25 state agencies repeal burdensome rules

MANILA, Philippines - A little over two dozen government agencies signed yesterday repeal orders for regulations seen as redundant and burdensome within their respective agencies.

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC)’s 2nd Repeal Day had a total 25 agencies change unnecessary regulations that have adverse impact on country’s competitiveness.

This covered 1,062 issuances, most of which are department administrative orders, memorandum circulars and office orders.

Of this number, 10 will be subject to repeal while 138 will undergo amendments, 18 will be consolidated and merged, and 896 will be delisted from the roster of active issuances.

The NCC said among the significant regulations that have been amended or repealed include Land Transportation Office Administrative Order 2016-034 which extends the validity of drivers’ and conductors’ licenses to five years and Customs Administrative Order 02-2016 which increases the de minimis value for imported goods.

“Oftentimes we look on the business community to be the backbone of the economy, to invest and create jobs but at the same time we burden them with a lot of red tape. This is something we opt to look at closely,” NCC co-chairman Guillermo Luz said.

“These regulations date from way back. Now we have layer upon layer of rules and regulations and we need to step back, take a look, and ask ourselves if all these are necessary and which among these are detrimental to the economy,” Luz added.

Participating agencies for the 2nd Repeal Day include the Departments of Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Energy, Transportation, Interior and Local Government, and Information and Communication Technology.

Other agencies include the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Animal Industry, Civil Aeronautics Board, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Commission on Audit, Dangerous Drug Board, Games and Amusement Board, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board, Manila International Airport Authority, National Food Authority, National Meat Inspection Service, Office of Transport Cooperatives, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Philippine National Police, Philippine Ports Authority, Sugar Regulatory Administration, and Tourism Infrastructure Economic Zone Authority.

“The signing is a testament of government’s eagerness to eliminate causes of red tape, as well as rules and regulations that complicate the way of doing business in the country,” Trade Undersecretary Teodoro Pascua said.

To date, the NCC reported a total of 33,902 issuances have been submitted by more than 70 agencies to the Project Repeal Technical Working Group for review and possible repeal.

These issuances are undergoing review on a continuing basis, with those passing review scheduled for repeal, amendment, consolidation, or delisting at Repeal Days scheduled twice a year.  The 1st Repeal Day was held in June this year.

NCC’s Project Repeal is aimed at reducing the cost of compliance for business as well as generate savings for the citizens by repealing or amending unnecessary, costly, and out-dated rules in government agencies.

The program, which was patterned after similar initiatives in Australia, South Korea, UK and Vietnam, started with only eight participating agencies.