Taguig City: Job termination for gov't employees doubling as fixers

MANILA, Philippines - The Taguig City government on Monday warned employees engaged in the “fixing” or the anomalous processing of business permits and other documents that they would face employment termination if found guilty.

Joy Panga-Cruz, officer-in-charge of Taguig’s Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), said city employees are not allowed to act as "fixers" or engage in any way in processing business permits and licenses aside from those tasked to do so.

"We do not tolerate fixers. If found to be guilty of such, termination of employment and criminal prosecution will certainly follow," Cruz, a lawyer, said.

Cruz said Taguig has received from the Office of the Ombudsman a Blue Certification Award that indicates having passed the anti-graft agency’s anti-red tape standards and its system conformed to the ease of doing business standards.

Meanwhile, the Taguig City government also opened on Monday two “business one stop shops” (BOSS) where business operators in the city could have their business papers efficiently processed.

The BOSS offices will be open until January 20. The offices are located at the Taguig City Hall Auditorium and at the city hall satellite office located at the SM Aura building inside the Bonifacio Global City.

Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano said the creation of the BOSS offices is proof that the city is valuing investors in the city.

"Once again, we give the business community the VIP (very important person) treatment they deserve. The taxes they pay help fund our social services, which is very important to our citizens," Cayetano said.

"Today, investor confidence is at a high. Without it, there will be no scholarship fund, no free medicine delivered straight to residences and there are no free uniforms or school supplies," she added.

Cayetano also said that business tax collection was at an all-time high last year. In addition, collected business permit and licensing fees by the city’s BPLO was also the highest in five years, the city government said.

“BOSS is our commitment to all our investors. It makes your business application or renewal services fast and accessible," Cayetano said.