Gov’t to pursue 1-form application: Lopez

The trade chief said they are looking to implement the unified application form within the year. “I want to do it this year. This is the best gift of the President to the people, the one form (application), if everyone will agree,” he added.  (File Photo ALBERT ALCAIN/PPD)

MANILA — Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Tuesday that a one-form application process for transactions with government is currently being pursued by various agencies.

This is in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to agencies to improve government’s services to the people. “On EODB (ease of doing business), we shall continue the push towards further streamlining and automation, eventually leading to one form and faster processing,” Lopez said.

He told reporters that government agencies dealing with businesses shall “review the forms and come up with a common information field” and adopt a common form. These offices will include the Department of Trade and Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, as well as PhilHealth, Social Security System, and Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund.

The initiative is part of Republic Act No. 11032 or the EODB and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. “We’re looking into specific action steps to make it happen, otherwise there will still be several forms,” said Lopez.

The trade chief said they are looking to implement the unified application form within the year. “I want to do it this year. This is the best gift of the President to the people, the one form (application), if everyone will agree,” he added.