The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has awarded the city government of Ormoc for opening an electronic Business One-Stop Shop (E-BOSS) as part of the Ease of Doing Business Law implementation.

ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez led on Tuesday the awarding of a plaque of commendation to Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez. Specifically, the city government has been recognized for using digitalization or online transactions.

“If only all local governments are compliant with ease of doing business, our economy will really grow. Ormoc City’s compliance is a major step towards progress and efficient governance,” Perez said.

Ormoc City is the 47th local government unit (LGU) in the country recognized for compliance with the Ease of Doing Business Law by ARTA and the second in the region.

The first LGU to be recognized in Eastern Visayas is the town of San Roque in Northern Samar.

Torres-Gomez said it is a great honor that their city has been given such recognition.

“The more people who are getting tech savvy and using transactions online, it helps us save resources. It also helps people because they no longer need to leave their home to do transactions. It is easier now,” Gomez said.

To ensure the success of digitalization and encourage more individuals to engage in online transactions, the city mayor said internet connections must be strengthened and stabilized.

Data from the Ormoc City Business Processing and Licensing Office showed that of the more than 10,000 businesses in the city, only 1,873 have used online transactions since they started the implementation last year.

Members of the Ormoc City Chamber of Commerce and Industry assured they would help convince their fellow businessmen to use online transactions.

“Using E-BOSS, we are decongesting the long line during business permit renewal in the City Hall every January because we can do transactions online,” said Stephanie Dianne Chu, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Eastern Visayas regional governor.

“Doing everything online and paying online makes it faster, but we must ensure the presence of infrastructure, such as good internet connectivity, so that we can convince more businessmen to trust using online transactions,” Chu added.

One of the features of Ormoc’s business permit and licensing digitalization process is it already incorporated the payment for the Bureau of Fire Protection. (PNA)