MANILA – The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) called on all local government units (LGUs) to “fully implement” their respective Business One Stop Shops (BOSS) for this year’s business registration and business license renewals.
“ARTA shall be conducting a series of on-the-spot surprise inspections starting 1st working week of January, especially to NCR (National Capital Region) Cities and other Highly Urbanized Cities,” ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica said in a statement on Friday.
He said the LGUs compliance will be audited based on the requirements of Republic Act 11032 or the or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 and other existing policies of ARTA, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) on BOSS.
Some of the important requirements and features that are expected from the BOSS of LGUs are the following:
--A single window for submission of all requirements.
--A Unified Application Form containing all required questions by all the offices involved in permits process.
--Three Simple Step process of Submission, Assessment/Payment and Release.
--Presence of a clear and complete citizen’s charter.
--Integration of Barangay Clearance in the BOSS
--Integration of Fire Safety Inspection/Evaluation Clearance in the BOSS.
--A processing of application of not more than 3 days.
He said deficient LGUs shall receive Notice of Deficiencies and may be subjected to a formal investigation which may result to an administrative case.
“We are likewise reminding all LGUs that the statutory deadline for the creation of their Electronic Business One Stop Shops (E-BOSS) is only until June 17, 2021 which is three years from the effectivity of RA 11032.
LGUs who have no Electronic BOSS yet may already use the DICT developed Electronic Business Permitting and Licensing System (EBPLS) which is already available for free.
“This is in line with the President’s directive to bring government transactions and services online,” Belgica said.
The Philippines is currently 95th out of 190 economies in the Ease of Doing Business Survey of the World Bank.
Under the Ease of Doing Business Law, all LGUs are required to set up their business permit and licensing systems or E-BOSS by June 2021.
For LGUs to be able to comply with said provision of the law, ARTA recommends the adoption of the DICT’s Electronic Business Permits and Licensing System (eBPLS) and Integrated Business Permits and Licensing System Software (iBPLS).
The eBPLS software involves permitting system for securing Business Permits and soon, Barangay Clearance as well, while the iBPLS allows for the electronic processing of applications for Building Permits and Occupancy Permits. (PNA)
