Two more towns in Antique launch eBPLS

By Judy Mae Magdato-Sajo

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Antique Provincial Office praised the efforts of the municipalities of Tibiao and Barbaza in becoming more business friendly and competitive during the launching of the electronic Business Permit Licensing System (eBPLS) held separately on January 27 and 28, 2020.

“I would like to congratulate the LGUs of Tibiao and Barbaza for the successful launching of eBPLS. The full implementation of the program will facilitate the fast issuance of business permits which will be convenient for the business owners,’’ DILG-Antique Provincial Director Cherryl Tacda said.

Tacda added that eBPLS will help trim down the waiting time for the issuance of business permits.

The eBPLS is a cloud-based software developed by the Department Information and Communications Technology (DICT) that allows end-users to file an application for new and renewal of business permits online.

This is in response to the President’s directive to reduce the requirements and processing time of all government transactions through the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law or RA 11032.

Both launchings were attended by representatives from the DILG, DICT, DTI, BFP, PNP, municipal officials, functionaries and other stakeholders.

The automation of the BPLS is a joint undertaking of DILG, DTI and DICT as reflected on the revised BPLS standards in processing business permits and licenses as per DILG-DTI-DICT JMC 01 series of 2016 and the guidelines in streamlining the processes for the issuance of building permits and certificates of occupancy stated in DILG-DTI-DICT JMC 01 series of 2018.

The heads from all the partner agencies were present to give their congratulatory messages to the municipal officials and functionaries of Tibiao and Barbaza. They also highlighted the importance and impact of eBPLS in economic growth and development of the LGUs and gave their recommendations on how to sustain the system.

Jimuel Espanola, DICT eBPLS Focal Person noted that the Municipality of Barbaza is the 6th municipality in the province to automate their business permit licensing system, next to the Municipality of Tibiao, and the 9th municipality to launch the program in the whole region. Both municipalities committed to implement the program well.

“To date, six LGUs in the Province of Antique have already launched their eBPLS,” said DILG Antique Program Manager Anna Carolina Jardiolin said.

More LGUs are expected to automate their BPLS within the year.