c) Building and Construction Permit processing; (d) certification of City Assessor’s documents; (e) Certified True Copy of Birth, Death and Marriage Certificate; (f) the Zoning/Locational Clearance; (g) application for Sanitary Permit; and (h) Employees Health Certificate/Permit. This makes the Paspas Permit, the only end-to-end fully integrated online platform for business-related permits in the country.

Furthermore, taxpayers can choose from diverse electronic payment options either through credit or debit card, online bank transfer, or e-wallet (PayMaya). Delivery options of the actual permit and of the business plates are also available through Grab Express and WExpress. To ensure an efficient customer retention mechanism, the local government established the Online Transactions and Dispatch Center that attends to client needs via calls, emails, and social media engagements. In the pandemic, Paspas Permit became an effective safety tool, complementing the work-from-home setup.

The Paspas Permit is an incredible innovation in itself. It is the first virtual business one-stop shop and the first and only end-to- end online business permit application system in the country, encapsulating all business-related permits application into one online platform, enabling taxpayers to avail of the services of the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), Assessor’s Office, Treasurer’s Office, the Office of the Building Official, the Local Civil Registry (LCR), and Health Office (Sanitation Permit/Health Certificates) and the Zoning Office. The entire platform spotlights on the Paspas Permit of the BPLO–the country’s first 10-second business permit application system.

Paspas Permit is not just a digital portal but a holistic, systemic solution that is not City Hall-centric, but devolves the same caliber, quality and efficiency and level of service in the barangays. Barangay services are integrated into City Hall services through Valenzuela’s 23 satellite City Halls.

The City Government of Valenzuela saw the impact and benefit after Paspas Permit’s successful implementation especially during the business renewal season last January 2020. The program received a total registration of 1,113 new accounts with a collection of PhP91,437,632 and a 2,787.25% increase in registration in 2020 since its implementation in 2019. As of September 26, 2021, Paspas Permit has generated a total of PhP563,196,737 in revenues, not including revenues from the Serbisyo Centers in the satellite City Halls.

The revenues from the program enabled the city to provide for the growing needs of its constituents such as in the education sector which is fueled by the special education fund (SEF) which is 1% of real property taxes.

In order to ensure the program’s sustainability, Ordinance No. 610, Series of 2019, also known as “3S Plus Valenzuela City Online Services” or Paspas Permit, formally established and institutionalized the Paspas Permit service platform. Ordinance No. 726, Series of 2020 also mandated all corporations to use the Paspas Permit system.

The City Government of Valenzuela also cascaded a User Orientation and Training program wherein IT staff and professionals helped the users navigate the 3S+ Online Services system. Paspas Permit is not just a short-term solution for Valenzuela City as it sees and targets a continuous utilization and transfer to the use of technology in all of its transactions.