Ease of Doing Biz signed into law

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, May 28, signed into law a measure that aims to expedite government transactions and end the bureaucratic red tape in government institutions.

Republic Act (RA) 11032, titled Ease of Doing Business Act, amends and expands Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.

It mandates government agencies to process simple transactions within three days, complex transactions within seven days, and highly-technical transactions within 20 days.

"The Ease of Doing Business Act of 2018 [is] a law that has been long overdue. This addresses the failure of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 to solve the perennial problem of bureaucratic red tape in our government institutions," the President said in a keynote speech during the ceremonial signing of the law.

"This law will introduce simplified requirements and streamlined procedures that will finally spare our people from the intolerable waiting time and long lines in frontline government agencies," he added.

RA 11032 also seeks to limit the number of signatories for applications for licenses, clearances, permits, certifications and authorizations to a maximum of three.

Under the law, electronic signatures shall also be recognized and a zero-contact policy shall be implemented to avoid improprieties.

Duterte's new law also mandates local governments to automate their business permit and licensing systems, set up one-stop business facilitation services, and use online unified business application forms.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology is tasked to automate business-related transactions through web-based software and technological platforms.

"One of the priorities of our Ten-Point SocioEconomic Agenda is to encourage competitiveness and improve the overall business environment. We intend to accomplish that by promoting integrity, accountability and good governance in all government transactions," Duterte said.

"By automating our bureaucratic processes and integrating online mechanisms in day-to-day transactions, we do not just bring our people closer to their government. We also forge a vibrant and productive relationship that will redound to the benefit of the people.” SunStar Philippines