By NG Seruela
The Anti-Red Tape Authority’s (ARTA) fight against corruption in the government has been “disruptive, collaborative, and transformative,” Director-General Jeremiah Belgica said in today’s (July 9) Laging Handa public briefing.
He explained that their two years of fighting government corruption have been “disruptive” because ARTA served as a “wake-up call” to government agencies and long-time employees who traditionalized the system of “business as usual.”
“It [is] a disruptive, collaborative, and transformative campaign that we’re having. Dahil ang sabi ho natin na ito’y disruptive, dahil ang ARTA ay nagsilbing panggising sa maraming mga ahensiya, sa mga matatagal nang mga empleyado na natuto at matagal nang ‘business as usual’ ang kanilang ginagawang sistema,” he said.
He said the agency has disrupted their “business as usual” attitude through surprise inspections and trainings.
Belgica explained it was “collaborative” because many government agencies now cooperate with each other to establish an easier process for releasing required documents.
“Katulad ho sa telecommunications sector na na-streamline ho natin, sa ‘starting a business’ sector na dati pong 33 days [na] ngayon ay three days na lamang [mag-proseso ng transactions], at ang iba pa hong mga government agencies na nagtulong-tulong at nagsama-sama sa inisyatibo rin po ng ARTA,” he said.
Lastly, he said the campaign was “transformative” because the ARTA is a new agency that pushes for initiatives that are “game-changing.”
“Ang ARTA ay bagong ahensya po…So lahat po ng ating tinutulak ngayon ay game-changing sa mga inisyatibo dito sa ating byurokrasya, na nangyari lang po sa pamumuno ng ating Pangulo,” he said, adding that ARTA is part of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s legacy. – jlo
