QUEZON CITY -- The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) virtually launched the Reengineering Manual, a reference that supports the whole-of-government approach in streamlining Philippine government systems and procedures in delivering public services.

The first-of-its-kind manual will serve as a reference on the process reengineering methodology and will provide practical tools to support reforms and streamlining efforts in government processes that are in line with the whole-of-government approach.

The whole-of-government approach refers to the review and harmonization of existing and applicable laws, regulations, issuances, and policies to make legal interpretations consistent across agencies, as stated in Section 3 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11032 of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

Section 5 of R.A. 11032 also states that all offices and agencies which provide government services must regularly undertake cost compliance analysis, time and motion studies, undergo evaluation and improvement of their transaction systems and procedures, and reengineer the said processes if deemed necessary to reduce red tape and processing time.

The reengineering process must include an inter-agency review that shall be adopted for horizontal integration or end-to-end processing with the end goal being to eliminate undue regulatory burden from the transacting public, the provision added.

The Authority, in coordination with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Budget Management (DBM), and Civil Service Commission (CSC), was also given the power to issue a Memorandum Circular for the adoption of the whole-of-government approach in the reengineering of systems and procedure of government agencies.

Funded by the United Kingdom (UK) ASEAN Economic Reform Programme, the Reengineering Manual was developed in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), as a key initiative of the Memorandum of Understanding on regulatory reform signed by ARTA and the UK government on 4 February 2020.

It was under this initiative that Engr. Juan Talamayan was engaged to share his expertise in drafting the manual.

ARTA also worked with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Streamlining of Government Processes (OPASGP), Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Finance (DOF).

The Reengineering Manual was presented by Secretary Jeremiah Belgica, ARTA Director General, and Undersecretary Ernesto Perez, Deputy Director for Operations, in a virtual ceremonial launch on Thursday.

Belgica called the manual a “vital and extremely valuable tool” that provides “practical instruction and example” for those streamlining their government processes.

“We want to break down the silos that has bullishly tried to maintain its position. Through the whole-of-government approach or whole-of-nation approach, we are now seeing that the silos are finally being broken down,” he said during the launch.

“Truly, if we continue to collaborate with a unified vision, great things for our country will definitely unfold,” he added.

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, who delivered a video message during the launch, said the manual will prevent government workers from making excuses to delay streamlining their processes.

Undersecretary Ernesto Perez, CPA, Deputy Director General for Operations, echoed Lopez’s sentiment, and warned government agencies that streamlining is now mandated by law.

“This is not anymore an option. It is actually mandatory for all government agencies to reduce red tape, if not completely eradicate it,” he said.

Talamayan said that through the manual, they aim to make government systems in the Philippines simpler, faster, and better by learning from other countries, leveraging on technology, and designing better processes.

Leonina Morillo, head of the Prosperity Fund of the British Embassy in Manila, expressed hope that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Reengineering Manual will put emphasis “on optimizing government service delivery, especially to the most vulnerable members of society.”

“(The Whole-of-Government Reengineering Manual is) a remarkable initiative that comes at such a critical time in this current COVID-19 challenge, as it helps create favorable economic landscape and fuels the everyday Filipinos for a new and better normal,” she said.

Also in attendance during the launch were officials of the UK Government, the Ease of Doing Business and Anti-Red Tape (EODB-ART) Advisory Council, Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation, Inc.-Regulatory Support Program for National Development, World Bank-International Finance Corporation, the Export Development Council, CSC, DBM, and NEDA.

On 25 June 2021, the EODB-ART Advisory Council, approved and endorsed the roll-out of the WOG Manual, along with the Philippine Good Regulatory Principles (PGRP) and the New Rules of Procedures on Digital Handling of Cases, to national government agencies and local government units.

Training sessions on the reengineering manual will be conducted following the ceremonial launch. Copies of the manual will also be distributed to government agencies. (ARTA)