The Anti-Red Tape Authority has filed formal charges against erring employees of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Registry of Deeds due to violations committed under the Ease of Doing Business Law.
ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica, on Wednesday, went to the office of the Civil Service Commission to personally file the first batch of cases against several government employees following thorough investigation.
The violations were found after ARTA received mounting complaints against said agencies.
ARTA conducted a series of meetings and spot-checks on both LTFRB and ROD to confirm the allegations.
Some of the violations committed under Section 21 of Republic Act 11032 of the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018” include imposition of additional requirements other than those listed in the Citizen’s Charter and failure to render government services within the prescribed processing time on any application or request without due cause.
Another ground for the case was the failure to attend to applicants or requesting parties who are within the premises of the office or agency concerned prior to the end of official working hours and during lunch break.
“We have been constantly reminding those who have violated and/or have intentions of violating the law that we will find a way to penalize each and everyone of you. This is just the start of our campaign against red tape,” Belgica said.
The EODB Law, however, imposes stricter penalties. The law gives ARTA more teeth in pursuing anti-red tape cases as it introduces stricter rules such as the two-strike policy, which spells out penalties warranted for the first and second violation of the law.
Penalties for the first and second offense are as involved administrative liability with months suspension; and administrative liability and criminal liability of dismissal from the service, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and forfeiture of retirement benefits and imprisonment of one year to six years with a fine of not less than P500,000 but not more than P2 million.
ARTA is committed to simplify requirement and process and has gone full speed in implementing the landmark legislation, Belgica noted.