10 August 2023 – Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Secretary Ernesto V. Perez attended the Joint Maritime Committee (JMC) Meeting of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (DCCP), the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI), the Nordic Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (NordCham), and the Philippines-Norway Business Council (PNBC) at the German Club Manila on 27 July 2023.

JMC Chairman Tore Henriksen invited the ARTA Chief to discuss the agency’s programs and initiatives under its mandate in Republic Act No. 11032, also known as the ‘Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018’ (EODB Law), to the attendees of the JMC Meeting.

Along with the programs and initiatives, Secretary Perez highlighted the milestones of the Authority in its streamlining and digitalization drive among local government units (LGUs), which contributed to higher business tax revenue and business registration in the localities.

PNBC President Carl Martin Faannessen expressed appreciation as he lauded the Secretary for his presentation of the agency’s agenda for improving the ease of doing business in the Philippines.

“ARTA and its work is important to all of our members, spanning mostly the maritime and energy sectors,” PNBC President Faannessen said. “Many thanks for a solid overview of ARTA’s valuable work.”

Furthermore, Secretary Perez presented the notable results of ARTA’s public-private partnerships in streamlining regulations in several sectors that have a significant impact on the economy, such as the telecommunications, energy, logistics, housing, health, food, pharmaceutical, and infrastructure sectors.

Secretary Perez also shared ARTA’s willingness to enter a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the JMC to forge a partnership in expanding the reach of the EODB Law and its benefits to the business sector and the economy.

“Aside from the support of the private sector, we are also very thankful that our streamlining and digitalization efforts are being recognized and supported by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. as they align with his directives to improve bureaucratic efficiency in the country,” Secretary Perez said.

“The Anti-Red Tape Authority is removing red tape; it is automatically doing something about corruption,” Chairman and Group CEO of Royal Cargo, Inc., Mr. Michael Reauber, expressed in the JMC meeting.

“When red tape is gone and corruption is gone, then we have an environment for ease of doing business,” Mr. Reauber added.

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