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Arta releases government agencies’ regulatory management code

BY TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD | JULY 1, 2021

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) launched on Thursday a regulatory management code for the government agencies to follow in a bid to further streamline processes.

Arta Deputy Director General Ernesto V. Perez said during the launch ceremony that the Philippine Good Regulatory Principles (PGRP) is in line with the Ease of Doing Business law and Administrative Order 23, which both seek to cut red tape in government transactions.

The PGRP aims to provide a flexible and principles-based framework in crafting suitable and efficient regulatory policies.

It seeks to serve as a “guide for regulators to provide policies, procedures, organizational values, behavioral and service standards expected of them in able for businesses and other regulated entities to understand what they should expect from those who regulate them,” Perez explained.

“The code provides for business and regulated entities an assessment tool to evaluate regulators in the application of the principles for existing and proposed regulations that affect or will affect them, enabling regulators to review and respond to suggestions,” he added.

Under the PGRP, regulators are expected to provide clear policy rationale, policy objectives, institutional frameworks and support mechanisms.

The regulations, according to the code, should be based on “sound legal and empirical” measures. These should be consistent with other regulations and be compatible with competition, trade and investment-facilitation principles.

“Regulators should ensure that the regulators will accrue benefits that will justify the least costs, unintended effects and negative impact to the economy, society and the environment, among others,” it added.

In finalizing the PGRP, the Arta worked with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; and the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. All the parties signed a memorandum of understanding in February last year.

Perez reported that they had five drafting and working group sessions since July last year.

The first working draft of PGRP was finalized in April, and later underwent consultations. Last June 15, Arta noted that over 270 participants from the public and private sector submitted their inputs and comments.

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/07/01/arta-releases-government-agencies-regulatory-management-code/