The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) inaugurated its Northern Luzon regional office at the National Food Authority compound at Loakan Road in Baguio City last month.
The new office will cater to the red tape concerns and complaints of residents of the Cordillera, and Regions 1 and 2.
The opening of ARTA’s regional offices is seen to widen its reach which will allow it to help more people with their red tape problems.
Sec. Jeremiah B. Belgica, ARTA director general, said setting up bases in strategic locations is important in the battle against red tape.
“Red tape is not simply an issue that we can easily shrug off and it does not only happen in one area or in certain areas in the country, but this is a widespread practice that all government agencies should be able to battle in the grassroots level,” he said.
“Like any battle, we need to situate our bases in strategic locations because this will be paramount to our winning of our battle against red tape. In our battle against red tape, we likewise need a facility that shelters the resources and personnel and also the facilities for our training and the execution of our plans. This regional office will be our base for our infantry in the Cordillera. The presence in the region is indeed a statement that red tape should no longer dominate or oppress our people in the region.”
Usec. Carlos F. Quita, Chief of Staff and Deputy Director General for Administration, Finance, and Special Programs; Usec. Eduardo V. Bringas, Deputy Director General for Legal; and Usec. Ernesto V. Perez, Deputy Director General for Operations led the launch of the regional office.
Quita said ARTA opened the new office not because the area had many red tape problems, but because the agency wanted to reach as many people as possible.
“It doesn’t mean that we are here because of the volume or scarcity of any corruption in this area. But our concern here is more on helping, especially on empowering our fellow government offices, the public servants, to really streamline their respective processes. We are here to help our fellow servants in streamlining the government so that we can deliver more efficient government services to the people,” he said.
Bringas echoed this statement.
“Kapag nagkaroon ng red tape, ang magsa-suffer talaga, buong bayan. Agapan po natin ‘yan,” he said.
Perez assured ARTA’s programs and projects will continue despite changes in the administration.
“Do not worry. Whoever will be president, the ARTA will be here to stay, especially us in public service,” he said. – Press release
