The Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII enjoined local government units (LGUs) in the region to adopt the Electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) System during its Third Quarter 2021 Full Council Meeting on 30 September 2021.

The eBOSS is a unified online system that eases the process of applying for business licenses and permits by providing a singular platform for the processing of applications, receipt of payments, and issuance of approved licenses, clearances, permits, or authorizations. It will help ensure the swift and contactless processing of documents for local businesses.

Earlier this year, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 01, series of 2021, to guide LGUs and other related agencies in processing business permits, related clearances and licenses in all cities and municipalities pursuant to Republic Act No. 11032, otherwise known as the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Under the JMC, LGUs were mandated to automate their Business Processing and Licensing System or transition to eBOSS by June 2021.

To foster LGU compliance with the eBOSS, the RDC VIII directed that a support system be developed by the ARTA, the DICT VIII, DTI VIII, DILG VIII, and other concerned agencies. The said support system is to include, among others: (1) providing guidelines and standards for the LGUs in setting up the eBOSS; (2) providing training and maintenance support for the LGUs; (3) making the relevant software available to the LGUs; and (4) providing policy direction and monitoring the implementation of the standards and policies contained in the JMC.

The RDC VIII also recommended the Regional Competitiveness Committee, led by the DTI VIII and the DILG VIII, to initiate an activity to encourage and monitor the transition of all LGUs to the eBOSS system as this will help encourage economic dynamism and competitiveness in Eastern Visayas.

Local business leaders lauded the initiative as timely under the new normal and requested that the RDC VIII help encourage more LGUs to speed up their adoption of the eBOSS system.

In a recent meeting, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Eastern Visayas Region passed Resolution No. 02, series of 2021, entitled, “A Resolution Requesting the RDC VIII to Assess and Monitor the Implementation of Joint Memorandum Circular No. 01, s. 2021, Regarding the Processing of Business Permits and Licenses in the New Normal”.

Article and Photos by: Knulp Aseo, DRD/Rommel Rodrigo D. Ceblano, PFPD