ONLINE LIBRARY. Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Secretary Ernesto Perez delivers his remarks during the 2023 Ease of Doing Business Convention at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Wednesday (Nov. 29, 2023). In a media interview, Perez said ARTA is hoping to roll out for public use its online library for business-related Philippine laws and regulations in early 2024. (PNA photo by Ben Briones)
MANILA – The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is hoping to roll out for public use its online library for business-related Philippine laws and regulations early next year.
ARTA launched Phase 1 of the Philippine Business Regulations Information System (PBRIS) in 2021 and is expected to launch its Phase 2 version in the next few days.
PBRIS is envisioned to serve as a comprehensive repository of information related to the Philippine regulatory management systems (RMS) and the changes in laws and regulations affecting stakeholders.
“Once na ma-train na ‘yong agencies at ma-upload ang kanilang regulations, tsaka lang iyan mao-open to the public (Once we have trained the agencies and they have uploaded their regulations, that is the only time we can open it to the public),” ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez said in an interview in Pasay on Wednesday.
“Kung maumpisahan natin (ang training) in three days, siguro early next year, we can start with the priority agencies (If we can start the training in three days, maybe we can start with the priority agencies as early as next year).”
Phase 2 features of PBRIS include allowing regulators and regulated bodies to upload existing and proposed regulations, subscribe to specific sets of regulations, submit preliminary and regulatory impact statements, conduct public consultation and commenting, regulatory notification, and report generation.
Perez said a regulation’s inclusion in the PBRIS would mean it underwent the necessary consultations and regulatory impact assessment.
“Ang PBRIS ay para magkaroon ng harmonization at para walang overlapping regulations, walang burdensome regulations (The PBRIS will bring harmonization and ensure there are no overlapping regulations, no burdensome regulations),” he said.
The ARTA is also expected to launch on Thursday improvements in its Anti-Red Tape Electronic Management Information System (ARTEMIS).
The ARTEMIS is a web-based platform that provides real-time and on-demand database and mapping of all government services indicated in the Citizen’s Charter, the information billboard containing pertinent facts on government services, how much they cost, what are the steps, and how long the transaction will be processed.
Apart from the two systems, ARTA is working to expand its reach nationwide and is hoping its PHP490 million proposed 2024 budget will be approved.
The Senate and the House of Representatives are expected to convene for a bicameral hearing after approving the proposed PHP5.768 trillion 2024 General Appropriations Act on Tuesday.
Perez said the additional PHP200 million in its budget would allow the establishment of more ARTA regional offices.
At present, ARTA has eight field offices across the country. (PNA)
