THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said that it has validated the full automation of the business permit processes at 36 local government units (LGUs), making them compliant with electronic business one-stop shop (eBOSS) scheme.
In a Viber message, ARTA said that the latest LGU to have been validated for compliance was Baguio City, which received its certificate of commendation on June 7.
“We are still verifying the total number of LGUs that have declared that they are eBOSS-compliant from the data of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),” it said.
“It is possible that there may be LGUs that have implemented fully automated eBOSS besides the 36 LGUs that we just need to validate,” it added.
eBOSS is a single portal used for the renewal and application of business permits implemented by the DILG, DICT, the Department of Trade and Industry, and ARTA.
Between May 13 and 30, ARTA handed out certificates of commendation to Davao City, General Santos City, Malaybalay City in Bukidnon, Tagoloan and El Salvador City in Misamis Oriental, and Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte.
According to ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez, the eBOSS commendations in Mindanao “were a response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s call to improve bureaucratic efficiency.”
“By offering this incentive to compliant LGUs, ARTA is inspiring the rest to adopt eBOSS and to continue to push for a transition to digitalization, providing the Filipino people with expedited service delivery,” he added.
This year, ARTA is hoping to bring 200 LGUs into compliance with the eBOSS program.
Separately, Mr. Perez said that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Executive Order (EO) 59, which simplifies the approval process for flagship programs, are being finalized.
“The target date for signing is June 18,” Mr. Perez told BusinessWorld.
Last month, ARTA said that it was hoping to finalize the rules by June 10, as it is still waiting on the approval of the heads of the other agencies and the submission of the IRR to Mr. Marcos.
The President ordered the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) Board Committee on Infrastructure, ARTA, and the DILG to oversee the implementation of EO 59.
EO 59 aims to fast-track the permitting process through streamlining and digitalization. It also aims to remove redundant procedures and requirements.
According to NEDA’s website, the Marcos administration has 185 flagship infrastructure projects with an estimated project cost of P9.535 trillion. — Justine Irish D. Tabile