DTI, LGUs work to streamline business process

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will work with local government units (LGUs) to automate business permits after streamlining the process in a bid to make the country more competitive and to develop local economies.

“We are have made considerable headway in business permits and licensing systems (BPLS) implementation. But we are not stopping there. We want to see the LGUs move up to the next level from BPLS to e-BPLS,” DTI secretary Gregory Domingo said in a message read by Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Cuison-Maglaya during the forum on BPLS automation.

The forum is a joint activity of the Investment Enabling Environment Project of the United States Agency for International Development, the Local Government Support Program for Local Economic Development of the Canadian International Development Agency, the DTI, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Science and Technology.

“This gathering is a manifestation that the joint undertaking among committed entities and organizations is an effective strategy to achieve target results for the benefit of many,” Domingo said.

The BPLS streamlining program involves simplifying the business registration process by reducing the number of steps, application forms and the number of signatories in business permit applications.