Friday, August 15, 2008 German experts to make Cebu City's permits system a model for 22 LGUs
EXPERTS from the German Government who are assisting local government units (LGUs) here will make Cebu City Hall’s business permits and licensing system a model for 22 LGUs in Central Visayas.
The project of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) will help the LGUs in the region streamline their business permit and licensing system (BPLS) using the City Government’s system as benchmark.
Competitiveness
GTZ and some local government agencies will implement the program to help the LGUs improve their competitiveness, increase their revenues and improve their service to the business sector.
For 2008, GTZ and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) hope to streamline the systems of 12 LGUs in Cebu, four in Bohol, four in Negros Oriental and two in Siquijor.
“We are aware that the Cebu City Government has been successful in streamlining its own BPLS. In this regard, we are proposing and requesting that the City Government be part of this project as the resource LGU, from which all other LGUs can learn from and benchmark with,” the proponents said in a letter to Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
In his news conference today, Osmeña said the proposal of GTZ, DTI and DILG is acceptable to him, as the City will be able to help other localities.
Benchmark
He will be entering into and sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with representatives of the three agencies.
Under the MOU, the City shall assist the LGUs by allowing them to benchmark with its streamlined BPLS and provide resource speakers during trainings to share their technical expertise on BPLS streamlining.
Osmeña said he is willing to visit each of the 22 LGUs to discuss the City’s system.
“I will talk a little bit because it’s basically the concept of how to collect revenue... We’re going to be a teacher and we’re very flattered. I’m just bragging because these are German experts in management, who, in their frustration in helping the LGUs, they just said to follow the Cebu City system,” the mayor said.
Municipalities
Among those that will be trained by the mayor and other City Hall personnel are officials of municipalities in the Province.
Osmeña said he does not mind sharing the City’s programs with municipal officials from the Province, especially since its GTZ that chose the LGUs to be trained. (LCR)
