Local chief execs should stand against red tape

The government is now renewing its drive and efforts against red tape in government. A major testament to this was the move of the government to pass the RA 9485. What is this law, and how does this fits into the picture of eradicating or at least reducing the amount of red tape in government? President Gloria Arroyo calls this law a much needed one in order for the country to be world class and globally competitive.

In general this law signed by the president calls for the elimination of red tape in all government transactions. The law and the implementing rules and regulations of the law are in place to effectively ensure that there is transparency in all government transactions. The law also calls for the re-engineering of the government systems and processes. The new law calls for the need for the government offices and agencies to effectively simplify all their frontline services and this law also calls for these offices to write and make their service standards that can be given to the clients. And finally, the law calls for the need to make these service standards known to the public. There is a specific section in the law that calls for the need to tap the emerging technologies. For example, in Section 5 of the implementing rules and regulations the section calls for all government agencies or offices to institute hotline numbers, short messaging services and other forms of communication technologies that can ensure proper avenue where clients can express their gripes and sentiments. These are just some of the salient features included in the anti-red tape law, the same law that is now being pushed too of Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

In the words of Secretary Puno, he said that the local executives of the country should be earnest in the implementation of the anti Red Tape Act of 2007. He envisions a government process that is fast and free from red tape. His new statement in support of the law and urging the local executives was made during his appearance in Davao del Norte for the 2nd Provincial ‘Liga ng mga Barangay Congress’. He was the keynote speaker for the said occasion that was attended too by around 600 barangay officials from the province.