By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) disclosed on Monday (Dec. 2) that it has achieved a resolution rate of 98.23% on complaints and concerns throughs its year of significant strides in simplifying government processes and fostering a more efficient business environment.
In the ARTA 2024 yearend media conference, the agency’s key accomplishments, focusing on impactful programs that have directly benefited Filipino citizens and businesses alike were highlighted.
In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s vision of a “Bagong Pilipinas,” the ARTA has relentlessly pursued its mission to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and replace “red tape” with a “red carpet” for all. Citing media as a vital partner in disseminating information to the public,
ARTA said that the media plays a crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability.
“By working together, we can continue to drive progress and build a more prosperous Philippines,” ARTA said.
Secretary Ernesto V. Perez, Director General, presented ARTA’s accomplishments for 2024, plans and programs for 2025.
Perez said “We are lucky to have a good law Republic Act 11032, or the ‘Ease of Doing Business Law’”.
He quoted President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. as saying “In whatever government office, red tape must be replaced with a red carpet” that is to streamline government transactions and services.
Perez got to visit the counterpart of ARTA in Malaysia who told him that Malaysia then has no MRT (Metro Rail Transit) yet, but the Philippines then already has MRT.
He noted that look at what Malaysia has transformed now compared to the Philippines.
“Kaya po kailangang-kailangan po natin ang suporta ng media para ipaalam ang ating initiatives for the past years,” Perez said.
“ARTA’s vision and mission have work in our daily lives such that we will transform the way government services are delivered through whole-of-nation approach, innovation, and good regulatory practices towards bureaucratic efficiency,” he said.
“ARTA’s vision is a streamlined and digitalized Philippine bureaucracy for an effective, efficient, and inclusive service delivery,” he added.
For the past five years of operations, Perez said “we have accomplished projects and programs that made a six-year change management.”
“We must work with each other, supporting each other, and supporting this administration. So, we act with urgency so that we can outweigh other parties for the competitive industries,” Perez said.
“We work with the World Bank even with foreign government. We also work with foreign companies so that issues and concerns will be addressed and advocate for necessary changes,” he added.
The necessary changes are done first with the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA).
Perez stressed that the transport of goods should be “seamless” as well.
“Regulations and processes on sectors with significant impact on the economy. We recognize that there is a lead agency such as on energy, the Department of Energy, on health, the Department of Health, on environment, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, among others,” Perez said.
The ARTA Director General has recently come from Jakarta, Indonesia engaging the 10-member states of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), particularly on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), specifically the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
He cited for instance Germany who used Artificial Intelligence and they were able to transact with 300 calls simultaneously, saying that by 2025, ARTA may also do that same volume of transactions.
“Let us continue to support the ‘Build, Build, Better” infrastructure projects of the government because it will impact on the country’s progress and development,” Perez said.
He cited that if the businessmen would realize that it is easy to do business in the Philippines, they themselves would
“As of October 12, 2024, the total LGU compliants had reached 112. Can you imagine if all LGUs would be fully compliant of RA 11032,” Perez said.
“Kasama po natin dito ang Office of the President, Presidential Management Staff. Kapag ginawa po natin ito sa Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao, maganda po ang mangyayari sa buong bansa,” he added.
Perez stressed that the new regulation would be that there will be no “overlapping regulations” such that any regulation imposed by the regulatory bodies would not unduly burden the transacting public.
“We hope to fully implement them (digital platforms). Tagala pong mapapaganda ang ating ekonomiya,” he said.
The compliance status as of September 2024, Perez said, is 10,896 out of 11,286 agencies and LGUs or 96.54% have submitted their Citizen’s Charter.
Perez assured that every time that there is a complaint filed, they see to it that the ARTA will be there for you, noting that there had been no report that any government agency ignored their complaint.
“Huwag po kayong matakot that meron tayong Legal Department,” he said.
ARTA has a resolution rate of 98.23% such that the total number of complaints or concerns was 24,092, of which 23,666 were resolved and referred.
The complaints and concerns were filed or submitted through the Contact Center ng Bayan of the Civil Service Commission (CCB), the 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Hotline that operates “24/7”, or through “i-dial 8888 i-reklamo korapsyon red tape”.
Perez stressed “We can call all the regulatory bodies, and the processes are continuing and the battle is long.”
According to Perez, the ARTA has been meeting with various chambers of commerce and just recently a “Portal for Ease of Doing Business” has been launched.
Perez said that they are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) 24/7 so that solutions will be properly tracked.
President Marcos has designated the ARTA to be the focal point in terms of submission for compliances with the World Bank to be “business ready”.
“We rank among the top 40, and we aim high and to be at the top 40 on the World Bank’s ‘Be Ready for 2024 Report” and right now we are preparing various technical working groups (TWGs),” Perez said.
The World Bank’s “Be Ready Report” has a pilot run of from 2024-2027 in several countries in the world.
The ARTA refers the complaints and concerns filed or submitted to them to either the Civil Service Commission or the Office of the Ombudsman.
“We can ‘motu proprio’ conduct an investigation into a complaint filed anonymously and we will not divulge the identity of the complainant,” Perez said.
“We support the DTI, the DICT for interconnectivity and the ARTA is there for interconnectivity with the private sector,” he added.
Undersecretary Ricojudge Janvier M. Echiverri, Deputy Director General for Administration and Finance, said “when I was Interior and Local Government Undersecretary, in order to eliminate red tape, we did it through capacitating the local government units, especially through the eBOSS or the (Business One-Stop Shop) and we also use “carrot” through the rewards system.”
