Pasig gov’t makes life easier for traders

Getting all the required licenses and paying the taxes to operate a business in Pasig City is now a breeze, thanks to the city government’s simplified business permit and licensing system starting this month.

Under the new business permit and licensing system, traders looking to set up shop in Pasig City can get a permit issued in less than a day and after just three steps: First, submit an application form and get an assessment; second, pay the necessary taxes, fees and charges; and third, claim your business permit.

However, the guarantee of a business permit being issued within the day depends on whether the applicants submit a completed application form along with all the required documents.

The city government said that under the old system which could take anywhere between 10 and 74 days (or more than two months), applicants needed to accomplish 15 steps before their permit could be issued.

The new streamlined business permit licensing system was unveiled earlier this month after a simplification project team from Pasig City Hall collaborated with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation through its Regulatory Simplification Project Phase 2.

The city government said that the overhaul lasted several months during which the team  reviewed and assessed the old system.

“By looking at the legal basis of the steps that are required, the team was able to identify those steps that could be streamlined and those that could be done within offices without the need for [the applicant’s physical presence],” a statement from the city government read.

For his part, Pasig Mayor Robert Eusebio hopes the new system would make it easier for owners of micro and small enterprises to set up shop in the city.

“A cumbersome registration process puts additional burden and cost on businesses and hits hard the micro and small enterprises. A simplified process enhances the city’s competitiveness as a place to start and grow a business. It enables new business to operate and start earning much earlier,” Eusebio said.

He added that the long-term effect of an easier business permit licensing system would be a more vibrant economy for the city.

“With new businesses becoming active, the local economy grows and more jobs and business opportunities are created. For the city government, simplifying the business permit application process is good business sense,” Eusebio added.