CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)-- 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 on October 12.

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," Perez said.

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.

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 summit, she said, 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 Ease of Doing Business Act (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 toward more efficient service delivery

ARTA talked about some plans for the future, such as helping to solve problems that people have raised about the PhilHealth reimbursement process, making it easier for businesses to do business in the country by strengthening public-private partnerships, and setting up meetings to answer questions about complaints from the business and chamber of commerce sectors.

They also thought it was important to work together with the Department of Finance-Bureau of Local Government Finance to address concerns raised by the business sector about the time frame for business renewal, create a one-stop shop for LGUs and other government agencies that provide services, and help the business sector make sure that parts of government rules that affect operations are consistent, especially 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)