THE Bacolod City Government is now ready to issue business application forms for year 2010, both for the new or renewal of business permits.

Permits and Licensing Division head Ardis Jaculina said Monday that by November 15, the Permits and Licensing Department will be ready to issue business application forms, noting that on that day, business establishments could undergo the signing of clearances in compliance with the business requirements in the city, "so that by January 2010, they would not be pressured by short or reduced processing time."

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Jaculina said that businesses could start having their barangay clearance signed then proceed to the Zoning, Office of the Building and the City Health Office, among others. By January, there will be a one-stop-shop for the new and renewal of business permits.

Jaculina added that the usual issuance of business application forms starts January, but now, there is an early issuance for the convenience of taxpayers.

She said this would be an enhancement to further improve procedures in securing business permits in the city, "which means that the issuance of the Mayor's permit would depend on how fast they (taxpayers) can comply with the clearances for the issuance of the business permit."

Jaculina said that for 2010, the city projects a P300-million business tax collection and regulatory fees, citing that as per records, Bacolod never had a collection increase lower than 10 percent every year. "It has always increased every year from 10 percent - 12 percent no matter what kind of global crisis there is."

She said that in 2008-2009, the city's tax collection increased by 11 percent even as the Commission on Information and Communication Technology made an official observation that among the 10 wave cities, Bacolod was top 5 and number one in business environment in the country.

Jaculina noted that in several meetings with the DILG, Neda and the Department of Finance, "they find it very regrettable that Bacolod had deferred the revenue code implementation or an increase of the tax rates since Bacolod really deserves to amend its tax revenue code or tax rates," adding that among the cities and municipalities all over the country, "only Bacolod never increased pr amended the revenue code for almost 15 years."

"It's really sad to note that Bacolod is considered a highly urbanized city and the one city that has made business services easy for its taxpayers, but received objections on the increase of tax rates; it should have benefited the constituency of Bacolod in terms of basic service," Jaculina stressed.

She said if the revenue code was not deferred, the city would have reached the P300-350-million business tax collections and fees level this year, adding that the city has the lowest rate services all over the country in terms of the City Health fees, cremation and burial permit and fees on birth certificate.

"Bacolodnons should be made to understand that the tax rate increase is really needed by the City in order to be more progressive, to develop and to give more services to its constituents."

Jaculina also said that next month, the Permits and Licensing Office will transfer to the New Government Center.