Nano-enterprises in the city will become legitimate in accordance with Ordinance No. SP 3272, S-2024. Small businesses, such as sari-sari stores and eateries, can now register online and will have a business permit. (Contributed photo)
QUEZON CITY (PIA) – Consistent with its policy supporting the backbone of the local economy, the Quezon City government took a giant step primarily designed to empower nano-entrepreneurs, which include eateries and sari-sari stores.
Moments after signing City Ordinance 3272, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte cited the need to establish a comprehensive framework to support and uplift small businesses.
Under the ordinance, nano-entreprises are defined as businesses run by self-employed individuals or sole proprietors with assets not exceeding P50,000 and gross sales or receipts below P250,000. These include the ubiquitous sari-sari stores, eateries, and beneficiaries of the city’s Pangkabuhayan QC Assistance Program.
Describing nano-entrepreneurs as the unsung heroes keeping communities thriving, Belmonte said: “As a way of recognizing the vital role that nano-entrepreneurs play in our local communities, we will provide them with the necessary support to thrive.”
Introduced by Councilor Candy Medina and Majority Leader Dorothy Delarmente, the ordinance underscores the city’s unwavering commitment to empowering small businesses by streamlining the tedious registration process.
The initiative effectively reduces the documentation required for nano-enterprises applying for new or renewal of business permits.
With a simplified system in place, Belmonte hinted at a seamless economic flow, allowing the nano-entrepreneurs to focus on what they do best: running their businesses.
More than easing the administrative burden, the ordinance spares nano-entrepreneurs from paying local business taxes and regulatory fees, a much-needed reprieve that can make a significant difference in their bottom line.
“In times of crisis, such as natural disasters or public health emergencies, the registration process will help us quickly identify and extend assistance to affected nano-enterprises,” explained Margie Mejia, head of the Quezon City Business Permit and Licensing Department (BPLD).
Additionally, nano-enterprises will receive priority consideration for financial assistance programs provided by both the city and national governments. This includes access to grants, subsidies, loans, and other forms of financial support—a lifeline that can help these small businesses weather economic storms and thrive.
Mejia maintained that the impact of the ordinance goes beyond the financial realm, even as she placed a premium on the city’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for nano-entrepreneurs through various interventions to keep them afloat.
Part of easing the business process for the nano-entrepreneurs is a city portal, the Online Business Permit Application System (OBPAS), where owners of eateries and sari-sari stores may register. (AVS/PIA-NCR)
