TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Development Council (RDC) urged local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas to adopt the Electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) system for a more convenient way of processing business applications during pandemic.
National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) regional director Bonifacio Uy said in a phone interview Thursday the RDC approved the resolution promoting eBOSS to local governments during its virtual meeting on Sept. 30, 2021.
The eBOSS is a unified online system that eases the process of applying for business licenses and permits by providing a singular platform for the processing of applications, receipt of payments, and issuance of approved licenses, clearances, permits, or authorizations.
The system accepts online or electronic submission of an application; issues electronically the tax bill or order of payment; accepts online payments; issues electronic versions of permits, licenses, and clearances; and provides gateway facility linked to courier service for applicants who prefer to receive a hard copy of permits.
“It will help ensure the swift and contactless processing of documents for local businesses,” Uy said.
Early this year, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Joint Memorandum Circular to guide LGUs and other related agencies in processing business permits, related clearances and licenses in all cities and towns.
This is pursuant to Republic Act 11032, otherwise known as the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.
Under the joint circular, local governments were mandated to adopt the eBOSS by June 2021.
To foster LGU compliance with the eBOSS, the Eastern Visayas RDC directed that a support system be developed by the ARTA, the DICT, DTI, DILG, and other concerned agencies, according to Uy.
“The said support system includes providing guidelines and standards for the local governments in setting up the eBOSS, providing training and maintenance support for the local governments, making the relevant software available to local governments, and providing policy direction and monitoring the implementation of the standards and policies,” Uy added.
The RDC-8 also recommended the Regional Competitiveness Committee, led by the DTI and the DILG, to initiate an activity to encourage and monitor the transition of all provinces, cities, and towns to the eBOSS system.
“This is needed as this will help encourage economic dynamism and competitiveness in Eastern Visayas,” he told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The RDC issued the reminder to local governments in response to the request of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry–Eastern Visayas chapter for the RDC to assess and monitor the implementation of processing of business permits and licenses in the new normal.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

ORMOC CITY- Vice Mayor Carmelo Locsin of this city is confident that An Waray party-list group can secure votes for it to attain three seats at the House of Representatives.
Locsin is the third nominee of the An Waray with incumbent Rep. Florencio ‘Bem’ Noel as its first nominee with Mayor Allan Contado of Balangkayan, Eastern Samar as the second nominee.
Locsin said that though there are around 250 party-list groups vying for congressional seats in next year’s balloting, he is confident that An Waray can still secure three congressional seat.
“I really hope that we’ll be able to get three seats so we can help more,” he said.
Locsin said that his projection for An Waray to get three congressional seats is due to its strong performance for these past years now.
“An Waray is known around the Philippines, especially with its scholarships and medical assistance. In my visits in various parts of the country, the people there said that they will vote for An Waray because they are satisfied with its programs,” the outgoing vice mayor of this city said.
Locsin admitted that he has been visiting to different parts of the country to solicit their support.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – At least 10 public schools in Eastern Visayas have been included in the list of campuses for face-to-face classes starting Nov. 15, the Department of Education (DepEd) regional office here said.
In Leyte province, there are three schools identified as ready for face-to-face learning. These are Palo I Central School in Palo town, Bato Central School, and Dolho Elementary School, both in Bato town.
In Samar province, approved for pilot are Dawo Integrated School, Macatingog Integrated School, Mawacat Elementary School, and Pilar Agricultural National High School in Calbayog City; Motiong Central Elementary School in Motiong town; San Sebastian Central Elementary School in San Sebastian town; and Clarencio Calagos Memorial School of Fisheries in Santa Margarita town.
The list of schools is based on the evaluation of DepEd and the Department of Health (DOH), giving high considerations on the risk classification of the schools’ locations.
Jasmin Calzita, DepEd Eastern Visayas regional information officer, told reporters in a group messaging they are preparing for expansion after this pilot implementation.
“The schools initially identified for pilot implementation earlier are ready for the expansion,” Calzita added.
The region earlier recommended 18 campuses to return to physical classes.
The official assured parents that safety precautions will be enforced as their children physically return to school.
Teachers on these campuses are fully-vaccinated.
She reiterated that going to school campuses is voluntary. Some will continue their study through the distribution of self-learning modules.
Nationwide, the education department has listed 90 public schools to push through with face-to-face learning.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) has announced that over 430,000 teenagers from 17 to 12 years old in the region are to be inoculated against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The DOH is now targeting the general populace on its vaccination campaign as it aims to achieve herd immunity before the end of this year.
Dr. Kristen Mae Yu, DOH-8 COVID-19 vaccination spokesperson, this early, has urged the teeners to register at their respective areas as she urged the parents to allow their children to get the vaccine for their safety.
The over 430,000 teeners targeted for the vaccination comprises eight percent of the region’s 4.8 million total population.
“For our parents ngayon pa lang educate yourself, get information regarding paano pwede o kalian pwedeng mabakunahan or the willingness sa ating mga teenager especially those within 12 to 17 na magpabakuna and encourage din natin ang ating mga kapamilya na may kabataan na may ganitong edad na magpabakuna,” she said during a media conference Monday (Oct.25).
Although the government had already set a schedule for vaccination for the young population, those with existing illnesses will be given priority, especially those who are confined in hospitals.
Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are to be used in the vaccination among the pediatric group, Uy said, adding that all vaccines are ‘effective’ and undergone clinical trials.
Yu added that prior to vaccination, there are safety protocols that needs to be followed before an adolescent gets the vaccine.
These includes having medical clearance or medical certification from physicians or pediatric doctors to ensure that they are safe when get vaccinated, and consent both from the teeners and their parents.
She added that getting vaccinated is not mandatory as this will depend of the decision of the parents and the child who is eligible for vaccination if they wanted to be vaccinated.
“However, like what we have said before, we at the DOH encourages our parents to base their decision on reliable sources of information because we cannot force a person (to get vaccinated). We give them the freedom of choice and to give them information that can help them decide if they will allow their children to be vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines,” Uy said. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)