“We are very optimistic, following the directive of the President for government officials to go down to the people and hear their concerns directly so that nobody is left behind,” said Perez.

The ARTA chief also underscored the significance of streamlining and digitalizing the government processes to fight red tape and corruption, as well as attracting investors to do business here.

As a response, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas signified the support of the city government under his watch to the ARTA mandate.

With the city government’s determination in building back a better and more resilient economy, the City Mayor also emphasized the assurance of exhausting all possible means for businesses to recuperate and to cope with the work set up in the new normal through ease of doing business.

Treñas added that a city government center will also be constructed that will house a business-one-stop-shop (BOSS) in place year-round. This is on top of the off-site payment centers in various malls in the city.

To note, the ARTA Central Office is being housed in the NFA Central Office, and the same goes for the ARTA regional office in Western Visayas and so on to the other regional offices of ARTA which have been and will be put up across the country.

On the part of the private sector, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Western Visayas Regional Governor and Regional Development Council (RDC) 6 Co-Chairperson lawyer Jobert Peñaflorida signified support to the anti-red tape mandate, citing that through such the private sector can do business better.