To ensure that local government units (LGUs) are promoting the expedited filing and releasing of business registration and renewal transactions, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has mobilized its central and regional field offices (RFOs) to conduct site inspections nationwide.
The ARTA said this in a bid to make sure that LGUs are complying with the mandatory establishment of the electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS).
The eBOSS and other similar online permitting systems expedite the filing and releasing of business registration and renewal applications.
Its mandatory establishment is provided under the automation requirements of the Ease of Doing Business Act.
ARTA Director-General Ernesto Perez and the Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation Office (CMEO) went to select city governments in Metro Manila to validate their compliance.
In a statement on Saturday, Feb. 4, ARTA reported that Perez inspected Pasig and Makati on Jan. 24 and Pasay and Parañaque on Jan. 30.
During the inspection, ARTA noted that Pasig City's eBOSS is partially automated, allowing business owners to process some parts online, while Makati City and Pasay City are still establishing their eBOSS.
Among the LGUs visited, ARTA awarded a Certificate of Commendation to Parañaque City for fully setting up a functional eBOSS and streamlining their business permits and licensing procedures.
ARTA's Regional Field Offices (RFOs) also conducted on-site inspections in their covered areas.
RFOs in Western, Northern, and Eastern Mindanao visited Zamboanga City and municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay and the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, and Malaybalay.
RFO Eastern Visayas went to the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Talisay, and other municipalities in Cebu province.
Meanwhile, Northern Luzon inspected Baguio City and nearby municipalities while Southern Luzon joined DILG Region IV on their BOSS and eBOSS validation in Quezon Province.
In a Facebook Live during the inspection, Perez highlighted the importance of LGUs in streamlining government transactions.
To ensure that LGUs and other government offices comply with ARTA's directives and related issuances under the Ease of Doing Business Act, the Authority has been conducting orientations and workshops intended to capacitate covered government institutions.
"Sang-ayon sa ating Presidente (According to the President), agencies must be interconnected," Perez said.
"'Pag nag-file ng application for permit and licenses, dapat hindi na pabalik-balik (A person should not keep on returning once he has filed his application for permit or licenses)," he added.
Despite business registrations and renewals ending in most LGUs last month, the agency will continue its on-site inspections in the coming months.
Aside from the eBOSS, ARTA will also validate compliance with the law's equally essential provisions, such as the Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS), Citizen's Charter Information Billboard, Citizen's Charter Handbook, and Feedback and Complains Mechanism.