* Biz leader: LGUs should also observe Ease of Doing Business Act

DAVAO City––A business leader here agreed with President Rodrigo R. Duterte that the national government agencies should simplify the transaction with clients but that the local government units must also do the same to sustain the existing investors and even attract more.

President Rodrigo Duterte during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday (22 July 2019). Presidential Photo

Stephen Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), said he saw the need for the harmonization of local policies of the LGUs in compliance with Republic Act 110321, also known as Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.

“There should be harmonization of local policies to the Ease of Business not only to sustain existing investors but also to attract would-be investors,” he said.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address, Duterte warned the Land Transportation Office, Social Security System, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Land Registration Authority, and Home Development Mutual Fund or PAG-IBIG to shape up in terms of delivering their services to the public.

He said the law was passed last year supposedly to “improve service delivery and fight corruption.”

“I’ve been asking that from you since three years ago,” the President said.

He said, in jest, that he would kill them if they fail to drastically improve and make their services responsive and client-friendly.

“Simplify and make your services responsive to … client-friendly. Your client is the Filipino, our employer, from where the money in our pockets come from, from our salaries,” he said.

Duterte, who vowed to eradicate corruption, also encouraged the public to be assertive while doing government transactions and if they are being asked to pay more than what is required, make a scene and slap the abusive government workers.

“And I have done that. Ako mag-pranka ako sa inyo, ako lang ang Presidente na hanggang ngayon nagbubugbog talaga ng tao, diyan sa loob ng Malacañang. Pinapakain ko ng pera ‘yang mga y*** na ‘yan (Let me be frank with you, I am the only President until now who beats people, there inside Malacañang. I make them eat money, those fools),” he said. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews/rp)