DILG Secretary cites GREAT Women Project in major local government event

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo recently cited efforts of the GREAT Women Project and its partner local government units, particularly by Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC), to simplify LGU business registration.

The DILG Secretary expressed his appreciation during the official launch of the Nationwide Streamlining of Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) Reform Project for local government units (LGUs) on August 6, 2010 at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Office in Makati City.

The BPLS Reform Project calls for “the implementation of a simplified and quick issuance of business permits and licenses system in cities and municipalities of the country to improve the country’s competitiveness rating.” DTI and DILG jointly implement the Project.

Secretary Robredo expects a total of 200 local government units to comply by September 2010. To date, there are already 44 cities and over 30 municipalities that have streamlined business registration.

Since 2006, the GREAT Women Project has consistently influenced its national and local government partners to take or support measures that will simplify and lower fees for business registration. Simplified business registration is an enabling mechanism that will spur growth of women-led micro-, small and medium enterprises.

Local alliance MNDC, through the GREAT Women Project, has initiated moves to make business transactions with LGUs easier. Women microentrepreneurs can go to any One-Stop Women Enterprise Development Desk (OSWEDD), an LGU-based support mechanism for gender-sensitive (women-led) microenterprises. OSWEDD is a focal point for the delivery or coordination of enterprise-facilitating services by the LGU, NGAs and other partners, through access to Common Service Facilities, information support, counselling and advisory, entrepreneurship training, financing support, product development, and access to market services.

The GREAT Women Project aims to strengthen the national and local government capacities to establish and develop women-led micro-, small- and medium enterprises. The five-year Project is supported by the Canadian International Development Agency.