Baguio mayor creates group to monitor city hall red tape

By Jho Arranz

BAGUIO CITY — Mayor Mauricio Domogan recently issued an  administrative order to create monitoring team to stop or lessen red tape in city hall.

Republic Act 9485, known as Anti-Red Tape Act (Arta) of 2007 has been in effect since Sept. 5, 2008 following the issuance of implementing rules and regulations by Civil Service Commission.

The monitoring team will be headed by the mayor with Dr. Estrella Bisquera as the vice-chairman and action officer.

Members of the team include city administrator lawyer Carlos Canilao, city engineer Leo Bernardez, Jr., city general service officer Romeo Concio, city assessor Nilda Navarro, city treasurer Alicia Onoza and acting city building official, Arch. Johnny Degay.

The ARTA monitoring team will determine methods/strategies for 100 percent implementation of the ARTA in the city government here, to conduct “on-the-spot” monitoring of the offices, and to compel all offices to comply with the requirements of the ARTA, such as but not limited to posting of the Citizen’s Charter in their respective departments; No Noon Break and the presence of a public assistance and complaints desk.

The CSC adapted mechanism called ARTA Watch in which actual “on-the-spot” monitoring is conducted to determine agencies’ complying with the specific ARTA provisions and requirements and the city government here is continuously doing its part to improving the delivery of public service.

It provides all government agencies including departments, bureaus, offices, instrumentalities, or government-owned and or controlled corporations, or local government or district units shall set up their respective standards to be known as the Citizen’s Charter within one year after effectivity of said law.     

Said act aims to promote efficiency and transparency in government with regard to the manner of transacting with the public by requiring each agency to simplify frontline service procedures, formulate service standards to observe in every transaction and make known these standards to the clients/citizens.

ARTA of 2007 was enacted to improve efficiency in the delivery of government service to the public. The reduction of bureaucratic red tape and prevention of graft and corruption is the main purpose of the RA.