Executive Order No. 051, series of 2011 is now being implemented to meet the goals of the City Government led by City Mayor Allen G. Singson in attracting more business investments to boost the local economy and local employment.

The said EO is pursuant to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum circular No. 2001-120 that implements the Anti-Red Tape Program for local government’s services. This will now simplify the business permits and licensing process of the city government.

City Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) headed by Mary Jean S. Abrero make sure of its full blown implementation. “The streamlining on the process of securing permits and licenses would minimize time as it will accommodate our clients faster” Abrero said.

As discussed in the seminar/workshop on Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) last July 14-15, 2011 at the ABC Session Hall it will further expound on the minimum standards on BPLS streamlining. It includes: (1) limiting the processing time of the LGUs to issue business permits and licenses to a maximum of 10 days from the date of submission of the application form as required by the Anti-Red Tape Law; (2) using a unified form each for new applications and renewals; and (3) limiting the number of steps in processing applications for new applications and renewals. But the BPLS in Candon City is still under finalization.

"We still need to ask the concerns of businesses in the city subject for their recommendations. The committee assigned still needs to discuss of the would-be adopted procedures regarding this BPLS", Abrero explained.

The BPLS is a priority reform program of President Noynoy Aquino and DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo to improve the country’s competitive performance in combating red tape and improving revenue generation in local government units.

It has four components: Simplification and Standardization of BPLS for new registration and renewals; Computerization; Improving Customer Relations; and Institutionalization of Reforms. The annual Business-One-Stop-Shop (BOSS) as initiated by then City Mayor Grace G. Singson in 2002 is just one of major activities that exemplify the simplified approach of business permits and licensing process.