BOSS likely to be extended

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) here will likely be extended from January 20 to February 29.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he has signed an endorsement requesting the Sangguniang Panlungsod to extend the BOSS to February 29 upon request of business groups.

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the SP will approve the request through an ordinance.

Leonardia said business registration here increased by 18.73 percent as early as January 2020 compared to the first seven days of last year due to one major factor – the implementation of advance processing.

He also said that for the first time, the city implemented in December advanced processing of business permits availed of by about 3,000 taxpayers and led to the increase in the number of business registration in the city.

Business registrations reached a record breaking 25,627 compared to 23,187 in 2018, or an increase of 17 percent.

Stella Rose Rayos, head of the Permits and License Division, said that the temporary closure of about 14 establishments in Bacolod last year for lack of business permits made taxpayers aware that they need to secure business permits.

This may have also contributed to the increase in payment of business registration, she added.

Rayos said out of the 14 establishments, 11 have complied and will be given the chance to renew their business permits.

Records showed that 11,384 establishments have registered compared to 9,588, a difference of 1,796, or an increase of 18.73 percent, Rayos said.

Rayos said taxpayers who pay in full can avail of 10 percent discount and avoid paying a surcharge of 25 percent. After the BOSS on January 20, the agencies involved will return to their offices and taxpayers can no longer avail of the 10 percent discount.