FOLLOWING the signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the Ease of Doing Business Law, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Central Visayas is looking forward to streamline more of its business processes.
DTI 7 Director Asteria Caberte welcomed the signing of the much awaited IRR as this will further support the growth of the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs who are the backbone of the country’s economy.
“The law is very good for the development of the country, for the frontline services of the government,” she said.
The IRR was signed Wednesday, July 17, 2019.
Caberte said they will review DTI 7’s workflow processes to reduce the bureaucracy.
“When President Duterte signed the IRR, the message was to comply, review and streamline all your processes,” she said.
Going digital
Currently, the DTI 7 is now implementing the online processing of business name registration (BNR).
“We’re undergoing an improvement in the tech infrastructure of our BNR online so there are still glitches. We seek the understanding of our clients,” she said, adding that the agency is serious on its roll-out so it could attract more businesses.
“This is new to the country, new to the agency and new to the clients but we knew this initiative will make everyone happy,” she said.
The Ease of Doing Business Act was signed into law on May 28, 2019 and took effect on June 15, 2019.
The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) welcomed the release of the IRR.
“We have been waiting for it. This is an enabling law that can boost attractiveness of going into business. We will get a copy of the IRR and see how we can help and monitor its implementation,” said CCCI president Virgilio Espeleta.
Under the Ease of Doing Business Law, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) will be the body to improve the quality of government services, promote transparency and cut red tape.
Arta will implement the prescribed processing time for business transactions.
For simple transactions, the agency should finish it in three working days, seven days for complex ones and 20 days for highly technical transactions.
Failure of an agency to finish within the prescribed days will mean automatic approval of the request.
In his visit to Cebu in June, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez urged business owners to report to Arta the government agencies that do not comply with the Ease of Doing Business Law.
He said this is one of the ways they could monitor the implementation of the law. JOB