President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday held a sectoral meeting on improving bureaucratic efficiency at the State Dining Room in Malacañang Palace.
Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Ernesto Perez presented the agency’s projects and initiatives, mainly composed of public-private partnership (PPP) projects with Aboitiz, Meralco, and Unified Logistics Pass.
He also outlined the Ease of Doing Business Strategy Map throughout the country, focusing on the implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Program, Regulatory Reform Program and the CHECC (Clean, Honest, Efficient, and Customer Centric) Program.
President Marcos Jr. directed the ARTA to simplify the Business Processing and Licensing Systems (BPLS) manual and expand its usage by the local government units (LGUs) nationwide, as well as simplify the eBOSS (Electronic Business One Stop Shops).
The President also received several updates as he leads a sectoral meeting on the Department of Transportation’s accomplishments and projects for completion this year, as well as the Philippines’ compliance with the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Convention.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista presented the DoTr’s list of projects under its airport development, port development, railways target milestones and active transportation, noting that at least 18 airport development projects and at least 13 port development projects are either underway or almost 80% accomplished. Vince Lopez
He also highlights the DOTr’s accomplishments in the airport, maritime, railways and road sectors.
On the Philippines’ compliance with the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention, President Marcos Jr. reiterated that the Filipino seafarers should continue being the preferred workforce of ship owners across the globe, which currently stands at 60 percent.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining the country’s STCW certification by addressing the areas for improvement and ways forward identified by the European Union (EU).