The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said it would support the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in its efforts to help local government units (LGUs) streamline their processes.
ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez said this as he commended the DILG for its drive to have localities become compliant with the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law.
In a speech, Perez said the ARTA has been implementing initiatives that would help the quest of the Marcos administration to hasten bureaucratic efficiency.
"We at ARTA have been laying the groundwork for digitalization through capacity building, helping LGUs and national government agencies streamline processes and re-engineer operations," he said.
"We will support DILG in its endeavors and strengthen our collaboration," he added.
For his part, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos told the local chief executives that it was time to "maximize the emerging technology solutions" to enable LGUs to digitally transform their services to cope with the tow of bureaucratic efficiency.
"Digital transformation will facilitate: one, streamlining of processes; two, efficiency; and number three, improving productivity and quality of service," he said.
LGUs are among the government institutions that ARTA monitors for mandatory compliance with the Ease of Doing Business Law.
The DILG has collaborated with ARTA to improve further the Business Processing and Licensing System (BPLS) and streamline the permitting and licensing processes in the construction and telco sectors in the localities.
ARTA, together with the DILG and other government agencies, issued several Joint Memorandum Circulars (JMCs), like the guidelines for the shared telco towers, which significantly reduced delays and streamlined the processes to secure permits, licenses, and authorizations of Passive Telecommunication Tower Infrastructure (PTTIs), whether shared or exclusive.
Other issuances also standardized the documentary requirements, steps, and processing time related to business registration and construction-related permits, leading to increased revenues for LGUs.