QUEZON CITY – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) joined forces on Thursday, August 31, in order to cut red tape and prevent corruption through the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA).
In his speech during the ceremonial signing of a MOA between the CSC and the ARTA, CSC Chairperson Atty. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said “We do welcome the signing of the MOA between the CSC and the ARTA. I know that you would agree with me that the RA 11032 is a bedrock of good government.”
“Isang mahalagang polisiya ito upang putulin ang red tape at pigilan ang corruption,” Nograles added.
“Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law. It is the duty of the government to uphold the welfare of the public over the private sector,” the CSC chief said.
“This event finally seals the deal between the CSC and the ARTA to delineate our functions. We have reconciled overlapping functions, identified the potential areas for common goals,” he added.
“Paiigtingin ng MOA na ito ang ating pagtutulungan upang ipatupad ang RA 11032,” Nograles said.
“Let it be known to unscrupulous officials in government. The CSC and the ARTA abhor ‘lagay’,” he added.
“While we recognize that there are much more to be done, our dedication persists,” Nograles said.
The CSC chief called on all agencies of government to continue the fight against all forms of graft and corruption.
“As we cut red tape and prevent corruption, government continues to work,” he said.
He expressed the gratitude to the men and women who worked hard in coming up with the MOA between the CSC and the ARTA.
“The MOA would clearly delineate the functions of both the CSC and the ARTA. Pag nakatanggap ng reklamo ang CSC tungkol sa violation ng RA 11032, irerefer sa ARTA, pag mahina ang kaso o walang prima facie at idismiss ang kaso ng ARTA at hindi satisfied ang complainant, pwede siyang bumalik sa CSC. Moto proprio, pwedeng aksyunan ng CSC ang naturang complaint,” Nograles said in a press conference.
“The CSC would have focus on anti-red rape cases while at the same time dealing with administrative cases,” he added.
“May hotline ‘Kontak Center ng Bayan’ ang CSC na 10 years na po with landline 16565. The resolution rate of complaints of which, is 99 percent,” Nograles said.
“Bago pa man magkaroon ng ARTA o EODB (Ease of Doing Business), mayroon ng complaint desk ang CSC,” he added.
“The 123rd Philippine Service Anniversary will be celebrated by the civil servants during the entire month of September,” Nograles stressed.
For his part, ARTA Director General Secretary Ernesto V. Perez said that the ARTA is created by law and it can be abolished unlike the CSC which is an independent Constitutional body.
“In behalf of the young men and women of the ARTA, I wish to thank the CSC for sealing our agreement,” Perez added.
Before going to the venue, Perez received a text from his driver saying that he would be late and so he drove alone to the place.
“If in case, the government would declare it a non-working day because of the torrential rains, he said the MOA signing should proceed as scheduled,” he said.
The ARTA chief noted that the MOA signing is a significant event to improve the delivery of government service.
“Your dedication to public service is really an inspiration to us,” he said.
Perez pointed out that the ARTA would not be able to operate without the approval of the CSC such that the IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) should be approved by the CSC.
“The signing of today’s MOA is our shared commitment to make government more responsive and further strengthen our cooperation and collaboration in ease of doing business,” he stressed.
He noted that from 365 working days to about 65 days or about 2 and a half months, the ARTA was able to reduce the “processing time” of business permits in government.
For LGUs with electronic business one-stop shop, he said, it would only take about 30 minutes to register a business and pay the right amount for such business.
“This is the beauty of the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. in streamlining, digitalization and of fast-tracking of government transactions and processes that would eventually cut red tape and eliminate corruption,” Perez stressed.
Under RA 11032, the ARTA’s mandate is only limited to investigate cases. The resolution rate of cases of which, is now almost 99 percent.
The CSC plays a significant role in the implementation of RA 11032.
The ARTA has a collaboration with Presidential Hotline “8888.”
For her part, CSC Commissioner Atty. Aileen Lourdes A. Lizada said “The MOA is the product of the delineation of the functions between the Civil Service Commission and the Anti-Red Tape Authority.”
“It symbolizes the formal partnership of the CSC and the ARTA under Republic Act 11032, otherwise known as the ‘East of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018’,” Lizada added.
The ARTA is an attached agency of the Office of the President (OP) that is tasked to oversee and implement the national policy on ease of doing business (EODB) and anti-red tape in the Philippines.
“To this day, the CSC remains steadfast in providing efficient service to the Filipino people with the ‘no noontime break’ policy,” Lizada said.
The CSC executive also expressed her gratitude to CSC’s partners under RA 11032.
The law is about streamlining and improving the current systems and procedures of government services. It aims to reduce processing time, cut bureaucratic red tape, and eliminate corrupt practices.
Since 2018, the ARTA has significantly lowered the “processing time” of transactions in government offices.
“This MOA signing is the first step towards implementing the ease of doing business and efficient government service towards eliminating or preventing graft and corruption in government,” Lizada said.
“Let’s work together to enhance the ease of doing business, thereby, deliver a more efficient government service,” she added.
“Kung ang ginagawa nyo ay tama, wala po kayong dapat alalahanin,” Lizada stressed.
On the other hand, CSC Assistant Commissioner Atty. Ariel G. Ronquillo discussed the salient provisions of the MOA.
“This is not the first time that the CSC and the ARTA has been collaborating to attain a common objective. That is why we came up with this MOA in order to implement the RA 11032,” Ronquillo said.
“Hindi po kami nahirapan kasi po ang lahat po ay actively nagparticipate sa crafting of the MOA,” he added.
Ronquillo noted that Section 27, Article 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution is relevant to RA 11032, saying that the legal basis of the MOA is RA No.11032, specifically Sections 2, 16, 17 (B) and 17 (C).
The CSC is the central personnel office of the government.
Ronquillo cited Section 3, Article IX-B of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, among others.
Likewise, he mentioned Section 17 of R.A. No. 11032, as well as the Vision 2021-2031 and Mission.
Under the MOA, the CSC shall serve as the focal for service delivery initiatives in the civil service; receive, review, hear, and subject to the approval of the Commissioner, decide on complaints against government employees and officials for violations of RA 11032 and its IRR.
The ARTA shall implement and oversee a national policy on anti-red tape and ease of doing business.
The ARTA shall receive and evaluate initial or formal complaints.
The CSC and ARTA shall implement various ease of doing business and anti-red tape reform initiatives and aimed at improving the competitiveness of the Philippines in these areas.
The MOA can be terminated upon consent of the parties involved.
Prior to the MOA signing, Nograles, and the CSC Commissioners, Perez and other government officials present signed in the “Commitment Board” consists of the Pledge of Commitment.
The MOA was signed by ARTA Deputy Director General Usec. Genesis R. Abot, Sec. Ernesto V. Perez, Chairperson Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, Commissioner Aileen Lourdes A. Lizada and CSC Commissioner Atty. Ryan Alvin R. Acosta.
The Members of the Executive Committees of the CSC and the ARTA witnessed the MOA signing.
The MOA covers only administrative cases and not criminal cases.
ARTA Deputy Director General Undersecretary Gerald G. Divinagracia led the “Pledge of Commitment” of the officials and employees from the three branches of government – the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary. – By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
