Online Cantilangnon

TANDAG CITY, Philippines  – Villagers living in far-flung communities of Surigao del Sur have something to rejoice after their areas are expected to benefit from an energization project.

The initial energization of some areas in the province had already started last weekend.

The project is part of the Aquino administration’s energization program that is being implemented by the Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative II (Surseco II) and closely supervised by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

The areas set to benefit are the villages of Palompon and Mahaba in Marihatag town, Purok 5 and Barangay Siagao in San Miguel, Awasan and Pag-Antan in Tago, Bayabas in Tandag City, and Bayabay in Cantilan, all in Surigao del Sur.

Under the electrification project, the government has set aside P1.108 billion to hasten the implementation of two major electrification programs – the Sitio Electrification Project (SEP) and Barangay Line Enhancement Program (BLEP).

The government seeks to provide electricity to 2,341 villages, and to light up 32,441 sitios by 2015 nationwide.

In another development, the city government of Butuan is targeting a P400 million collection this year in terms of business tax, fees, and permits.

At this early, the city government already collected P60 million under the Business Fast-lane registration period from January 2 to 20, 2012.

Under the new simplified and faster processing of permits and licenses, the Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) expects more businesses to come, more capitalization, and more collection and revenues.

Statistical records showed that with the new BPLS scheme, the number of new registrants/business establishments increased to 2,386 in 2011 or an increase of 124 percent, compared to 2010 with only 1,064 registrants.

Renewal of businesses also noted an increase from 5,842 in 2010 to 6,056 in 2011.

“Our new strategy in streamlining business permits and licensing system had increased the number of business registration in the year 2010 and 2011,” said Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr.

He said the total collection from business taxes, fees, and permits in 2010 was P94.36 million, and went higher in 2011 with P115.42 million or an increase of 18 percent.

“This showed that this single reform has provided the spark to basically increase and build up the faith and confidence not only of the business sector but the people as a whole, which resulted to more businesses and higher collection,” he said.

The big revenue collection paved way for more city government programs and infrastructure projects in the coming years, the city mayor added.

The improved system significantly shortened the business registration processing time from 10 days to 30 minutes, he said.

The faster processing time encouraged more entrepreneurs to register their businesses that translated to an increase in new business registrants coupled with other reforms like transparency and accountability, moral recovery program, strict adherence to the procurement process, and the full disclosure policy.