THE government has developed a prototype that will allow new business registrants to apply for business permits using a mobile phone.
“We are pleased to report that business registration at your fingertips will soon be a reality,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.
According to Lopez, a multi-disciplinary team composed of private/public sector representatives from the DTI, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Securities and Exchange Commission, Quezon City-Local Government Unit, and Philhealth, with the help of New Zealand Creative HQ, has just finished a prototype that enables end-to-end business registration on a mobile device.
“We are happy to note that the prototype is a viable concept. But more tests are being completed in order to further validate,” said Lopez, also the chair of the Ease of Doing Business/Anti-Red Tape Advisory Council.
Since July, the DTI organized a series of Design Sprints workshops and successfully developed a prototype for a portal on local government unit (LGU) information, and a framework on the Philippine Business Number (PHBN).
The Design Sprints Team successfully created a streamlined process for business registration, providing an excellent opportunity for the Philippines to become one of the first countries to adopt a business registration process that can be completed (end-to-end) on a smartphone.
The One Central Business Portal is being developed as an alternative registration channel that is so easy to use. This will significantly reduce the time, steps and costs plus the inconvenience of business registration particularly for micro, small and medium enterprises.
The portal is expected to significantly make it easier for someone wanting to start a new business in the Philippines by consolidating government requirements in one application form.
By making the portal available online and through the mobile phone, its transforms the registration experience into a convenient facility that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
Moreover, the portal also spares the applicant from having to contend with numerous face to face interactions, as well as queues to obtain a service. (PR)