NOW, applying for and renewing business permits, paying and getting the permit itself will be totally at one’s fingertips and can be done in a matter of a few minutes, as the processes will now be done ‘virtual’.

This was announced by Mayor Isko Moreno, as he was given a personal walk-through by bureau of permits chief Levi Facundo and electronic data processing department head Fortune Palileo on how the innovative system works, aimed at totally eliminating human interaction and intervention which is the usual source of delays and even corruption which paves the way for fixers to come in.

With the virtual application and renewal processes, called E-BOSS (business one-stop shop), Moreno said in jest that the business owners in Manila can transact even inside their comfort rooms and save on time and money spent on fare or gas when they go all the way to Manila City Hall just to transact.

Moreno said that all other requirements attendant to the business permit applications are also incorporated in the online system. These are the ancillary permits normally required from the Bureau of Fire and the barangay, namely fire safety inspection certificate and barangay clearance, respectively.

Moreno praised Facundo and Palileo for the innovation which he said will also lessen the risks of exposure and transmission of COVID-19 not only on the part of the business owners but also the employees.

According to the mayor, the office of Facundo will also be providing personnel that will assist those who are not ‘techie’ enough to comprehend the new system and teach them so that when they renew, they need no longer go to City Hall.

With the virtual scheme in place, Moreno said that those finding ways to go around the system to thrive on ‘fixing’ and red tape will have zero chance in Manila City Hall. The entire time to finish one transaction is about 25 minutes and once the amount to be paid is posted, payment can be made online too, the mayor said.

For his part, Facundo said “the system has been developed in line with the national government’s commitment and more importantly with the mayor’s desire of addressing bureaucratic red tape and streamlining the business permit processing system and therefore, reduce significantly, if not totally eliminate person-to-person transactions in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Facundo said the E-BOSS, formally launched on Thursday afternoon and with city treasurer Jasmin Talegon also in attendance along with city engineer Armand Andres and assistant secretary Letlet Zarcal, “ushers in a new era for proud Manileños with regards to the City’s revenue generating efforts and its drive to provide a hassle-free on-line business permit processing scheme for its taxpayers.”

He also said that since the beginning of Moreno’s term in July 2019, the bureau has introduced major innovations in its efforts to provide convenient, fast, reliable and efficient service to its taxpayers.

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Itchie G. Cabayan