Pasay: The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has recognized the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for its outstanding performance in anti-red tape initiatives during the ARTA Report Card Survey (RCS) Awards for the 2023 RCS 2.0 at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City on Oct. 30. This recognition aligns with Section 20 of Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law, and Rule 12 of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD officials from the Central Office and participating Field Offices (FOs), led by Undersecretary for Policy and Plans Group (PPG) Adonis Sulit, were present to accept the plaque of recognition. Sulit, who is also the DSWD Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Anti-Red Tape (CART), stated, “These awards underscore our dedication to ensuring that our programs and services meet the highest standards of efficiency and effectiveness, in line with the government’s drive to reduce red tape and enhance public service delivery.”
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part of the RCS 2.0, ARTA evaluated 860 government agencies on their compliance with the EODB law. The survey measured key performance indicators, including the submission of compliance reports, client satisfaction, service provision, delivery and quality, and overall recognition of service excellence. Among the eight DSWD offices assessed, seven were recognized for their exceptional performance.
The Central Office, along with FOs Calabarzon, 7 (Central Visayas), 11 (Davao Region), and Caraga, were honored with the prestigious RCS Gold Award for demonstrating excellent performance. The DSWD FOs 5 (Bicol Region) and 12 (Soccsksargen) received the silver award for achieving Very Satisfactory performance. The DSWD FO-6 (Western Visayas) was previously recognized by ARTA for its significant contributions to process streamlining initiatives during the 2024 Ease of Doing Business Summit held in Iloilo City in August 2024.
Out of the 860 national government agencies (NGAs) surveyed by ARTA, the DSWD FO-11 stood ou
t as the Top 3 performer in the NGAs category. The FO-11 was also one of the nine NGAs to achieve the highest scores in the RCS 2.0, excelling in areas such as access, facilities, payments, and processes. Additionally, the FO was among the 124 agencies to secure top marks across all four key government service aspects in the inspection checklist.
“The accolades received by the DSWD is a reflection of our strong commitment to upholding the provisions of the EODB law and streamlining its processes to deliver efficient, client-centered services,” Sulit pointed out. The recognition also serves as a testament to the DSWD’s continuous efforts to improve and simplify government services, ensuring that they remain accessible and responsive to the needs of the public, according to the DSWD official.
Joining Undersecretary Sulit in the awarding ceremony were Assistant Secretary for Policy and Plans Group Rodolfo Santos; FO-7 Director Shalaine Marie Lucero; FO-CARAGA Assistant Regional Director for Administration Tris
tan Telen; FO-CALABARZON Assistant Regional Director for Administration Alkent Bacolod; FO-11 OIC-Assistant Regional Director for Administration Mia Dulce Corazon Vergara, and other Anti-Red Tape Unit (ARTU) focal persons from participating DSWD FOs.
