Don’t shutter anti-red tape body, gov’t urged

More than 30 organizations, including several trade associations and foreign business chambers, have voiced support for the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) following the call from the Office of the Ombudsman to abolish the government agency mandated to monitor and ensure compliance with the government’s policy on anti-red tape and ease of doing business.

A joint statement of these organizations, which was released on Monday by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said they were “concerned” with the call of Ombudsman Samuel Martires to abolish the law, which created Arta, which would also mean the dissolution of the government agency.

“We were concerned when the Ombudsman called for Arta’s abolition. We agree that the Ombudsman, within the wide scope of its authorities, has a role to play in improving government services, but Arta’s primary role is to improve government services. The Ombudsman and Arta complement each other’s functions, hence, both should be working together,” read the joint open letter.

“We would like to appeal to the Ombudsman to work with Arta, so they may together give us the improvement in government services we need and continue the upgrading that has been started so effectively,” it added.

Among the signatories of the joint letter are Alyansa Agrikultura, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Anvil Business Club, Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines, Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Cebu Business Club, Employers Confederation of the Philippines and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. INQ