ARTA lauds QC LGU for expanded, more efficient eBOSS platform

17 June 2021 – The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) lauded the Quezon City local government unit for its expanded and more efficient electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS).

Secretary Jeremiah Belgica, along with other key officials of ARTA, paid a courtesy visit to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte before inspecting LGU’s compliance with the eBOSS directive at the city hall on Thursday.

The eBOSS is a free online platform that ensures end-to-end business registration for those who wish to establish their own businesses.

The visit to Quezon City was done on the last day for LGUs to comply with the eBOSS directive as provided for in Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

Local government units were given three years to comply with the law before the full implementation of the law.

Quezon City was able to set up its eBOSS platform as early as October 2020.

The highlight of the QC LGU’s eBOSS was the inclusion of the e-payment system for the new business registration, wherein the process is made fully automated and more convenient for clients. In this way, those who must pay fees for government services will be encouraged to pay online.

Currently, the system is only at its beta launch but it will be fully deployed approximately within the next two days.

They have also made their platform user-friendly for the convenience of clients.

The LGU also streamlined their services first before fully automating it as to prevent bringing red tape to the digital space.

They have also made digital back ups of their files as to not disrupt their operations if ever their systems break down.

Through their fully automated system, the Quezon City government aims to eliminate corruption and make their services faster and more efficient.

Belgica commended the LGU’s effort and encouraged other city governments to emulate Quezon City.

“ARTA has been a witness since two years ago. It was really an uphill climb talaga for Quezon City… We’ve seen the strides that were made in these two years,” he said.

“Much of the accomplishments of Quezon City will be reflected in the global rankings of the Philippines in the doing business study of the World Bank,” he added. “I believe that their hard efforts is really paying dividends today.”

The ARTA director general also reminded other LGUs and national government agencies that the Authority will make rounds to ensure that they have complied with the eBOSS directive.

LGUs will be required to submit compliance reports or letters of explanation by 14 July 2021 or 20 days after the deadline to comply with the eBOSS directive.

Non-compliant LGUs who will submit unsatisfactory explanations will receive administrative sanctions.

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ARTA Sec. Belgica prods barangays to integrate with eBOSS platforms

17 June 2021 – Secretary Jeremiah Belgica, director general of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), called on barangays to integrate with the electronic business one-stop shops (eBOSS) being set up by their respective local government units.

He issued the reminder on the last day set to establish eBOSS platforms in LGUs as provided for  in Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

The eBOSS is a free online platform where end-to-end transactions can be processed for registration of new businesses.

Belgica said that, although most LGUs have complied with the eBOSS directive, their “common challenge” is to integrate their barangays in their platforms.

Integrating barangays in eBOSS platforms would mean there would be uniformed fees and requirements for clients to follow.

The ARTA czar told LGUs to give them a list of non-compliant barangays so they can investigate.

“Ibigay niyo sa amin ang listahan ng mga barangay na ayaw mag-integrate. ARTA na ang susulat sakanila. Pagpapaliwanagin din natin si Mayor kasi bakit ayaw mag-integrate?” he said during the launching of Kapihan sa ARTA at the ARTA Head Office on 17 June 2021.

“Hindi po natin matatapos ang one-stop shop kung hindi papasok ang mga barangay. Medyo challenging, but this is the test of the political will talaga ng mga leaders,” he added.

Belgica said they will initially review the list because there are some barangays who want to join the government’s streamlining efforts but find the process too difficult.

“Kung mahirap lamang gawin pero mayroon silang earnest desire, tutulungan namin ‘yan dahil ‘yan din ay function ng ARTA, empowerment function,” he said.

“We understand that there are some difficulties on the online payment because of difficult matters, subalit, kung makita po namin na kayo ay nag-start na ng automation, then ang dapat sainyo ay tulungan. Pero kung kayo ay talagang walang movement, we will, by all means, crack the whip,” he added.

The ARTA director general said erring barangays will face administrative sanctions for violation of R.A. No. 11032. They may even be charged for violation of R.A. No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and R.A. No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Undersecretary Ernesto V. Perez, Deputy Director General for Operations, said ARTA has provided a template to barangays to guide them in complying with the eBOSS directive.

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