EASE OF DOING BUSINESS. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Western Visayas regional director Juan Jovian Ingeniero (third from left) shares the major programs of the agency during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday (July 30, 2024). He said the DILG is aiming for the full automation of the business permits and licensing system of all local government units (LGUs) in the region before the end of the President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s term. (Photo by Perla G. Lena)
ILOILO CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 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 Western Visayas 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.
Meanwhile, Ingeniero reported that Western Visayas was chosen as the pilot region of the Recovery Initiatives towards Sustained Local Economy (RISE) program.
RISE was developed to equip LGUs with strategies and partnerships for economic recovery and foster sustained growth.
“Region 6 is fast-rising in terms of economy, but there are some LGUs that need our support. In the RISE program, we give seed money to target LGUs as start-up funds for a livelihood program,” Ingeniero said.
The recipient LGUs are Talisay City in Negros Occidental and Badiangan in Iloilo, which received PHP250,000 each.
They were chosen from more than 50 applicant LGUs. (PNA)
