MANILA - Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Officer-in-Charge Ernesto Perezsaid Wednesday he will ensure that the operations of the agency will continue to provide unhampered reforms in improving public services despite the suspension offive suspended officials over the issuance of a resolution on automatic approval of the application of NOW Telecom for the frequencies now owned by DITO Telecommunity Corp. Perez, in a statement, however, admitted that there will be challenges in the agency under his watch following the graft complaints filed against ARTA Director-General Jeremiah Belgica, Deputy Director-General Eduardo Bringas, Legal Director Melamy Salvadora-Asperin, Legal Division Chief Sheryl Pura Sumagui, and former Legal Director Jedrek Ng. The five executives are placed under a six-month preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman following the graft complaints filed by DITO. DITO alleged that ARTA's resolution to automatically approve the long-standing application of N
Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez (File photo) MANILA - Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez hopes that the next administration will continue supporting the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and pursue ease of doing business (EODB). In an interview with Net 25 Thursday, Lopez cited MSME development and ease of doing business as major achievements of the agency during the Duterte administration. Lopez said the next Congress should see the need for giving total support to MSMEs by allotting budget for trainings, financing, improving the quality of local products, increasing productivity, and integrating them into the wider supply chain. He added this support will accelerate the development of local MSMEs. Aside from MSME development, the trade chief hopes that the next administration will continue to pursue reforms in the government to further ease doing business in the country. Lopez said with the enactment of the Eas
Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) director general Jeremiah Belgica (File photo) MANILA - Online application and processing of construction permits and licenses will soon be implemented with the amendments of the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1 Series of 2018 or the Guidelines in Processing of Construction-Related Permits. The JMC, which was signed Tuesday, is in line with the implementation of the National Effort for the Harmonization of Efficiency Measures of Interrelated Agencies (NEHEMIA), a streamlining program led by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA). The guidelines involve setting up one-stop shops-online and physical-for the processing of construction-related permits. Under the JMC, the electronic one-stop shop for construction-related permits or the eCPermits can accept online submission of application and documentary requirements, issue order of payment, accept online payment, and issue electronic version of permits, licenses, and clearances. "(W)e do not only need t