14 August 2022 – The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) fully supports the Administration’s top priority bill submitted to Congress for the proposed National Government Rightsizing Program (NGRP).

During his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 25 July 2022, President Marcos, Jr. placed the NGRP at the top of his priority bills submitted before Congress.

“The proposed NGRP will entail a comprehensive strategic review of the functions, operations, organization, systems, and processes of the different agencies, and massive and transformational initiatives in the agencies concerned, such as mergers, consolidation, splitting, transfer, and even the abolition of some offices,” he said.

He described the program as a “reform mechanism that seeks to enhance the government’s institutional capacity to perform its mandate and provide better services, while ensuring optimal and efficient use of resources.”

Under the proposal, ARTA will be joining the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in the Righsizing Committee, which will be headed by the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) and co-chaired by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Anticipating its role in the Committee,  ARTA will consult with concerned agencies, accredited public sector unions, and other stakeholders on the implementation of the program.

ARTA Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary Ernesto V. Perez expressed his full support for the administration’s initiative, saying that the Authority is ready to perform its mandate.

“At its core, ARTA’s mandate is to streamline government systems and processes. We are very happy that President Marcos recognizes the monumental problem of red tape and that streamlining, digitalization, and of course, rightsizing are among his top priorities for his administration,” he said.

“We thank President Marcos for his trust in allowing us to join the Rightsizing Committee. Rest assured that ARTA will continue to use its knowledge and experience in helping the administration achieve its goal of providing better public services for the Filipino people,” he added.

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