Quezon City. – The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) conducted an on-site inspection of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) on November 11, 2024, as part of its mission to ensure government agencies adhere to Republic Act No. 11032, the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. Aiming to evaluate the NLRC’s compliance, the inspection focused on the guidelines for implementing the Citizens Charter and ARTA’s standards for efficient and accessible public service delivery.

RA 11032 mandates that government agencies simplify processes, reduce bureaucratic delays, and uphold high standards of public service. The ARTA Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation Office (CMEO) reviewed the NLRC’s service processes, examining their alignment with the Citizens Charter—a key document that outlines service commitments and timelines for government services.

NLRC Chairperson Grace E. Maniquiz-Tan emphasized the critical role of this evaluation in fostering a culture of accountability within government agencies and enhancing public trust in their services. She noted that such assessments help ensure that agencies remain transparent and dedicated to providing efficient, high-quality services to the public.

During the inspection, ARTA representative Ms. Pauline Karol Guiyab, NLRC Committee on Anti-Red Tape (CART) Chairperson and Presiding Commissioner Agnes Alexis Lucero-De Grano, and other officials discussed areas where improvements could further streamline the NLRC’s operations and ensure timely service delivery. They observed the implementation of memorandum circulars on the issuance of the Whole-of-Government Reengineering Manual; Automatic Approval or Automatic Extension for Pending Applications; the Submission of Zero Backlog Reports; and the “Campaign Against Fixers”.

The inspection also included a comprehensive review of the NLRC’s Citizens Charter, which provides specific guidelines on service processes and timelines for various agency functions. ARTA’s assessment focused on the clarity, accessibility, and timeliness of the NLRC’s service offerings to ensure alignment with RA 11032’s goal of streamlined public service.

Following the inspection, ARTA will compile a detailed report of its findings, including actionable recommendations for the NLRC to enhance operational efficiency and fully comply with the requirements of RA 11032.

NLRC welcomed ARTA’s inspection and affirmed its commitment to ongoing improvements in line with ARTA’s standards. Officials noted that the Commission has been implementing initiatives to streamline processing times, improve client service, and foster greater public accountability.