The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday pushed for bureaucratic efficiency as it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).

“The Comelec will always abide with whatever are the guidelines when it comes to the processing, any processing or documentation,” Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in a speech, as the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) nears.

Garcia said the poll body fully supports the advocacy of the ARTA in expediting the processing of documents even beyond the election period.

The Comelec underscored the balancing of speedy procedure and security, especially on granting requests from barangays.

“Iyong proseso na iyan, pinilipit nating pabilisin, paiksiin para sa kanilang kagandahan, kagalingan. Kaya lamang (We are trying hard to streamline or shorten the process for their good and welfare. But) we cannot sacrifice certain parts of our process and that’s very, very important,” Garcia said.

In another speech, ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez said, “(We’re) working together towards ease of doing business in the country even during (the) election period where our people are once again given the opportunity to elect their leaders at the barangay level.’

Perez said that if all barangays would work together in a more efficient and effective procedure and manner, more Filipinos would benefit from the effects of the ease of doing business.

He said these may be achieved through digitalization and streamlining of procedures across all government services.

Both agencies agreed to push for efficient procedures to improve the country’s status on the ease of doing business, with a whole-of-government approach, under the eight-point economic agenda of the administration.

Source: Philippines News Agency