New anti-red tape law to improve gov't service

CEBU, Philippines — An official of the Civil Service Commission in Central Visayas (CSC-7) admits there will be "birth pains" in implementing the newly-approved Expanded Anti-Red Tape Law as several provisions were heightened.

But Prolaine Daclan, regional ARTA focal person, said the regional agency accepts the challenge as this will further improve government service.

She said the passage of Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Act of 2018 is a welcome development as this will step up the standards in governance.

Daclan, however, said the office is still waiting for the Implementing Rules and Regulations, which will define the specific guidelines.

She said after the IRR is released, the commission will be tasked to hold wide information dissemination about the law and the provisions in the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 that were amended.

She specified one of the most salient features of the law is the standardization of the processing time for government transactions.

Simple transactions have to be processed within three days, complex transactions in seven days and highly technical transactions in 20 days.

Daclan said agencies before have to complete simple transactions in five days and complex transactions in 10 days.

She urged all government offices to also step up their delivery of services, addressing bureaucratic red tape that is still existent among government institutions.

Moreover, Daclan announced that applications for the August 12 Career Service Professional and Sub-Professional Examinations is already closed since June 4.

She said some individuals who wished to apply came to their office and complained while others even rant.

She said the regional office could no longer accommodate applicants due to the limited number of rooms for the August examinations.

She emphasized that since the start of the announcement, people were already informed that applications are accepted in a "first come, first served" basis. —/MBG (FREEMAN)