CSC Conducts Orientation on the Ease of Doing Business Act for UPOU Faculty and Staff

Director of Civil Service Commission (CSC) Field Office – UP,  Mr. Hans R. Alcantara, conducted an orientation which tackled the provisions and implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 11032 or Ease of Doing Business Act on 4 October 2019 at the Audiovisual Room, UP Open University, Los Baños, Laguna. 

About 40 UPOU administrators, faculty and staff members were present during the orientation. This activity was slated at providing new and existing knowledge about avoiding red tapes in government offices and ways to reduce complaints by clients with regards to delayed transactions. 

RA 11032, also known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, amends RA 9485, or the Anti Red Tape Act of 2007.   It seeks to solve the perennial problem of delays and long procedures in accomplishing government transactions. Under R.A. 11032’s IRR, all transactions will be sped up in terms of working days. Simple transactions must be completed within 3 working days, complex transactions in 7 working days, and highly technical transactions or applications require 20 working days to accomplish. 

The speaker elaborated on how the law’s rules and regulations would work out in government agencies and LGUs. New standardized forms will replace the current ones, which help reduce the number of steps in doing government-related transactions, for example procuring business certificates. Another impact of this law is the establishment of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), which enforces and monitors the agencies’ compliance with the law. 

According to Mr. Alcantara, the Philippines ranks 124 of 190 in the 2019 ease of doing business survey by the World Bank. This is down 11 levels from rank 113 held the previous year. This drop-off indeed shows the inefficiency of some of the Philippine government offices in completing transactions causing countless complaints from the clients. With the Ease of Doing Business Act, those who would violate the deadlines set by the IRR in terms of transaction completion will face a hefty fine, suspension, or even imprisonment. 

UPOU aims to comply with these regulations towards its clients to provide a streamlined service. With regards to its transactions mostly conducted online, UPOU has been issuing e-receipts through its online services whenever payment is required. (AJAscan)