The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has confirmed that the Office of the President will soon issue an executive order (EO) that would facilitate electronic application submissions to the concerned government agencies and local government units including the payments and issuance of receipts.
NEDA secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the EO encourages a whole-of-government approach by directing national government agencies to automate and computerize their databases.
“This will promote data sharing among government agencies in order to eliminate the unnecessary duplication of document submission. LGUs are also mandated to establish business one-stop shops and are highly encouraged to coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to adopt interoperable ICT platforms,” said Balisacan.
In its NEDA Board meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 20, Balisacan said the EO would also enable the expeditious processing of licenses, clearances, permits, certifications, and authorizations for the administration’s Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs).
“The primary goal of this proposed EO is to minimize if not eliminate delays in the implementation of IFPs,” said Balisacan.
“This EO will require all government offices, agencies, and instrumentalities including LGUs, to streamline the standard procedure and requirements for the IFPs. The simplified requirements will be applicable to both pending and new applications within the NEDA Board-approved list of IFPs, as well as any additions to the updated IFP list,” he added.
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), in coordination with NEDA, will establish a reporting framework to track agencies’ compliance.
“Furthermore, as we recognize the continued significance of ICT in overall infrastructure development, DICT will play a vital role in appropriately integrating ICT-related considerations in the committee’s deliberations and decisions,” said Balisacan.
The NEDA Board has approved the reconstitution of the NEDA Board Committee on Infrastructure (INFRACOM) to include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the DICT as integral members of the committee.
The DENR’s inclusion in the INFRACOM underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that infrastructure development considers critical elements such as ecosystem protection, rehabilitation and management, sustainability, and resilience, Balisacan said.
