DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 29 May) – President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act on Monday, May 28.
An amendment of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, the new law seeks to make the process of putting up and running a business in the Philippines easier and more efficient.
In his speech in Malacañang, Duterte hopes the law will “solve the perennial problem of bureaucratic red tape in our government institutions.”
“This law will introduce simplified requirements and streamlined procedures that will finally spare our people from the intolerable waiting time and long lines in frontline government agencies,” he added.
The President said the law would standardize the processing time for transactions of business entities with government – three days for simple, seven days for complex, and 20 days for highly technical transactions.
Duterte said that it would limit to a maximum of three the number of signatories for applications for licenses, clearances, permits, certifications, and authorizations.
He added electronic signatures would be recognized and a “zero-contact policy will be implemented to avoid improprieties” while local governments are mandated to automate their business permit and licensing systems, set up one-stop business facilitation services, and use online unified business application forms.
“This complements the mandate of the Department of Information and Communications Technology or DICT to automate business-related transactions through web-based software and technological platforms,” he said.
Duterte said his administration prioritizes encouragement of competitiveness and improvement of the overall business environment as provided for in his 10-point socioeconomic agenda.
“We intend to accomplish that by promoting integrity, accountability and good governance in all government transactions,” he said.
The President believes they can bring people closer to government and forge a vibrant and production relationship that will redound to benefit of the people by “automating our bureaucratic processes and integrating online mechanisms in day-to-day transactions.”
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the law aims to further ease doing business in the country by reducing the procedures and processing time for-business related transactions.
“The Philippines has become more efficient, business-friendly, and hassle-free for local and foreign businessmen and investors,” he said, adding that this is another milestone of the Duterte administration as this is part of his priority legislative agenda. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)