By Xander Ledesma
The local government’s streamlined procedure for obtaining a mayor’s permit has drawn barangay-based businesses to formalize their operations, according to the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO).
“We have adopted only three steps for the application to encourage more business owners to secure their mayor’s permit,” Elsie Elizalde, head of the San Jose de Buenavista BPLO, said in an interview on Friday.
The revised process entails registration, assessment and payment, and final issuance of the permit. From January 2 to 16, the BPLO handled 1,550 business applications, including 49 new ones, mostly sari-sari stores and junk shops in barangays.
Elizalde explained that a growing number of small enterprises with annual gross sales of PHP30,000 have opted to obtain a formal permit instead of operating solely with a barangay clearance. “The barangay clearance is now just one step toward securing the mayor’s business permit,” she said.
A one-stop shop at the municipal hall has also streamlined requirements for other clearances. In addition, San Jose de Buenavista serves as the pilot municipality of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for its online fire safety inspection application—a mandatory component before a business or mayor’s permit can be released.
Authorities hope the new process will further encourage micro-enterprises in rural barangays to formalize their businesses, promoting compliance and fostering local economic growth.