PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday ordered his Cabinet secretaries and heads of agencies to immediately cut red tape in their respective departments and to make no changes to government contracts that have already been approved.
Speaking before his Cabinet and members of the diplomatic corps after he was sworn into office, Duterte said these policies needed to be set straight immediately.
“I direct all department secretaries and the heads of agencies to reduce requirements and the processing time of all applications, from the submission to the release. I order all department secretaries and heads of agencies to remove redundant requirements and compliance with one department or agency, shall be accepted as sufficient for all,” Duterte said in his inaugural address.
“I order all department secretaries and heads of agencies to refrain from changing and bending the rules on government contracts, transactions and projects already approved and awaiting implementation. Changing the rules when the game is ongoing is wrong,” he added.
During the campaign, Duterte said bureaucratic red tape, particularly in the most corrupt agencies, reduced the country’s business competitiveness.
He added that he would respect government contracts to avoid the problems encountered by businesses in the past, a reference to the outgoing Aquino administration that had canceled several projects that had been approved by then President Gloria Arroyo.
“I abhor secrecy and instead advocate transparency in all government contracts, projects and business transactions from submission of proposals to negotiation to perfection and finally, to consummation,” he said to applause from audience.
He also warned his Cabinet secretaries that should they follow his instructions well or the would “part sooner than later.”
“I now ask everyone, and I mean everyone, to join me as we embark on this crusade for a better and brighter tomorrow,” Duterte said.
The Makati Business Club, a staunch supporter of outgoing President Benigno Aquino III, applauded Duterte’s first orders.
“We laud President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s first order to all Cabinet secretaries to reduce requirements and processing time of all applications across agencies and remove redundancies in these requirements and to respect the sanctity of contracts,” MBC Executive Director Peter Angelo Perfecto said in a text message.
The business group also welcomed President Duterte’s statement on honoring all existing treaties and international obligations as well as inclusivity in the ongoing and other peace process.
The group said it welcomed the statements from Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo calling for the nation to work together and to set aside personal interests for the common good.
“In response to their calls, we reiterate our commitment to work closely with the new government to make people’s lives better, safer, and healthier,” Perfecto said.
There was no indication how Duterte’s declaration on existing contracts would affect the row between the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Ports Authority over Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina’s decision to allow Manila North Harbour Port Inc. to engage in international trade, which goes against the company’s contract with the PPA, which allows it to handle only domestic cargo.
In his statements before he became President, Duterte marked Customs as among the most corrupt agencies of government, and said he would have “zero tolerance” for smuggling and graft.
Port stakeholders have complained against a series of directives of Lina that in effect altered the contracts port users have with the PPA. – With Christine F. Herrera