For the Biñan City Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), being “business-friendly” means more than simply making it easier for entrepreneurs to have their businesses registered with the city government.
It also means giving those who wish to start their own businesses the technical and financial capability to jumpstart these enterprises.
“Marami po kaming nakita rito sa Biñan na mga magagandang ideas for their own business. Pero kulang po sila sa kapasidad in terms of skills or capital,” was how Biñan City BPLO head Atty. Edward Vange Arriba described it.
As part of encouraging “start-ups” to pitch in their own “bright ideas,” the BPLO recently held its "Startup City of Biñan Year 2" competition at the People's Center last November 13.
The activity is part of BPLO’s “Biñan Business Week,” which aims to highlight the entrepreneurial acumen of Biñanenses, particularly in the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.
“Bukod sa pagtulong sa kanila na masimulan na maging ganap at lehitimong negosyo ang kanilang business pitch, nais ring suportahan at susugan ng City of Biñan ang mga innovative idea nila,” Arriba emphasized.
Open to all
Arriba is quick to clarify that the “Startup City of Biñan Year 2” is open to all Biñanenses with bright ideas, regardless of educational attainment or financial status.
“Propesyonal ka man o estudyante, as long as maganda at innovative ang business idea mo, pwede kayong pumasok dito,” the BPLO head explained.
“It’s just that karamihan po talaga sa mga sumasali sa ating competition ay mga estudyante, especially yung mga nakakuha ng mataas na grado sa kanilang subject, since ine-encourage sila na i-pitch ang kanilang mga ideya sa mga contest na gaya nito.”
Months before the actual competition, Arriba added, business proponents are asked to submit their complete proposals – which include a summary of their business idea, financial and marketing plans.
This year’s winner (out of 10 participants) for the "Startup City of Biñan Year 2" competition was a group of students from Trimex Colleges who pitched in the idea of pencils made from water lilies.
“Napakaganda po ng na-pitch nilang business idea, especially since isa po sa mga problema natin dito sa Biñan ay ang pagdami ng water lily na nagbabara po sa ating mga waterways,” the BPLO head said.
The group bagged P50,000 as a “start-up fund” to start their own business, as well as free processing of business permits for the next year and assistance in terms of business management and registration with national government agencies.
“At ang mas maganda po nito ay itatawid po natin ang kanilang negosyo sa iba pang mga clients, mga tao o organisasyon na pwedeng mas magpalaki pa ng kanilang business,” Arriba added.
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