The Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to ensure the effective implementation of Republic Act (RA) 11032, also known as the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 (EODB EGSD).
CSC Chairperson Karlo Nograles and ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez, together with CSC Commissioners Ryan Alvin Acosta and Aileen Lourdes Lizada and ARTA Undersecretaries Gerald G. Divinagracia and Geneses R. Abot, led the ceremonial signing of the landmark agreement on Aug. 31.
The MOA aimed to improve anti-red tape reforms and foster an environment conducive to ease of doing business in the government sector.
“Today’s MOA signing is more than just a symbolic event because it has far-reaching implications in the realm of public service. The CSC and ARTA are tasked under the EODB EGSD to ensure that we promote integrity, accountability, and establish best practices to prevent corruption in the government. This event, finally, seals the deal between the CSC and ARTA to ultimately delineate the functions and mandates of the offices under RA 11032,” Nograles said.
CSC Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo presented the salient provisions of the MOA, which resulted from a series of consultations and discussions aimed at reconciling apparent overlapping functions, clarifying agency roles and duties, and identifying potential areas for collaboration between the two agencies.
Under the MOA, CSC’s Anti-Red Tape Division (ARTD) in the Central Office and Anti-Red Tape Units (ARTUs) in its regional offices will serve as the focal points for initiatives aimed at enhancing service delivery within the civil service, as well as handle complaints against government employees and officials for violation of RA 11032.
Meanwhile, ARTA will implement and oversee a national policy on anti-red tape and ease of doing business; initiate an investigation into the complaints endorsed by CSC; and assist complainants in filing necessary cases with either CSC or the Office of the Ombudsman.
Ronquillo said ARTA will also facilitate the Report Card Survey to all government agencies, while CSC’s ARTD and ARTU will receive, analyze, and use RCS results to recommend improvements to service delivery in the civil service.