LGU holds one stop shop for business licensing

The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tacurong City started today the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) that seeks to speed up the processing of permits of individuals or companies operating businesses within the city.

The city gymnasium is used as the venue of the one stop shop that will run until January 21.

Under the BOSS, the fastest a client could complete the processing of business permit is less than thirty minutes provided all the needed requirements are presented. Licensing Officer Rene Torreflores said that business operators were given ample time since October last year to comply the requirements.

If a client has all the required documents, there are only three steps in renewal of business permits. First is accomplishing the Business Permit Unified Form for computation of business tax and regulatory fees; second is payment and issuance of business permit along with the signature of the City Treasurer; and third is the approval of the business permit by the City Mayor or the City Administrator. A fourth step though is required for new business applications (client goes to BIR for business registration).

For business operators who have yet to comply the stipulated requirements, offices under the LGU as well as national line agencies are found at the venue of the BOSS.

Seven offices under the LGU have personnel assigned at the venue to accommodate clients. These include the Office of the City Mayor (License Inspection Services Section and Economic Enterprise Management and Slaughterhouse), City Engineering Office, City Planning and Development Coordinating Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Office for City Health Services, City Treasury Office, and City Administrator’s Office.

Six national line agencies involved in business licensing are also at the BOSS venue: the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Social Security System, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Trade and Industry, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth).

As anticipated, few clients went to the BOSS venue on the first day, but City Administrator Eduardo Nicolo expects that bulk of business operators will flock in the venue starting next week.

In 2011, a total of 1,191 permits were processed under the BOSS. The figure exceeded the LGU’s target of 841. Torreflores said that they expect an increase in the figure in this year’s one stop shop. (Allan Freno)