More investments are expected to come here with the Electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) being implemented by the city government here, which has resulted in ease of doing business.

In an interview on Wednesday, Asuncion Viñas, chief of the Legazpi City Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), said the eBOSS has also recently earned a commendation from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).

“We want the business transactions in the city more effective and efficient. With this (eBOSS), more business owners and investors are encouraged to conduct business here,” she said.

A team from ARTA had tested the eBOSS implementation under BPLO and found it seamless and efficient.

“They (ARTA team) tried to get new and renewal permits through online transactions and (became) convinced that the eBOSS in Legazpi City simplified business permit application, addressed systematic issues in the local permits and licenses, and introduced reforms and technology-enabled application and systems,” she said.

Viñas said with the eBOSS, new business applications and renewals can now be completed within one day.

“In Legazpi City, we integrated the barangay clearance fee and the safety inspection fee of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) through our One-Time Assessment and Payment Policy Program. Pag nag apply ka online makikita mo na agad ung kailangan mong bayaran, and doon mismo pwede ka na mag bayad through online payment. Mas naging madali ang pagkuha nila ng business permit. Within the day dapat mai-release natin yan (When you apply online, you will immediately see what you need to pay, and right there you can pay through online payment. It has become easier for them to get a business permit. We should be able to release it within the day),” Viñas said.

She said by becoming a business-friendly city, Legazpi’s economy is expected to further improve through the creation of more jobs and livelihood.

Viñas said in addition to eBOSS, they were also conducting onsite business permit applications and renewals in far-flung barangays.

“This is part of our advocacy to bring the services closer to the people because we believe that the time of business owners is very important,” she added.

Based on the compliance monitoring stringently conducted by ARTA, Legazpi City has successfully implemented all functionalities in setting up the eBOSS as mandated by Republic Act 11032, otherwise known as the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018”.

“We would like to convey our appreciation and commendation to the City Government of Legazpi as one of the LGUs (local government units) that simplified business permit application, addressed systemic issues in the local permits and licenses, and introduced reforms and technology-enabled applications and systems that paved the way to a seamless and efficient process,” ARTA Director General Secretary Ernesto Perez said in his letter recently sent to Legazpi City Mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal.

“We applaud the City Government of Legazpi for setting the standards among the cities and municipalities. We hope that the City Government of Legazpi will continue what it has started and even exceed what was previously accomplished to continuously realize the ease of doing business in the Philippines,” he added.(PNA)