The Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) recently passed a resolution urging the Office of the Mayor to implement the electronic business permit and licensing system (E-BPLS).

The resolution, authored by City Councilor Em Ang, called for compliance with RA 9485, or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, which mandates offices and agencies to “undergo evaluation and improvement of their transaction systems and procedures.”

It also cited Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 series of 2016, by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), urging local government units to implement E-BPLS.

The E-BPLS Summit 2017 was held earlier this year, where the DICT explained how the computerized system utilizes cloud-based software to process and renew business permits.

They also recognized the top ten cities and municipalities that would be given priority when it comes to conducting training programs for the new software.

Kalibo, Aklan was the only Region VI local government unit named./PLL, WDJ