In a landmark step to improve the business climate in the Philippines, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) kicked off on May 5 the first celebration of “Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Month.”

ARTA Director General Secretary Ernesto Perez affirmed ARTA’s full and proactive compliance with President Marcos’s directive to streamline and digitalize all government services, describing it as the most effective tool in combating red tape and corruption.

“Mahigpit po ang direktiba ng ating mahal na Pangulo for all government processes to be streamlined and digitalized. Napatunayan natin na ito po ang pinakaepektibong paraan para labanan ang red tape at corruption in the process,” Perez said in a Malacañang press briefing on Tuesday

The celebration aligns with Proclamation No. 818 signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on March 4, 2025, which declared May of every year as “Ease of Doing Business Month.”

The presidential proclamation also marks a significant milestone in the country’s reform agenda for streamlined, transparent, and efficient governance.

With the theme, “Red Tape to Red Carpet: Better Business Movement in a Bagong Pilipinas,” ARTA highlights the administration’s commitment to citizen-centric and business-friendly public service.

Perez said the initiative reflects the growing collaboration among government, business chambers, and international partners.

“The business sector is very upbeat about the prospects for the Philippines,” Perez said, citing active support from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, and the Philippine Exporters Confederation.

The month-long campaign includes a virtual shipbuilding orientation with the Department of Transportation and Danish Embassy on May 7, and a nationwide inspection of frontline services from May 13–15 to assess improvements in LGUs and national agencies. | PND