SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon (PIA) – The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has urged agencies to hasten services processing time and responses through the 3-7-20 day campaign.

The 3-7-20 is a one-day reminder to government agencies to act upon all pending applications and automatically approve them, if the application is complete before March 7, this year.

ARTA Director-General Secretary Jeremiah Belgica said that the compliance of all government offices to this directive is seen as a game-changer and is unprecedented in the national fight against red tape.

“We have started the 3-7-20 in 2020 and we continue yearly to urge government offices and agencies to implement the zero-backlog policy,” he said during an interview at the Ugnayan ng PIA Sorsogon at ng Mamamayan radio program.

He added that on March 7, there are 11 non-government agencies to report to the people their implementation of zero backlogs.

According to Belgica, the 3-7-20 policy equates to the processing time of only three days for simple transactions, seven days for complex transactions and 20 days for highly technical applications.

Belgica said this campaign aims to improve transactions and processes in the government.

“Over the past two years, ARTA has ventured into various tools to provide ease in doing business in government transactions. We continue to streamline and also help other LGUs in establishing their business one-stop-shop."

Aside from the processing time, he also said that there must also be fewer signatures when dealing with the government to avoid the long wait and prevent corruption in the process.

Belgica cited how the permitting system in the telecommunications sector sped up from 6,000 permits issued before to 45,000 issued last year to only two telcos. The eight months to one year processing of permit before a tower can be erected was trimmed down to only 16 days now.

The secretary further said that if documents are still not processed despite the completion of application and its full payment, an official could get suspended for at least 6 months during the first offense and dismissal from public service or perpetual disqualification to hold a public office for the second offense.

The permits and licenses that were pending for too long may also be approved automatically. (BAR/PIA 5/Sorsogon)