Vol. XXI, No. 243 [ BusinessWorld Online ]
Friday, July 11, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
DAVAO CITY — Steps in applying for new business permits can be reduced to at least eight from a high of 12 through the Philippine Business Registry, said Gerlin May U. Catangui, transaction leader of the Business Enabling Environment Advisory Services of the World Bank’s International Finance Corp. (IFC).
Ms. Catangui, whose group was behind a study on doing business in cities, said that the operation of the Philippine Business Registry (www.business.gov.ph), launched here last July 9, "will collapse" all the registration requirements into one platform.
At the same time, she said, local governments can help by reducing their own procedures.
The study, conducted between August and December last year, noted that procedures to secure a permit for a new business requires 11 steps at the national level, and range from four to 12 among various local governments, with Davao City having 12 steps.
Ms. Catangui said that based on the study, Marikina and Taguig cities have four steps in addition to the National Government procedures.
She said for Davao City to be competitive, it must be able to find ways to shorten its procedures. In Marikina and Taguig, she explained, a business operator does not have to visit all the offices. Instead, a government liaison officer assists him. — CQFs
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