Paperless business registration to start this year—DTI exec

By Judy Quiros
Inquirer Mindanao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The government’s paperless business registration system will finally roll out this year, four years after its inception, a Department of Trade and Industry official said.

Whilner Morales, program manager of the DTI’s Philippine Business Registry (PBR), said the paperless registration system would be implemented at the local and national levels.

Morales said a live test would be conducted in Caloocan City in September.

“Anybody can register a business anywhere using the power of the Internet,” Morales said during Wednesday’s Kapehan sa PIA here.

He said the idea was to streamline the business registration process and subsequently reduce the cost of doing business, cut down red tape, and promote paperless environment in the government.

PBR was conceptualized in 2006 by virtue of Executive Order 587. The order mandates the DTI and other government agencies and local government units to implement the paperless business registration system.

Morales said that the PBR, being paperless, would eliminate the "face-to-face" factor, promote server-to-server integration, and eliminate geographical boundaries.

“At its minimum, the PBR will address the repetitive submission with multiple copies of the same documents to different agencies. It will facilitate a seamless transactional environment for business registration and development across the application systems of various government agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, DTI, Cooperative Development Agency, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Social Security Sytem, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and the local government units,” he said.

Morales said under the project, the online filing of applications for business permits and licenses will need only a single data entry facility, with links to the systems of national government agencies and LGUs.

Citing a World Bank report, Morales said businessregistration in the Philippines takes 50 days going through 11 processes.

But under the paperless concept, he said, an individual or corporation could save 26 days in business registration and processes.

“We have targets but for now we can only say that with PBR, saving 26 days from the usual 50 days of registration and processes can be guaranteed. But the rock bottom of PBR is significant speed,” Morales said.

Senior Citizen's Christmas Party.......Gen. Assembly

December 16, 2009 was the red letter day for senior citizen's of Palompon, Leyte.

They definitely reserved a day for this momentous event to be with colleague's and friends to reminisce the days when they were still young and robust.

Many are looking forward for the announcement that they would be receiving something from the local government, together with the national government particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Many are expecting that senior citizens between the ages 60 and 70 will be receiving P500 pesos, while those between the ages 70 and 80 will be getting about P1,000 pesos and lastly those above 80 will be receiving P1,500.00 pesos. Unluckily, those who are receiving pensions from either the GSIS or SSS will be getting nothing.

A presentation was made from the so-called Northern baranggays, Southern Baranggays and the Central Baranggays but only two were able to make a presentation which was won by the Central baranggays (above photo) wherein they depicted a serious pageant about the birth of Jesus Christ.

While the other presentor made a mockery of the birth of the Saviour by having an old man represent the child Jesus, the winner made a realistic presentation by having an authentic young baby boy be part of the drama which approvingly, was noticed by the judges to make them the runaway winner of the Christmas pageant.

Part of the appreciative crowd can be seen at right
were seriously following the action at the center of the Palompon Social Center were the program was held.

A sumptuous meal was held right after the program were everybody shared whatever food was brought by them (BYOP), to the once a year Christmas party and get together.

After a hearty meal, without waiting for the food to settle down in their stomach, music of yesteryears was played to bring itchy feet of dancers to grab another to the dance floor and join the beat of music flowing in the air.

After a while, you will notice that the dance floor have been dwindling with dancers, many of which are panting and trying to grab some fresh air and rest their shaky legs on their seats.

Really, the spirit is willing, but the body is not cooperating. After several dances, usually with the same sex, because many men opt to stay in their seats drowning with the local wine named "bahalina", some people can be seen making a beeline to the exits because they can't cope with what is happening in the dance floor.

Well, as they frequently say, "see you next year". (Hoping that they will still be alive for another day of camaraderie and dancing, if still able).