ARTA, AmCham partner vs red tape

THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) of the Philippines have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in a bid to fight red tape in government transactions. ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez told The Manila Times via Viber that he signed the MoU with AmCham Executive Director David Ebb Hinchliffe last week, making AmCham the 31st organization to join the list of ARTA Champions. Other ARTA partners include the Chamber of Cosmetics Industry of the Philippines, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. ARTA Undersecretary for Legal Geneses Abot and AmCham Director ex officio and Chairman of Energy and Power Committee Frank Thiel witnessed the signing. AmCham will collaborate with ARTA in enforcing Republic Act (RA) 11032, also known as the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law, Perez said. "This enables AmCham to accept complaints from its members who encounter obstacles in their government transactions and refer them to ARTA for appropriate action," he said. The MoU also requires AmCham to promote ARTA programs in order to increase public awareness. "AmCham, with its vast network of American businesses operating in the Philippines, shares our vision of a more competitive and vibrant economy. Their expertise and insights are invaluable in identifying and addressing the challenges faced by the business community," Perez said. "ARTA and AmCham can unleash the full potential of the Philippines and create a nation where businesses thrive, opportunities abound, and the Filipino people prosper," he said. Hinchliffe expressed optimism about the newly formed partnership with ARTA. "I'm very honored and excited about this memorandum of understanding with Secretary Perez. I just say the stars are aligned; let's keep them aligned for a long time," Hinchliffe said.