The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is set to launch the new Go.SmARTApp on April 22, a program that aims to speed up transactions and cut red tape in government.
The ARTA made the announcement following the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the agency and Filipino software engineering firm Multisys Technologies Corp. on March 31.
In a statement, ARTA Director-General Jeremiah Belgica underscored the benefit of having a strong public-private partnership to deliver better services to the people, noting that the app is a donation by Multisys to ARTA.
"A private-public partnership is not just desirable but necessary for us to achieve all the dreams and aspirations we have as a country. Hindi po kaya ng gobyernong mabuhay kung wala ang suporta ng taong bayan (The government will not survive without the support of the people)," he said.
"Kung kaya ang teknolohiya na binibigay sa atin ng Multisys ay ang teknolohiya na 'di dapat palagpasin (That's why we cannot pass on the technology that Multisys is giving us)," he added.
For his part, Multisys founder and CEO David Almirol Jr. assured ARTA of his full support.
"The Go.SmARTApp will give a better decision-making tool and one way to create a more sustainable, and cost-efficient system for the government, para makatipid ho tayo at maiwasan ang korapsyon (so that we can save money and avoid corruption)," Almirol said.
The Go.SmARTApp is seen to significantly streamline the ease of doing business and anti-red tape reform initiatives of the government through its automation features and capabilities.
ARTA said last month that they will incorporate the government's StaySafe.PH contact tracing app in the Go.SmARTApp platform to help address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
StaySafe.PH is another donation by Multisys to the government. The platform was made mandatory for adoption and use in all national government agencies and instrumentalities as well as Local government units (LGUs).