ARTA at CSC, pumirma ng kasunduan para sugpuim ang red tape sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan
ARTA at CSC, pumirma ng kasunduan para sugpuim ang red tape sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan
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00:00 Let's talk about the compliance of local government units
00:05 in the electronic business, one-stop shop,
00:08 and the partnership of ARTA and the Civil Service Commission.
00:12 We will be joined by Secretary Ernesto Perez,
00:16 the Director General of the Anti-Red Tape Authority or ARTA.
00:20 Secretary Perez, good afternoon to you.
00:23 Good afternoon to you, Nina, and to our fellow citizens
00:27 who are watching this program.
00:29 Sir, what is the update on ARTA's request
00:32 to local government units to implement E-BUS
00:37 or the Electronic Business One-Stop Shop?
00:41 I just want to emphasize that our businessmen,
00:46 both foreign and local,
00:50 their number one priority when doing business is about ease of doing business.
00:56 That is why ARTA was established to give our businessmen peace of mind
01:04 that when they enter a business,
01:07 they can expect that the government's service is for ease of doing business.
01:14 That is why ARTA has two programs.
01:17 We have the Department of Information and Communications Technology
01:22 and the DILG, Department of Interior and Local Government,
01:26 where we push the requirements according to Section 5 of the Ease of Doing Business Law
01:33 on requiring all local government units
01:36 to set up and operationalize the Electronic Business One-Stop Shop.
01:42 This program was launched by ARTA and DICT,
01:47 where the local government units just have to follow the instructions of the operations manual.
01:53 When they followed the instructions and operationalized the Electronic Business One-Stop Shop,
02:01 all the local government units who implemented it,
02:04 one of the common denominators,
02:07 their revenue collections increased and at the same time,
02:10 their registration increased.
02:14 We will ask why.
02:16 Because the Electronic Business One-Stop Shop uses a QR code,
02:21 our local government units can easily track businesses that operate illegally without a proper business permit.
02:29 So, if a business permit is given, according to E-BOS,
02:35 it is easy to verify whether it is legal or not through the QR code.
02:40 So, when business owners know that there is a business permit, they can easily apply for it
02:47 and they know that they will be caught if they operate without a business permit.
02:52 So, I said that in one year, the operation of these LGUs
02:58 resulted in a revenue collection of P21 billion.
03:03 Here in Metro Manila, out of the 17 cities and one municipality,
03:08 only 8 cities were able to verify that they are compliant with E-BOS.
03:15 And all of these, like Quezon City, Valenzuela, Marikina, Paranaque, Montenlupa,
03:25 Quezon City, of course,
03:27 their revenue collection and registration increased.
03:33 Outside Metro Manila, in Lapu-Lapu, Cagayan de Oro, and Batangas City,
03:39 we are really encouraging LGUs
03:43 that not only because this is a requirement of the law,
03:49 they have three years to operate an E-BUS.
03:54 Unfortunately, there are hurdles and challenges, and they cannot comply with this.
04:00 What are the challenges?
04:01 One of these, we have to have a strong internet connection.
04:08 We did this.
04:10 One of the first JMCs that ARTA and DICT released
04:15 was the JMC on shared passive telecommunications tower and construction of poles.
04:23 Before the JMC, to construct or operate an internet tower,
04:31 it requires a lot of permits, documents, and processing time.
04:37 When we released this JMC, we reduced the permits from 13 to just 8
04:43 for the shared passive telecommunications tower,
04:46 and for the construction of poles from 11 to just 5.
04:51 For the documentary requirements, we reduced it from 85 to just about 16
04:58 for the construction of poles from 62 to 26.
05:02 This is a lot of processing time to get a permit.
05:07 From 245 days to have a shared passive telecommunications tower,
05:11 we reduced it to just about 16 days.
05:16 For the construction of poles, it was reduced from 865 days to just about 75 days.
05:23 I would like to thank all the telecommunications companies and tower companies for this JMC.
05:30 Okay.
05:31 Sir, that's good news, which means people will be more connected,
05:37 and there will be more internet connections.
05:40 But you also said that a lot of LGUs are compliant.
05:45 You said 8 out of 17, right?
05:48 How is that? There's still less than half, almost.
05:51 But there's probably no reason for others not to comply with this E-BUS.
05:57 That's right. Out of 1,634 LGUs,
06:02 only about 511 have reported to have a full automated processing system.
06:10 Our compliance monitoring and evaluation office is verifying this.
06:15 So far, only 11 have been certified to be compliant.
06:21 We still have 15 LGUs to inspect and verify if they are really compliant with E-BUS.
06:32 How can we help LGUs set up E-BUS?
06:37 We are encouraging them to partner with Chambers of Commerce.
06:42 For instance, we have a partnership with the Avoidis Group.
06:47 We also have a partnership with the Meralko Group,
06:50 where we identify LGUs that we can help.
06:55 We will train them, donate hardware and software,
07:00 and also train them to set up an E-BUS one-stop shop.
07:07 Sir, in other talks, you mentioned partnership.
07:12 When did you have a partnership with the Civil Service Commission
07:16 and the Anti-Red Tape Authority under the Memorandum of Agreement?
07:21 What is the purpose and importance of this?
07:24 First of all, the Civil Service Commission has a very extensive experience.
07:28 They used to implement the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.
07:33 However, when the law was amended into Republic Act 11032
07:37 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services Act in 2018,
07:43 the mandate was given to the Anti-Red Tape Authority to implement the Ease of Doing Business Law.
07:49 So we took over from the Civil Service Commission.
07:52 What is happening here now is that when we implement the law,
07:59 there is enabling and capacity because there are two mandates of the ARTA.
08:02 We capacitate and enable government agencies to comply with the Ease of Doing Business Law.
08:08 We also have the enforcement and investigation side.
08:12 When we investigate, we receive complaints against violation of the Ease of Doing Business Law.
08:18 Our legal department investigates.
08:22 After finding that there is a violation,
08:26 when it involves a purely administrative case
08:31 and non-presidential appointee, meaning salary grade 27 and below,
08:36 we file it to the Civil Service Commission.
08:39 But when it involves both administrative and criminal,
08:43 we file it to the Office of the Ombudsman.
08:46 The Civil Service Commission, they are already 123 years in existence.
08:51 So their network is wide.
08:53 They have offices nationwide.
08:55 We signed a Memorandum of Agreement last August 31
09:01 where the ARTA and Civil Service Commission will help us to implement the Ease of Doing Business Law.
09:08 Under this law, how will the coordination of the CSC and ARTA in the reform against red tape
09:18 and to those you are promoting, like the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Act of the government?
09:25 You know, ARTA is a new agency.
09:28 It's been almost 5 years in operation.
09:31 We only have 220 personnel.
09:36 Meanwhile, the Civil Service Commission, they have thousands and they have offices nationwide.
09:42 What our fellow citizens will do, if they complain,
09:49 they can go directly to the offices of the Civil Service Commission
09:53 and they will file it to ARTA to investigate.
09:57 I also want to inform our fellow citizens that aside from the Civil Service Commission,
10:05 ARTA also signed with the Citizens Complaint Center of the Office of the President.
10:10 This is 8888, last February 22, 2023.
10:16 If you will allow me, this MOA, because before the MOA with the Citizens Complaint Center,
10:25 if the complaint is received in 8888,
10:29 the Citizens Complaint Center will throw it to the agency and they will be given 3 days to respond.
10:36 But if they don't respond, it doesn't matter because the Citizens Complaint Center has no mandate to investigate.
10:43 So with this MOA, with ARTA, if the agency doesn't respond,
10:49 the Citizens Complaint Center will throw it to the Anti-Red Tape Authority,
10:54 the Office of the President, they will be the complainant and ARTA will investigate.
10:59 And after due process, we will file the corresponding charges
11:04 either with the Civil Service Commission or with the Office of the Ombudsman.
11:08 So if the agencies or the citizens know that the Office of the President is the complainant
11:16 and ARTA is the one investigating, the agency will think twice before they will violate the law.
11:22 Now, let's remember that we can complain in 8888.
11:27 What are the complaints that you have received so far?
11:30 Most of them are delays in the processing of permits and licenses.
11:36 Is that still the problem?
11:38 Yes, usually. And even congressmen are victims of this.
11:43 If they have a complaint, for example, they will write it to an agency, but they don't respond.
11:49 Do you know that under the Ease of Doing Business Law,
11:52 the agency must respond within 3 days if it's a simple request?
11:56 And if they don't respond, that is already a violation of the Ease of Doing Business Law.
12:02 Oh, okay. That's great to know, sir, that we can complain and you can file a case.
12:10 Yes, a case.
12:11 Can we do it even if it's simple?
12:13 Maybe, "As simple as I didn't get my business permit because I've been asking for it for a long time."
12:20 Can we do that?
12:21 That's right. I want to emphasize something that our countrymen may not know.
12:26 Under the Ease of Doing Business Law, all covered government agencies,
12:30 I'm talking of national government agencies, local government units,
12:34 government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities, state hospitals, and water boards,
12:41 they are required to submit an updated citizens charter.
12:46 This citizens charter is required by all government offices to publish on their website
12:52 and in the most conspicuous place of their offices, all the services that they render to the public,
12:58 the requirements, the documentary requirements, the fees to be paid,
13:03 the standard processing time of 3, 7, 20 working days.
13:08 And if they submit their application and it's complete, even the fees and charges have been paid,
13:15 all government agencies are required to process it within that standard processing time of 3, 7, 20.
13:22 If it's not done, it's a violation of the law and a heavy penalty.
13:28 The first offense is a six-month suspension.
13:32 The second offense is dismissal from service, perpetual disqualification, forfeiture of benefits,
13:42 fine of P500,000 to P2,000,000, and imprisonment of 1 to 5 years.
13:47 This is a very good law and if we implement it with the help of our people, with the help of stakeholders,
13:57 the business here in our beloved country will really improve.
14:03 So let's help each other.
14:05 Because I also felt that when I applied, my business permit friends,
14:10 sometimes there are power trippers who are just on the telephone for a long time,
14:16 waiting for their signature or someone is watching or something.
14:20 So you know those little things, I hope they will pay attention,
14:24 even if there is no connection, so that's why some people go home to fixers.
14:29 That's right.
14:30 Do you know that in the law itself, fixers are prohibited,
14:33 and even if it is a first offense, if the fixer is involved,
14:37 the penalty is the second offense, which is dismissal from service.
14:43 That's what you're saying.
14:46 I have that, we've been waiting for three hours,
14:50 and the signature is just there, nothing, nothing to him.
14:54 Oh my, Nina, if you report this to ARTA, we will act right away.
14:58 I will also share with our fellow citizens what is called the Report Card Survey.
15:05 Like that, complementary to the Report Card Survey,
15:08 we also have a program, Customer Service Satisfaction,
15:13 where you, if you have a complaint, you have feedback, you will write it,
15:19 and if ARTA finds out, and we have a yearly inspection that we conduct,
15:26 and you, as an applicant, you have the opportunity to rate the kind of service
15:33 that you got from this government agency.
15:35 You can say that this is not what I was asked for, it's a five-star, you can rate it, five stars.
15:41 Even if it's a five-star, can I?
15:42 Yes, you can also report it, it's a violation.
15:44 It's a violation, it's a five-star?
15:45 Yes.
15:46 Sometimes, sir, there are some who are like shouting,
15:49 no one is doing anything, the applicant, he spoke well,
15:54 so even that, you can give customer service feedback.
15:58 That's right, and Nina, you also know that if you are in the office of a government agency,
16:03 within the office hour, you should not be being waited for, you should be entertained.
16:08 We have a No Lands Break Policy, and if they don't entertain you during the office hour,
16:15 you can also complain about it, and the penalty that I mentioned earlier will apply.
16:19 Okay.
16:20 Sir, I think that's a seminar, hopefully we are compliant with our ARTA regulations.
16:27 By the way, Secretary, what are the other benefits of ARTA in the inspection and enforcement of police officers
16:36 of anti-red tape to government agencies?
16:39 If you haven't mentioned it yet, if you want to register your business with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
16:46 we have a thing called the Philippine Business Hub,
16:50 where before it will take days, even weeks or months to register your business in the corporation.
16:57 Now, because of the Philippine Business Hub, you can get your certificate of registration from the SEC,
17:03 maximum three working days, and if you are a sole proprietor, you can also get a three-day DTI.
17:09 At the same time, you can also register in the BIR, SSS, PhilWred, and Pag-IBIG within the three-day period.
17:18 It's really fast, Sec.
17:21 Aside from what we have discussed today,
17:25 do you have any other programs or ARTA that you want to share with our countrymen?
17:30 We are encouraging our chambers of commerce, private stakeholders,
17:37 to enter into a memorandum of agreement with us so that we can cover the whole country.
17:46 Private businessmen are the ones who experience the red tape.
17:50 If we can capacitate them, enable them to receive complaints to be referred to ARTA,
17:57 our coverage will be expanded and our countrymen will be assured that we can really improve our business here
18:04 and our services will be improved because they know that there is an agency under the office of the President
18:12 that is really serious about implementing the Ease of Doing Business Law.
18:17 With that, please send a message to all the viewers and listeners, sir.
18:24 Thank you, Nina.
18:27 Yes, sir. Please.
18:29 Fellow countrymen and fellow government members,
18:34 I would like to remind you that the Anti-Red Tape Authority is your body
18:39 so that we can improve our services and improve the Ease of Doing Business here in our country.
18:47 I would also like to thank our President, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,
18:52 whose directive in ARTA is to streamline and digitalize government processes.
18:58 This is personal because I attended cabinet meetings and when I experienced the President conducting meetings,
19:06 I saw his seriousness about really pushing for reforms to improve the service of our country.
19:15 He always says that if the government agency has a regulation to be implemented,
19:20 it should not be made difficult for the people.
19:24 And he always says, "Let us digitalize, use technology so that there is less human intervention
19:30 and in that process, we will be able to fight red tape and corruption in the process."
19:36 Let us help each other. We can do this.
19:39 Thank you very much for all that you shared with us this afternoon,
19:44 Secretary Ernesto Perez, Director General of the Anti-Red Tape Authority.
19:50 - Thank you. - Thank you.