MANILA – Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo was elated Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte’s resolve to streamline procedures in government transactions has started to yield positive results.
“Marami tayong pinagawang reporma, ang Presidente. At nakikita natin ng dahan-dahan. It’s paying off (The President has initiated many reforms [to ease the doing of business]. And we have been feeling these reforms gradually. It’s paying off),” Panelo said in his commentary show “Counterpoint.”
Panelo issued the statement a day after the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) reported a significant reduction in the processing time of transactions in government offices.
ARTA on Tuesday said improvements were observed in some of the services of the Quezon City government and a number of national government agencies.
It noted that it only takes three working days, instead of six working days, to avail of a business permit at the Quezon City government’s business permitting and licensing office.
ARTA added that the Quezon City government can now issue building and occupancy permits in just 14 working days, instead of 120 working days.
Registration for a certificate of registration at the Securities and Exchange Commission can now be done in four working days from 14 working days, while an application for the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s certificate of registration can be completed in 15 working days from 17 working days.
Processing certified true copies for electronic titles at the Land Registration Authority kiosks in Quezon City and Dasmariñas can now be done in two working days from four working days.
Panelo expressed hope that the public, including critics, would appreciate Duterte’s efforts to simplify government transactions.
“Dahil po dito sa Anti-Red Tape Authority na tinatawag, aba’y nagkaroon po ng malaking pagbawas ‘yung gugugulin mong panahon pag meron kang transaksyon sa gobyerno (Because of the Anti-Red Tape, you no longer need to spend much time transacting with the government),” he said. “Oh, ayun mga kritiko. Tignan niyo naman ang mga reporma na ginawa ng pamahalaan na kayo -- kasama kayo doon -- eh makikinabang (To critics, look at the reforms made by the government. These will benefit you, too).”
Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Act Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, which supersedes RA 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, mandates government agencies to process simple transactions within three working days, complex transactions within seven working days, and highly-technical transactions in 20 working days.
After reviewing 48 compliance reports from national government agencies, ARTA found that 96.93 percent of the 1,596 services comply with the prescribed processing time under RA 11032.
Panelo also backed the ARTA’s proposal to extend the validity of permits, licenses, and other government authorizations, except for authorizations that may pose danger to public health and safety to address difficulties in mobility amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. (PNA)
