BORACAY – Business groups in this island resort want the government to extend the “one-stop shop” that allows establishment owners to easily process their required permits.
They want the establishments to be given more time – until Sept. 30 – to comply with government requirements, said Boracay Foundation, Inc. president Maylynn “Nenette” Aguirre Graf.
The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, tasked to oversee the six-month rehabilitation of the island, set up the one-stop shop at the White Beach in Station 3 from July 24 to Aug. 3. This was relocated at CityMall Boracay from Aug. 6 to 15.
Agencies represented at the one-stop shop include the Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
The one-stop shop provides local establishments one spot where they can comply with requirements in compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
“Our people now lack assistance on how to comply with the requirements,” Graf said, adding that the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Boracay had the same sentiment.
Businesses are required to acquire a sanitation clearance and a business permit from the DILG or the local government of Malay, and an environmental compliance certificate from the DENR.
Only compliant businesses will be allowed to operate when the tourist destination reopens on Oct. 26.
Graf said the BFI and the PCCI-Boracay agreed to appeal to Environment secretary Roy Cimatu to extend the one-stop shop operations until Sept. 30.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Malay already approved on Aug. 14 a resolution appealing to Cimatu that the one-stop shop operations be extended.
“If business owners fail to comply with requirements by Aug. 15, they will have to process their papers at the offices of the concerned government agencies,” SB member Dante Pagsuguiron said.
“Mahihirapan ang ating mga business owners ’pag hindi na ma-extend ang processing ng requirements sa one-stop shop,” he said. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
