Mandaue to employ GPS receivers for tax mapping

CEBU, Philippines – In preparation for the launching of their Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) early next year, the Mandaue City government will conduct tax mapping of business establishments starting tomorrow for three months with the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers.

In conducting the city-wide GPS-aided tax mapping, some 25 personnel from the Management Information System Office (MISO) and the city treasurer's office will combine forces and divide themselves into five teams to cover 27 barangays.

Each team will conduct a house-to-house survey with the help of a set of questionnaires.

Headed by organic personnel from the City Treasurer's Office, the teams would be equipped with GPS receivers which can determine the user's three dimensional (3D) position (latitude, longitude and altitude).

Once the user's position has been determined, the GPS unit can calculate other information, such as speed, bearing, track, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise, and sun-set time.

GPS is a satellite-based navigational system made up of a network of 24 satellites in orbit placed by the US Department of Defense now made available for civilian use.

"There is a need to update our data to be able to know more our clients and to know where the city stands in the hope of bringing the needed basic and improved services at their doorsteps.

By showing images of a building, describing it and listing the establishments or offices located therein, its valuation can be done better," said Mayor Jonas Cortes.

Cortes explained that a BOSS is a fully-air conditioned center wherein one can renew or get a new business permit in just 30 minutes.

He said the city has streamlined the processing of business permits from the original 17 steps to only four steps which include the following: filing and submission of  the application, assessment, payment, and then releasing.

The mayor said there will be at least three BOSS centers situated at city hall, Parkmall, and in Bridges Town Square Coop Centrum.

In their meeting last week, the barangay captains pledged to disseminate the relevant information to constituents for an effective implementation of the project. (FREEMAN)