The component cities of Bago and Victorias in Negros Occidental have been awarded the certificate of commendation and seal of electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) compliance by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) in separate rites led by ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez.

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

The operationalization of the portal is mandated under Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

On Thursday, Perez awarded the certificate and seal to Victorias City Vice Mayor Abelardo Bantug III and City Administrator Lindolf De Castro on behalf of Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez in a ceremony held at Marjhun’s Banquet Hall.

“The successful implementation of the eBOSS is a significant step toward faster, more efficient, and digitalized business transactions in the city. Victorias City continues to champion transparency and ease of doing business, aligning with ARTA’s mission to streamline and simplify government processes,” the city government said in a statement.

Perez awarded the same to Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo and Vice Mayor Ramon Torres in ceremonies held at the city’s Community Center Wednesday night.

The city’s top officials are optimistic about attracting more investors, with Bago having a fully automated business registration process through the eBOSS facility.

“This distinction will definitely inspire us to remain determined and committed to continue with our efforts in streamlining business processes and improving service delivery to our constituents,” Yulo said.

Torres said digitalization proves to be very important in the ease of doing business and a big help to local micro, small and medium enterprises and other businesses.

In his message, Perez lauded the LGUs for setting up and ensuring the operationalization of an eBOSS.

“We remain thankful for all the support for this initiative. We promote the ease of doing business recognizing that a more investor-friendly climate is a key to long-term economic resilience,” he said.

Bago and Victorias are the sixth and seventh LGUs in Western Visayas to have established a fully streamlined and digitalized business permitting and licensing system.

Nationwide, only 113 out of 1,643 LGUs have been given the eBOSS-compliant certificate and seal by the ARTA, an attached agency of the Office of the President. (PNA)