KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — The Provincial Government of South Cotabato showcased its treasury systems and innovations as the Province of Davao del Sur conducted a benchmarking activity to learn from practices that strengthen revenue administration and improve government transactions.
For Alvim M. Batol, CPA, Provincial Treasurer of South Cotabato, the value of these practices goes beyond technology and transactions.
“Good governance is not only about collecting revenues or completing transactions. It is about building systems that work, strengthening the people who operate them, and making sure that every process ultimately serves the public better. That is what we continue to pursue here in South Cotabato, and we are pleased to share these practices with our fellow local governments,” Batol said.
Led by Farah Gemma V. Bidan, CPA, Provincial Treasurer of Davao del Sur, the delegation engaged with the Provincial Treasurer’s Office of South Cotabato to gain practical insights that may be adapted to their own local government operations.
Among the key practices presented were the Real Property Tax (RPT) System, Check Writing, Treasury Operations and Review Division (TORD), and GCash, highlighting the province’s efforts to improve treasury services through technology, organized processes and continuous innovation.
The presentation of the Real Property Tax (RPT) System highlighted how the province uses modern systems and technology to strengthen real property identification, improve tax administration, and support more efficient and accurate revenue collection.
The delegation also learned about the province’s approaches to Check Writing, the Treasury Operations and Review Division (TORD), and the use of GCash in government transactions, providing examples of how digital tools and systematic procedures can improve treasury operations and public service delivery.
Bidan said the benchmarking was intended to strengthen the capabilities of their municipal treasurers and personnel by learning from practices that can be applied in their respective local government units.
“We are happy that we are here. Our main purpose is to give our municipal treasurers the capacity, particularly in the examination of books. We also wanted to learn from the practices being implemented here in South Cotabato,” Bidan said.
She added that the delegation gained valuable ideas from the exchange that may be considered for implementation in Davao del Sur.
“The learnings we gained here are very important. There were many best practices shared with us, and we may have gotten ideas from South Cotabato that we can replicate in our own municipalities,” she said.
The benchmarking activity reflects the importance of inter-local government learning, allowing provinces to exchange practical solutions and strengthen their respective systems through shared experiences.
For the Provincial Government of South Cotabato, the activity also highlights the continuing efforts of the administration of Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. to strengthen government institutions, improve public service delivery and encourage innovations that make government operations more responsive to the people.
Bidan likewise recognized the province’s continuing progress and the contribution of its personnel.
“Congratulations to Governor Tamayo because the province continues to progress. I also noticed that your offices have young and technology-oriented people who are contributing to that progress,” she said.
Benchmarking underscores a simple but important principle: effective government is built not only through policies, but through systems that work and people who know how to use them well.
For South Cotabato, sharing its treasury innovations with another provincial government affirms the value of continuous improvement and strengthens its role as a partner in advancing efficient, accountable and responsive local governance.
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