Bontoc, Mountain Province – Business owners in this capital town can look forward to faster and easier business permits and licensing applications with the launch of the electronic Business Permits and Licensing System (eBPLS) last July 1, 2021, at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
Bontoc is the first municipality in Mountain Province, and the fifth in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to adopt the eBPLS to promote a more competitive business environment in the municipality.
The eBPLS is a cloud-based software developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) that allows end-users to file applications for new and renewal of business permits online. This is in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to reduce the requirements and processing time of all government transactions through the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law or RA 11032. The automation is a joint undertaking of the DICT along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey in his message expressed his profound gratitude to the DICT, DILG, and DTI for all their assistance to the undertaking of the municipality.
He added that the eBPLS is a welcome development for the municipality, which expects increased revenue generation with the automation of its business license. With the increase in revenue, more projects can be implemented for the benefit of the community.
DICT Luzon Cluster 1 Regional Director Nestor Bongato in his message via zoom lauded the Bontoc LGU under the leadership of Mayor Odsey for initiating the implementation of the eBPLS. He said that the eBPLS will become a useful tool to support the LGU’s effective management of information in terms of speedy knowledge processing to achieve organizational objectives. Thus, it will greatly contribute to the improvement of the performance and competitiveness of the LGUs in the business permit and licensing process.
Likewise, he assured the continual support of the DICT to the LGUs and remote communities to intensify e-governance programs.
Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Lourdes Claire Peel of the DILG joined the other government agencies in congratulating the Municipality of Bontoc for being the first in Mountain Province to adopt the eBPLS. She added that Bontoc, as a Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Awardee for three consecutive years, is expected to raise the bar of excellence in governance. She added that the launching of the eBPLS can further streamline the Bontoc LGU’s business permits and licensing applications and provide faster service to clients especially that Bontoc is the capital town and business hub of the province. Relative to this, she expressed high hopes that other municipalities will emulate.
The heads from all the partner agencies were present at the event and online via zoom to give their congratulatory message. They also highlighted the importance and impact of eBPLS in the economic growth and development of the LGUS. Aside from this, they gave their recommendations on how to sustain the system.
Business Permit and Licensing Officer Karen Lumiwes expressed his gratitude to the partner agencies for the realization of the project.
“The eBPLS is an answered prayer. It will help systematize our processes for business licensing and its related transactions, Lumiwes added.
Also present during the eBPLS launching are Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen, Sangguniang Bayan members Alsannyster Patingan and Viola Okko, and the key players in the eBPLS. The key players in the implementation of eBPLS are the BPLO, Office of the Municipal Health Officer, Officer of the Municipal Treasurer, Office of the Municipal Engineer, Office of the Municipal Planning and Development Officer/ Coordinator, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bontoc Municipal Police Station (MPS). ** Alpine L. Killa, Bontoc LGU
