By Lorie A.Cascaro
To hasten the business registration and licensing process in Davao City, the city government and national agencies will enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to establish the Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS).
Submitted to the city council for first reading yesterday, the MOA will be reviewed for issuance of legislative authority authorizing the city mayor to sign the document for and in behalf of the city government.
It is mentioned in the document that the convergence of the national government agencies and the local government unit is necessary for the successful operation of BOSS.
The BOSS shall provide business friendly promotion, registration and licensing system through the simplification of business registration, issuance of permits and licenses and availing of incentives.
Jason Magnaye, officer-in-charge of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center, said the BOSS will function like a local version of the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11.
He said that DTI has expressed appreciation to the decision of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to host a one-stop business registration, investment promotion and information center.
Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991embodies the mandate of the city government to promote trade and investment to enhance economic prosperity and full employment.
The draft MOA said the city government aims to accelerate the creation of more job and business opportunities in Davao City, as well as disseminate relevant data and information needed by the business community.
“With a proactive trade investment promotion, efficient business registration process and information dissemination, there will be more entry of domestic and foreign investors in the city,” it said.
Aside from DTI 11, the MOA signatories will include the regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Cooperative Development Authority, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Social Security System, the Security Exchange Commission, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the Home Development Mutual Fund, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Department of Health.
