The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has started inspecting local government units (LGUs) to see if they are fully implementing their Business One-Stop Shops (BOSS) for this year’s business registration and business license renewals.
According to ARTA, the inspection, which started Thursday, aims to monitor the LGUs’ compliance with the provisions of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law in relation to business permit application and renewal.
The inspection, which was aired live over Facebook, was led by ARTA Director General Jeremihan Belgica in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). They inspected Quezon City and Pasig City Thursday and checked Manila Friday.
ARTA said that the inspecting team had a walkthrough on the process of business registration and renewal at the QZ Biz Easy, the Quezon City LGU’s BOSS, by Business Permits and Licensing Department head Ma. Margarita Santos.
During the inspection, Belgica praised the efforts of the Quezon City LGU.
“Laki ng improvement nila physically. Tapos nag-online na rin sila (They have greatly improved, physically. They have now also shifted online)," he said.
Belgica hoped that other LGUs can follow what the Pasig LGU did after they inspected the business permit application and renewal process at its business one-stop shops at the City Hall and at the Ayala Malls (The 30th).
“I do hope that the initiatives of Pasig City will also be replicated by other LGUs," he said.
"I believe that they would be fully automating within the next few months before June 17, which is the deadline. These are very exciting times for everyone lalo na kung ikaw ay isang Pasigueño (especially if you are from Pasig),” he added.
Following the inspections, ARTA said they will send formal assessment and recommendations to the LGUs on how they could further improve their existing processes in compliance with the EODB Law.
It will also inspect other LGUs’ BOSS in the days to come.
Last Wednesday, ARTA officials looked into the business registration process at the BOSS of Malabon City.
ARTA had earlier said that some of the important requirements and features that are expected from the BOSS of LGUs are:
· A single window for submission of all requirements
· A Unified Application Form containing all required questions by all the offices involved in the processing of permits
· 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.
· The processing of applications of not more than three days
LGUs found to be non-compliant with the requirements of the law shall receive Notice of Deficiencies and may be subjected to a formal investigation which may result in an administrative case.