The newly signed memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Office of the Ombudsman is a decisive step to strengthen enforcement of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) law and crack down on government inefficiency, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said Thursday.

“This partnership between ARTA and the Ombudsman will finally speed up the disposal of cases against government actors who violate the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Act,” Zubiri, author and sponsor of the EODB law, told reporters.

The agreement, inked this week during an EODB gathering, mandates the Ombudsman to integrate ARTA’s case files into its investigation process, avoiding the need to start from scratch with separate preliminary probes.

Zubiri said this alignment will shorten the timeline from complaint to sanction and send a clear signal that bureaucratic bottlenecks and lapses in government service will have real consequences.

“Hangga’t walang nakukulong sa paglabag sa EODB Act, patuloy lang ang red tape at korapsyon sa gobyerno. So we welcome this move to integrate ARTA’s findings into the Ombudsman’s investigative processes, para mapabilis ang pag-resolba sa mga kaso, at makulong ang mga dapat makulong,” he stressed.

The senator emphasized that enforcement has long been the missing link in government reform.

“Enforcement is the missing link. Too many citizens still face circular requirements and unnecessary sign-offs, and agencies often escape real consequence for breaching service timelines,” Zubiri said.

With ARTA’s case files now feeding directly into Ombudsman proceedings, decisions will be made faster. This will deter misconduct and reward compliant offices, he added.

He also noted that clear, time-bound enforcement improves accountability, public trust, and investor confidence. The EODB law guarantees fixed processing times, a zero-contact policy, and streamlined procedures.

“This MOA is about more than catching violators—it’s about changing incentives within government,” Zubiri explained.

“When government managers see that ARTA audits and Ombudsman action move in sync, they are more likely to redesign workflows, remove redundant signatures, and empower frontline staff to finish transactions on time.”

Zubiri congratulated Ombudsman Atty. Samuel “Boying” Remulla and ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez for fostering a more proactive working relationship.

“This move will not just cut red tape, it will also reduce opportunities for corruption, help restore public trust, and boost investor confidence in our country,” he concluded.