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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bernos couple's bill to cut red tape in LGUs

Bernos couple's bill to cut red tape in LGUs

Published Feb 18, 2026 11:57 am

At A Glance

  • In a move designed to rid local government units (LGUs) of red tape, Abra-based lawmakers are batting for a single-window system to cover all social services-- one that will ensure the public of easier access and faster delivery of service.
(Unsplash)
(Unsplash)


In a move designed to rid local government units (LGUs) of red tape, Abra-based lawmakers are batting for a single-window system to cover all social services-- one that will ensure the public of easier access and faster delivery of service. 
Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos and Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos have jointly filed House Bill (HB) No. 7465 or the proposed “ACCESS Bill".
ACCESS in this case stands for Accelerated Citizen-Centered Social Services (ACCESS) System, which the Bernoses intend to establish in all LGUs. It intends to serve as a unified access point for government social services through both physical service centers and a digital platform.
“Through ACCESS, Filipinos can simply go to their respective LGUs to avail of social services that they need. Hindi na dapat pinahihirapan at kailangang tumalon pa sa iba’t ibang opisina ang mga mamamayan para malaman kung ano ang tulong na maaaring ibigay sa kanila ng pamahalaan,” Rep. Ching said.
(Citizens should no longer be burdened or forced to jump from one office to another just to find out what assistance the government can provide them.)
The proposal is in line with the principle of local governments being the people’s first line of help, she also said.
Under HB No. 7465, the ACCESS System shall facilitate access, intake, coordination, referral, and tracking of various government social services.
These include social welfare and assistance services offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); health and social insurance services, including membership registration, updating, verification, and information services of PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation); social security and retirement services, including registration, contribution inquiries, and benefit application assistance for the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS); housing and savings services, including membership and program assistance under the Pag-IBIG Fund.
Also covered are employment and labor assistance programs of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Public Employment Service Offices (PESO); civil registration and identity services, including facilitation of birth, marraiage, and death registration under the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and services related to the Philippine Identification System; local gov’t social services, including programs for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, solo parents, scholars, indigent residents, and other priority sectors.
The ACCESS System shall serve as the primary entry for those availing government social services; provide standardized intake, documentation assistance, and referral services; coordinate with concerned agencies for application processing and follow-up; and establish a unified tracking or reference system for service requests.
It shall also provide information on eligibility, requirements, and timelines; and maintain both physical service centers and digital access platforms.
Rep. JB underscored the need for government to continue working to simplify its processes, particularly with regard to social services, considering the urgent nature of these concerns.
He said that those who need social services do not have the luxury of time nor resources and capability to comply with various requirements, thus it is the government itself that should accommodate them.
“Kapag ang tao, lumapit sa gobyerno, madalas ibig sabihin, emergency yan. Kaya dapaat, agaran din ang aksyon at serbisyong ibinibigay (When people turn to the government, it often means they are facing an emergency. That is why the response and services must also be immediate).
"We believe that the ACCESS System can help streamline government processes and ensure that people who already need help are not further burdened or hassled by red tape,” the district solon said.
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