Bacolod City, Philippines - Bacolod City has become the first local government unit (LGU) in the Visayas to collaborate with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to streamline the business registration system. The partnership, formalized through a memorandum of agreement (MOA), aims to facilitate faster business name registration for establishments operating in the city.
According to Philippines News Agency, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, representing Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, stated that this initiative aligns with the mayor's vision to transform Bacolod from a progressive city into a "super city." The agreement, signed during a ceremonial event at the Bureau of Investments in Makati City on November 10, was part of a wider collaboration involving eight LGUs and the DTI, led by Secretary Alfredo Pascual. Under the MOA, Bacolod City and the DTI will implement an automatic verification system for the business name registration of sole proprietors. This system will integrate the DTI's Business Name Registration System (BNRS) with the LGU's online Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS), allowing two-way sharing of personal and business information and automated validation of business name registrations. The new system will require businesses to register with the DTI before obtaining a business permit from the LGU, streamlining regulatory processes and reducing the risk of accepting falsified documents. The partnership aims to strengthen the reliability of information and provide access to real-time and accurate data.