Ang Pahayagan

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has established a special lane dedicated for the batch processing of identification cards for workers here to facilitate the processing of SBMA IDs for companies with large number of employees.

With the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) lane, said SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Renato Lee III, it only takes 24 minutes per application for both non-appearance processing and off-site processing.

Lee said the SBMA-Office Services Department (OSD)’s Pass Issuance and Control Division (PICD) has institutionalized batch processing through non-appearance processing for 20 or more applicants or off-site processing for 100 or more applicants.

Last year, the OSD-PICD processed 5,273 applications from various SBF companies through off-site ID processing, and 2,948 applications as of May 2025, Lee said.

“While processing individual applications at the OSD is generally straightforward, the overall processing and waiting tend to increase when applicants come in groups,” he pointed out.

Aside from inspecting the OSD-PICD unit, Lee also went around to various SBMA offices to see that EODB measures are in place. These included the  Motor Vehicle Registration Office, Telecommunications Department, Ecology Center, Building Permit Department, Visa Processing Office, Business Group’s Logistics Department, Manufacturing and Maritime Department, Leisure Department, and Tourism Department.

Lee and members of the Anti-Red Tape Unit inspection were accompanied in the inspection by stakeholders, including the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC). The activity coincided with EODB Month.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared May as the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Month. This year’s theme is “From Red Tape to Red Carpet: Better Business Movement in a Bagong Pilipinas,” which promotes the government’s collective efforts in fostering a more conducive business environment that benefits every Filipino in the Bagong Pilipinas. (via Taktikom News and Features)

TOP 📸 SBMA SDA for Business and Investment and Anti-Red Tape Unit chair Renato Lee III inspects the citizens’ charter at the receiving area of the SBMA Manufacturing and Maritime Department. (HO SBMA-MPD photo / Robin C. Tuazon)