MANILA – A new anti-red tape bill filed in the Senate seeks to shorten deadlines in processing applications to three working days for simple transactions, and seven for complex transactions.
Under Senate Bill 982, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson seeks to amend parts of Republic Act 9485 to include original applications among those subjected to automatic approval if it is not acted upon within the prescribed period.
The measure states that if a government office or agency fails to act on an original application for permit, license or authority within the prescribed period, the application will be deemed approved.
It also states that applications for renewal of a license, permit or authority will be deemed automatically extended if not acted upon within the prescribed period, until a decision or resolution is rendered.
However, this will not apply if the permit, license or authority involves activities that may endanger public health, safety, morals or policy including natural resource extraction activities.
Lacson meanwhile cited President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to reduce requirements and processing time for applications.
“(I)t is imperative to revisit and amend certain provisions of the Anti-Red Tape Act to further enhance the efficiency of our public servants through the reduction of the number of days by which government offices must act upon on the applications or requests submitted by the public,” he said.
Lacson is also the main author of the original law which was passed in 2007