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DTI consults Ilonggos on ‘Ease of Doing Business’ IRR

By Perla Lena

September 22, 2018, 2:24 pm

ILOILO CITY -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Competitiveness Bureau, on Friday gathered stakeholders here for a day of consultation on the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.

Iloilo was the last stop for the series of consultations in the Visayas that began in Leyte last Sept. 19 and followed by Cebu on Sept. 20, said DTI Regional Director Rebeca Rascon.

“We would like to consult the public sector with licensing functions,” Rascon said, adding that the law seeks to “streamline the procedures as we continue to deliver front-line services to our public clients.”

“What is good with the consultation is that there are points that need to be improved. It is just a draft and all inputs that they gather will be incorporated in the draft IRR,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mary Lou A. Gesilva, Assistant Director of the Competitiveness Bureau, said “the law strictly talks about re-engineering of systems so that we can make all these businesses easier and faster and hassle-free for all transacting public.”

“If we do that, of course that would mean improved business opportunities, business climate, more employment opportunities,” she added.

The new law “involves business-related and non-business-related transaction and not limited to permits (of mayors) but also include other frontline services.”

“The law provides for provisions that would improve ease of doing business in the country and improve the way we do things in government,” she said.

In line with this, she mentioned the need for government agencies to revisit their Citizens Charter that was crafted under the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.

She reminded that President Rodrigo Duterte, during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), mandated all government agencies to start “re-engineering”, which means “the shorter, the simpler the process, the better for business.”

She said the law has been in effect since June 17. As such, the transacting public can now file complaints before the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), care of the Competitiveness Bureau. The ARTA office is still being setup.

The law provides a two-strike policy, where the first proven violation would result in a six-month suspension and the second offense means imprisonment, a fine of PHP500,000 to PHP2 million, forfeiture of benefits, and perpetual disqualification from public service of persons involved.

Rascon said transactions in government under the law have been classified into simple, complex and highly-technical.

For simple transactions, the concerned government agency has three days to release the documents; seven days for complex transactions; and a maximum of 20 days for highly technical transactions.

Highly-technical transactions are those that need consultants or have to go through the procurement process as required, while complex transactions refer to those that require an applicant to secure licenses from other government offices prior to the issuance of their document.

Gesilva said during the consultations, there would be questions on the possible transition period for agencies to comply with the law.

“It is not yet cast in stone but there are suggestions to have at least six months to one year for them to review their processes,” she said.

The IRR is expected to be finalized by October 22. (PNA)

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