ARTA chief optimistic eBOSS to boost Investments, jobs in Calamba City

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna– Secretary Atty. Ernesto V. Perez of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) expressed hope for increased investment and job creation as Calamba City achieves ARTA compliance with the fully operational electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) system at its Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO).

Speaking at the formal awarding of the ARTA certificate of commendation, held at the Crimson Hotel, Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City over the weekend, coinciding with a testimonial dinner honoring the city’s top taxpayers in real property, corporate, sole proprietorship, and tourist-oriented establishments, Sec. Perez emphasized the potential economic benefits.

“Investments will come from different directions as you go,” Secretary Perez remarked. “You (Calamba City) serve as a gateway for tourists entering the region (Batangas port to Manila and vice versa) or even other parts of the country. With eBOSS in place, there are thousands of potential visitors, clients, and investors that will be attracted to the city.”

Praising Calamba City as the 27th local government unit (LGU) to comply with Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law mandating the eBOSS system, Perez highlighted its role as a single online portal facilitating business registration processes, including application submission, online payment, and electronic document issuance.

Under Section 11 (c) of the law, all LGUs were mandated to establish and operationalize an eBOSS by June 17, 2021, within three (3) years of the law’s effectivity. Sec. Perez cited the example of a 6th class municipality in Camiguin province, which, being an eBOSS compliant, processed a business permit for an overseas Filipina working in Qatar in less than a day, underscoring the effectiveness of the system in facilitating business transactions.

He emphasized ARTA’s role as a crucial link between the government and businesses, driving regulatory reforms to identify bureaucratic inefficiencies and streamline processes conducive to business growth and investment.

Furthermore, Sec. Perez lauded Calamba as a model city, commending the LGU’s proactive measures and significant results in setting standards for effective governance.

Meanwhile, Mayor Roseller H. Rizal, in his address, highlighted the city’s commitment to economic development and social progress amid challenges, attributing the success to innovations aimed at enhancing the city’s business-friendliness. “We are pleased to see that the innovations introduced to make our city business-friendly are yielding positive results,” Mayor Rizal remarked, noting the city’s strict adherence to ARTA requirements for the eBOSS portal. “As a result of these innovations, many businesses choose to establish themselves in our city,” he continued, emphasizing Calamba’s role as an ideal business destination.

Mayor Rizal noted a 26 percent increase in the city’s revenue and highlighted the significant number of new businesses, with over 2,000 out of the 11,800 businesses registered in the city being new ventures. With the implementation of eBOSS at the BPLO since January, officially termed CalambaGO Ease of Doing Business, the mayor anticipates a surge in registrations, particularly among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) coming from the barangays (villages).