GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/16 June)— A system to speed up business registration in Region 12 is now running, officials said.
Ibrahim K. Guiamadel, Department of Trade and Industry regional director, said the government-initiated Philippine Business Registry (PBR) system was recently launched at the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) here.
“We are the first in Mindanao to adopt the PBRS. It is virtually a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs in transacting with different government agencies for the needed requirements to run a business,” he said.
The DTI-12 is also the second regional office of the Trade department to adopt the PBR, which is the fourth in the entire country, Ethel Gumana, NERBAC-12 chief, said.
She noted the adoption of the PBR in the region would encourage more local entrepreneurs as the system will speed up the processing of needed documentary requirements like business name from the DTI; tax identification number from the Bureau of Internal Revenue; and employer’s registration numbers from the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Home Development Mutual Fund.
Merly Cruz, Trade undersecretary for Regional Operations Development Group, lauded the regional DTI office for seeking ways to improve its services.
“The implementation of PBR is beneficial to the business community especially to those who are starting their businesses. We would like them to do business easier, faster and less costly,” she said.
Gumana said that as the PBR system would eventually be linking the various government agencies’ computerized registration system, entrepreneurs applying for a sole proprietorship need not do a physical transaction.
Once the PBRS system is already perfected, they have the option to apply from computer cafés or from the confines of their homes or offices using the internet or go to the nearest DTI offices with PBR counters, she said.
“Provided that there is strong internet connectivity, processing time thru the PBR kiosks will only take about 30 minutes,” Gumana said.
The PBR seeks to provide a faster process for business registration that will hopefully strengthen the government’s effort to provide quality service to the Filipino people and to realize its commitment to curb corruption and reduce red tape in the bureaucracy.
Gumana urged the local government units in the region to support the project by also aligning their system to the PBR.
Region 12 groups the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. (Bong Sarmiento/MindaNews)