The local government unit of Dumaguete City is implementing beginning this month the Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) with national government agencies that have participation in the renewal and application of business permits.
These government agencies are being housed and distributed in local government offices in the city for convenience to clients.
The city government has provided a table inside the city administrator’s office personnel from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Social Security System for requirements in the processing of permits.
City Administrator Ricardo Gonzales said on Wednesday that requiring the SSS and other national government agencies to establish desks inside city hall would ensure SSS, PhilHealth or Pag-ibig enrolment of workers in the private establishments.
This is one way of helping these agencies increase their collection efforts by requiring their presence during the renewal of business and mayor’s permits.
To be renewed are more than 7,500 to 8,000 business establishments in Dumaguete City, Gonzales said as he urged businessmen not to wait for the deadline to come to avoid inconvenience.
According to Gonzales, the city is urging the city engineer’s office and the fire department to immediately act on the applications for clearances to avoid delays.
He, however stressed the concern of the city engineer’s office is to make sure the public is safe when entering public establishments and that certification issued by the Bureau of Fire Protection will also depend on the building clearance issued by the building official.
This is where the processing of permits is clogged because of strict regulations of the fire and building code.
To facilitate the issuance of these clearances, Gonzales said the city may allow undertakings for minor deficiencies, giving establishments up to 90 days within which to comply all the requirements provided the safety of the public is not sacrificed.
Another concern being raised is on the requirement of Internet cafés and computer shops to be registered with the Optical Media Board in the absence of a local branch office in Dumaguete.
According to Gonzales, these establishments may also submit undertakings so processing of their permits can be fast-tracked.
There are about 100 or so internet cafes and computer shops in the city. (PNA)
