ARTA applauds the advancement of the National Government Rightsizing Program to the Senate

Manila - As a prospective member of the Rightsizing Committee, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) applauded the Senate's advancement of the National Government Rightsizing Program (NGRP) after Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero sponsored the Bill with Senator Joel Villanueva as a co-sponsor on 18 December 2024 during Senate 40th Plenary Session. 

Senate Bill No. 890, entitled "Rightsizing the National Government Act," seeks to establish a lean, efficient, and responsive government workforce by streamlining agency operations, optimizing organizational structures and staffing levels, enhancing interoperability among government agencies, and eliminating redundant, overlapping, or obsolete functions, programs, and projects. 

As an agency tasked with enhancing government efficiency and advancing regulatory reforms, ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez expressed optimism and full support for the passing of the bill.

"The National Rightsizing Program is one of President Marcos administration's top priorities, and we in ARTA are here to support it as best we can," the ARTA Chief said. 

"In its core, NGRP aligns with [ARTA’s] mandate to streamline and improve government efficiency, mas lalo nating papaigihin ang mga proseso sa gobyerno," he added. 

ARTA Secretary Perez personally attended its sponsorship in the Senate together with Better Regulations Office (BRO) Director Marbida L. Marbida and representatives from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Civil Service Commission (CSC).

ARTA urges gov't agencies to participate in answering WBG's B-READY 2025 data collection questionnaire

Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Secretary Ernesto V. Perez recently emphasized the importance of a whole-of-government approach in achieving a more positive outcome for the World Bank Group's (WBG) Business Ready (B-READY) 2025 results. 

The WBG B-READY report assesses the business environment in different economies (countries), providing comprehensive data and insights that serve as a reference for improving and developing policies to significantly impact businesses and, subsequently, the economic state of the country.

"This is essential for our country's progress, particularly in light of the 2025 World Bank report, which is now joined with additional economies,” ARTA Secretary Perez said. 

"Our President has mandated a more proactive approach to improving the ease of doing business; without everyone's cooperation in answering the WBG's B-READY questionnaire, we cannot truly identify how we can improve in the next few years," he added.

In the WBG B-READY 2024 result, the Philippines was included in the top 40% of the first 50 economies identified in this pilot implementation, which exhibited strong performance but also showed potential for improvement. Exhibited strong performance in Regulatory Framework but requires enhancement in Public Services and Operational Efficiency, meaning more improvements in the implementation of the regulatory reforms. 

ARTA is designated by the President as a focal point for the WBG B-READY initiatives in the Philippines and proactively coordinates with government and private sector. 

With the designation, ARTA is earnestly coordinating with government agencies and private stakeholders which are highly involved with the topic areas of WBG B-READY to identify and validate information for the 2025 data collection questionnaire. Aside from this, ARTA also conducted a WBG B-READY 2024 result briefing and consultation with private stakeholders on 13 December 2024.