PAMPANGA – In line with its vision of being a dynamic organization empowering Business Permits and Licensing Officers (BPLOs) in the Region, the Central Luzon Association of BPLOs (CLAB) held its first Regional Convention on November 16, 2016 at the City of San Fernando to discuss relevant issues currently affecting the BPLOs.

The activity was attended by the BPLOs from all over the region, as well as representatives from its partner agencies- Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP R3), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-3), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-3).

In his opening remarks, Mr. Joseph M. Garcia, CLAB President, emphasized the important role played by the BPLOs as economic builders in their respective communities by providing quality business services to their clients.

"This convention is an attestation that we strive to go beyond business as usual, that we do more than do our share in our communities, to help others, to collaborate towards the achievement of bigger geographic goals in our fields of service", Mr. Garcia said.

DTI Assistant Secretary Arturo N. Boncato, Jr. then gave his keynote speech where he challenged the BPLOs to work together to improve the competitiveness of their LGUs and the Region as a whole by participating in the different programs which measure the competitiveness and business-friendliness of an LGU such as the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI).
Throughout the convention, various presentations and discussions were prepared in order to capacitate the BPLOs in issues related to business permits and processes such as the Computerization of BPLS (e-BPLS) and the Revised JMC in processing Business Permits and Licensing in all Cities and Municipalities. DILG RD Florida M. Dijan also administered the oath-taking of the new set of CLAB officers.
The MOA signing between the DILG and Local Chief Executives of the LGUs for the implementation of the Regulatory Simplification for Local Government (RS4LG) Project also took place. This Program, which is under the Local Government Academy of the DILG, aims to simplify the business process of an LGU by reviewing and re-designing its requirements and processes. The LCEs present were Mayor Rolen
Paulino of Olongapo City and Mayor Leonora Wong of San Simon, Pampanga.
In 2014, CLAB was formed as the primary organization of empowered BPLOs championing business-friendly and competitive LGUs.