The Quezon City government and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have agreed to integrate the latter’s Business Name Registration System (BNRS) into QC’s Online Business Permit Application System (OBPAS) to allow a seamless verification process and further boost ease of doing business.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the said integration, which will help streamline business processes, detect fraudulent submission of requirements and effectively monitor compliance of QC-based businesses.
“Since one of the requirements for processing the business permits of sole proprietors is the certificate of business name registration (CBNR) from DTI, we need to ensure compliance. Instead of manually verifying the authenticity of CBNRs, the integration will allow digital processing of data and documents, thereby speeding up the process,” Belmonte said.
Based on DTI’s data, business name applications processed online grew from 35 percent to 75 percent based on payment collections received since the development and launch of the BNRS Next Gen in 2019, while Quezon City is home to more than 65,000 businesses, with almost half DTI-registered.
“So we deem it imperative to track growth, regularly monitor compliance, and gather necessary data for policies and programs,” Belmonte pointed out.
With the integration of DTI’s BNRS into QC’s digital platform, Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) head Margarita Santos said concerns, such as the submission of fake BNRS, will be addressed.
“This will also pave the way for faster evaluation of permit applications through an automated, system-to-system verification,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Mayor also agreed with Quezon City’s 142 barangays to integrate the barangay clearance and business permit fees into the OBPAS.
“Apart from the BNRS, we are ensuring that businesses pay their dues. We are working hand-in-hand with our barangays through the Suyod Buwis program to ensure that businesses operating in each barangay are compliant with both city and barangay regulations,” Belmonte said.
Belmonte said barangays, following their inspections, can inform the city government about businesses that operate without payment of tax dues to the city, fees due to the barangays, and business permits.
“Through integrating the barangay business permit fees and clearances application, the City will now be able to automatically collect such fees, which are expected to significantly increase barangay revenues,” she said.
Belmonte expressed confidence that the two agreements will help transform the entrepreneurial landscape and foster a culture of innovation, competitiveness, and economic prosperity.