By Pearl Gumapos
The government’s anti-red tape body has ensured the timely release of benefits to the kin of the soldiers who perished in a C-130 plane crash in Sulu last July 4.
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has coordinated with the representative of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Streamlining the Processing of Uniformed Services Benefit Claims, which the former is leading, to help facilitate the processing of the benefits to which the casualties were entitled.
According to ARTA Secretary Jeremiah Belgica, in a press release, this is the least the agency can do for the lives the “aforementioned military personnel risked to serve the country.”
“Tayo ay nakikidalamhati sa kanila. That’s the very least the ARTA can do to ensure na hindi sila mare-red tape sa pagproseso ng kanilang survivorship benefits,” Belgica said.
“Idadaan natin [ang pagproseso ng kanilang mga dokumento] sa Inter-Agency Task Force [on streamlining benefits],” he added.
Following the President’s directive, the IATF on streamlining benefits was launched in May 2021 to automate and speed up the disbursement of death benefit claims of uniformed personnel.
It also aims to address other pending claims of uniformed personnel.
This is pursuant to Republic Act No. 11032, the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018; and Republic Act No. 10154, An Act Requiring All Concerned Government Agencies to Ensure the Early Release of the Retirement Pay, Pensions, Gratuities, and Other Benefits of Retiring Government Employees.
“‘Yung mga nag-retire na mga uniformed personnel, pwede na sila makipag-ugnayan sa atin—kahit pulis, military, Bureau of Fire, Coast Guard, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. Lahat sila kasama diyan na gustong tulungan na mapabilis ang proseso,” Belgica said.
To resolve delays in benefit claims, ARTA is looking into making Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) documents, such as validated birth, death, and marriage certificates, viewable among government agencies through a data sharing agreement. – jlo
