BACOLOD City – Business confidence in this city remains high despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, according to Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
He cited the city government’s Business One-Stop-Shop (BOSS), which so far registered 7,531 businesses since Jan. 4.
The initial figure – including those businesses that registered in advance beginning Nov. 15, 2020 – is already 31 percent of last year’s total registration of 23,545.
“This is way beyond our expectations considering the pandemic. This means business confidence is still high,” the mayor said.
The city government actually expected a much lower business registration turnout in 2020. A decrease of 20 percent to 30 percent was projected. But the drop only amounted to eight percent from the 25,637 total business registrants in 2019.
This proves the resiliency of Bacolod due to its “business-friendly” policies, Leonardia said.
The BOSS will continue until March 31, 2021. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays at the 4th floor of the Ayala Malls Capitol Central.
This is the first time BOSS is being held outside the New Government Center (city hall).
Leonardia said the mall has ample space that allows the strict observance of minimum health protocols against COVID-19.
Business permit applicants who pay their regulatory fees in advance covering the whole year are entitled to a 10-percent discount, provided they do so before the March 31 deadline.
The BOSS can accommodate at most 300 clients a day, but Stela Rose Rayos, head of the Bacolod Permits and License Office, said they plan to increase their daily capacity to cater to up to 500 clients.
A “no appointment, no transaction” policy is being implemented to control the number of daily clients at the BOSS. Wearing of face masks and face shields as well as observing physical distancing are also strictly required.
Applicants may secure an appointment online by logging in to the Bacolod City government website (https://ols3.bacolodcity.gov.ph).
For offline/walk-in appointment, applicants may visit the BPLO at the ground floor of the Bacolod City Government Center, or the BOSS at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central.
Joining the BOSS are various agencies, including the 61 barangays for clearances, City Health Office, City Planning and Development Office – Zoning Division, Office of the Building Official, Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Tourism Office, City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office, City Department of Agriculture, City Veterinary Office, and Bureau of Fire Protection.
The national agencies are Pag-IBIG, and Securities and Exchange Commission.
Except for the BFP, which has set up a desk at the ground floor of Ayala Malls Capitol Central, all other participating agencies are situated at the 4th floor of the mall. (With Bacolod City PIO/PN)
