Duterte to certify as urgent bill granting him anti-red tape emergency powers — Medialdea

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to certify as urgent the bill which will give him anti-red tape emergency powers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a hearing regarding the 2021 budget of the Office of the President (OP) on Monday, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea committed that the bill will be certified as urgent.

"We will act on your request," he said in response to the request made by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

"ES assured us na i-certify as urgent 'yung ating Senate Bill," Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go added.

They were referring to a Senate bill which seeks to give Duterte emergency powers to cut red tape and shorten government transactions.

Zubiri earlier described the emergency powers as a "blanket authority" across national and local government agencies and units.

"It's like an anti-red tape emergency power during the duration of the state of emergency to allow the President to shorten the prescribed time for government transactions for licenses and permits as well as allowing, during this time to waive the requirements needed to secure these licenses and permits. With these powers he can cut short the processes and even cut the requirements needed," he said last month.

The proposal came after Duterte met with legislators to discuss measures meant to curb corruption and cut red tape in government.

Under the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act signed into law in 2018, government agencies should only take three days to process simple transactions, seven days for complex transactions, and 20 days for highly technical transactions.

The 2021 budget of the Office of the President and the Presidential Management Staff were also approved at the committee level on Monday. — RSJ, GMA News