BUSINESS processes may soon be transacted in the barangay as the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Cebu City Government plan to work together to make Cebu City a more business-friendly investment destination.

This was what CCCI president Virgilio Espeleta said after the chamber’s first official meeting with the newly elected Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella.

“He is very supportive to the businesses and assured that the Cebu City government will be inclusive regardless of political affiliations as long as you’re helping,” Espeleta told SunStar Cebu.

CCCI volunteered to be part of the reviewing team to make business transactions in the city seamless, convenient and accessible.

“We’re still studying how we can conduct these business processes outside of the City Hall. Like, for member companies to just transact in the chamber (office),” he said.

Three-hour meeting

The meeting, which took place on Thursday, June 27, 2019, lasted almost three hours.

Espeleta said they are also mulling to bring these processes to the barangay level to make it easier for entrepreneurs to renew or register their businesses.

“It will also allow City Hall to see the businesses in the barangay. Mayor Labella called it profiling of the business instead of tax mapping,” he said.

The business group also wants payments for business processes to be done online.

During the meeting the CCCI president, said they also offered to provide services for entrepreneurs to capacitate them.

“We’re also offering entrepreneur programs for the businesses aside from improving business process. It’ll be a simultaneous help to the businesses which are being registered,” he said.

Other issues

Common problems in Cebu City like traffic, garbage, drainage and peace and order were also discussed during the meeting.

“There are very important matters that we have an alignment. We will involve the industry, the local government units and other stakeholders,” he said.

CCCI’s 10-point agenda which includes the use of technology, social enterprises to help farmers and fishermen, policies to ease and lower the cost of doing business, among others were also highlighted, Espeleta said. (JOB)