The City Government of Valenzuela solidifies its commitment to the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 or R.A. 11032 through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), January 12.

Known for being a trailblazer in streamlining government processes and transactions with the use of technology and innovation, Valenzuela City again commits to ensure the fast and efficient service delivery to its constituents by availing the “ARTA Package”, that is, designating a Committee on Anti-Red Tape or CART, adopting ARTA Compliance Measures, capacity building, establishing a Business One Stop Shop, and activating the Local Board of Assessment Appeals.

Devoted to the local government’s thrust, Valenzuela City Mayor REX Gatchalian states that the signing of the MOU with ARTA will continuously and consistently “makes sure that the City’s business processes are both automated and compliant with the Ease of Doing Business [law].”

Department of the Interior and Local Government - Bureau of Local Government Development (DILG-BLGD) Director Anna Liza Bonagua backs Valenzuela City’s EODB initiatives, saying that Valenzuela has since “instituted measures to improve service delivery and fast track transactions in terms of ease of doing business reforms, harnessing digital innovations to streamline the processes for business applications.”

The City Government of Valenzuela has long been streamlining transactions with its 3S Program established way back in 2007, where the local government reduced the number of pre-requisites in processes, created a post-audit scheme, and extensively used technology in business transactions which significantly eliminated human intervention and corruption.

Valenzuela City levels this up with the 3S Plus Program in 2013 where the focus shifted more in the use of technology to speed up processes. The City launched “Paspas Permit” in the Valenzuela City 3S Plus Online Services platform in 2019, the first end-to-end business permit application system and the fastest there is in the country. Valenzuelanos can easily apply and pay for the services of the Business Permit and Licensing Office, the Office of the Building Official, Assessor’s Office, Treasurer’s Office, Local Civil Registry, Health Office, and the Zoning Office.

Valenzuela City also established its own Anti-Red Tape Unit at the city-level last year to ensure the compliance of the City Government of Valenzuela to R.A. 11032 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

This January 13, ARTA Director General Atty. Jeremiah B. Belgica conducted an onsite inspection of Valenzuela City’s Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS), where Atty. Belgica lauded and congratulated the City’s “fast service delivery” and the use and promotion of the Electronic BOSS (E-BOSS) through its Paspas Permit.

“As ARTA partners again with the City of Valenzuela, it is our ardent hope that our strengthened cooperation will continue to pave the way to better governance that does not only protect and manage the people but provides a better quality of life as we battle red tape…” Atty. Belgica shared.

“May this be a symbol and a continuous testament to our joint commitment between ARTA and the City of Valenzuela in making a better Philippines today, making a better Valenzuela City, making a brighter and a more streamlined future for our generations to come,” Atty. Belgica added.