SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Dec. 1 (PIA) - - The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has called more residents from Regions 1, 2, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to help end the corrupt practices in the government bureaucracy.

On Tuesday, an assembly of the ARTA champions and volunteers was held as one of the major highlights of the cARTAravan that was launched Monday at the Thunderbird Resort, San Fernando  City, La Union.

In a brief press briefing, ARTA Director-General, Secretary Jeremiah Belgica, said the cARTAravan had involved the participation of the private sectors and civil society organizations as they are the key players in the collaborative efforts in the fight against red tape and corruption in the government.

“Without the participation of the private sectors, the ARTA could not assess the compliance of the government agencies particularly the LGUs to the Republic Act (RA) No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018,” said Belgica.

The Anti-Red Tape policy is embedded in the provisions of the RA 11032.

To capacitate the volunteers and ARTA champions, he said the agency will provide training for them to raise their awareness with the RA 11032 and to fully understand the mandate of the  ARTA.

The citizens could be the ARTA champions if they belong to an organized sector of society like the media, business sector, religious and civic groups, among others. Meanwhile, the volunteers are individuals from the grassroots or ordinary citizens who were victims of corruption.

Undersecretary Carlos Quita, ARTA deputy director-general for administration, finance, and special programs, said the ARTA champions and volunteers are tasked to report not only complaints or irregularities in the government agencies but also the best practices.

Usec. Quita said these ARTA champions and the volunteers will also serve as the monitoring groups on the performance of government agencies and local government units through the report card system in collaboration with other agencies and the people.

Alexander Ang, the regional governor for Region 1 Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), expressed their full support to the ARTA to ensure strict observance on the implementation of the RA 11032 in the government bureaucracy.

“We, the group of businessmen in the region are the major client in the implementation of the RA 11032 as we are securing permits and clearances from the government offices,” said Ang, who govern the six PCCI chapters all over Region 1. (JCR/FGL, PIA 1)