YOU may have probably noticed by now—every time you visit a certain government agency or local government unit to secure business permits and licenses (among other business-related transactions)—the information billboard posted at the main entrance of the office or at its most conspicuous place.
This information billboard (known as “Citizen’s Charter”) details the following: (1) a comprehensive and uniform checklist of requirements for each type of application or request; (2) the procedure to obtain a particular service; (3) the person/s responsible for each step; (4) the maximum time to conclude the process; (5) the document/s to be presented by the applicant or requesting party, if necessary; (6) the amount of fees, if necessary; and (7) the procedure for filing complaints.
Under Republic Act No. 11032 (The “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018″), all government agencies (including departments, bureaus, offices, instrumentalities, or government-owned and/or-controlled corporations, or LGUs) are mandated to set up their respective most current and updated service standards in the form of information billboards—which shall be posted at the main entrance of offices or at the most conspicuous place, in their respective websites and in the form of published materials written either in English, Filipino, or in the local dialect. (Sec. 6)
The law (which aims to promote ease of doing business and efficient delivery of government services) applies to all government offices and agencies, whether located in the Philippines or abroad, that provide services covering business (a set of regulatory requirements that a business entity must comply with to engage, operate or continue to operate a business) and nonbusiness related transactions.
The enactment of the statute (which strengthened and broadened the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007) is consistent with and in furtherance of the policy of the State to take appropriate measures that promote transparency in each agency with regard to the manner of transacting with the public and provide a program for the adoption of simplified requirements and procedures that will reduce red tape and expedite business and nonbusiness related transactions in government. Thus, the law instituted and introduced the following reforms: (1) citizen’s charter; (2) zero-contact policy; (3) accountability of heads of offices and agencies; (4) automatic approval or automatic extension of license, clearance, permit, certification or authorization; and (5) streamlined procedures for the issuance of local business licenses, clearances, permits, certifications or authorizations.
Apart from enhancing the right to information under the Bill of Rights (by ensuring that government transactions are transparent and efficient) and reducing the so-called bureaucratic red-tape, streamlined government procedures also encourage and promote business competitiveness in the country.
Without question, we all yearn for an efficient delivery of government services—and a climate that is free of corruption and inefficiency and highly conducive for businesses.
However, at the end of the day, the success of RA No. 11032 will principally depend on the political will (if not willpower) of the authorities in implementing the law.
