THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) urges President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to sustain Anti-Red Tape Authority’s (ARTA) reform programs to ensure sustained business confidence in the government.
“The PCCI commends ARTA for having accomplished quite a number of milestones that really benefited the business community,” said PCCI President George T. Barcelon in a statement on Thursday.
The PCCI chief recognized the strong partnership established between ARTA and PCCI in implementing these policy reforms in government, adding the importance of eradicating red tape to gain the confidence of local and foreign investors.
Barcelon emphasized that PCCI has taken part in the National Effort for the Harmonization of Efficiency Measures of Interrelated Agencies (NEHEMIA) Program meant to address overregulation and promote interconnectivity among government agencies to eliminate redundant processes, which he said has yielded in positive results.
In a statement on Thursday, PCCI said the anti-red tape watchdog’s notable accomplishments that greatly benefited the business sector are in the areas of telecommunication and connectivity, food and pharmacology, logistics and housing, and construction, among others.
PCCI emphasized that ARTA released three Joint Memorandum Circulars (JMCs), all aimed at speeding up the building of telco towers that reduced the amount of required permits from 13 to 8, documentary requirements from 86 to 15, and shortened the length of time for processing from 241 days to 16 days.
“It also integrated the Food and Drug Administration’s electronic License to Operate and Center for Drug Regulation and Research into the Central Business Portal, reducing the steps needed from 28 to 9 steps, the number of documentary requirements needed from 41 to 12, and the length of time for processing from 63 to 21 days,” said PCCI.
It added that ARTA established the Green Lane for Licenses and Authorizations that enabled pharmaceutical companies to put up local manufacturing facilities within 10 months.
Another notable initiative of ARTA, PCCI said, is “the automation of processes and use of the Unified Logistics Pass (ULP) to reduce the steps required from 209 to 24 and the length of time for processing from 271 to 35 days. Payment of fees for the accreditation or registration with different entities shall also be made under a single window or through a business one-stop shop.”
Barcelon added that ARTA proactively acted on the concerns of various stakeholders in the congestion at the Matnog Port in Sorsogon by considering the adoption of an online booking system to resolve the issue.
The anti-red tape watchdog also contributed to the agriculture sector, the businessmen said.
“ARTA also addressed the concern of the agri-food stakeholders for overregulations of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) by immediately suspending the implementation of a memorandum circular,” read the PCCI statement.
Meanwhile, PCCI urged ARTA to look into and possibly assist the Bureau of Plant Industry in streamlining its documentary requirements and processes, with the view to automating its service for business continuity and efficiency.
The PCCI hailed the anti-red tape watchdog headed by Director General Jeremiah Belgica as “it has so far delivered its mandate of bringing transparency and accountability to public office by cutting excessive bureaucratic processes and enhancing the local business environment.”
Image credits: Nonie Reyes
