13/07/2022
13 July 2022
STATEMENT OF ATTY. JEREMIAH B. BELGICA, FORMER SECRETARY/DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE ANTI-RED TAPE AUTHORITY, ON THE MESSAGE OF SUPPORT OF VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS
In the past few days, several groups and personalities have urged the new administration to sustain the reforms that were initiated by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) during the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. I have also heard President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. consistently say that streamlining and digitalization of government processes are among his priorities.
Recently, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) expressed hope that the Marcos administration will continue to implement ARTA's reform programs, saying that the Authority is "one of the most performing agencies of the Duterte administration for effectively implementing the Ease of Doing Business and anti-red tape initiatives."
"Barely four years from its inception, the ARTA headed by Director General Jeremiah Belgica has so far delivered its mandate of bringing transparency and accountability to public office by cutting excessive bureaucratic processes and enhancing the local business environment," its statement read.
The PCCI became ARTA's first ever private sector "champion" in 2020. As an ARTA Champion, it is authorized to receive red tape-related complaints and concerns that they can forward to the Authority for further action.
As ARTA's first Director General, hearing these words from PCCI and ARTA's other developmental partners and supporters fills me with pride for what we have achieved in our pioneer years.
As I exit from the agency, I would like to express how grateful I am for the rare and transformative opportunity to have led ARTA. It was truly a privilege and an honor to serve the Filipino people at the helm of a disruptive force in the Philippine government.
When I said my goodbyes to the ARTA officials and personnel, the only thing I asked from them is to sustain all the efforts that we started together to fight red tape in the country. ARTA will be left to the very capable hands of its young, dynamic, and innovative staff, and so I am very optimistic that the agency will continue to carry out its mandate of overseeing a national policy on streamlining and anti-red tape.
Apart from the people that I worked with in the agency, I also wish to thank all of our developmental partners—from all the government agencies, local government units, foreign governments, and private groups that we have worked with to our ARTA Champions, ARTA Volunteers, and ARTA Auxiliary Group.
I have always said that, next to God, true power resides within the people. Your selflessness and patriotism benefitted not only ARTA in our fight to eradicate red tape, but the entire Philippine government in its push to provide services that the Filipino people deserve.
I would also like to give special thanks to all the media personalities and organizations that gave a platform for ARTA to boost awareness on its services. As a fledgling agency, the media played a big role for us to be known and address more red tape concerns and complaints.
While I am no longer a part of ARTA, I believe that there are still some programs and projects that it can implement to intensify the fight against bureaucratic red tape in the country.
Also, the Marcos administration is on the right track in pursuing digitalization of services, which can be done by streamlining first government processes.
In closing, I wish to express my continued commitment to fighting red tape even outside ARTA. Eradicating red tape and corruption in the country will be one of my personal advocacies. I have always believed that the Philippines is a country destined for greatness. It is because God has a great and wonderful plan for us as a people. Thus, we likewise need to recognize that all these aspirations came from Him and will only be possible through His grace and goodness. As Psalms 127:1 says, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
May the people's train of reform against red tape continue onto this administration through the desired dream of a smarter and better Philippines.
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