Business owners can benefit from faster and easier securing of business permits and licensing online with the application software developed by the Department of Information and Communications (DICT).

DICT Government Digital Transformation Bureau Director IV Leo Urbiztondo Jr. said the Integrated Business Permits and Licensing System (iBPLS) will transition to Integrated Local Government Unit (iLGU) by 2022.

“With iLGU, filing, processing, and payment, and issuance of permits and licenses can be done online,” Urbiztondo said in a webinar.

He said the iBPLS focuses on the development, maintenance, and implementation of an online system for the processing of business permits with barangay clearance, building permits, and certificate of occupancy.

As of July 2021, Urbiztondo said 326 LGUs implemented an online system for processing of business permits through DICT’s iBPLS, with 54 of them located in Eastern Visayas.

“So we have operational (online system for processing of business permits) and under developmental –we have conducted pilot testing, we have also LGUs who are into ongoing data build-up, and we have also those for data buildup which also include those that just started or about to start (implementing),” he said in mixed English and Filipino.

Urbiztondo said the DICT is also conducting free training for LGU system users.

He added LGUs have implemented epayment include Baler, Quezon; Ilagan, Isabela; Paete, Laguna; Mandaue, Cebu; and San Roque, Northern Samar.

For building permit and certificate of occupancy, Urbiztondo said five LGUs are already in the operational stage of the system, 32 LGUs are undergoing system testing, while 15 LGUs are waiting for a time slot for training on the iBPLS.

Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Secretary and Director General Jeremiah Belgica said the electronic Business One-Stop Shop (e-BOSS) aims to automate business permitting and licensing systems in LGUs.

As of May 31, 2021, Belgica said about 580 LGUs were already using the iBPLS which automates the processing of their business or mayor’s permit.

“…We are hoping that by the end of the term of our President, we would be able to at least automate most if not all of the local government units’ business permit and licensing offices,” he said.

Meanwhile, Belgica bared that ARTA will roll out two automation programs by the end of the year –the Philippine Business Registration Information System (PBRIS) and the Anti-Red Tape Electronic Management Information System (ARTEMIS).

Belgica said the PBRIS is a web-based platform providing real-time access to the regulatory management system and regulations relevant to the public.

“Basically, if you want to do business, you can learn what the regulations are that you need to undergo and need to be fulfilled. You could already go to the single website and locate the regulations concerning a business transaction that you are involving yourselves into,” he said in mixed English and Filipino.

The ARTEMIS, on the other hand, will allow the public to view services of different government agencies through their Citizen’s Charters, he added.