Parañaque launches simplified business permit renewal system

From Manila Bulletin:

By Dhel Nazario

A simplified yet integrated business permit renewal system was formally launched this year by the Parañaque City to enhance investor confidence and improve service delivery to local and foreign investors.

Dubbed as the Project Express Lane Operation or Project ELO, the undertaking is in line with Republic Act No. 11032 or Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in May last year.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez said with the launching of the project this year, they are hoping that more businesses will register and set up shop in the city as they by simplify and integrate the steps in securing business and other permits.

One of the salient features of Project ELO is the elimination of securing permits from the different barangays, previously a prerequisite before a Mayor’s permit is granted, according to Olivarez. With the new project, the first in the country, he said, business owners need not go to barangay hall to apply for a barangay clearance.

It will now be applied, paid and issued at the Paranaque city hall along with the fire safety inspection certificate, sanitary permit, certificate of conformance, from planning office and the mayor’s permit to operate a business, he added.

Project ELO is located at the newly renovated Taxpayers Lounge of the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), which serves as the concierge of the project, ground floor of the city hall.

The team is composed of personnel from BPLO, Planning and Development Office, Office of the Building Official, City Health Office, City Treasurer’s Office, Liga ng Baranagay, the Bureau of Fire and Protection and the Philippine National Police.

“This integrated and simplified process eliminate days of back and forth from the barangay and to other department of the city which the time and resources of business permit applicants,” the mayor pointed out.

“This is part of our commitment to be one of the most business-friendly local government units in the country under the Bagong Paranaque program of governance,” Olivarez explained.

As a result of the launch of the project last January 3, the first working day of the year in government offices, assessments nearly doubled to P81 million compared P46 million generated in the first working day of 2018, according to BPLO chief Melanie Malaya.