Gov’t units step up antired tape efforts

In line with the law on further easing doing business in the country, 36 government agencies on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement to support the antired tape initiatives of the so-called Investment Promotions Unit Network (IPU Net).

In a statement, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Secretary Carlos Dominguez III was among the signatories of the enhanced MOA aimed at “efficiently and swiftly resolving issues raised by investors to avoid delays in the processing of business registrations, permits and licenses, in line with the Duterte administration’s goal to cut red tape and make the Philippines more attractive to investors.”

“With the new MOA in place, the delivery of front-line government services, especially the processing of business transactions, will be monitored by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) to ensure that delays are addressed immediately in compliance with Republic Act No. 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act,” the DOF added.

The MOA mandated IPU Net to act on investment-related concerns and issues within a period of between 72 hours and 15 days upon receipt of complaints or queries.

RA 11032 provided for the processing of simple business transactions within three days, complex processes for seven days at most and highly technical processes within 20 days.

Also, the IPU Net MOA “covers preinvestment and post-investment assistance and services to investors to support the retention and expansion of their projects,” the DOF said.

“With the new MOA, complainants can either go to the Board of Investments, which will endorse them to the Arta for appropriate action, or directly proceed to the Arta, which in turn, will facilitate the investigation and recommend the filing of the complaint with either the Ombudsman or the Civil Service Commission,” it said. —BEN O. DE VERA