Highlighting the philosophy that reform goes far beyond the stroke of a pen, Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Secretary Ernesto V. Perez shared the Philippine experience in regulatory simplification during the 5th Special Session on Regulatory Policy for Latin America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia (LAC and SEA).
The virtual session, hosted by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) under its “Simplification for Success Initiative,” brought together international leaders to exchange best practices for reducing bureaucratic friction and driving economic impact.
During his presentation, titled “From Reform Design to Real Impact: Insights from the Philippines,” Secretary Perez detailed the success of ARTA’s National Effort for the Harmonization of Efficient Measures of Inter-Related Agencies (NEHEMIA). This flagship program focuses on breaking down silos between government entities to streamline complex processes.
Secretary Perez challenged the traditional view that policy-making ends once a law or circular is signed.
“One of our key lessons is that the signing of a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) or an Executive Order, such as EO 32, is not the end of the reform,” Secretary Perez stated. “Simplification must go beyond issuance; it must be actively managed after the reform is launched.”
To ensure that reforms translate into tangible benefits for citizens and businesses, Secretary Perez outlined four key pillars utilized by ARTA:
-
Sustained Stakeholder Engagement: Maintaining a constant feedback loop with those affected by regulations.
-
Continuous Monitoring: Tracking progress in real-time to ensure agencies adhere to new standards.
-
Whole-of-Government Approach: Treating simplification as a collective responsibility rather than an isolated agency task.
-
Digitalization as an Enabler: Leveraging technology to eliminate human error and accelerate service delivery.
The Secretary emphasized that the true measure of success is not the number of policies created, but the consistency of their execution. By identifying bottlenecks through digital tools and inter-agency cooperation, ARTA ensures that reforms do not remain “on paper” but actively improve the ease of doing business.
“Simplification does not end when a reform is issued,” Perez concluded. “It succeeds when it is implemented, monitored, and continuously improved.”
