Skip to main content
UPworth Business Support Services

Quick reference

Government agencies you'll deal with

Bookmarked links and short notes on what each portal is for. We keep this list current.

Tax

Bureau of Internal Revenue

BIR

Income tax, VAT, percentage tax, withholding, and all things tax-related. The eFPS / eBIRForms portal is where you file most returns.

Business Registration

Department of Trade and Industry

DTI

Business name registration for sole proprietorships. Online via the Business Name Registration System (BNRS).

Securities and Exchange Commission

SEC

Corporation, OPC, and partnership registration. Annual GIS / AFS filings for corporations.

Employees & Benefits

Social Security System

SSS

Mandatory social insurance for private-sector employees. Employer registration, R-3 / R-5 remittances, salary loans, sickness/maternity benefits.

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation

PhilHealth

National health insurance. Mandatory employer + employee premium remittance.

Home Development Mutual Fund

Pag-IBIG / HDMF

Provident savings and housing loans. Mandatory employer + employee remittance.

Department of Labor and Employment

DOLE

Labor standards, employment contracts, workplace inspections, and the 13th month pay enforcement framework.

Local Government

Local Government Units (LGUs)

LGU / BPLO

Mayor's Permit / Business Permit, Sanitary Permit, fire safety inspection, locational clearance. Each LGU has its own Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO).

Industry-Specific

Board of Investments

BOI

Investment incentives (income tax holiday, duty exemptions) for qualifying activities under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan.

Philippine Economic Zone Authority

PEZA

Tax incentives + duty-free importation for businesses inside PEZA economic zones. IT-BPM, manufacturing, and tourism are common qualifiers.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development

DHSUD

Real estate developer registration, license to sell, project registration. Replaced the older HLURB.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board

LTFRB

Franchise / Certificate of Public Convenience for public transport (buses, jeepneys, ride-share). Plus LTO for vehicle registration.

Food and Drug Administration

FDA

License to operate (LTO), product registration, and certification for food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices.

National Privacy Commission

NPC

Data Privacy Act (RA 10173) compliance. Required to register if you process personal data above the threshold or designate a Data Protection Officer.

Drowning in agencies?

UPworth handles BIR, DTI, SEC, SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, and LGU coordination so you don't have to queue.