THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said local government units (LGUs) with fully automated business permit processes now number 44, with seven awaiting commendation.
ARTA reported that the most recent LGU to be issued a commendation for full compliance was Pulilan, Bulacan on June 13.
Meanwhile, the LGUs awaiting commendations are Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, Tagbilaran and Ubay, Bohol, Valencia, Bukidnon, and Alubijid, Laguindingan and Manticao, Misamis Oriental.
ARTA reported that five more LGUs have declared they are compliant, which is subject to validation, and that 635 LGUs are partly compliant.
Some 606 LGUs have not implemented the electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) system, while 344 LGUs have not reported.
ARTA Deputy Director General for Operations Gerald G. Divinagracia told reporters on Tuesday that the agency is confident of hitting the target of enrolling 200 LGUs in the eBOSS program.
“We are still on track. It is more about continuously validating, calling the LGUs out. But our target really for this year is for the seven remaining LGUs in the National Capital Region to be fully compliant,” Mr. Divinagracia said.
Metro Manila is composed of 17 LGUs, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Makati, Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, and Pateros.
The onboarding of Caloocan, Pasig, Taguig, Makati, San Juan, Las Piñas, and Pateros is pending, he said.
“We want them to be fully compliant this year. And they promised,” he said.
“Meaning, in terms of trustworthiness and getting away from the old way of doing things, people still want the hard copy rather than the electronic version. So, they cannot move or transition to the digital world,” he added.
However, he said that ARTA is not asking LGUs to operate solely digitally and that they can still accept non-electronic submissions. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
