Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez urged Cebu industry players to be part of government reforms on the ease of doing business by filing a complaint and reporting corrupt practices and unfair treatment in all government transactions.
“The [EODB] law is in effect already, which entitles everyone to file a complaint. Your support, through filing proper complaints, is very important in enforcing the law and to put those government employees and officials accountable and liable for wrong practices and making doing business in the country difficult,” said Sec. Lopez to Cebu’s business community during the Entrepreneurs’ Summit on 13 June 2019 organized by Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Trade Secretary highlighted the two-strike policy for violations, as well as the administrative and criminal liabilities for government employees and officials under RA 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.
With RA11032, government services shall have more improved systems and procedures that will reduce processing time, cut bureaucratic red tape, and eliminate corrupt practices. Government personnel shall also be capacitated to improve the quality of regulations. Further, the law provides the institutionalization of regulatory impact assessment to improve the quality of regulations.
Sec. Lopez also underscored that the city or municipal business process and licensing office shall not require the same documents already provided by an applicant or requesting party to local government departments He also emphasized that government agencies and personnel cannot sell, offer, or recommend specific brands of fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment to applicants, requesting parties, or business entities.
Likewise, the trade chief cited the Doing Business Design Sprint, one of the reforms the government is working on, which will allow business registration to be completed with the use of smartphones and through an online portal that will only require one form and one number for all transactions. A prototype has been launched in 2018.
“When everything can be transacted through a smartphone 24/7, that’s the ease of doing business,” said Sec. Lopez.
“There are a number of government initiatives we’re currently implementing. If properly executed, with your support, the whole business process—from starting your business to trading across borders – should become faster, easier, and less costly,” he added.
Driving entrepreneurial mindset
Meanwhile, the Secretary called on the business community to join the entrepreneurial revolution through mentoring aspiring and thriving entrepreneurs in their community. He explained that change in mindset is one of the most important ingredients in starting a business. He encouraged business executives and owners of big companies to partner with DTI in giving mentoring sessions through DTI-initiated events as well as through the Negosyo Centers in the country. He also emphasized DTI’s efforts to reach the grassroots level and identify negosyo advocates in each barangay to help in this mission.