THE Bacolod City Permits and Licensing Division will start releasing the 2018 business permit application forms on December 1.
Division head Stela Rose Rayos said Sunday, November 19, applicants can get the forms early at Permits and Licensing office for P15 so they can start processing their clearances by next month.
“They should start processing early so that by January 2018, they can immediately get the copy of their business permit,” she said.
Rayos noted that from January to October this year, they have released more than 20,000 business permits with an increase of 16 percent compared to 17,000 for the same period last year.
On January 2 to 20, 2018, the Permits and Licensing Division will also hold a one-stop-shop at the Bacolod City Government Center Lobby.
The standard steps in the processing of business permit have been reduced to only three from the previous five.
These include: Step 1. File application at the Permits and Licensing Division Office; Step 2. One-time assessment of taxes, fees, and charges; and Step 3. One-time payment of taxes, fees, and charges, receipt of official receipt, and claim mayor’s permit and other regulatory permits and clearances.
The applicants may also download the business permit application form at @bacolodcity.gov.ph/bacolod_city.htm.
“We expect that by next year, there will be an increase in business permits applicants,” Rayos said.
She said they will also deploy personnnel in shopping malls for the issuance of the business permit application forms.
“We will put up information desks at SM City, Gaisano, and Robinsons Place, and 888 malls,” Rayos added.
Last year, Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Memorandum No. 234, directing the department heads to follow the implementing guidelines for processing of business permits under joint Memorandum Circular No. 01, series of 2016 dated August 30, 2016 of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Information and Communication Technology.