ARTA OPENS 1ST MINDANAO OFFICE
ARTA Eastern Mindanao Regional Field Office is also ARTA’s first office outside Luzon
THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) opened its office in Davao City, which would cater complaints of excessive regulations and bureaucracies involved in processing documents in government offices, not only in the city, but also in some parts of Mindanao.
ARTA officially launched its Eastern Mindanao Regional Field Office at the National Food Authority in Davao Region (NFA-Davao) in Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City.
The launching was led by ARTA Secretary Jeremiah B. Belgica and Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte.
Belgica said the office in the city is the first outside Luzon.
He said their office, in pursuant of Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, is mandated to administer and implement the said law and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and to monitor and ensure compliance with the national policy on anti-red tape and ease of doing business in the country.
Since its creation, the official said they have already filed nearly 600 cases in the last two years, ranging from local government employees to chief executives, even regional directors and other high-ranking government officials.
Belgica said they also filed a case of an employee in Davao City in 2019. He declined to name the office, however, he said the case filed was in violation of the “no lunch break policy.”
“Although nagpaliwanag naman na iisa lang daw ‘yung tao, pero bawal kasi sa batas iyon. Ang resulta is nasampahan ng kaso both ‘yung head po ng opisina pati ‘yung kahera na nagpaalis sa mga tao (Although the person explained that they are lacking of manpower, however, it is against the law. This resulted in the filing of charges to both the head of the office and the cashier who cutoff and told people to leave),” he said, adding that such an act is contradicting the mandate of President Rodrigo Duterte to curb the red tape practices in the country.
The acting mayor, meanwhile, said the city is privileged for the opening of the ARTA office as this would deter malpractices in government transactions.
Duterte said he personally received reports of delayed business transactions in the city government.
“Medyo dili sila happy sa atong government offices. Normal mana. (Some of those who transacted in our government offices are not happy. It has been normal.) It’s been like that ever since. Mao gani lipay ko nga naa na ARTA diri karon (That is why we are happy that ARTA has an office here in the city) because it will be a a deterent among government workers from doing these things,” he said.