1st Phil. Business Registry in Cebu launched

REGISTERING one’s business in Cebu has now gotten easier with the launching of the first Philippine Business Registry (PBR) in Cebu yesterday at the Department of Trade and Industry-National Economic Business Action Center (DTI-Nerbac) office.

The PBR would make the business registration processes easier as it is interlinked with other agencies like Social Security System, Philhealth, Pag-Ibig and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, said Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo.

“Registration for businesses has been very difficult in the past that usually takes about one to two weeks. With PBR one can have their registration for all these agencies within 30 minutes,” said Domingo.

One only needs to visit DTI-Nerbac and create user’s account at www.business.gov.ph.

“Log-in and fill out the application form. TIN is required to proceed and the application will be sent to SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-ibig after you pay for the Business Name through GCash,” said Director Ernani Dionisio of DTI Central Visayas, who has been in-charge of the PBR project since 2006.

Dionisio said that employer’s registration numbers will then be generated by SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig that the applicants can then use to get certificates or employer’s ID from these agencies.

DTI provincial director Asteria Caberte announced that another PBR unit will be launched in Cebu City Hall this April to provide more access to the businessmen.

Domingo said the agency’s thrust would be expand its reach by setting up PBR units in local government offices so that people wouldn’t have to go to each of the agencies to register.

“We have also a goal to make this available on-line where people can register right from their desks at home or at their offices,” said Domingo.

For this goal, Domingo said that they were just waiting for the eCash Payment System of the government to go online before they can offer the services of PBR online.

“We are looking at sometime middle of this year for this goal to be realized,” said Domingo./Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap