ARTA launches platform consolidating complaints against gov’t agencies

THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said it launched the Anti-Red Tape (ART) Dashboard, which it hopes will deter corruption and inefficiency in delivering government services.

“Our country is facing a serious challenge in terms of corruption … (The dashboard) is our way of contributing to addressing issues of transparency and accountability in government services,” ARTA Secretary and Director General Ernesto V. Perez said.

“In the fight against red tape and corruption, the most effective way, and we have proven this in the last six or seven years, is for government processes and services to be streamlined and digitalized,” he added.

The dashboard is a centralized data and analytics platform that consolidates, monitors, and evaluates the performance of all ARTA digital systems.

“By consolidating these systems under one platform, the ART Dashboard ensures interoperability, data accuracy, and real-time monitoring of government service efficiency nationwide,” he said.

Mr. Perez urged stakeholders not to be discouraged or diverted by the political turmoil roiling the government.

“At the end of the day, we must really work together to improve our image so that we can attract more investors and businessmen that will provide more livelihood opportunities for our people,” he said. 

“We have to continue to trust the system … Let the constitutional process take its course … Let’s leave it to them and contribute on our part wherever we are situated,” he added.

Among the systems that will be integrated in the dashboard are the Anti-Red Tape Electronic Management Information System, the Philippine Business Regulations Information System, the Electronic Complaints Management System (eCMS), the Report Card Survey, and the Competitiveness Dashboard.

The dashboard showed that 902 complaints were filed between July 30 and Dec. 17, of which 637 were tagged as closed and 265 active.

“These are the complaints that came in for a specific period only,” said ARTA Undersecretary Geneses R. Abot.

“Definitely by 2026, lahat ng complaints kailangan nandoon na sa eCMS para mas madali na siyang i-analyze (all complaints should be on the eCMS for ease of analysis),” he added.

He also said that ARTA is in the process of onboarding government agencies in using the eCMS.

“Ang aming plan for next year, we will be targeting those na may mga complaints muna (We will start with the agencies that have outstanding complaints) and then later on shift to the other agencies,” he added.

The dashboard indicated that the Food and Drug Administration was the most complained-about agency, followed by Pag-IBIG or Home Development Mutual Fund, the Quezon City government, the Land Transportation Office, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

To support these programs, ARTA is hoping to receive proposed additional funding of P132 million next year. — Justine Irish D. Tabile