BONTOC, Mountain Province – Business owners in this capital town can look forward to faster and easier business permits and licensing applications as the local government unit, through the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), adopted the electronic Business Permits and Licensing System (eBPLS).
The eBPLS is a cloud-based software developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology that allows users to file applications for new and renewal of business permits online.
This is in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to reduce the requirements and processing time of all government transactions through Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Law.
The automation is a joint undertaking of the DICT along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry.
Licensing Officer Karen Lumiwes said the eBPLS will help systematize the processes for business licensing and its related transactions.
Considering that it will be the first implementation of the eBPLS, a one-stop-shop will still be in place during the renewal and application for business permits from Jan. 3 to Jan. 20, 2022.
Lumiwes said applicants must secure Community/Corp Tax Certificate (Cedula); barangay clearance; police clearance; sanitary permit; health certificate; zoning clearance (for new business registration); fire safety inspection certificate; registration certificate (for new business registration) to include DTI Business Name Registration for a sole proprietorship, Securities and Exchange Commission registration for partnership or corporation and Cooperative Development Authority certificate for cooperative; and sworn statement of gross sales/ receipt of the preceding year (for renewal of business).
The applicant must present the requirements upon filing of registration for the business permit at the BPLO.
Upon securing the required documents, the applicant must register to the eBPLS link https://prod.ebpls.com/bontocmountainprovince/index.php/register and upload copies of the secured documents.
Upon submission of the required documents to the BPLO or online, the applicants must pay the assessed fees at the Office of the Municipal Treasurer and then claim their respective Business Permits at the BPLO-Office of the Municipal Mayor.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey said the eBPLS is a welcome development as the municipal government expects increased revenue generation with the automation of its business license processing.
He said taxes to be generated from the businesses operating in the town will be used to fund the implementation of more development projects and improve the delivery of basic services to residents.
Bontoc is the first municipality in Mountain Province, and the fifth in the Cordillera to adopt the eBPLS to promote a more competitive business environment. – Alpine L. Killa
