REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

House Bill No. 8046

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A large percentage of business operations in the Philippines are considered as small and
medium scale enterprises. However, when compared with large corporations, they are heavily
disadvantaged because of the stiff competition, the disparity in starting capital, expendable
resources, products, and other services.

‘Thus, this bill seeks to establish Business One-Stop Shops (BOSS) Centers that will cater to
the variated needs of small and medium enterprises and help them compete with mega corporations
that command the market. Such centers will also provide other auxiliary services, including:
information and referrals needed for a firm, project monitoring research, policy studies, and
information dissemination campaigns.

If big businesses are considered the heart of the Philippine economy, then SMEs, this
representation is convinced, are the vessels that bring critical goods and services closer to the
Filipino home. Empowering our aspiring entrepreneurs would yield significant benefits to the
‘overall health of our economy and is expected to bring scores of people out of poverty.

Let us support Filipino perseverance and ingenuity.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is eamestly sought.



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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8046

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING ONE-STOP SHOP CENTERS FOR SMALL-SCALE AND MEDIUM
ENTERPRISES IN ALL REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled,

SECTION 1. Short Title —This Act shall be known as the “Business One-Stop Shop
Centers Act of 2018.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.—The State recognizes the crucial role of small and medium
enterprises in employment generation, wealth, creation, technological advancement, and
entrepreneurship development in the country, and the necessity to establish the institutional
framework to make economic environment conducive to business by raising government
effectiveness in the delivery of services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) throughout the
country as well as provide the necessary and strategic information and research assistance to
expedite the process of business formation and encourage the growth of entrepreneurship.

SEC. 3. Creation of Business One-Stop Shop Centers for Small and Medium
Enterprises.—In accordance with the foregoing policy, there shall be established under the
supervision of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development (SMED) Council, Business One-
Stop Shop (BOSS) Centers, in all regional and provincial centers of the country. The BOSS Center
may also be organized as a corporation, partnership, or non-stock, non-profit corporation under
applicable rules and regulations.

SEC. 4. Governing Principles—BOSS Centers shall be organized, established, and
operated as a self-sustaining entity and be allowed to charge reasonable fees for the services, with
institutional autonomy and full government support at the local and national level, subject to
pertinent provisions of applicable laws and regulations.


SEC. 5. Additional Functions of the SMED Council.—Aside from its mandated functions,
the SMED Council shall have the following additional functions:

a. Act as a coordinating body for the participating agencies in the BOSS Center;

b. The SMED Council shall formulate criteria for selection and prioritization of the
establishment of each BOSS Center, taking into consideration existing businesses and
similar centers in the area;

. Prepare quarterly status reports of major issues that shall be made available to all
interested parties;

4d. Promulgate such rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation
of this Act;

¢. Prepare feasibility studies of existing as well as possible industries in the
Philippines that can help entrepreneurs decide on what business to venture into;

f. Monitor and collate economic, technical, and industry research output of all
government agencies that has reference to business enterprise, as well as to investors in the
country; and

g. Generally, exercise all powers and functions necessary to achieve the objectives

and purposes of this Act.

SEC. 6. Functions of the BOSS Centers.—Each BOSS Center shall function as a one-stop
shop center offering the following services:

‘a. Accept and act on all registration applications for SMEs;

b. Provide entrepreneur and aspiring entrepreneurs with all the necessary government
agencies for registration up to the last requirement needed in setting up a business, thereby
facilitating the processing of all documentary requirements for the establishment of a

business _ enterprises in the country;


¢. Provide information and referral services it shall deem useful necessary, on
essential _ to small and medium entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs;

4. Establishing a databank which shall be a source of all information necessary for
project monitoring, research and policy studies and information dissemination campaigns;

¢. Act as coordinating center for activities and programs for SMEs;
£. Provide local and international networks and linkages for SME development;

2. Supply information and services in training, financing, marketing and technology
transfer to SMEs; and

h. Conduct other programs or projects for entrepreneurial development in the
‘country.

SEC. 7. Composition of the BOSS Center.—The following government agencies are
mandated to detail representatives of appropriate rank and sufficient authority and capacity to give
information assistance as well as having discretion to act on pertinent applications at each BOSS
Center:

a. Local Government Unit in areas concerned;

b. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

. Securities and Exchange Commission (SE

d. Bureau of Intemal Revenue (BIR);

. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);

f. Social Security System (SSS); and

g. Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).


When necessary, the SMED Council may require the detail of appropriate personne! of other
government agencies which may support the purposes and objectives of this Act. Goverment
personnel assigned or detailed at each BOSS center shall receive reasonable honoraria, subject to
existing laws and regulation.

SEC. 8 BOSS Secretariat.—A Secretariat shall be organized by the corporate entity
‘organized to manage each BOSS Center. The Secretariat shall have the following duties and
functions:

a. Facilitate and administer the day-to-day operations of the BOSS center;
b. Actas an information officers on matters relevant to the interest of SMEs;
¢. Act as coordinator for activities of the BOSS Center;

d. Render a yearly report and accounting of funds to the SMED Council; and
¢. Perform other duties and functions assigned to it by SMED Council.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. —Within ninety (90) days from the approval
of this Act, the SMED Council in consultations with the appropriate agencies shall promulgate the
rules and regulations to implement the provision of this Act. Such rules and regulations shall take
effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

SEC. 10. Pilot Project—To test the feasibility of its corporate, structure, institutional
linkages and arrangements as well as funding needs and requirements, the SMED Council is
authorized to initiate pilot BOSS Center projects in partnership with private sector groups,
industries or associations or other government agencies or offices.

SEC. 11. Funding Sources.—BOSS Centers shall be qualified recipients of funding from
the Department of Trade and Industry, the Cooperative Development Authority, from
Congressional Initiatives Country Development Funds and other government find through line
agencies to undertake activities similar to those of the BOSS Centers.



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SEC. 12. Separability Clause.—If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional; the remaining provision not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause.—All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and all other
issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity.—This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,