Mindanao intensifies ease of doing business as ARTA commends 6 LGUs for eBOSS;

10 June 2024 – The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) commended the Local Government Units (LGUs) of Davao City, General Santos City, Malaybalay City, Tagoloan, El Salvador City, and Dapitan City in Mindanao for fully establishing electronic Business One-Stop Shops (eBOSS) from 13 to 30 May 2024.

eBOSS is a single portal for the renewal and application of business permits jointly implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and ARTA.

LGUs nationwide were given an eBOSS certificate of commendation, signifying their fast and efficient service delivery for business registration.

Davao City credits local heads and partners for joint effort in establishing eBOSS

On 13 May 2024, ARTA Secretary Perez personally headed to Davao City to hand over the eBOSS Certificate of Commendation, which was received by Davao City Acting City Administrator Francis Mark Layog on behalf of Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.

In an interview with their information office, Davao City Head of Business Bureau Maribel Paguican expressed gratitude towards the key stakeholders who helped establish the eBOSS.

“We are very thankful for the cooperation and, above all, for the strong leadership of our local chief executive, as well as for the partnership with the council, which enabled us to come up with an instrument with which we were able to gather all 182 barangays in the city to support the implementation of ARTA’s ease of doing business,” she said.

Paguican further stated that the Business Bureau will continuously enhance its system to give its clients more efficient delivery of service.

During the Davao City commendation, ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez highlighted the significance of establishing eBOSS in the city.

“eBOSS makes Davao City a magnet for investors and businesses. A streamlined system means a more attractive environment for economic growth. This, in turn, means more jobs and a brighter future for Davao!” Secretary Perez said.

General Santos City gratefully receives ARTA eBOSS commendation; Former Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquaio joins

Following Davao City, ARTA went to General Santos City for the commendation of the LGU’s eBOSS compliance on 15 May 2024.

During her acceptance speech, General Santos City Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao expressed gratitude towards President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and ARTA for the recognition.

“Nais ko rin pasalamatan ang Anti-Red Tape Authority, sa ilalim ng tanggapan ng ating mahal na Pangulo, para mabigyan ang LGU General Santos City na ipagdiwang ang isang karangalang nagpapatunay ng kahusayan ng LGU GenSan,” Mayor Pacquaio said.

“Gusto ko rin pasalamatan ang ARTA Regional Field Office dahil sa kanilang tulong at support para magabayan kami bilang isang LGU para makuha ang certification,” she added.

ARTA Secretary Perez, meanwhile, credited its partners in the implementation of eBOSS, making LGUs more business-friendly.

“I would like to give credit to our partnership with DILG, DILG, and DTI for eBOSS’s realization,” Secretary Perez said.

In addition, Former Senator Manny Pacquiao, who personally joined the event, also delivered a message of support to ARTA, in which he congratulated General Santos City for the eBOSS Commendation.

“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to ARTA Secretary Perez and his entire team for inviting me to [the] ARTA Town Hall Meeting,” the Former Senator said.

“Kasama niyo po si Manny Pacquiao sa pagbuo ng Bagong Pilipinas, where progress and prosperity are accessible to all,” he added.

Moreover, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Deputy Mission Director Jeff Goebel praised General Santos City for complying with ARTA and Secretary Perez for personally handing down the recognition.

“I am glad to see Secretary Perez coming down here and recognizing the accomplishments of General Santos City [under] Mayor Pacquiao’s leadership. I think that is a testament to joining the team of champions,” Mr. Goebel said.

USAID Urban Connect Chief of Party Dr. Alex Brillantes Jr., who delivered a message of support in the event, emphasized ARTA’s efforts to improve the way government services are delivered.

“I always talk about good and best practices, I always cited ARTA, as one of the best practices, I [have] seen how they work, at talagang hindi biro po” Dr. Brillantes Jr. Said

“In the leadership of Secretary Perez, whom we also call a servant leader, indeed, you are one of the brightest rising [star of] the democracy, indeed, if you look at it po, you are one of the best cabinet members,” he added.

Malaybalay City recognizes collective effort in establishing eBOSS

On 21 May 2024, the eBOSS commendation continued in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, becoming the 31st LGU to receive the recognition.

Handed personally by Secretary Perez, the eBOSS commendation was received by Malaybalay City Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran.

During his acceptance speech, Mayor Pabillaran thanked everyone who contributed to making their city more efficient and accessible with eBOSS.

“I am confident that with our collective efforts, we can build a more progressive and responsible government that truly cares for the welfare of our people,” Mayor Pabillaran said.

In his message during the commendation, ARTA Secretary Perez expressed optimism about Malaybalay City’s foreseen progress.

“The implementation of eBOSS will make a huge contribution to the further soaring of your tourism and economic sectors,” Secretary Perez said.

“That’s why I encourage you to make the most of the digital innovations and convenience that eBOSS brings,” he added.

Municipality of Tagoloan strives towards digital inclusion

As the lone municipality awarded an eBOSS commendation in the Eastern and Northern Mindanao leg this May 2024, Municipality of Tagoloan Mayor Nadya Emano-Elipe credits the people who worked hard to establish their eBOSS during the commendation ceremony at Tagoloan Astrodome last 21 May 2024.

“Eventually, when I step down as Mayor, I will not be remembered as a Mayor who had this commendation, but the LGU of Tagoloan will always be remembered as a local government unit that had this commendation because of the people who worked hard for it,” Mayor Elipe said.

During the Tagoloan commendation, ARTA Secretary Perez encouraged the locals to continue their support for the current administration’s initiatives and efforts in the Bagong Pilipinas.

“Sana’y patuloy pa po nating suportahan ang mga inisyatiba ng ating mahal na Pangulo, pati na rin po ang mga inisyatibang pinangungunahan at isinusulong ng ARTA,” Secretary Perez said.

“Sa isang Bagong Pilipinas, sabay-sabay nating tunguin ang kasaganahan at kaunlaran,” he added.

El Salvador City boosts ease of doing business

After LGU Tagoloan, the ARTA team, led by Secretary Perez, headed toward El Salvador City and presented the eBOSS commendation.
The commendation was received by Mayor Edgar S. Lignes, who also shared their experience in establishing eBOSS.

“Our main goal is to always ensure that our clients experience ease of doing business in our city,” Mayor Lignes said.

“We will sustain the best practice in eBOSS and promise not to be complacent at all, but to continue to strive for excellence and to use recognition as a catalyst for further action and innovation,” he added.
ARTA Secretary Perez, eager to observe the positive impact of implementing eBOSS in the city, emphasized the importance of becoming a digitally inclusive community.

“eBOSS is an investment of your best time and effort that will elicit a very promising result for the whole city’s future, where red tape is non-existent and government transactions are fast-tracked and citizen-centric,” Secretary Perez said.

Dapitan City advances other LGUs in the Zamboanga Peninsula for digitalization

As the lead LGU in digitalization of business permitting process in Zamboanga, Dapitan is the 35th LGU nationwide commended with their their fully functional and streamlined eBOSS.

In his message, ARTA Secretary Perez applauded Dapitan City for achieving such commendation coming from a zero compliance in the previous year.

“Labis ang kagalakan ko na makasama kayo para ibigay ang karangalan na ito…ARTA stands ready to support you and offer you whatever service we can give,” Secretary Perez said.

During his acceptance speech, Dapitan City Mayor Seth Frederick Pal Jalosjos expressed gratitude to ARTA for granting the acknowledgement.

“This award is not the end but a beginning. In fact expect a lot of LGUs would be coming here to Dapitan City to benchmark kung paano natin nagawa itong napakahirap na eBOSS ng ARTA. Your [ARTA] presence here today is a testament to the significant strides in enhancing our local governance,” Mayor Jalosjos said.

Answering President Marcos Jr .’s call for bureaucratic efficiency

Spearheaded by Regional Chiefs Roelle Aradanas of Eastern Mindanao, Dr. Jutchel L. Nayra of Northern Mindanao, and Mayer E. Delgado of Western Mindanao, through the leadership and attendance of ARTA Secretary Perez, the eBOSS commendations in Mindanao were a response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to improve bureaucratic efficiency in the country.

“By offering this incentive to compliant LGUs, ARTA is inspiring the rest to adopt eBOSS and to continue to push for a transition to digitalization, providing the Filipino people with expedited service delivery,” Secretary Perez said.

“This is the call of our President: we must digitalize to improve the ease of doing business in the country and avoid red tape,” he added.

In the following months, ARTA will continue the eBOSS commendations nationwide.

END