MANILA – Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has signed a memorandum order directing the submission of a Citizen’s Charter and compliance with the automation of business permitting and licensing system (PBLS).
Memorandum Order (MO) No. 57, signed by Medialdea on Nov. 22, covers the executive departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the national government.
“All covered entities which have not submitted their respective Citizen’s Charters since the enactment of RA No. 11032 are directed to submit the same with the corresponding Certificate of Compliance to the ARTA within 15 working days from the effectivity of this Order. The Citizen’s Charter should also be compliant with AO No. 23,” the memo read.
Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 requires government offices to streamline processes and complete simple transactions within three days, complex transaction within seven days, and highly technical applications and requests within 20 days.
Administrative Order No. 23 directs all covered entities to eliminate overregulation by retaining only such steps, procedures, and requirements in their respective Citizen’s Charters which are necessary to fulfill their legal mandates and policy objectives.
Under MO No. 57, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is directed to assist the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) in strictly enforcing this directive.
The memo also directs the ARTA, in coordination with Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and DILG to assist local governments that have yet to set-up their respective Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) or automate their permitting and licensing system.
The League of LGUS, pursuant to their mandate under RA No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, shall enjoin concerned local governments to comply with this requirement
“All concerned local chief executives shall, until the completion of their system automation, submit a progress report to the ARTA and the DILG regarding their compliance with Section 11(c) of RA No. 9485, as amended. The ARTA shall submit a report to the Office of the President on the compliance of the concerned LGUS," it added.
RA No. 9485 mandates all cities and municipalities to automate their business permitting and licensing system or set up an e-BOSS for a more efficient business registration process within a period of three years upon effectivity of the law or until June 17, 2021.
Non-compliance with the provisions of the order by national or LGU officials and personnel shall be proceeded against in accordance with civil service laws, rules and regulations, and relevant provisions of RA No. 7160, as amended.
The ARTA and the DILG shall jointly report to the Office of the President such actions taken pursuant to this provision.
Memorandum Order No. 57 shall be effective immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Earlier, the ARTA issued Memorandum Circular No. 2021-03, as a final notice to enjoin compliance of all covered entities which have not submitted their Citizen’s Charter and the corresponding Certificate of Compliance to the ARTA.
The ARTA also issued Memorandum Circular No. 2021-05, which provides for the mechanism by which cities and municipalities are to report their compliance with the permitting and licensing system automation requirement. (PNA)
