BONTOC, Mountain Province – Business owners in this capital town can look forward to faster and easier processing of their business permit applications with the launch of the electronic Business Permits and Licensing System (eBPLS) last July 1 at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
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 in the municipality.
The eBPLS is a cloud-based software developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology that allows end-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 the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law or Republic Act 11032.
The automation is an undertaking of the DICT, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Department of Trade and Industry.
Mayor Franklin Odsey said the eBPLS is a welcome development for the municipality, which expects increased revenue with the automation of the process in the issuance of business permits.
DICT Luzon Cluster 1 Regional Director Nestor Bongato in his message via Zoom lauded the municipal government for initiating the implementation of the eBPLS. He said this will greatly contribute to the improvement of the performance and competitiveness of LGUs in the business permit and licensing process.
He assured the continual support of the DICT to the LGUs and remote communities to intensify e-governance programs.
DILG Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Lourdes Claire Peel joined the other government agencies in congratulating the municipal government for being the first in Mountain Province to adopt the eBPLS. She said as a Seal of Good Local Governance awardee for three consecutive years, it is expected for Bontoc to raise the bar of excellence in governance.
She also expressed hope that other municipalities will follow.
Heads of partner agencies were present at the event and via Zoom to give their congratulatory messages. They highlighted the importance and impact of eBPLS in the economic growth and development of LGUs. They also gave their recommendations on how to sustain the system.
Business Permit and Licensing Officer Karen Lumiwes thanked partner agencies for the realization of the project.
“The eBPLS is an answered prayer. It will help systematize our processes for business licensing and its related transactions,” Lumiwes said. – Alpine L. Killa
April 24, 2024
