NCC pushes fire, barangay clearance process reform

MANILA, Philippines – The process in securing certificates for fire safety inspection and barangay clearance are cited by businessmen as among the biggest hurdles in doing business in the country on a local government level, the National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) said.

“A reform we love to see is in the issuance of fire safety inspection certificates for fire permits.  In all our trips across the country, this is the number one complaint among businessmen,” NCC co-chairman for the private sector Guillermo Luz said.

Another major concern among businessmen, according to Luz, is obtaining barangay clearance.

“We have to go to a barangay to obtain a clearance before we go back to the city hall. This happens in starting a business, which is during the incorporation, and even when you get renewals and get new applications for business permits,” he said.

Luz said the NCC and the business community are pushing for the integration of the barangay clearance into municipal requirements.

“We would dearly love to see this integrated so we just stay within the city hall or municipal hall to avail ourselves of all the barangay clearances,” he said.

As for the fire safety inspection certificates, the NCC urged the government to conduct risk profiling and management “so those with low risks or virtually no risks are inspected less frequently than those with higher risks.”

“Maybe we can also extend the validity periods of some of these fire safety inspection beyond a year because these are low-risk enterprises and focus on the high-risk enterprises so we can really save lives in that way,” Luz added.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno said his agency would study the NCC’s proposals.

“With regard to barangay clearance, I believe it should be obtained in one place only, in the city hall or the municipal hall. We will ask the fire department for the fire safety clearance. I will ask our new general to come out with a streamlined process so we can shorten the licensing permit,” Sueno said.