The cities of Bacolod and Victorias in Negros Occidental won GCash Digital Excellence Awards at rites held at Peninsula Manila Hotel, Makati City, on Wednesday, December 6.
Victorias City was the only component city in the Visayas to win the Digital Breakthrough Growth Award.
In his acceptance speech, Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez recognized the Victorias city council, administrator, treasurer, liquidating officer, frontline cashiers, GCash Funds Disbursement Team, and the city’s technology partners, for being instrumental in the implementation of the LGU’s digital initiatives.
He also extended his gratitude to GCash for acknowledging the city’s contributions and efforts in creating technologically-equipped communities and bridging the digital divide.
Through various digital initiatives the Victorias local government can now perform seamless financial transactions anytime and anywhere, a press release from the city government said.
Victorias Vice Mayor Abelardo Bantug III and City Administrator Lindolf De Castro received the award on behalf of Benitez during the ceremony.
The Digital Breakthrough Award is given to an LGU that has demonstrated exceptional commitment and success in embracing digital payment collection methods since their adoption in less than a year, the press release said.
GCash is the official financial service provider of Victorias and the city’s partner in launching digital service payment acceptance, funds disbursement service, and the Paleng-QR PH Plus Program along with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, it said.
Bacolod City also won an Excellence in Digital Innovation Award.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, along with councilors Cindy Tan-Rojas and Em Ang, accepted the award on behalf of Mayor Albee Benitez.*