The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) are collaborating to lead other government agencies to the adoption of digital signatures.
Leading by example, the two agencies are seeking to facilitate public service continuity and ease of doing business.
The request came in the form of a letter addressed to Atty. Jeremiah B. Belgica, Director General of ARTA, dated 08 May 2020,
The DICT has offered the use of one of its core services, the Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI), for ARTA’s key personnel to create and secure their own digital signatures.
The offer was made know via a letter addressed to Atty. Jeremiah B. Belgica, Director General of ARTA, in the first week of May.
Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II opined in a statement that the DICT was offering its resources to ARTA as they felt it was most suitable agency to advocate for the use of digital signatures.
Integrating information and communications technology in government service is the best way to prepare for the digital demands of the ‘new normal.
With a mandate to promote public trust and efficiency in the delivery of public services ARTA is, indeed, well positioned to deploy this initiative as part of its strategy.
The adoption of digital signatures complements the ARTA’s Advisory Nos. 1 and 2, s. 2020, that urge all government entities to fast-track public transactions through alternative online procedures and the use of e-signatures for official documents.
The Ease of Doing Business and Anti-Red Tape Advisory Council, the policy and advisory body of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) had convened a video conference to discuss initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the virtual meet the council discussed strategies towards the digitization of government functions as the country transitions into the “new normal” as it relates to the COVID-19 crisis.
The council were in agreement that all government agencies should significantly increase adoption of technology for efficient and timely delivery of government services.
Such adoption of technology and deployment of online services will minimize the risk of further spreading of the virus as well as better serve citizens in general.
These efforts are in line with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s directive to ease goverment-to-citizen transactions during the ongoing state of public health emergency, and in compliance with the directive of the Inter-Agency Task Force for government agencies to minimize bottlenecks in the delivery of vital public services.
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) launched its flagship program NEHEMIA at the beginning of March. NEHEMIA stands for the National Effort for the Harmonization of Efficient Measures of Inter-related Agencies.
Program NEHEMIA is a sectoral-based streamlining effort that is directed towards speeding up and realization of the Socio-Economic Agenda of the Duterte Administration. It targets to reduce the time, cost, requirements, and procedures in sectors of economic and social significance by 52% within 52weeks.
Program NEHEMIA in line with ARTA mandate to adopt a whole-of-government approach in the streamlining of government services. It is also aligned with the recently released Administrative Order 23: Eliminating Overregulation to Promote Efficiency of Government Processes signed by the President Duterte on February 21, 2020.