• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The blessing and inauguration of the Bacolod Express Service Office (BESO) at the 3rd Floor of the Ayala Malls Capitol Central will be held on Monday, Dec. 18.
Secretary to the mayor, Atty. Joseph Karol Chiu, Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) head Stela Rose Rayos, City Treasurer Arlene Memoria, Alma Gustilo of the Department of Social Services and Development, and representatives from the Tourism Office, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office, Office of the Building Official, and City Health Office, among others, met recently to finalize office allocations at the BESO, the city Public Information Office said.
“This collaborative initiative underscores a harmonized approach to augmenting city services and fostering overall community development,” the city said in a statement Dec. 15, adding that the inauguration of BESO “stands as a tangible outcome of this shared commitment to advancing Bacolod…(and) a significant stride towards providing efficient and streamlined services to residents”.
Mayor Alfredo Benitez and Ayala Malls general manager Maria Sharon Ciocon inked the memorandum of agreement for the construction of BESO September last year.
Benitez earlier said the establishment of the BESO at the mall aims to bring government services closer to business owners, and to ensure ease of doing business to attract more investors to the highly-urbanized city.
The BESO at Ayala Malls is expected to have counters for DSSD, Local Civil Registrar, OBO, Business Permits and Licensing, CHO, and City Treasurer’s Office, among others.
The first BESO opened at SM Government Service Express (GSE) center at the 3rd Floor northwing July 4, where Bacolodnons transact business and avail of city government services easily, conveniently, and comfortably.
It can accommodate about 400 clients in the 530 square-meter area, with an initial 12 counters, including one manned by the Department of Trade and Industry personnel for business name registration, another for zoning certification, the OBO for business permits, the Bureau of Fire Protection for fire safety inspection certificates; CHO for health ID and sanitation clearance, BPLO, DSSD for senior citizens ID, LCR for document requests, and for CTO’s assessment and payment. | CGC
