ARTA orders state firms to submit list of pending contracts

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is requiring all government agencies to submit a list of all their pending contracts to the body by Dec.9, in line with a directive from President Duterte.

Under Memorandum Circular (MC) 2019-003 dated Nov. 26, and issued by the ARTA, all government offices and agencies are directed to submit by Dec. 9 the list of contracts they have received and remain to be pending since Nov. 11 this year, the status of contracts, and their recommended action.

ARTA issued the order after Duterte said in his speech during the 80th anniversary of the Department of National Defense last week there should be no pending government transactions by Dec. 15.

Duterte said there is a need to primarily address the slow processing time in availing government services as this continues to be a source of corruption.

The order covers all government offices and agencies in the executive department including local government units government-owned or controlled corporations, and other government instrumentalities, located in the country or abroad that provide services covering business-related and nonbusiness transactions.

ARTA’s order takes immediate effect.

“Failure to comply may constitute violation of RA (Republic Act) 11032,” the MC read.

RA 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act aims to rid government of red tape by setting a required period for government agencies to complete transactions.

Under the law, simple transactions should be completed within three days, while those classified as complex within seven days, and highly technical ones in 20 days.

In addition to providing a list of pending contracts, ARTA is also reminding government agencies to submit their revised citizen’s charter to the body by Dec. 6.

The citizen’s charter is a document containing information on requirements for each application, time it would take for the transaction to be completed, as well as fees.