DILG, Ormoc sign MOA; Business sector supports RSP-Enhanced BPLS

By RONNIE C. ROA
September 6, 2013

ORMOC CITY – Ormoc City Mayor Edward “Ondo” C. Codilla and Dr. Pedro A. Noval, Jr. CESO III DILG 8 Regional Director signed a memorandum of agreement last Friday, August 30 in the New Ormoc City Hall.

The MOA between LGU-Ormoc and DILG 8 in coordination and active participation with the Local Government Academy and International Finance Corporation-World Bank which entitled Regulatory Simplification Project (RSP)-Enhanced Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) is designed to introduce reforms that would enhance the competitiveness of LGU, encourage the formalization of business and more investment by further enhancing the streamlining of business registration procedures and to furthermore reduce the number of steps, time and cost of business registration at the local level.

The LGA and IFC-WB shall extend funding support and provide the necessary and essential consultancy services in line with the project implementation specifically in the diagnosis, design process and implementation.

DILG 8 shall facilitate and oversee the overall implementation of the project while LGU-Ormoc shall take the responsibility in both the quality of work and the progress being made toward successfully achieving the goals.

Business sector representatives present, showed their strong support in the implementation of the project. Roger Uy Ormoc Filipino Chinese Chamber President, Iñigo Larrazabal, OCCCI President and Atty. Roy Bernard Fiel, Governor EV Chamber of Commerce said that they are very willing and excited to be partnered with LGU and with the government.

Dir. Noval said that it was his first time he signed a document related to governance in Ormoc. Saying it could be another milestone in his life as DILG regional director especially Ormoc as one of the LGUs in Eastern Visayas considered to be progressive and that could be pivotal aspect as far as local governance including development in this region.

He added that through this project it could strengthen the economic development of this city considering that it will simplify and reduce and even eliminate red tape in issuing business permits. He hoped that this program will make Ormoc a business friendly. If happens LGU-Ormoc in partnership with the business sector will be helping the president in realizing his vision to have an inclusive growth and poverty reduction. The regional director lauded Mayor Ondo that without second thought the chief executive accepted in adopting and implementing the program in this city.

Ormoc already gained the most friendly-business city award in 2005, said Emilio Tingson, BPLO-Ormoc. LGU did not refuse the program for it could help in improving the system, Tingson added. Tingson recalled that city’s commitment to GTZ has already expired and now IFC-WB showed in extending their assistance. Currently, BPLS in the city has only 3 steps and can get permits in just 30 minutes. It could be the existing laws that might be reviewed, Tingson said in an interview.