Narvacan Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson, national president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, on Tuesday vowed to financially empower local government units (LGUs) all over the country through digital transformation.
This followed the successful launching what Singson called the world’s first-ever visa and multi purpose cards with automatic bank account in the Ilocos Sur municipality.
With the help of international partners, Singson said that his state-of-the-art scheme is a complete LGU solution through the advanced use of satellite and digital signal gives Filipinos access to worldwide APMs (automatic payment machine).
“All over the world walang ganyan na project na nagbibigay nang debit, visa and multipurpose cards with automatic bank account for free only in the Philippines,” Singson said.
A former governor of Ilocos Sur, Chavit said: “I’m giving away 2 kinds of debit cards that are multipurpose and give automatic bank accounts from our International and Local Commercial Bank partners.”
The card, Chavit stressed, is a combination of an identification card and a visa card with bank account.
“The debit cards will be given out for free without them going to the bank, to help the poorest of the poor. In addition, I will be placing for free an Automated Payment Machine (APM) in all Municipal Buildings and in their Public Markets throughout the country to serve some of their basic banking needs such as – transfer money, load and pay all kinds of bills,” he said.
Singson said he had already programmed to install around 20,000 APMs nationwide after successfully setting one up in Narvacan last week.
“I already started in my town, Narvacan. Next week I will roll out the APMs in Metro Manila including big baranggays and high density areas,” he said.
He said these cards are equipped with Super App that can reach even far-flung barangays in the country.
Through this APM card, Chavit pointed out that card holder can then make payments worldwide, can send money to anyone, can also access to ATM worldwide, Palawan Express, Western Union, LBC, Cebuana, G-cash, Paymaya, MLhuillier; the Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) can remit here and others, saying the APM is packed with modern features.
“Once you made transaction you can have a confirmation message,”pointed out the LMP president.
One third of the municipalities in the country have no bank branch, Chavit said.
Chavit lamented that the poor have no access to credit, and that majority of the Filipinos have no bank accounts, saying “we had attacked already the problem.”
Singson also revealed that Gracia Telecom, headed by his daughter Charissa Singson, will also provide modular and online learning.
“The unfortunate reality is that most Filipinos have limited access to the tools and knowledge needed for modules and online learning,” Chavit pointed out.
“This amazing program is Mayor Chavit’s dream,” said Architect Rochelle Singson, who spoke on behalf of the mayor, adding this came at a time when the world is being plagued by the pandemic.