The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has started its nationwide audit on the compliance of local government units (LGUs) with the electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) to determine the reasons why some LGUs could not comply with the said requirement.

The audit started on Nov. 20 in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). It aims to ramp up the push for all LGUs to comply with the eBOSS requirement.

According to ARTA director-general Secretary Ernesto Perez, the said audit was ordered by President Marcos himself.

“Itong compliance audit ng ARTA with DICT and DILG, iniutos ito ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. para malaman ang status ng compliance ng mga LGUs (This compliance audit was ordered by President Marcos to see the compliance status of LGUs)," he said.

"We also want to know the reasons why they cannot fully comply with this EODB Law requirement," he added.

The consolidated feedback from the audit will be used to come up with solutions to help other LGUs comply with the requirement.

ARTA started the compliance audit on LGUs in Metro Manila to be followed by highly urbanized cities.

LGUs are required to establish eBOSS under the Ease of Doing Business Act.

The eBOSS aims to expedite the filing and releasing of business registration and renewal applications.

The ARTA has been conducting surprise inspections to see if LGUs have complied with the mandatory establishment of the eBOSS.

The agency has also been recognizing LGUs in different summits, including the recent one in Ilocos Norte on Nov. 10, wherein the ARTA commended the City of Ilagan in Isabela and San Fernando City in La Union for their fully compliant eBOSS.

This means that their eBOSS satisfies the required features:

• Use of a unified application form
• Online uploading of required documents
• Integration of Barangay Clearance and Fire Safety Inspection Certificate
• Issuance of electronic tax bills or orders of payment
• Issuance of a valid electronic permit with the same level of authority as the hard copy
• Integrated online payment
• Link connecting to a physical courier to deliver permits