Mindanaotoday.com |ARTA leads charge for a more biz-friendly PH via summit
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Emphasizing the need for a streamlined and efficient bureaucratic system in the country, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) spearheaded the 2023 Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Summit, October 12, here.
With the theme “Philippines for Better Business Enabling Environment,” the summit aimed to showcase ARTA’s ongoing efforts to enhance the ease of doing business and promote a conducive environment for economic growth.
ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez set the tone for the summit, urging a proactive approach to public service. “We lead by example, and we do things fast. We could not anymore rest on our laurels; we could not anymore rely on our past achievements; instead, we should continue moving forward and act with urgency because this is what the situation demands,” said Perez.
ARTA on aiding agencies, sectors
Highlighting ARTA’s unique position, Perez emphasized the agency’s two-pronged mandate of enabling and capacitating agencies while investigating and filing charges for violations. Despite a high legal resolution rate of 98.89%, Perez acknowledged the need for constant improvement, stressing the importance of public satisfaction.
ARTA is mandated to promote ease of doing business across all local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), hospitals, and water districts. Exceptions include the judiciary and the legislature due to constitutional limitations.
Moreover, Perez underlined the importance of a streamlined, digitized government process to combat red tape and corruption, as well as the challenges identified for businesses in the Philippines that include poor turnaround time, onerous government fees, and a lack of predictability in government services.
The keys to a business-enabling environment, according to Perez, include conducive regulatory frameworks and the delivery of government support and services. ARTA’s initiatives focus on improving the quality of regulations, mapping and streamlining processes, digitalizing services, and ensuring compliance.
Better Regulations Office Director Marbida L. Marbida emphasized the need for a whole-of-society approach to regulatory reform to encourage businesses to enter and compete in the market. The day was dedicated to discussing how ARTA contributes to fostering a business-friendly environment in the country.
For his part, ARTA’s Division Chief, Paul Erwen Parreño, showcased the Business Process Mapping and Innovation Hub, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to process reengineering. Parreño detailed the Manual for Reengineering, providing a step-by-step guide to support government agencies in streamlining processes.
Gaining grounds for EODB
At the summit, Misamis Oriental Board Member Gerardo Sabal III shared the province’s thorough review of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2023 (RA 11032) to streamline its implementation across municipalities and cities. Sabal emphasized the necessity of a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors.
Raymundo Talimio, Jr., president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., stressed the importance of public-private collaboration for the Philippines’ progress. He cited transparency, accountability, and ease of doing business as key concerns.
Lauding the potential impact of RA 11032 on the nation’s economic landscape, Arturo Milan, area vice president for Mindanao of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Davao City, highlighted the law’s role in eliminating bureaucratic red tape, streamlining government processes, and reducing the burden on businesses.
Milan identified economic growth, competitiveness, job creation, corruption reduction, improved public services, entrepreneurship encouragement, foreign investment attraction, and transparency and accountability as compelling reasons to promote RA 11032.
Moving forward with EODB
Looking ahead, ARTA outlined several initiatives that include assisting in the resolution of concerns raised regarding the PhilHealth reimbursement process, strengthening public-private partnerships to improve the ease of doing business in the country, and facilitating clarificatory meetings to address complaints received through the chamber of commerce and business sectors.
They also saw the need to collaborate with the Department of Finance-Bureau of Local Government Finance on concerns raised by the business sector regarding the timeline of business renewal, set up a one-stop shop not only for LGUs but also for other government agencies providing government services, and assist the business sector in harmonizing provisions in government regulations affecting operations, particularly in the healthcare sector.
Over 200 representatives from national line agencies, local governments, and the private sector attended the summit, which came to a resounding conclusion with a call for continued cooperation between the public and private sectors to shape a better future for the Philippines, fostering growth, development, and better lives for all Filipinos. (RTP/PIA-10)
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