Business assistance center put up to cut red tape
DTI Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group Carissa
Cruz, Evangelista and City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas lead the
cutting of the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the National
Economic Research and Business Assistance Center
(NERBAC). Assisting at left (party hidden) is DTI Regional
Director Dominic Abad
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Director Diosdado Cadena Jr. yesterday said the creation of the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) will substantially cut the bureaucratic red tape in the processing of business license.
In yesterday's launching of the region's NERBAC, Cadena said the presence of the center will likewise make everything easy for the investors to process their business licenses and other permits. The city government along with other government agencies will set up their own table in the center to process the needed permits. They will only adopt one business permit and licensing system.
The launching was attended by DTI Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group Carissa Cruz-Evangelista, DTI provincial directors and other government officials.
The Center will serve as investment center not only for the city of Iloilo but also for the provinces of Guimaras, Aklan, Capiz, Antique and Negros Occidental. The Center will also provide information about pertaining to the cost of doing business in each area.
One of the NERBAC's function is to organize and maintain a centralized one-stop services or assistance center that shall expedite the processing of all government requirements necessary in establishing a business. The region's NERBAC is located at the DTI office. It will soon be operational after yesterday's launching. Some 3,000 start up businesses like those engaged in trading and services are among the target clients.
The establishment of NERBACs all over the country is embodied in Republic Act No. 7470. Primarily, it aims to fast-track business requirement processing for start-ups. At the same time it aims to curb corruption and foster transparency in transactions.
Among others, the Center shall provide a one-stop action center which shall facilitate the processing and documentation of all paper requirements necessary for the establishment of a business enterprise in the country including credit services, provide prospective entrepreneurs/investors basic information on various business options that are open to them in accordance with the government’s Investment Priorities Plan (IPP), establish an updated data bank of all industries and business enterprises in the country and prepare feasibility studies of existing as well as possible industries in the country that can help entrepreneurs decide on what business to venture into.
According to DTI Regional Director Dominic Abad, the department along with the city government is now on the process of streamlining the procedures in securing a business permit. The streamlining is being funded by the GTZ. The funding agency has sought the services of the Central Philippine University in the streamlining of procedures in the permits and license division of the city. The same streamlining project is also being implemented in Bacolod City and Escalante in Negros Occidental.