PGMA signs Anti-Red
Tape Act
By MINERVA BC NEWMAN (PIA Cebu)
June
18, 2007
CEBU, Philippines –
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Anti-Red Tape Act 2007
or RA 9465 as anti-graft experts offered their services to help
monitor graft and corruption in government.
Former Tanodbayan
Simeon Marcelo and former COA auditor Heidi Mendoza said that there is
a need for citizen volunteers to monitor government projects to ensure
above board procurement and biddings. Marcelo and Mendoza were guests
in a forum here in Cebu that was conducted recently by the Dilaab
Foundation, Inc., whose advocacy is good government and the fight
against corruption.
Marcelo said “active
citizen’s monitoring was very effective in Abra province and in Ateneo
de Manila and if they were able to do it there, we can also do it here
in Cebu.”
The signing into law
of the Anti-Red Tape Act confirms the government’s resolve to stump
graft and corruption in the bureaucracy; hasten government
transactions and provide stiffer penalties for those engaging in graft
and corruption.
RA-9465 states that
government transactions such as applications or renewal of permits,
licenses and other documentation should be completed in 5 working days
especially for simple cases and 10 working days for more complex
transactions or requests.
It said that each
agency is also required to reply to the client, whether requests are
rejected or couldn’t be processed with the explanations why it was
rejected and what could be done to refile their requests. Signatories
in each document the law states, must be limited to a maximum of 5
persons to reduce time and simplify procedures.
The law also directs
agencies, GOCCs and GFIs to come up with a citizen’s charter that
would serve as the guideline in the conduct of employees’ duty. This
charter will detail the procedures involving public transactions that
include types of services; requirements needed to avail of such
services; length of time to deliver such service; fees needed and
procedures in cases of complaints. Each agency is also required to put
up a public assistance complaints’ desk.
Those who (a) refuse
to accept applications or requests; (b) attend to the clients’ needs;
(c) fail to give written notice of disapproval of application or
requests or impose additional, irrelevant requirements may be
penalized for a lighter offense that includes a 30-day suspension
without pay and a mandatory attendance to a value orientation programs
for the 1st offense.
For the 2nd offense
however, a 3-month suspension without pay while dismissal is meted out
for the 3rd offense and perpetual disqualification from public office.
Perpetual disqualification from public office is also given to those
who have been proven to commit grave offense such as fixing or working
with fixers.
Other penalties
included in the law are: for grave offense, they may also be charged
criminally with imprisonment of up to 6 years, a fine from P20,000 to
P200,000 or both fine and imprisonment depending on the decision of
the court.