ARTA launches new reg’l office in W. Visayas

By John Noel Herrera

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) launched its new regional office in Western Visayas on Monday, April 17, 2023 as part of its campaign to assure the ease of doing business in the entire country.

ARTA Director-General Ernesto V. Perez stressed that the presence of the regional office in Iloilo City could help streamline government processes for the business sector and ensure efficient delivery of service to the public.

Perez also encouraged the public to study and take advantage of RA 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

“To support the Administration’s effort to simplify and improve the quality of government services in order to meet the needs of a people-oriented and digitalized bureaucracy, ARTA implemented various initiatives like the National Policy on Regulatory Management System (NPRMS) and the Report Card Survey 2.0, which we hope that you can all use,” Perez said.

The NPRMS, according to ARTA, is a formal policy that will operationalize the Philippine Regulatory Management System to make sure all regulations are rational and do not add undue regulatory burden and cost.

While the Report Card Survey 2.0 is a holistic tool that will measure the effectiveness of the Citizen’s Charter in reducing regulatory burdens and the impact of human resource systems and programs on the delivery of efficient government services.

The establishment of the ARTA regional office located at the National Food Authority (NFA) compound in Jaro district, Iloilo City would also boost the implementation of anti-red tape in the region, according to Perez.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas expressed his support for the ARTA during the program, noting that the city government is “determined to build a better and resilient economy by creating more opportunities for investment and entrepreneurship by ensuring the ease of doing business.”

“Iloilo City under my watch is one of ensuring the ease of doing business in the delivery of our services. Through this office, we are certain that the red tape in all regions will be abolished and services for our people will become more accessible,” Treñas added.

Aside from the inauguration of the new office, Perez also led the oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed employees of ARTA Western Visayas.

These include ARTA-6’s Chief Administrative Officer Josephine Venus Castillo, Supervising Administrative Officer Raymond Villanueva, Project Development Officer III Joyce Cornelio, Project Development Officer I Janine de la Paz, and Administrative Assistant III Juvy Grace Albay.