The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is set to file cases against 131 local government units (LGUs) within the week for their continued failure to implement the Electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) system, an initiative aimed at streamlining the issuance of business permits and slashing bureaucratic red tape.

In a press briefing at Malacañang on Tuesday, ARTA Director General Secretary Ernesto Perez said 431 LGUs had already been issued Notices to Explain. Of these, 131 LGUs have not responded at all.

“We have already recognized 115 LGUs as fully compliant,” Perez said in Filipino, adding that another 77 LGUs are on track to comply this year — provided they resolve coordination issues with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). “We encourage the BFP to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the LGUs to expedite compliance.”

Under the eBOSS system, Perez said business permits can be issued in a matter of minutes. “In Valenzuela, you can get a business permit in just five minutes. In Malabon and Navotas, it’s only 10 minutes,” he said.

Out of the 1,642 LGUs in the Philippines, 1,203 are considered partially automated. The remaining non-compliant LGUs face mounting pressure to modernize or risk legal consequences.

A weapon against corruption
Perez stressed that eBOSS has proven to be one of the most effective ways to eliminate opportunities for corruption in government transactions. “President Marcos has issued a strong directive that all government processes must be streamlined and digitized.”

This is in line with ARTA’s broader campaign to transform government processes from “red tape to red carpet,” as part of the observance of May as the first-ever Ease of Doing Business Month, under Proclamation No. 818 signed by the President on 4 March 2025.

Perez also cited tangible improvements stemming from digital reforms beyond eBOSS. For instance, through Executive Order No. 32, which streamlined the permitting process for telco infrastructure, the average processing time for permits dropped dramatically — from as long as 300 days to just 59 days.

This has led to a 62 percent increase in issued telco permits and faster internet connectivity across the country.

The ARTA chief also announced the upcoming launch of an electronic complaints management system that uses artificial intelligence. This system will allow citizens to lodge complaints 24/7 and monitor their progress in real time.

Since 2018, ARTA has received 25,988 complaints and resolved 99.7 percent of them, according to Perez.