OCTOBER 2014 – The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) called on stakeholders from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and various local government units (LGUs) to work together in carrying out the new standards in the business permits and licensing system (BPLS).

At the opening ceremonies of the NCC Roadshow featuring best practices in the BPLS of LGUs, DTI Undersecretary and NCC Champion Nora Terrado challenged the participants to help make business registration a more positive experience for businessmen by simplifying requirements and reducing procedures, processing times, and cost.

The new BPLS standards enjoins LGUs to cut the number of steps involved in applying for a business permit from 5 to 3, reduce processing time from 5-10 days to 1.5 days, and limit the number of signatories required to 2.

The use of a single, unified form is also encouraged.

The new standards are expected to create an environment that will attract investors and allow citizens to establish and businesses that will generate jobs.

As NCC Private Sector Director for Operations Ruy Moreno put it, “[The] BPLS Streamlining Program is an important aspect of [Ease of Doing Business]. It is the drive to business opportunities that will come.”

This is especially important “for the Philippines next year as we face bigger challenges from the ASEAN Economic Community”, added Competitiveness Bureau Executive Director Virgilio Fulgencio.

In the case of Batangas City, streamlining efforts have been accompanied by higher client satisfaction ratings from applicants and even an increase in both new and renewal business applications.

Since 2013, the city has upgraded its systems to include a centralized database, business one-stop shop facility, seamless backroom operations, and even physical improvements.

Batangas City was one of three cities in the Philippines that received technical assistance from USAID INVEST in streamlining their BPLS.

According to Business Permits and Licensing Officer Ditas Aguado-Rivera, it now only takes 2 steps and less than 2 hours to register and renew permits in Batangas City.

The streamlined process is considered among the best in the country.

To give the participants a picture of an automated business registration system, Director Thess Roberto of DOST also demonstrated the features of the web-based version of the e-BPLS.

As designed, the e-BPLS will allow businessmen to submit applications and documentary requirements online and print their permit after payment.

DOST is planning to do pilot tests in select LGUs that expressed intention for the software.  

Participants at the roadshow welcomed the new initiatives to make it easier to do business in the Philippines.

After the presentations, each region began working on action plans to identify key issues and concerns as coaches for BPLS. Each region will also recommend action steps to further strengthen the initiatives of BPLS reforms in their respective regions

The plans will focus on addressing first level issues such as coordination and communication with DILG counterparts and information dissemination of the new set standards. The need for customer-related training program was also emphasized as an important matter for business permits and licenses offices.

The first leg of the two-day NCC Roadshows was held in Manila last October 14-15 at the Bayview Park Hotel. This was followed by roadshows in Davao and Cebu.