Governors, mayors told to speed up issuance of business permits

Simplifying Business Permit and Licensing Process of Local Governments. https://www.dti.gov.ph/dti/index.php?p=596

MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo has ordered all governors and mayors to comply with a law promoting and providing incentives to small village-based entrepreneurs by simplifying processing of permits and licenses and registration of businesses.

In an April 30 memorandum, Robredo asked all chief executives of local government units to fully implement Republic Act 9178, or the Barangay Micro-Business Enterprises Act of 2002, after observing that compliance was low at the provincial, city and municipal levels.

Robredo reiterated a memorandum issued by the department in April 2003 directing local chief executives to fully implement RA 9178 by establishing a “one-stop business registration center” to streamline applications for small barangay-based businesses.

The one-stop center will simplify the process of applying for small enterprises, from registration to the processing of permits and licenses.

“A Standard Registration Form and a Certificate of Authority have been provided by the Department of Trade and Industry to be utilized for such purposes,” the circular said.

The same circular said that as far as registration for accreditation was concerned, an enabling ordinance was no longer considered a prerequisite before local governments could entertain applications for a Certificate of Authority under RA 9178.

To ensure compliance, Robredo ordered all regional offices to submit semestral reports on the status of the implementation of the law, including the number of LGUs with registered barangay enterprises, the number such enterprises and other basic information.

All reports shall be submitted to the Office of the Undersecretary for Local Government through the Bureau of Local Government Development. That report shall then be submitted to the DTI for submission to Congress, he added.