Put up one-stop centers for investors, LGUs told

Sen. Aquino Pimentel Jr. is urging local government officials to put up one-stop licensing offices in their localities that will provide friendly, efficient and corrupt-free services to businesses.

Pimentel said local executives should work hand in hand with national leaders in boosting the confidence of local and foreign investors in the economy and thus, create more jobs.

"The role of the national government, I think, is to lay down broad policy guidelines that will create a general atmosphere that proclaims the whole nation as business-friendly. The role of local governments is to flesh out the details whereby the business-friendly environment becomes a reality," he said.

Pimentel made the call during the First National Conference on Productivity and Quality of Local Governance sponsored by the Development Academy of the Philippines at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City the other day.

At present, Pimentel is spearheading the enactment of a Magna Carta for Business (Senate Bill 2277) that seeks to establish a level-playing field for businesses and guarantee them rights that the government will protect from the start of business operations.

Pimentel said officials should simplify their requirements and address the common complaint of business about bureaucratic red tape.

"For instance, issuance of permits should be facilitated and not prolonged by the requirement of having so many bureaucrats sign the business application papers," he said.

He said SB 2277 grants authority to local governments to build infrastructure that businesses need.

Under existing laws, he said local governments may hesitate to construct roads or put up communication lines for business sites for fear of being sued for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Law.

"The Magna Carta will specifically allow local government authorities to do so provided, of course, they do not have a personal or prohibited stake in the business. For as long as it is an honest-to-goodness effort to provide a climate friendly to business, local government authorities will be allowed to do any act to induce business to invest in their localities," Pimentel said.

Pimentel encouraged local officials to put up websites which, he said, will enable small and medium enterprises to seek out market opportunities and make their products available to buyers from all over the world. — Sammy Santos