DAVAO CITY — The interim Anti-Red Tape Administration under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has urged all national government agencies and local government units to set aside a budget for the implementation of Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.
Jean Pacheco, DTI assistant secretary for competitiveness and ease of doing business, on Wednesday said the allocation is needed for the effective implementation of the law signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in June this year.
“We need to implement the law and the heads of the agencies must be able to make sure that the resources are provided,” Pacheco said.
Pacheco said the lack of manpower and equipment are some of the common reason why some agencies experience delays in transactions with the public.
Nevertheless, she said the law is already in effect and government officials and employees found to be violating its provisions could face administrative and criminal charges. She said violators could be penalized for up to six years of imprisonment and PHP2 million fine.
DTI, she said, is banking on the mandate of President Duterte for the full enforcement of the anti-red tape law, which she said seeks to re-engineer government offices to make their systems and procedures more responsive to the needs of the public.
“All government must check the steps they are implementing if these are needed for the transaction, or it could cause delay or unnecessary,” she said.
Pacheco said government offices should also look into the time and cost of every transaction if it is necessary or not, including possible duplication of documentary requirements. (Armando B. Fenequito Jr./PNA)
