MAP welcomes ARTA's anti-red tape reforms 

The country’s leading business executives are optimistic about the government’s ongoing strategy to enhance the ease of doing business in the Philippines, following the new reform outlook of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), according to a report by Manila Bulletin.

In a statement, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) commended ARTA over the recent launch of its Philippine Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Reform Guidebook.

Last month, ARTA officially launched the guidebook as part of the Marcos administration’s initiative to make the country more business-friendly for investors.

The agency stated that the guidebook would empower government offices to enhance their regulatory processes, thereby further eliminating potential red tape and corrupt practices.

MAP, for its part, lauded the guidebook for addressing overlapping mandates among government agencies.

The prominent business group stated that this represents a strong commitment from the government to ensure regulatory coherence and inter-agency collaboration.

“More than a reform tool, the guidebook marks a transformative shift in how government delivers public services,” said MAP.

It particularly highlighted the Regulatory Management System (RMS) under the guidebook, which is guided by the principles of clarity, benefit-cost analysis, stakeholder engagement, a whole-of-government approach, competition, legal and empirical grounding, continuous assessment, coherence, ongoing evaluation, and risk management.

Based on its observation, MAP said the early outcomes of ARTA’s EODB Reform Guidebook among agencies are “encouraging.”

They noted that there are improvements in permitting for telecommunications infrastructure, regulatory impact assessments (RIA), and stakeholder engagement.

Notably, agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) are now adding participatory approaches to align their standards with global standards, as indicated in the guidebook.

“The guidebook is more than a procedural manual—it stands as a testament to a responsive, forward-looking public sector and serves as a cornerstone for building a more competitive, inclusive, and service-oriented Philippines,” MAP said.