Red tape, corruption in government frustrate Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday decried corruption and red tape in government, saying the problem could pave way to a "failed government."

Duterte said he was reminded of the extent of the problem when he discovered during last Wednesday's Cabinet meeting that some applications have been languishing in government offices for years. 

He said some applications have been pending at the National Economic and Development Authority for 25 years while some land usage conversion have not been acted upon for two years. 

"This is not to dwell lengthily, but the system itself is designed to experience a failed government," Duterte said during the oath-taking of new appointees in  Malacañang. 

"In the long run. As the world progresses, as everything is developed, and we in turn realize our folly and (when) it's about time, too late," he added. 

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Duterte said the delays in the processing of documents were intended to extort money from applicants. 

"That includes verily corruption, the person will keep coming back. And there's no end to it, the bleeding of the pocket of the guy," the president said. 

Duterte said he walked out of a Cabinet meeting while some officials were discussing the land usage conversion process. 

"If that's how red tape or black tape looks like, when they started to debate, I interrupted them. This I would not like to be a part of this briefing because this will not happen during my time so why would I waste my time listening to this when it would take about two presidents to finish?" the president said. 

In March 2017, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano said an executive order for a two-year moratorium on land conversion. Mariano's appointment to the Cabinet has since been rejected by a congressional panel and the Official Gazette does not list any EO ordering the moratorium. 

READ: DAR requires public consultations on land conversion applications

Duterte said he went out of the room and asked Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to take over the meeting. 

"I went out to chat with the pretty ladies outside," the president said in jest. 

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo previously said Dutete was frustrated by the "tedious" requirements of the land usage conversion and has asked agencies to streamline the process.