BAGUIO KICKS OFF ANTI-RED TAPE DRIVE, ROLLS OUT FASTER DIGITAL SERVICES

BAGUIO CITY — In a bid to address long-standing delays and bureaucratic bottlenecks, Baguio on May 4 kicked off National Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Month with a campaign to cut red tape and speed up government services through digitalization.

As part of the nationwide campaign to end red tape, the city’s participation signals a commitment to faster, simpler, and more transparent public service at the City Hall grounds.

Led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Northern Luzon Regional Chief Sheila Songgadan during the Monday flag-raising, the campaign aims to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and reduce corruption through aggressive digitalization.

Central to this efficiency drive is the continued implementation of the Electronic Business One-Stop-Shop (eBOSS). This digital platform allows residents and investors to apply for or renew permits online, drastically reducing physical queues and manual paperwork.

Songgadan emphasized that this shift is about more than speed: “This makes service faster, simpler and more user-friendly, promoting digitalization and automation,” she said, noting that these advancements significantly cut down processing times.

The month-long celebration follows the national theme, “Achieving Results through Transparency and Accountability (ARTA): Towards a More Productive Bagong Pilipinas.” The initiative is anchored in Republic Act No. 11032.

This annual observance was mandated by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to empower business owners and improve the country’s economic competitiveness.

To sustain momentum throughout the month, ARTA alongside the city government has organized several activities, including advocacy runs for transparency and creative content competitions for photos and reels showcasing efficient service. These efforts will culminate in a Grand EODB Fair designed to provide direct assistance and vital information to the local business community.