DTI inks data sharing deal with City Hall

The Cebu City government and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) are working together to share a data portal in a bid to smoothen government related processes.

“This initiative is to help both entities to comply with existing business registration laws,” said DTI-7 assistant regional director Nanette Arbon in an interview.

According to Arbon, Cebu City government and DTI’s data sharing move aims specifically to provide convenience among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and those start-up entrepreneurs in acquiring necessary documents like business registrations and business permits.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed recently between both entities to formalize this move.

The portal enables both parties to share information so each could keep track and monitor which enterprises have or have not obtained certificate of business name registration and mayor’s permit.

This initiative is also seen to protect consumers from fly-by-night business operations, as well as leveling the business playing field.

It will also aid the Cebu City government and DTI to easily address cases of enterprises with certificate of business name registration but with no mayor’s permit and vice versa, Arbon explained.

To start off a business, entrepreneurs must secure a certificate of business name registration from the DTI, business clearance from their barangay and a business permit from the City Mayor Office.

Prior to this data sharing initiative, both entities could not track the number of enterprises operating with certificate of business name registration but with no mayor’s permit.

“The data sharing initiative will allow us to track this because there’s also a time stamp. As we get more information and do analytics we can be more responsive. Without data sharing we have no way of knowing,” explained Arbon.

Arbon hinted that once this joint collaboration takes off, the same platform will be replicated in all Negosyo Centers in Cebu province.