By Charissa Luci-Atienza Malacañang is being urged to immediately appoint an anti-red tape czar to keep an eye on the full implementation of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) law. Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund "LRay" Villafuerte
(lrayvillafuerte.com / MANILA BULLETIN) Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, one of the co-authors of the EODB law, is counting on the Palace to name a national anti-red tape czar soon, as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) submitted the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11032 or the EODB law to the Office of the President last week. "Now that we have the IRR of the law in place, I am optimistic the President will name soon enough the national anti-red tape czar who would take charge of streamlining the tedious, and oftentimes, redundant, procedures and requirements across the bureaucracy that have burdened people and businesses alike," he said. The issuance of the IRR will be made once the Anti-Red Tape Authority, to be headed by a director-general, is constituted. "In boosting the positive sentiment of both foreign and local businesses, the swift and full implementation of the EODB will all the more increase foreign direct investment inflows, which will supercharge the economy and create more jobs in support of President Duterte’s goal of high and inclusive growth over the medium term," Villafuerte said. He said red tape must be stopped as it has not only stymied the country's competitiveness, but it has financially burdened the public in terms of wasted time and energy spent on gathering and submitting numerous requirements from one agency to another.