QUEZON CITY — As part of the whole-of-nation approach and in fulfillment to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to improve bureaucratic efficiency, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) held the National Capital Region (NCR)-wide Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Gymnasium in Pasay City on 18 June 2024.
First in the NCR, this roadshow aimed to educate local leaders on the administration’s efforts to streamline government processes by presenting ARTA-led efforts, highlighting the Citizen’s Charter, Report Card Survey (RCS) 2.0 and electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS). Moreover, salient features of Republic Act (RA) 11032, or Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, was also presented.
Leading the presentation of ARTA initiatives, ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez underlined the significance of the NCR-wide Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting.
“If we empower the barangays, then we will see faster improvements in the delivery of services, and issues such as traffic, security, peace and order, and sanitation can be easily addressed,” the ARTA chief said.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. envisions a government that acts as a red carpet – welcoming and supportive for all Filipinos,” he added.
Department of the Interior and Local Government-Bureau of Local Government Development (DILG-BLGD) Director Anna Liza F. Bonagua on the other hand discussed the initiatives and efforts of DILG to facilitate ease of doing business locally, including their joint efforts with ARTA in streamlining the business permits and licensing system.
Aside from the presentations, testimonials from Smart Communications and Globe Telecom for ARTA’s efforts in telecommunication sector were delivered.
Smart Head of Strategic Operations Pamela B. Felizarta thanked ARTA for its support in the telecommunications sector.
“Thank you for listening then and now, Secretary Ernesto Perez. Maraming salamat po, and if I may, I want to thank all ARTA officers and staff. I know how much time and effort was spent all these years to make things happened,” Atty. Felizarta said.
Globe Vice President for Site Lifecycle Management Michelle Ora also recognized her efforts in transforming government service delivery.
“Through the years, especially under the leadership of Secretary Ernesto V. Perez, they have indeed achieved their vision by transforming how government services are delivered,” Ms. Ora said.
The Business Permit Licensing Office (BPLO) of Pasay City and Paranaque City also shared, respectively, their journeys in attaining eBOSS compliant.
In her special message, Pasay City Mayor Imelda “Emi” Gallardo Calixto-Rubiano relayed leadership efforts in battling red tape.
“When it comes to policy and advocacy in red tape and all of the problems that come with it, this is always done with proper information dissemination and holistic training for our employees,” Mayor Rebiano said.
“We must be one step ahead in informing [the public] that red tape is not tolerated in Pasay City,” she added.
Almost 300 local heads participated the event including GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso, University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Service Foundation, Inc. Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development (UPPAF RESPOND) Chief of Party Dr. Enrico L. Basilio, and Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) Next Gen Co-Vice Chair Deliza Ridoloso.
ARTA executives present in the event were Undersecretary for Operations Gerald G. Divinagracia, Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Ricojudge Janvier M. Echiverri, Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation Office (CMEO) Director Grace L. Fernandez, Better Regulations Office (BRO) Director Marbida L. Marbida, and Legal and Public Assistance Office (LPAO) Director Leonardo O.Tapia.
Representatives from National Government Agencies (NGA)—DILG, Department Of Information And Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Finance (DOF), Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), Presidential Management Staff (PMS), Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Health (DOH); Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs)—Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and Tourism Infrastructure and Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA); private stakeholders, and associations in NCR were in attendance. (ARTA)
