Cayetano asks agencies to ease rules for small businesses after BIR suspends badge rule

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is calling on more government agencies to simplify compliance requirements for small entrepreneurs, following the Bureau of Internal Revenue's (BIR) suspension of the mandatory online display of its Registration Seal Badge, according to Mindanao Times.

The BIR has suspended the requirement for online sellers and content creators until further notice while it reviews privacy and technical concerns. Cayetano welcomed the decision in a statement dated October 27, 2026, but said more can be done for small enterprises, including those in the informal sector.

He urged better coordination among agencies to streamline procedures and reduce the time business owners spend meeting government requirements. He also said agencies should create conditions that let small businesses operate with confidence and grow within the formal economy.

"A business does not have to be big to matter," Cayetano said, adding that enterprises that keep children in school or families out of debt are doing worthwhile work.

Cayetano described the needed response as a whole-of-government effort, saying better coordination could save people time while still protecting consumers, personal information and public revenue. He noted that some small sellers simply want a dependable livelihood while others hope to expand and hire workers, and said both deserve a fair chance.

He thanked online sellers, content creators and other stakeholders who raised concerns about the badge policy, including Senator Pia Cayetano. According to the senator, the episode shows the value of listening to people who deal with such requirements daily, as their experience can help shape better policies and build public trust.