By Alec Go
The complete processing of business registrations may be shortened further before the end of the year according to the Department of Trade and Industry.
DTI chief Ramon Lopez said this is among the measures to attract more investors and establish more businesses, together with the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.
“Dati… umaabot ng isang buwan ‘yung proseso na ‘yun, lagpas isang buwan. Ngayon five to seven days. Before the end of the year, ‘yang five days to seven days, tina-target po namin within one day,” Lopez said.
“Within one day business registration, end-to-end, from SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission] to the BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] … Lahat simultaneously, one day sa online, pati online payment,” he added.
The official said they are just waiting for SEC’s “improvements” that will shorten their processes.
The targeted one-day registration will also cover requirements such as those from the Social Security System, local government units, among others.
Business applications have already been shortened due to the Central Business Portal, a one-stop site for business registration established under Ease of Doing Business law.
Lopez said charges are being filed by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) against non-compliant personnel. This is in line with measures to abolish red tape through streamlining the government transaction process.
“Tugon po natin ito sa nais niyong maging madali ‘yung mga proseso, huwag nang pahirapan ‘yung mga tao, ayaw niyong magkaroon ng pila,” he said.
Meanwhile, DTI data showed that registered online businesses ballooned fortyfold or to 88,000 by the end of 2020. There were only 1,800 registered online businesses before the pandemic. The number has grown to 105,000 in 2021. – bny
