Business Permit application DILG tells Cebu City to simplify process

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed the Cebu City Government to streamline the process in issuing new business permits to curb the bureaucracy at the city hall.

This after the DILG observed that to secure a business permit requires seven steps and nine signatories.

Business permits are issued by the City Treasurer’s Office but the application form requires signatures from other offices.

DILG-7 Director Ananias Villacorta reminded the city government that Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 was created to reduce bureaucracy in the government.

“Section 5 of Republic Act 9485, the anti-red tape act of 2007, mandates all offices and agencies which provide frontline services to regularly undertake time and and motion studies, undergo evaluation and improvement of transaction systems and procedures to re-engineer the same to reduce bureaucratic red tape and processing time,” Villacorta said in his letter to Mayor Michael Rama last Tuesday.

“Moreover, section 8d of the same law provides that the number of signatories in any document shall be limited to a maximum of five signatures,” Villacorta added.

Villacorta told the mayor to direct the treasurer’s office to follow the provisions of the law by reducing the process and limiting the signatories to a maximum of five.

To apply for a business permit, one must secure first an application form and accomplish at least three copies of this form.

The business must undergo inspection by six offices namely, the Zoning Department, Office of the Building Official, City Health Department, Liquor and Licensing Commission, Fire Department and the Office of the Mayor.

The applicant must also comply with at least 15 requirements. —  (FREEMAN)