CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED IN BUSINESS PERMIT APPROVAL FOR SMES IN DUMAGUETE CITY

This study investigates the challenges encountered by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the government's frontline perspective regarding business approval processes. The researcher applied a descriptive-correlational design and employed a simple random sampling technique. The respondents of the study are 205 business owners and 22 frontliners from the City Government of Dumaguete. The researcher utilized validated questionnaires and employed Mean percentage and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient in treating the data. The study revealed that the extent of challenges faced by SMEs in obtaining business permits is high in terms of the complexity of the process, time-consuming procedures, cost and financial burden, and lack of transparency and information. It also unveiled that the following factors caused the delay of the approval of the business permits to a high extent as perceived by the front liners: incomplete or incorrect documentation, lack of coordination among agencies, the backlog of applications, and insufficient public awareness or knowledge. Moreover, to improve the business permit approval process, the frontliners suggested simplifying regulations and requirements, promoting awareness and education, increasing staff training and resources, improving inter-department coordination, and reducing unnecessary steps. Lastly, it was found that the common mistakes made by the applicants that caused delays in business permit approval include failure to provide required documents, incomplete or incorrect information, not following instructions, missing deadlines, and lack of follow-up.