Speaking at a press conference following a closed-door dialogue with Cebu business leaders on Oct. 22, Remulla said transparency was among the major concerns raised during the meeting, particularly in dealing with government offices.
“I think that most of it can be solved if you're able to deal with an office online. Hindi mo kailangan pumunta roon, tapos wala nang fixer at hindi mo na kailangan maglagay (you don’t have to go to the government office, there will be no more fixers and you don’t have to give bribes),” he said.
Remulla said shifting government transactions online would minimize direct contact between applicants and government personnel, reducing opportunities for bribery and the involvement of fixers.
To address regulatory problems, Remulla said his office planned to convene a regulatory summit in 2027, bringing together government regulatory agencies to improve transparency and encourage the adoption of online transactions.
“We will call in all the regulatory agencies so that there will be transparency. We will try to make sure that everybody goes online already,” he said.
Permit processing
The Ombudsman identified business permit processing and licensing as areas where regulatory requirements could become burdensome for entrepreneurs.
He also cited requirements imposed by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), disclosing that a BFP chief had already been removed from office and that his office intended to file more cases against erring personnel.
Remulla said government officials should help businesses operate smoothly rather than impose unnecessary difficulties that could discourage investments and affect job creation.
“I've always believed that as government officials, we should assist businessmen,” he said.
“So that the creation of jobs and the running of the economy is without any hitches from the government.”
Remulla was in Cebu for a town hall meeting with the local business community, bringing together leaders from various business organizations to share their experiences in dealing with government agencies.
Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic Clavano IV said the consultation aimed to establish a continuing channel for businesses to raise concerns before these escalated into formal complaints.
He said the Office of the Ombudsman would document participants' recommendations and consider them in its institutional initiatives.
Business sector welcomes
Business leaders welcomed the Ombudsman's initiative to engage with the private sector and listen to concerns over regulatory requirements and other challenges affecting business operations.
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Regan Rex King said collaboration between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) would give the business community confidence that the government was “seriously doing something in building back the integrity and the trust of the people.”
Among the concerns raised during the dialogue, he said, were fire permits and other business permit requirements, along with the need to digitalize government transactions to improve transparency and make business processes faster and easier.
“These are very basic, not rocket science, but these small steps will create bigger opportunities and big steps in regaining that integrity and trust in our country,” he said.
King stressed that Cebu's unified business chambers wanted to work with government agencies to create a more conducive business environment.
Direct engagement
Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Barbara Gothong said she believed this was the first time an Ombudsman had visited Cebu to hold a town hall meeting with the business community.
“I'm very happy that the Office of the Ombudsman has reached out to the business community and heard our concerns. We hope that there will be more actions and more dialogues in the future also,” Gothong said, adding that the meeting provided business leaders with an opportunity to raise their concerns directly with the Ombudsman.
She cited the BFP and Land Transportation Office (LTO) as among the government agencies whose processes were discussed during the meeting.
Lapu-Lapu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Anthony Noel said Remulla's support for ease of doing business, particularly his willingness to work with ARTA, was an encouraging development for the business community.
He said greater cooperation among government agencies in facilitating business transactions would help address some of the challenges confronting entrepreneurs.
Noel noted that businesses were already facing pressures from external developments, including those outside the Philippines that were beyond their control.
“Hopefully, with this one, it's a positive step forward for everyone and a more optimistic window for the businessmen to look forward to,” he said.
Systemic problems
Remulla also acknowledged that some problems confronting businesses were deeply rooted in government systems, including regulatory capture.
He emphasized that the Office of the Ombudsman's role should extend beyond investigating and prosecuting corrupt officials to helping improve government processes.
“Hindi naman pwede puro pakulong tayo (We cannot just keep sending people to jail),” he said, stressing the importance of addressing problems that hinder economic activity.
“It's not good news to be just prosecuting people. It's better that we run better as a country.”
Remulla promised to maintain regular consultations with Cebu's business community to better understand the difficulties entrepreneurs encounter in dealing with government agencies.
“It will be a continuing dialogue because we tend to consult people,” he said. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
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