PH Business Hub launched

GOVERNMENT agencies on Monday officially launched the Philippine Business Hub (PBH), a single online platform for registering businesses.

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) led the launch of the PBH.

The PBH, formerly known as the Central Business Portal (CBP), reduced the length of days for registering businesses from 33 days and 13 steps to seven days with only one step. The portal can be accessed through business.gov.ph.

Since its launch in January 2021, at least 703 corporations and 6,729 sole proprietorships have registered into the PBH.

As part of the PBH's new look, the Philippine Business Regulations Information System (PBRIS) was integrated into the platform.

The PBRIS, an ARTA-led initiative, is an online platform that provides accessible information on the Philippine Regulatory Management System and the laws and regulations that are relevant to the public.

ARTA Officer in Charge and Undersecretary Ernesto Perez called on other government agencies to continue working together to further reduce the number of days and steps for registering businesses into one day and one step.

"I don't think it's impossible because we have laid down the groundwork and we are doing things right. It's not an impossible dream," he said.

"Starting something completely new may be the most difficult task, but ARTA, together with our partner agencies, is doing what we can to make it swift and more efficient for the people," Perez added.

Ease of doing business

DTI Undersecretary Ireneo Vizmonte said they will continue to support initiatives in line with the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

"The Department of Trade and Industry, as chair[man] of the Ease of Doing Business and Anti-Red Tape Advisory Council, remains steadfast in its commitment to pursue the provisions of Republic Act No. 11032 on the objectives indicated in the law including the aspirations of its authors," he said.

Meanwhile, DICT acting Secretary Emmanuel Rey "Manny" Caintic said that the end goal for the PBH is not just registering businesses, but to be the sole platform that people go to for the whole life cycle of a business.

"The dream is for the Philippine Business Hub to be the only place you go to as a business to register, pay taxes, pay your social services for your employees, and the like. We are still in the first phase," Caintic said.

Citing data, Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina Tanya "Joy" Belmonte said up to 95 percent of the city's business owners secured their business permits through the city's online platform.

She said the local government is optimistic that 100 percent of the city's business owners will embrace their online business permit and licensing system by the end of the year.

"Quezon City will continue to strive to be the epicenter of innovative reforms and game-changing improvements to programs and services that are more efficient, convenient, and time and resource-saving, not only to QCitizens, but to all our constituents," said Belmonte.

Source: TheManila Times