ARTA, DILG ink circular on better govt services
Credit to Author: Anna Leah E. Gonzales| Date: Tue, 03 Dec 2019 16:18:22 +0000
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently signed a joint memorandum circular (JMC) that lays down guidelines for regulatory reforms to help local government units (LGUs) provide better government services.
In a statement on Tuesday, ARTA said the circular, titled “Guidelines on the Regulatory Reform for LGUs pursuant to the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018,” was signed by ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica and Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing 3rd.
The circular seeks to aid LGUs in reengineering their operations and procedures within the standards of the Ease of Doing Business Law through the provision of guidelines.
The guidelines aim to improve the delivery of government services in the country by reviewing business and non business-related local ordinances, issuances and resolutions; and recommend the repeal, amendment, consolidations or retention, as may be deemed necessary to eliminate undue burden to clients.
“With the enactment of the Ease of Doing Business Law and with the signing of the JMC, streamlining is no longer optional. Rather, it is mandatory,” Belgica said.
ARTA also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development (Respond). Titled “Forging Partnerships for Regulatory Reform,” the MoU was signed by Belgica and Respond project chief of party Enrico Basilio during an event organized by the University of the Philippines Public Administration and Extension Services Foundation Inc.
Respond is an initiative of the United States Agency for International Development that aims to provide assistance to the Philippines in improving its regulatory quality, enhancing competitiveness and ultimately, contribute to inclusive growth.
ARTA said the program seeks to foster a more open and competitive regulatory environment for greater trade and investment.