The City’s Business tax collection for the first 20 days of the month exceeded by P4.78 million compared to the same period last year mainly because of the new business permit processing system.

Records from the Permits and Licenses Division show that business tax collections from January 1 to 20 reached P66.898 million as against the P62.112 million collected during the same period in 2013.

Business permits processed for the first 20 days of the year reached 5,485 with 349 new applications. In 2013- 5,368 business permits were processed with 279 new applications during the first 20 days of January.

City Licensing Chief Benjie Barredo said the increase in both the number of permits processed and business tax collection by the City Treasurer’s Office is attributed to the streamlined internal regulatory system on the business permit and licensing process as mandated by Mayor Beng Climaco through Executive Order 28.

Based on the executive order, processing of business permits renewal has been cut down to 3 steps from the previous 5 steps, lessening processing time to only 30 minutes more or less.

Basically, the process involves the submission of the renewal application form at the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) followed by the assessment and payment of taxes at the City Treasurer’s Office and consequently the issuance of a temporary permit to operate (TPO) or the so-called conditional permit by the Chief Licensing Officer.

In his report to Mayor Climaco dated January 21, Barredo said a total of 418 temporary permits were issued during the first 20 days of the year.

Adding business tax to other permit-related fees, the collection from Jan. 1-20, 2014 has reached P75.182 million while in 2013, the figure reached only P72.309 million.

Monday, January 20, was the deadline for the renewal of business permits without surcharges and penalties. — Sheila E. Covarrubias

Original source:

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