The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-6) is targeting the full automation of the business permits and licensing system of all local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas before the end of the President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s term.
In a public briefing, DILG-6 Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero reported that 104 local government units in the region are automated, but only the towns of Pavia in Iloilo and Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental are fully automated.
The automation in all steps of the business registration process is an important part of Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.
“The target of the government is full automation for the Business Permits and Licensing System. Fortunately, more than 100 out of the 139 LGUs are partially and fully automated,” Ingeniero said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas.
Of these, he said Iloilo City and Bacolod City are almost nearing full automation, and are just harmonizing their systems with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
He pointed out that non-compliance to Republic Act 11032 would result to less investments coming in for LGUs, while also opening the possibility of corruption.
“The lesser the face-to-face negotiation, the better, and there is the least corruption,” Ingeniero said.
The DILG official said LGUs’ compliance also impact their chances of getting the Seal of Good Local Governance, particularly on the business-friendliness and competitiveness indicator.Perla Lena/PNA
