The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance providing for the collection of the barangay clearance fee and its integration to the business permits and licensing system of the city pursuant to Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.
Under the proposed ordinance, it shall only apply to the issuance of barangay clearance and the collection of the corresponding barangay clearance fee for business permit purposes during renewal and application of new business permits and as a prerequisite for the application for locational or zoning clearance in the city.
The ordinance authorizes the City Treasurer or his duly authorized representatives to collect the barangay clearance fee pending its integration to the business permits and licensing system of the local government.
Further, the barangay clearance fee shall be included in the order of payment for business permit together with the other authorized fees and charges to put in effect the one-time assessment of fees and charges and payment.
The ordinance will impose a fixed rate of PhP300 as barangay clearance fee for business-related transactions notwithstanding the provisions of barangay revenue ordinances prescribing the business clearance fees that are being collected by the different barangays.
The ordinance mandates the City Treasurer to remit the barangay clearance fees collected to the corresponding barangay not later than the first seven working days of the ensuing month together with the list of issued business permits for businesses operating in the said barangay.
According to the proposal, the assessment, payment, and collection of barangay clearance fees, issuance of the barangay clearance and other procedures relevant to the same shall be integrated to the business permits and licensing system of the local government within one year from the approval of the said measure.
The ordinance stipulated that the punong barangay of each of the city’s one hundred twenty eight barangays shall submit their respective electronic signatures and barangay template or logo to the business permits and licensing office which shall be utilized exclusively for the issuance of approved barangay clearances that will be issued for the said purpose.
The ordinance tasked the City mayor or his duly authorized representative to promulgate such other rules and regulations as may be consistent with and necessary to the implementation of the proposed measure.
The council claimed that the collection of the corresponding barangay clearance fees by the local government in the application for any business-related transactions subject to the remittance of the collected fees to the barangay shall be observed after due consultation with the concerned punong barangays in the city.
The body asserted that it is a policy of the local government to improve its operations by enhancing effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of the basic services and facilities, including the processing of business transactions. By Dexter A. See