The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is gaining fresh international backing for its regulatory reform agenda, with Australia expressing interest in supporting the country’s ease of doing business initiatives following the termination of US Agency for International Development (USAID) assistance.
ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that he had a meeting with Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu and Australia’s Business Champion for the Philippines on May 26, expressing the Australian government’s keen interest to back ARTA’s ease of doing business projects.
“They asked, since the US assistance has ended, can it still be implemented? Yes, it can. And it looks like Australia is very interested to help us,” Perez said.
“With the USAID, the technical assistance given by them is completed like the PBRIS (Philippines Business Regulations Information System), ARTEMIS (Anti-Red Tape Electronic Management Information System), and the National Policy on Regulatory Management System,” he added. “What’s next? Implementation.”
However, Perez said USAID’s grant to ARTA has been terminated due to a shift in policy in the United States under the Trump administration, leaving the agency to roll out reforms independently.
“Since it’s terminated, ARTA will do it on its own. But other countries are offering support,” he said.
He added that the Australian government’s support is seen to extend across key sectors such as digital infrastructure, internet connectivity, renewable energy, and responsible mining, among others.
In addition to Australia, Perez said the United Kingdom has been active in supporting regulatory reform, through its embassy here and the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
“We’re seeing strong support from the UK in terms of good regulatory practices,” Perez said, adding that the British government is backing the upcoming Philippine Good Regulatory Principles Awards on May 29, which will recognize agencies that submit strong regulatory impact statements. (PNA)