Leading the crusade is the Anti-Red Tape Authority , an attached agency of the Office of the President of the Philippines, that is headed by a director general with Cabinet rank. ARTA marked its fifth anniversary earlier this week with the launching of the Accelerating Reforms for Improved Service Efficiency Awards to recognize the efforts of government agencies in improving the quality of delivering essential services.
Recall that in his 2020 State of the Nation Address , then President Rodrigo Duterte deplored the telecommunication companies’ inability to increase the speed of internet connectivity. The telcos explained that their efforts were blocked by long delays in the processing by local government units of 20-25 permits and the imposition of “miscellaneous fees.
Pressure from the business sector pushed the Department of Trade and Industry, and subsequently, the newly created Department of Information and Communication Technology to the forefront of regulatory efforts. Local governments stepped up, too, realizing that more enterprises would be attracted to set up shop if there is ease in doing business.