Zubiri urges Duterte to appoint Anti-Red Tape czar

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint the chief of the Anti-Red Tape Authority.

Zubiri sponsored Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 (EODB), which was signed in to laws by Duterte in May 2018.

An Anti-Red Tape Authority will be created under the Office of the President to plan, implement and oversee national policy on anti-red tape and ease of doing business.

“It’s almost four months since the passage of the law, yet, no one is wielding the whip. We needed an Anti-Red Tape czar yesterday,” Zubiri said.

“The Anti-red Tape Czar and the Anti-Red Tape Authority would be the one we would go to for all our complaints on red tape and ‘pangongotong’ by government agencies both local and national,” he said.

The law was crafted to eliminate “bureaucratic bottlenecks and red tape that hamper transactions between businesses and the government.”

“We want business and livelihoods to move fast. Our citizens need government services for all their needs. That’s why we crafted a law to speed up transactions.” Zubiri said.

“I certainly hope it won’t be government who’s violating its own laws,” he added.

The Anti-Red Tape chief is mandated to immediately investigate accusations of violation of the EODB, and file cases with the Ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission against violators of the Anti-Red Tape law.

“Alam naman natin na takot ang mga negosyante mag sumbong at mag file nang kaso sa mga government agencies kaya ‘yan na ang trabaho nang Anti-red tape Czar,” he said.

Give it a chance

During a press conference in Malacañang on Thursday, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque cited the need to give the law a chance to take root.

“We appreciate the suggestion, but let’s give the law a chance ... Bagong batas naman po ito,” Roque said.

“Siguro po we will remind all heads of offices under the Executive Branch to strictly comply, and I understand there are also penal provisions in case public officers do not comply with the Ease of Doing Business law,” he added.

Reported delays

Zubiri said he received reports of “continuing delays” and “obstacles to engage in business” from small entrepreneurs and industry chambers.

Red tape and exorbitant fees are taking a toll on organic agriculture and the housing sector.

“We’re missing out on the organics market worldwide since very few farms can afford that yearly certification, thus can’t price their produce the premium price that consumers are willing to pay,” Zubiri noted.

“The housing sector is similarly affected wherein developers for mid-range housing units are bearing the burden of excessive delays thus affecting their roll-out to low-income buyers,” he said.

Zubiri warned that this might affect foreign investors and take away billions worth of opportunities and millions of jobs.

“The laggard government agencies are virtually telling farmers, business, and industry that it’s hard to do business,” the senator said.

“Similarly, foreign investors are driven away by the voluminous documentation and long waiting time required of them. We lose out in billions worth of opportunities and millions of jobs,” Zubiri noted.

With the help of the EODB law, Zubiri said the country can drive its anti-poverty agenda faster if business moves faster.

“As of now, despite our high-quality produce, hardworking labor and innovation masters, we continue to be laggards as no one cracks the whip on foot-dragging agencies,” he said.

“We need a man at the helm,” he added. —Margaret Claire Layug/VDS, GMA News