The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has reported that almost all of the Compliance Reports of National Government Agencies (NGAs) it examined were compliant with the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.
In a news statement, ARTA said out of the 1,596 external services reviewed from 48 Compliance Reports of NGAs, 96.93 percent were within the prescribed processing time stated in RA 11032.
ARTA also recommended in its report submitted to the Office of the President that the government should provide incentives for the use of online platforms for transparency.
“ARTA recommended incentivizing the use of online platforms, the waiver or suspension of fees for initial business registrations of micro, small and medium enterprises [MSMEs], start-ups, and those falling within the gig economy through the online systems and portals of local government units or NGAs certified or endorsed by ARTA,” the statement read.
ARTA also recommended addressing difficulties in mobility during national emergencies due to the Covid-19 pandemic by extending the validity of permits, licenses, and other government authorizations except for authorizations that may pose danger to public health and security.
ARTA also endorsed the issuance of executive orders and joint memorandum circulars addressing the streamlining of services under the telecommunications, logistics, socialized housing and energy sectors.
These are also the targeted sectors for National Effort for the Harmonization of Efficiency Measures of Interrelated Agencies or NEHEMIA Program.
Based on the report, ARTA said reforms associated with the ease of doing business law are making good progress.
Services in Local Governments such as Quezon City and a number of National Government Agencies (NGAs) have improved.
ARTA said availing of business permit at the Business Permitting and Licensing Office of the Local Government of Quezon City have improved from six to three working days.
Data also showed that Securing Building and Occupancy Permit at the Department of Building Official in Quezon City was reduced to 14 days from 120 days.
Processing of the certified true copies of e-titles at the Land Registration Authority kiosks in Quezon City and Dasmariñas can now be done in two working days from four days.
The registration of certificate of registration at the Securities and Exchange Commission can now be completed in four days from 14 days, while a certificate of registration from the Bureau of Internal Revenue can be done in 15 days from 17 days.
“These were reflected in the compliance reports they submitted to ARTA pursuant to Administrative Order [AO] 23 issued last 21 February 2020, which directed all government agencies covered by Republic Act [RA] 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business law to eliminate overregulation and to promote efficiency of government processes,” the statement added.
The report and recommendations were based on ARTA’s review of the reports from LGUs and NGAs. These were forwarded to the OP last Friday, six months after the deadline of submission for the agencies.