The city council is seeking to pass an ordinance to improve the ease-of-doing-business policies to attract more investors to the country’s summer capital.
“The legislative body is studying the institutionalization of policies streamlining government processes, strengthening support mechanisms for enterprises, and fostering stronger collaboration between the local government and the private sector,” Jordan Habbiling, information officer of the Baguio City Council, said in an interview Monday.
Habbiling said among the policies include client-friendly procedures, streamlined business permit requirements, simplified permitting systems, accessible Business One-Stop Shops (BOSS), localized business support mechanisms, robust information technology infrastructure, responsive tax policies, and support programs for startups, nano enterprises, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The city government also seeks to include technical assistance during business registration, free training and capacity-building programs for entrepreneurs, establishment of incubation hubs for start-ups, and soft loans or business grants for qualified nano businesses and MSMEs.
A business-friendly help desk will also be set up at City Hall and in barangays to assist entrepreneurs.
He said voluminous documentary requirements, overlapping procedures across offices, stringent regulatory requirements, and the absence of responsive measures during economic disruptions are among the problems that need to be addressed to attract more investors.
The proposed ordinance will also include local tax relief measures and investment incentives whenever legally permissible.
Habbiling said flexible systems, such as multi-year business permits for enterprises with excellent compliance records, are also being considered, as well as the separation of land title issues from the processing of business permits to avoid unnecessary delays.
He said an advisory council will be created to assist the city government in formulating policies and mechanisms. (PNA)
