Anti-Red Tape Act creates efficient govt service

State policy promotes integrity, accountability, and proper public management.
Aims to prevent graft and corruption.
Emphasizes transparency and simplified procedures to reduce bureaucratic red tape and expedite government transactions.

Applies to all government offices and agencies, including local government units and government-owned or -controlled corporations providing frontline services.
Judicial, quasi-judicial, and legislative functions are excluded.

Simple Transactions: Requests needing only ministerial actions or presenting minor issues.
Complex Transactions: Requests requiring discretion to resolve complicated issues.
Frontline Service: Transactions involving applications for privileges, rights, licenses, permits, and related requests.
Action: Written approval or disapproval on client applications.
Officer or Employee: Government personnel responsible for processing applications.
Irrelevant Requirement: Documents or acts not directly related to resolving requests.
Fixer: Individuals who facilitate transactions within government offices for gain.

Mandatory regular evaluation, time and motion studies, and improvement of frontline service processes to reduce red tape and processing times.

Each agency must establish and publicly post service standards called the Citizen's Charter.
Must include clear procedures, responsible persons, processing times, required documents, fees, and complaint procedures.

Heads are primarily responsible and accountable for fast, efficient, and reliable service delivery.
All transactions are presumed to have clearance from the highest authority in the agency.

Written applications must be accepted with acknowledgment including time, date, and personnel details.
Processing time limits: 5 working days for simple, 10 for complex transactions.
Possible extensions for unusual circumstances, with written notice to clients.
Applications cannot be returned without appropriate action.
Denials must be given in writing with reasons and list of missing requirements.
Limits signatories on documents to five officers.
Offices must adopt schedules to serve all clients even beyond regular hours.
Employees must wear visible official IDs.
Establishment of public assistance/complaints desks required.

Licenses or permits not acted upon within prescribed periods are automatically extended until a decision is made.
Exceptions for licenses related to public health, safety, morals, or policy risks.

Agencies must undergo surveys to assess compliance with the Citizen's Charter.
Surveys collect feedback and estimate hidden costs like bribes and fixers' payments.
Agencies must include results in their annual reports.

Light Offenses: Include refusal to accept applications, failure to act timely, failure to serve clients properly, failure to provide written disapproval notices, and imposing irrelevant requirements.
- Penalties escalate from 30-day suspension with orientation, 3-month suspension, to dismissal and perpetual disqualification.
Grave Offense: Fixing or collusion with fixers.
- Penalty: Dismissal and perpetual disqualification.

Fixers face imprisonment up to 6 years, fines from P20,000 to P200,000, or both.

Administrative liability under the Act does not preclude filing criminal, civil, or related charges.

Enforcement lies with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), or Office of the Ombudsman as per laws.

Officials charged who provide information or testify may be exempt from prosecution.
Discharge depends on necessity, corroboration, absence of prior moral turpitude convictions, and not being most guilty.
Unsupported discharge requests lead to inadmissible testimony.

CSC, DAP, Ombudsman, and PAGC must issue implementing rules within 90 days of effectivity.

The Act takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or widely circulated newspapers.