Arta, Senate eye measures to boost drive vs red tape
THE Anti-red Tape Authority (Arta) has sought to expand its powers to mandate state agencies to comply with its policies and require them to allocate funding for programs on ease of doing business (EODB).
This, as Senate leaders confirmed at the weekend they are seriously considering amendatory legislation to give the President special powers to tweak the antired tape reglamentary framework in a time of crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic.
Arta Director General Jeremiah B. Belgica last week disclosed his agency will ask Congress to revise its charter under the EODB law. One of the amendments it will seek is the improvement of its authority as approved by the Anti-red Tape Advisory Council, headed by Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.
The Arta will ask lawmakers to make it mandatory for state agencies to comply with the issuances on streamlining procedures.
At present, government bodies can choose to ignore Arta policies on simplifying processes, as these are just recommendatory under the EODB law. Belgica argued that mandating state agencies to act on his agency’s issuances will address red tape issues.
In the proposed changes, if a policy to streamline procedure is approved by the Anti- Red Tape Advisory Council, then the agency in question should be compelled to follow.
“Making Arta’s findings on suggested changes in the different agencies’ processes mandatory for implementation will definitely solve a lot of red tape problems,” Belgica said in a statement. “The real lasting solution is enforced streamlining and not just a mere recommendation.”
The Arta also wants legislators to turn noncompliance with its directives a punishable act, administratively and criminally.
It will seek the power to issue subpoena against public officials, and to cite them in contempt. The agency will ask Congress that it be deputized to investigate government bodies and executives for possible violation of the EODB law.
The Arta will also appeal to require state agencies to set aside a certain amount of their budget for EODB programs similar to the mandatory 5 percent allocation for gender and development projects.