ABSTRACT
This study examines the influence of the Ease of Doing Business (EDB) Index on global business rules, particularly in the context of the Philippines and its challenges in prompt and efficient government service delivery. The research explores the implementation of Republic Act No. 11032 (ARTA) at Bicol International Airport, aiming to identify and prioritize factors affecting its success. Employing a descriptive inferential multi-method design, the researchers utilized a guided response survey questionnaire to gather stakeholders' perceptions. Results reveal a lack of significant agreement among stakeholders on the implementation of RA 11032, with varying levels of agreement across Service Delivery, Transparency, Accountability, and Red Tape Reduction. Notably, Feedback Mechanism exhibits a higher level of disagreement. The rejection of the null hypothesis indicates a need for further exploration and targeted improvements to enhance ARTA implementation effectiveness. The study recommends measures to improve service quality, including the establishment of an ARTA office, regular client satisfaction surveys, forums for stakeholder feedback, and the implementation of an Online Transaction Services Program (OTSP) aligned with Republic Act 11032. These recommendations aim to enhance operational efficiency, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and create a more seamless travel experience, fostering an environment of transparency and customer-centric service delivery at Bicol International Airport.
Keywords: Anti-Red Tape Act In Service Delivery in Bicol International Airport
INTRODUCTION
The World Bank has effectively used the Ease of Doing Business (EDB) Index to gain significant sway over global business rules. According to Doshi, R., et al. (2019), a global performance indicator (GPI) is something like the Ease of Doing. GPIs, particularly those that rate and rank states against each other, are designed to package information to sway the opinions of an audience that matters to the target, like voters or foreign investors, and create pressure that causes the target to alter its behavior. Despite lacking an express mandate over regulatory policy, concerns regarding the accuracy of the EDB, and the necessity of making choices across policies, the World Bank has been successful in influencing the global regulatory environment. Likewise, among business climate indicators, the EDB holds a dominant market share.
EDB has demonstrated a driven state regulatory changes using observational data and media analysis. Public ranking causes states to react, and some reorganize their bureaucracies in response. Then, by building on previous economics research, potential impact routes for the EDB ranking and investigate whether investor sentiment is influenced by the rankings in an experiment involving US portfolio managers. All in all, a diverse range of evidence comes together to show the forces that have compelled the World Bank to use state rankings in order to realize its goal of regulatory reform.
The Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2021 revealed that despite COVID-19, economies in the region have managed to reduce red tape and maintain trade flow. According to Alisjahbana A. S. (2021), cross-border trade digitalization is a potential factor to help countries access critical goods, particularly those most vulnerable to trade uncertainty and crisis. It suggests that further acceleration of digital trade facilitation implementation could cut average trade costs in the region by over 13%. The report also emphasizes the need for more holistic and inclusive trade facilitation strategies to ensure that groups and sectors with special needs benefit from the trade recovery, particularly supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, women, and the agricultural sector. It aimed to prevent corruption and streamline procedures, with a five-day processing time for basic transactions and ten-day processing time for complicated transactions. The Civil Service Commission (CSC) initiated the citizen charter program to implement ARTA, which included procedures, costs, wait periods, and the person in charge of each stage. Report card questionnaires were released to collect input on ARTA compliance.
However, according to the External Affairs and Relations Department (2020), the Philippines faced difficulties in receiving prompt and efficient service from government departments and agencies, ranking 126th out of 175 countries for its "ease of doing business." The bureaucratic procedures were common across all ministries, leading to illegal and corrupt practices. The number of procedures for applying for and receiving business permits increased from 11 to 16, and waiting times reduced from forty-eight (48) to twenty-eight (28) days. This study closes the gap considering the importance of citizen’s charter in the state organizations to identify and prioritize the factors affecting its successful implementation left by previous research which is made by Pedroud, et al. (2022).
Similarly, based on the Administrative Order No. 110, s. 1989 posted in the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, public assistance desks should be staffed even during breaks, and officers and staff should have identification. If a department fails to act within the prescribed period, it will be extended until a decision is made. Transactions that endanger public health, safety, morals, or policies are not automatically extended. The airport's customers always rush to complete transactions or businesses with the establishment, most of them are eager to reward the person who could helped them speed up their transactions with any sum of money or in-kind rewards. The Citizen's Charter must be provided without additional charges and treated honestly without any hidden fees. The airport will assess the Charter's effectiveness through an annual report card survey.
The Republic Act No. 11032, also known as the "Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018," was enacted in the Philippines to improve the business environment in the country. The law aims to streamline the process of starting and operating businesses, as well as enhance the efficiency of government service delivery. It seeks to eliminate red tape and bureaucratic hurdles that may hinder business growth and government service effectiveness.
At the Bicol International Airport (BIA), streamline is a type of business that offers a range of services. From the time of arrival to the time of departure, they provide help to travelers with luggage handling, check-in, and immigration services. The airport's customers always rush to complete transactions or businesses with the establishment, most of them are eager to reward the person who could helped them speed up their transactions with any sum of money or in-kind rewards. Additionally, they provide meet & greet services, in which a member of their staff welcomes guests upon arrival and helps them during their time at the airport.
Moreover, streamline services provide private transportation to and from the airport, guaranteeing passengers a convenient and comfortable trip. BIA has a Citizen's Charter that requires frontline service inquiries to be answered within five (5) working days for basic transactions and ten working days for complex applications. Denials of access must be justified in writing, including the person's identity and reasons. This research study will be beneficial to the establishment of the BIA because it will prove that there is indeed a strict enforcement of the implementation of ARTA in BIA.
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