(L) Dr. Karl Joseph D. Sanmocte, ARTA South Luzon Regional Head (M) City of Sto. Tomas Mayor Atty. Arth Jhun A. Marasigan (R) ARTA Director General Secretary Ernesto V. Perez
Sto. Tomas, Batangas —OVER the weekend the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), in partnership with the City Government of Sto. Tomas and SM City Sto. Tomas, officially launched the first-ever Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Month in CALABARZON.
The event brought together 25 national agencies, including the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), which served over 400 clients seeking to renew or apply for their PRC licenses. Participants were required to register and pay online prior to attending, although a significant number of walk-in clients were also accommodated during the one-day activity.
ARTA Southern Luzon Regional Head Dr. Karl Joseph D. Sanmocte explained that the month of May was declared EODB Month by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with the goal of improving government service delivery and attracting more investors to local communities.
He emphasized that the initiative does not only streamline services but also responds to public grievances through ARTA’s Public Assistance and Complaint Desks located in municipalities and cities.
“ARTA’s mission is focused on cutting bureaucratic red tape, but we also work closely with private institutions to identify policy gaps and optimize service delivery,” Sanmocte noted.
“This is not just a government initiative—it’s a whole-of-nation approach,” he added. Sanmocte also encouraged citizens to take an active role in improving services by reporting issues via ARTA’s hotlines or email. “We make sure that responses are given within the day,” he said. “Collaboration between the public and the government is the key to efficient, responsive service.”
ARTA Director General Secretary Ernesto V. Perez and Sto. Tomas City Mayor Atty. Arth Jhun Aguilar-Marasigan were also present during the activity. Mayor Marasigan reaffirmed the local government’s full support for ARTA’s initiatives, emphasizing that such efforts align with the city’s commitment to “Aksyon Bilis na Serbisyo” and fulfilling the promise of bringing government services closer to every Tomasino.
The one-day activity served over 1,000 individuals from various towns, cities, and nearby provinces in Batangas.
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