The Real Estate Industry - Hoping to Benefit from the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007

In the news today, the government has vowed to intensify its drive versus graft and corruption. Excerpts from today's news, as follows:

" Gov't vows to intensify drive vs. graft, corruption
Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The Cabinet vowed today to wage an intensified campaign against graft and corruption to ensure that the benefits of the growing economy would trickle down to the people, especially the poor, unmarred by corrupt practices.

The Cabinet’s decision to tighten the screws on corruption in the bureaucracy was reached during the National Security Council-National Anti-Poverty Commission-Cabinet Group (NSC-NAPC-CABG) meeting this morning at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room in Malacanang.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presided over the meeting.

The joint meeting took up several proposals of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) to crack down on grafters, including the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007.

President Arroyo signed RA 9485 last June 2.

The Act requires all government offices, including local government units and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to expedite action on all transactions as well as upgrade their frontline services dealing with the public to avoid red tape.

RA 9485 also states that heads of government offices are accountable to the public in rendering fast, efficient, convenient and reliable services. It also requires agencies concerned to act on pending papers within five working days involving simple transactions, and a minimum of 10 days for complex cases.

The number of signatories in any document is limited to a maximum of five.

One of the fiscal reforms initiated by the Arroyo administration, RA 9485 seeks to cut bureaucratic red tape, clean up transactions in the government and imposes stiff penalties on violators.
. . . . . .
The commission said, however, that the fight against graft and corruption could not be accomplished by the government alone. For the anti-corruption campaign to succeed, it needs the support and vigilance of the civil society, religious groups, the academe, the business community and even the international financial community." (Source: www.gov.ph)

This is a welcome development and it is hoped that the real estate industry will benefit greatly from this move of the government. It is known, though not really brought out publicly, that graft and corruption plagues the real estate industry, even in simple development of housing subdivisions, such as:

1. Obtaining the development permit from the local government unit for a subdivision or project
2. Having an ordinance enacted by the local government unit (where instead of the local government unit being glad that development will come into their locality, yet there is a price even just to have an ordinance enacted)

Of course, the usual reply of those in government is to show proof and evidence that in fact it is happening. I guess the first to answer that should be those concerned local government officials who are involved in such acts.

It is therefore hoped that indeed the Anti Red Tape Act of 2007 will be able to reduce, if not remove graft and corruption besetting the real estate industry.

And as rightfully said in the above news, "For the anti-corruption campaign to succeed, it needs the support and vigilance of the civil society, religious groups, the academe, the business community and even the international financial community."