OLONGAPO CITY IS CENTRAL LUZON’S BEST B.O.S.S.

Olongapo City is on a roll as it brings home two more regional awards besting some 130 cities and municipalities in Central Luzon as having the Best Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) for Central Luzon and 1st Place in the Highly-Urbanized City Category as Best Local Government Unit (LGU) Practitioners for Central Luzon in implementing the streamlining program in the issuance of Mayor's permit for 2008.

The awards were given during the program for the Recognition of Outstanding LGUs Implementing the Streamlining Program in the Issuance of Mayor’s Permit in Central Luzon on March 26, 2009 at Holiday Inn Hotel in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. accepted the award in behalf of the City Government.

“Olongapo City was one of the eight (8) pilot areas for this initiative. Since we started with the program, all our efforts have been primarily directed in ensuring that we provide our clients a client-friendly system and procedures through the Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) which resulted in more satisfied customers because the registration process was made more efficient and convenient for businesses here in Olongapo,” shares Gordon.
The streamlining program seeks to reduce documentary requirements, turn-around time, number of signatories, and cost of fees in the processing of business licenses and permits.

Streamlining the business process in the issuance of Mayor’s permit is CLGCFI’s response to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s call to eliminate red tape in the bureaucracy and reduce the cost of doing business.

This is in pursuant to Malacañang Memorandum Order (MO) 117 which directs local authorities to simplify and rationalize their civil application systems and the Secretaries of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to facilitate the streaming of procedures in the issuance of permits and licenses.

About 130 cities and municipalities in Central Luzon are now implementing streamlining projects which have contributed in making Central Luzon as a business friendly region.

Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation Inc. (CLGCFI) started giving awards to successful LGUs in February 2007. This was followed by another awarding in April 2008. Now on its third year, CLGCFI continues to acknowledge the efforts of LGUs and deepen the commitment of LGU practitioners to the Streamlining Program.

CLGFI is composed of the seven (7) provincial governors of Central Luzon, DTI Undersecretary for Industry and Investments and DTI-3 Regional Director. It is tasked to provide policy decisions and to facilitate the planning, coordination and monitoring of investment-related projects in Central Luzon.

Aurora Governor and CLGCFI President Bellaflor Angara-Castillo hands over the award to Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. for bagging 1st place in the Highly-Urbanized City Category of the Best Local Government Unit (LGU) Practitioners for Central Luzon in implementing the streamlining program in the issuance of Mayor's permit Shop. Also in photo are Pampanga Governor and CLGCFI Treasurer Eddie T. Panlilio (left), Olongapo Business Permit and Licensing Division (BPLD) head Neal Perez (right) and Carmelita Yco of DILG-Olongapo. (Photo and Caption/PAO)

Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. accepts the trophy and plaque of recognition for the Best Business One-Stop Shop for Central Luzon award from Aurora Governor and CLGCFI President Bellaflor Angara-Castillo together with Olongapo Business Permit and Licensing Division (BPLD) head Neal Perez. (Photo and Caption/PAO)