DTI now handles biz permit processing

Providing hassle-free one stop shop service for new business applicants, Department of Trade and Industry’s National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) can now render the processing of the Mayor’s business permit.

Recently, Mayor Tomas Osmeña signed a memorandum assigning the processing of all new applicants for the Mayor’s business permit at the NERBAC.

Now all new applicants will no longer be flocking the Mayor’s office as the permit can be easily processed in the center. Only processing of business permit renewals will be retained in the office.

Effective last May 12, Mayor Osmeña assigned representatives from his office to receive, evaluate and assist new business applicants in the processing of the Mayor’s business permit.

Given all necessary requirements and notarizations are complied, clients can already be issued business tax payment certificates in a matter of minutes at NERBAC, which will allow them to operate their businesses legally. Then after 60 working days, they can come back to get their business permits.

Community tax certificates for businesses can also be acquired from the Center.

NERBAC Center Manager Minerva Yap said that this move from the city government is a welcome development for their office as they have always been encouraging national government agencies and local government sectors to post their staff at the center to provide a real one-stop-shop service for new business applicants.

She is hoping that this will also encourage other national agencies to assign full time personnel in the Center to optimize the demand for their services.

“Now we can provide better service to clients because all major agencies for business permitting are already here in the center. This is in line with the reduction of cost in doing business for the clients and to reduce the hassle in going to different offices for processing,” said Yap.

DTI NERBAC receives an average of 160 processors and business applicants daily and with the posting of the Mayor’s business permitting in the center, Yap is positive to increase this rate. —Rhia de Pablo