OMB OPENS IN DAVAO. John Gerard A. Arangoso (left), OMB’s Licensing Assistant for Mindanao, listens to the query of a client in a simulation that was presented to the media and guests during the opening of the first satellite office of OMB at the Negosyo Center in Magsaysay Park, Davao City on Tuesday, July 11. (Alex D. Lopez/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Despite budgetary constraints, the Optical Media Board pushes for the establishment of satellite offices outside Metro Manila to cater the needs of their clients.
OMB’s first satellite office opened on Tuesday, July 11 at the Go Negosyo Center of the Department of Trade and Industry in Davao Region.
The center is situated in Door 7 of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center inside the Magsaysay Park.
“Our clients usually ask us why the OMB does not have any office outside of Metro Manila,” said Atty. Anselmo B. Adriano, OMB chair and chief executive officer in his message during the formal opening of the satellite office here.
Adriano said commercial establishments that would like to apply for registration and licensing at OMB, especially those coming from provinces, will need to go to Manila for processing.
“This has been a persistent problem at the OMB,” he pointed out.
OMB is mandated to regulate the import, export, manufacture, replication, distribution, and sale of optical and magnetic media, to include the DVDs, CDs, VCDs, CD burners and hard disk drives.
Persons or establishments involved in such businesses will need to secure licenses and permits from the OMB.
Adriano said OMB receives under P50-million budget by the General Appropriations Act or GAA for the last 10 years, the reason why the office is facing difficulties in opening and maintaining offices outside of Metro Manila.
“We are not complaining,” he clarified though.
He said the possibility of accessing free office space with the DTI, particularly at the regional offices and Go Negosyo Centers started last year.
Go Negosyo Centers are appropriate offices where OMB extension offices should be housed because all inquiries and possible questions with regard to the putting-up of businesses are usually housed in these centers.
“We were able to sign a memorandum of agreement with the DTI last January. We start with a satellite office in Mindanao here in Davao City,” Adriano said.
PUSHING THROUGH. Optical Media Board Chair and CEO Atty. Anselmo B. Adriano who led the opening of the first satellite office of OMB at the Go Negosyo Center, DCIPC in Magsaysay Park in Davao City on Tuesday, July 11 says they pushed through with their plan, in partnership with the DTI, in bringing services nearer to their clients. (Alex D. Lopez/davaotoday.com)
“What we talked and signed in January is now happening and I am seeing that this will be happening all over the country,” said Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya of the DTI Regional Operations Group.
Maglaya also joined the formal opening of the OMB satellite office here on Tuesday.
She emphasized that promoting sustaining business means practicing the ethical business standards, securing permits and licenses and the respect to intellectual property.
The undersecretary added that OMB’s satellite office is a way of making business easier especially for the clients.
Maglaya also expressed gratitude to the DCIPC for giving the OMB a home in Mindanao and in Davao City.
Adriano also announced that a satellite office in Visayas that will be established in Cebu City will also open by August this year.
He said that the setting up of offices outside Metro Manila is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s thrust in making government services more accessible to the public.
“If you really like to espouse good governance you have to start by bringing the government closer to the people,” Adriano said.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was represented during the occasion by Atty. Elisa Lapiña from the City Legal Office.
In a message read by Lapiña, Mayor Sara congratulated the OMB for the bold step they have undertaken to branch out to Mindanao.
The mayor also highlighted the important function of OMB that directly tackles piracy that has been hurting the media and entertainment industry in the country.
Piracy, Mayor Sara emphasized, is a parasite that feeds and profits from infringement at the expense of its victims – that include the artists, authors, filmmakers and every originator within the media and entertainment industry.
Last Tuesday’s opening ceremony was also graced by PBA representative Jericho “Koko” Nograles, City Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre and the top officials of DTI and the city and the region. (davaotoday.com)
