‘Early birds’ excite BOSS on its first day

By Jason B. Neola

NAGA CITY --- The Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) here has received more than 300 transactions on the very first day of its operation on Monday, Jan. 4, this year, with 109 of the business owners getting their permits on the same day.

This situation, according to city treasurer Gregoria Nilda Abonal, was “to some extent surprising considering the dismal and discouraging goings-on in the business industry due to Covid-19 pandemic.”

Business One Stop Shop 2021

The BOSS, the operation of which will last until Jan. 20 managed to issue business permits to around 300 applicants/taxpayers on the second day.

Abonal said the influx of applicants and taxpayers that has continuously been observed from Day 1 can be traced to clients’ strict adherence to the city government’s campaign on physical distancing rule and other health and safety standards.

Maybe, there are businesspersons who want to avoid the crowd of applicants especially during the last day of BOSS that is why they are applying early, She said.

Abonal, however, observed that the number of commercial establishments that shut down including those that temporarily deferred their operations is still lesser than those businesses that open up or resume their operation.

Personally, to Ferdinand Sia, immediate past president of Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), the prompt payment and application for business taxes could also be attributed to the city’s business condition that began going up gradually in the last part of 2020.

In its effort to fire up the Naga’s economy, the city government has initiated the operations of Naga City Business Stimulus Program, the Community Employment Program, the Blast Off-Naga City Digital Startup Challenge, and other initiatives.