Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri called on the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to employ a public “shame campaign” against local governments and national agencies accused of rampant red tape.

Zubiri made the appeal as Senate finance chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian defended the agency’s proposed 2026 budget, noting that ARTA – led by Director-General Ernesto Perez – was created under Republic Act 11032 to streamline government services and curb red tape across government offices.

He also pushed for published rankings that expose bottlenecks, prod compliance, and give the people a clear view of chronic offenders.

“Eh kung may shame campaign dyan, like for example those LGUs with the most number of complaints, aba maganda tingnan na din ng taong-bayan yan (And if there’s a shame campaign—like, for example, for LGUs with the most number of complaints—well, that’s something the public should also be able to see),” Zubiri expressed.

“Para sa gayon ay alam ng taumbayan. Kasi ang internet ngayon, it’s very unforgiving. Use that platform. We can ask ARTA to use that platform for the LGUs to shape up kasi nakakahiya na yan (So that the public will know. Because the internet today is very unforgiving. Use that platform. We can ask ARTA to use that platform for LGUs to shape up, because this is already embarrassing),” he added.

Zubiri bared that he received reports that red tape has become rampant, especially in local government units, lamenting the absence of a public scoreboard that was employed by the previous administration.

“And I hope that ARTA also can come up with a sustained campaign. About five years ago, marami tayong campaign about it. In the last administration, talagang hina-highlight yun. For example, sa NCR, ito yung mga LGUs na may pinakamaraming red tape and, on the other hand, ito naman yung mga LGUs na pinakakonti ang report ng red tape.”

Zubiri said that visibility changes behavior because it links service quality to the ballot, and because voters who see patterns of abuse and delay are more likely to punish officials who treat permitting as a racket rather than a duty.

“That will be a challenge for these agencies and LGUs to do better. And the people will be aware so they will not vote for these mayors anymore, all these governors, kasi makikita ang pagnanakaw doon at pahirap sa kanila ng mga pulitiko,” Zubiri stressed, linking transparent rankings with electoral accountability.

During the hearing, Gatchalian identified the top “most-complained” government agencies when it comes to red tape, and these include the Food and Drug Administration, Land Transportation Office, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Philippine Statistics Authority, and Land Registration Authority, while among GOCCs are the Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund, Securities and Exchange Commission, PhilHealth, and GSIS.

Zubiri stated that the value of rankings is felt most when communities see where their own city or town stands and when governors and mayors know that neighbors can compare results across the region.

“Mr. President, malaking bagay kasi yan eh. For example, Region X. If you come up with a list on (the worst LGUs when it comes to red tape) Region X, like maybe out of the 22 LGUs of Bukidnon, pag sinabi mong sampu diyan bagsak sa anti-red tape, papagalitan po natin yun. Hindi tayo papayag doon,” Zubiri noted.

Zubiri then moved from principle to process, asking ARTA to come back to the Senate with a concrete template that lists poor performers, lays out fixes, and sets deadlines so reforms are not left to slogans or rotating campaigns.

“May I make that suggestion, your Honor? Maybe next year for the next budget I’ll request a new listing or some sort of plan of action on also highlighting the LGUs and government agencies, national government agencies that are ranking very poorly in the ease of doing business,” Zubiri said.