About the working group

The Nationwide Streamlining of Business Permits and Licensing Systems (BPLS) Program aims to address the high cost of doing business in the Philippines as a constraint to the competitiveness of the country and is in response to the call of the president in his 1st State of the Nation Address (SONA)— to streamline processes to make business start-ups easier.I

The program aims to streamline the BPLS of cities and municipalities nationwide. Specifically, its objectives are to:

• recommend minimum service standards  (for new business applications and renewals) for LGUs;
• streamline the BPLS in as many LGUs as possible nationwide, i.e. compliant with standards;
• develop capacity building programs for BPLS streamlining;
• organize government agencies at the regional level to work with LGUs in implementing the BPLS reform;
• harness private sector support and participation for BPLS reforms; and
• harmonize different reform initiatives by development partners on BPLS streamlining