The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) called on all local government units to take steps to ensure efficient and speedy processing of business registrations and renewals.
January to March is often heavy periods for business registration renewals across the country.
ARTA, created by Republic Act No. 11032 under the Office of the President, is the lead agency in improving the ease of doing business of regulatory mechanisms across the country.
Last Friday, ARTA met with high-level representatives from the top malls of the country and other stakeholders to discuss their experiences in business processing and to hear the needs that can be addressed by ARTA.
ARTA director-general Jeremiah Belgica said that there are still some LGUs that have redundant requirements that need to be updated or repealed.
For example, a locational clearance is a requirement to make sure that the business is a match with the zoning of the area. For some applications, this does not apply specifically for commercial enterprises located in malls which have been previously zoned.
Belgica said there is a need to speed up the processes regarding occupational clearances, fire safety inspection certificates.
Belgica cited the Philippines’ ranking in the Starting a Business Indicator of the 2020 World Bank Doing Business Report, 171th out of 190 countries.
“By implementing the provisions of RA11032 and the guidelines and circulars issued by ARTA and the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and DICT (Department of Information and Communication Technology), we could speed up the processes… and be able compete with global economies especially within our Asean community,” he said.
“This year we are working to improve the performance of the country not only in the Doing Business Report but also in ways that will be felt by everyone. It is time to remove outdated, redundant, and unnecessary requirements that serve no purpose but to unduly burden the people.” Belgica added.
