Set up e-business one-stop shops, LGU told
Local government units (LGU) should move their business permit application processes online by mid-June this year to make it more efficient, a government official said Saturday.
Jeremiah Belgica, chief of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), said his agency, as well as the interior, information and communications, and trade departments, had signed a joint memorandum circular seeking to simplify online business registration processes and licensing systems.
“Through this joint memorandum circular, there will be clear guidelines or guidance on how our 1,600 local government units can put up their business one-stop shops,” he said in a televised briefing.
“These guidelines will help them because under the law, they are required to put up automated business one-stop shops by 17 June,” Belgica added.
Under the new circular, local governments that have fully put up an online business registration service must cut the number of steps to one, while those transitioning to an automated system must have a maximum of four steps under a hybrid manual and digital process.
Belgica said ARTA has coordinated with other government agencies to provide free computer software to local leaders to help them move their business permit application processes online.
In the same briefing, he also welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 129 creating the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Streamlining of Government Processes, saying his agency will work with the newly-created office to simplify government processes.
Duterte signed the order on Tuesday, four months after he appointed former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr. as the Presidential Adviser on Streamlining of Government Processes.
The Philippine leader mandated the newly-created office to advise and recommend to ARTA evidence-based policies, programs, measures and strategies that will expedite government processes and cut red-tape in the Executive branch as well as local government units.
“Last year, the Congress granted the President extra powers to streamline government processes during national emergencies. Secretary Jun and I are working to identify how the President can utilize such powers,” Belgica said.