Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri is urging the Anti-Red Tape Authority to continue its intensive efforts to boost the country’s competitiveness by streamlining the government’s processes.
Zubiri stressed that the recent ruling of the Court of Appeals recognizing ARTA’s jurisdiction over all government agencies performing quasi-judicial and legislative functions “is a victory not only for ARTA but for the law.”
The Senate President was referring to the July 2022 report that the Special Eighth Division of the Court of Appeals resolving the ARTA’s powers over the quasi-judicial functions of the National Telecommunications Commission — the one agency that refused to recognize ARTA’s jurisdiction.
The issue was related to the case of News and Entertainment Network Corporation, an affiliate of PSE-listed NOW Corp., against the NTC.
“I’m confident that with a legal victory such as this, we are setting a good precedent for similar cases in the future,” Zubiri said.
“We are sending a strong message to all government agencies to listen to ARTA, and follow ARTA’s directives. In this way, we can effectively serve our people and promote the Ease of Doing Business,” he added.
Zuburi also said that the reforms of Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 intended “have shaken up many government agencies that based their actions on discretionary means.”
To recall, the CA division resolved the automatic approval granting NEWSNET the 26 GHz frequency based on the ARTA decision. The current ARTA OIC issued a decision reversing Belgica’s ARTA decision.