ARTA asks Manila, Davao Registry of Deeds to explain

By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat The offices of the Registry of Deeds of Manila and Manila have been summoned by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to formally explain their slow processing time. ARTA Director General (DG) Jeremiah Belgica directed ROD Davao City and of the City of Manila after conducting on-the-spot inspection of their offices on August 30 and September 4, respectively. On August 30, DG Belgica and Deputy Director General (DDG) Ernesto Perez visited the ROD of Davao City to verify the mounting complaints filed with ARTA and to check if they are compliant with the mandate of Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. Initially, the ARTA officials noted of several apparent violations by the agency during their inspection. They found out that processing time for certain ROD applications could take up to 90 days. The ARTA DG stated that some of these applications could still be streamlined to comply with the EODB law given that some transactions are only ministerial, as admitted by Atty. Hanniyah Sevilla, Officer-in-Charge Registrar of Deeds herself. Another violation is the no-noontime break policy, as well as having no substitute for employees going on a break. Belgica made the surprise visit to Davao City ROD while attending the 10th National Convention of the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers, Inc. to talk about the Ease of Doing Business Law. Belgica conducted a surprise visit to the ROD of Davao City in response to the mounting complaints received by the Authority against the agency. They were accommodated by Belgica and Perez at the home city of the President to make a courtesy visit to Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte who happened to be on medical leave. Nonetheless, they were warmly accommodated by Atty. Zuleika Lopez, the City Administrator. They discussed possible areas of collaboration between the two agencies to improve the ease of doing business in the city. Belgica also conducted a surprise inspection to the ROD of Manila City where he met Registrar of Deeds Atty. Marissa Timones. Atty. Timones walked DG Belgica through the usual processing of documents in their office.