President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is optimistic that the reforms made in the bureaucratic processes in the country will lead to more foreign partnerships and investments. President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of Malacañang)
Through the speech delivered by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Marcos' behalf during the 5th anniversary celebration of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), the President reiterated that streamlining bureaucratic processes "is essential for driving economic growth, attracting investments, and improving the overall quality of governance." "It is rewarding to witness the growing confidence of our people to start their businesses, transact with government offices and seek redress to their grievances," Marcos said on Monday, May 29. "More so, we deem it promising that our bureaucratic enhancements will also attract more foreign partnerships and investments that will inevitably benefit our economy and the lives of the people we serve," he added. The President underscored that it has become the government's  mission and commitment "that no one is left behind as we march forward to measure up to global standards." He assured that by implementing the Ease of Doing Business Law, no additional burdens will be put to stakeholders' and the people's shoulders. "While we say that digitalization is no longer a mere option but already a mandatory requirement in the rendition of government services, we do not impose undue burdens on the shoulders of our fellow servants," he said. "As we shorten the lines, cut the steps and simplify the procedures, we assure everyone that doing so can only be the next best way to enable our stakeholders to reach their goals," he added. Marcos expressed that he looks forward to more accomplishments for ARTA in the years to come, saying he is confident that ARTA will be "ready and equipped to lead over the hurdles the future holds."

'Positive trend'

In his speech, the President recognized the improvements in the digitalization of government processes in the last five years which included the reduced processing of documents, faster issuance of permits, and telecommunications improvements. "First and foremost, ARTA's dedication to streamlining regulations and processes, particularly those in the telecommunications sector, has paved the way for smoother operations and has enhanced connectivity in our country by reducing the required permits from 13 to 8, streamlining documentary requirements from 86 to 35, and drastically cutting down the turnaround time from 241 working days to just 16 working days," Marcos said. He also cited that ARTA has effectively streamlined the process by reducing permits from 11 to 5, simplifying documentary requirements from 62 to 26 and significantly reducing the turnaround time from 868 working days to only 74 working days. He said the streamlining of requirements has led to a remarkable rise, with 36,264 permits granted post reform 2020-2021 compared to the previous figure of 9,363 permits in the period 2019-2020. "These improvements in telecommunications have not gone unnoticed on the global stage, according to the OOKLA speed test global index report released in March 2023, the Philippines has significantly improved its rankings," he said. In mobile internet speed, the country climbed from 93rd to 79th place, while in fixed broadband, it went to 60th to 41st place. "This progress has enhanced communication infrastructure, has facilitated economic growth, and has generally improved the lives of our citizens," Marcos said. "It has hastened the digitalization of government services, thereby enabling the government to deliver timely and accessible services to the citizens in this rapidly-evolving digital era," he added. The chief executive also cited the e-BOSS which has made the process of business registration simple and convenient. This simplification of procedures, he said, has reduced the time required for registering a business, and has encouraged entrepreneurs to establish and grow their enterprises. According to the President, out of the 17 local government units (LGUs) assessed in the National Capital Region (NCR), only seven have achieved full implementation of the e-BOSS. Five of these seven that have fully implemented the e-BOSS have witnessed a collective increase in business registration and revenue collection for the year 2022, he added. "This positive trend highlights the impact of e-BOSS in attracting business, promoting economic growth, and increasing revenue streams for the local governments," Marcos said. "The success of e-BOSS is a testament to the power of digital transformation in promoting ease of business  and stimulating economic development," he added. In its 5th anniversary, ARTA introduced the Accelerating Reforms for Improved Service Efficiency (ARISE) Awards to recognize the efforts of government agencies in improving bureaucratic efficiency in the country. It will also foster healthy competition amongst various governmental bodies under the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) law. During his speech, ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez highlighted the agency's accomplishments in the past five years, including the reduction of the average processing time in government transactions, reducing the number of regulatory requirements, and the increase of government agencies achieving full compliance with the EODB Law. Perez also announced ARTA's future plans, which include expanding its reach to all regions of the country, increasing its focus on digitalization, and strengthening its partnerships with the private sector and other government agencies.