Iloilo City Speeds Up Barangay Clearance Process

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Renewing business permits in Iloilo City is now more efficient, thanks to the integration of barangay business clearance applications into the city’s Integrated Business Permits and Licensing System (iBPLS).

Business owners can now apply, be assessed, and pay for their permits online without visiting barangay halls, provided they are not blacklisted.

“In the iBPLS, you apply online, you are assessed online, you are endorsed online, you pay online, and you can print your certificates online,” said Velma Jane Lao, head of the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (LEDIPO).

Currently, 140 of Iloilo City’s 180 barangays are integrated into the city’s Electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) System.

The eBOSS system simplifies the process of obtaining business licenses and permits by unifying all processes into a single online platform.

Once a barangay business clearance is secured, it is automatically included in the city’s eBOSS, streamlining the assessment and payment process.

Lao added that the city’s end-to-end business permit and licensing system also enables the issuance of electronic tax bills and Fire Safety Inspection Certificate fees, among other requirements.

Businesses can pay either over the counter or online, making compliance more convenient.

Mayor Jerry Treñas has mandated a fully digital system to enhance ease of doing business and ensure compliance with the national government’s zero-contact policy, designed to reduce delays and curb corruption, Lao said.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is refining the system to address issues, particularly in business tax computation, Lao noted.

She assured that the city government is preparing for the influx of clients during the January business renewal season.

Iloilo City continues to bolster its reputation as one of the Most Business-Friendly Cities in the Philippines, with a 15 percent rise in both business renewals and new business registrations earlier this year.

The Business Permit and Licensing Division (BPLD) reported issuing 14,473 business renewal permits and 219 new business permits during January.