Getting a business permit should be a simple and straightforward transaction. It’s most likely the fledgling business owner’s first interaction with local government and could easily be a tipping point on whether he will or will not go through with his plans.
Unfortunately, what is simple can turn out to be complex. What is straightforward can become a traumatic experience for many small business owners.
One overseas Filipino worker I interviewed, who asked not to be identified, told of his plan a few years ago to come home for good and set up a small business. He ended up going back to the US, sickened by how government officials in his town and police tried every little trick to make him pay more than necessary.
Several city halls, though, have seen the light. From my research a few years back, I learned that you wouldn’t break into sweat in getting business permits in the cities of Marikina and Naga in the Bicol region.
When I walked inside Marikina’s city hall for the first time, my friend observed that it was like an airport. The ambiance was brisk, and businesslike, and I noted the tempered glass walls that allow you to see inside the offices.
“That’s by design. The former mayor, Bayani Fernando, wanted employees to be alert and productive all the time. You can see them if they are slouching or sleeping. You cannot bribe someone because no one is hidden from view,” the official who gave me a tour said.
Naga City’s Jesse Robredo has a different, but simple strategy. Naga’s city hall still looked like a rinky dink building when I went there last, but the business-friendly efficiency and transparency made it feel like Marikina’s. Robredo made every department head personally sign a manifesto of sorts that guarantees that getting a business license, for example, would take only 30 minutes. If it takes more than that, the department head in that office is accountable and he can take his complaints to Robredo himself. Those manifestos are in every corner of the city hall.
The city of Manila, in this article, seems to be embracing a similar concept.
MANILA — A “one-stop shop” that will help fast-track the processing of permits and other services will soon be opened at the Manila City Hall to assist businessmen who intend to invest in the capital city.
Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered the creation of the “one-stop shop” to simplify the usually tedious procedures involved in transactions being made in the five-story City Hall. Among the permits businessmen need to secure are business permits, health permits, license taxes, compliance certificates.
The one-stop shop will also serve as an information center to prevent unnecessary trips to the wrong offices.
Read the article here: http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=95292
Now, having a plan is one thing, getting things done is another. Mayor Lim has his work cut out for him. But even if Lim succeeds, three local governments is a drop in a big bucket. I hope there are other city halls out there with the will, the vision and the decency to be transparent and efficient for the sake of our small business owners.
January 18th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Alam ba nyo na may bagong patakarn sa Manila City Hall sa pagkuha ng Business Permit. Ito yung pagkuha ng SSS Clearance, ang SSS naman ay sinisingil ang bawat ng malalaking halaga sa pamamagitang ng paglalagay ng mga penalty sa contribution. Tulad ng sa aking maliit na tindahan ng LPG. Ako ay nag register sa DTI ng Aug. 2006 na isang requirements sa pagkuha ng Bisiness Permit. Nagkaroon ako ng Business Permit ng April 2007 kaya ako ay nag operate na at kumuha ng isang tao. Gusto ng SSS na hulugan ko ng SSS yung tao ko simula nung ma approve yung DTI ko na di pa namen sya nagtatrabaho sa akin at nilagyan pa ako ng penalty. Nag iisip kaya ang SSS na ang DTI ay isa lamang sa requirement para makakuha ng Business Permit at para makapag simula na ng Operation.
January 8th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
hi sherly, it looks you need to move quickly so that you don’t lose anything from not being able to get the necessary business permits. the reality is, operating a business without permits and licenses IS possible, but with huge risks. i suggest you look at this website of the World Bank Group called Doing Business In the Philippines and you will see all the necessary steps to starting a business, including the costs and the average number of days to get each step done. Good luck!
http://www.doingbusiness.org/ExploreTopics/StartingBusiness/Details.aspx?economyid=153
January 8th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
hi elvin, that’s really sad, but i do understand why you feel that way. good luck na ren, wherever you are! Is your family located in Metro Manila?
January 6th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I’m planning to open a beauty parlor in Manila, its my first time to open a business, Im in need of advice like where do i get this permits? business permit? mayor permit? Can i start operating my business as soon as i get a barangay clearance/permit? someone told me i can, but i’m so stressed out, i need more advice, since i already paid for the deposit & advanced for the rental of the place and im ordering the equipments. please advice, e-mail me al_tent@yahoo.com Thanx in advance
November 24th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
The same problem I have everytime I renew my business permit. I have so many hidden charges abd then they come to my location and ask another fees. I own an Internet Cafe from which my business capital were coming from my hard earned money from being an OFW in Saudi Arabia. I put up as early as I could a business that I would eventually fall back on when the time I get home for good. However, it is hard to deal about business permits with local officials. I was thinking to go home and reunite with my family but now, it seems it is changing due to that hardsome acquiring business permits at City Hall. I am thingking now how to bring my family over here in Saudi Arabia rather than to find my good fortune back home. The life here is better of than in the Philippines. Cost of prime commodities is too low. So instead of going home and continue running the business it is better for me to do it in reverse. Shutt the business off and bring my family over here in Saudi Arabia.
We will just be going home for good when there is an easy way securing a business permit at city halls.