NERBAC Kick-off Conference and Workshop

"Minimizing bureaucracy in acquiring licenses and permits will not only improve the country’s business climate but will also reduce corruption."

This was what Trade and Industry Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya stressed during the One Business Permit and Licensing System Seminar at the Parklane Hotel in Cebu City last Friday.


Streamlining business registration procedures is one of the major programs of the newly established National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC).

NERBAC aims to improve the business and investment climate in Cebu and reduce bureaucratic costs in the business registration process (BRP).

Maglaya said since NERBAC will serve as a “one-stop” processing and documentation center for all documentary requirements in running a business, any form of corruption will be eliminated.

Last week, LGus in Cebu had a workshop and conference with the NERBAC dubbed “Towards One BPLS for CEBU” at the Parklane Hotel Ballroom, Cebu City.

The conference-workshop was a joint effort of the Department of Trade and Industry Central Visayas Office and the German Technical Cooperation known as Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ).

The NERBAC conference and workshop aimed at streamlining and harmonizing the Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS) in Cebu.

Another purpose of the activity was to find ways for NERBAC to work in tandem with LGU leaders to invigorate further the investment climate in the province. The end-goal is to ease the way for more entrepreneurs to invest and do business in Cebu.