Ombudsman eyes digitalization, reforms to ease business in Cebu

Local

THE Office of the Ombudsman is looking to strengthen coordination with government agencies and the business sector to reduce bureaucratic delays, eliminate fixers and improve the ease of doing business.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said digitalization would help minimize opportunities for corruption by allowing entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens to transact with government offices online instead of relying on face-to-face dealings.

“If you’re able to deal with an office online, na hindi mo kailangan pumunta roon, tas wala na fixer at hindi mo kailangan maglagay,” Remulla said during a dialogue with Cebu business leaders on Thursday, Oct. 22.

He cited the need to improve processes in business permitting and licensing offices and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), where requirements can become obstacles for entrepreneurs.

Remulla said the Ombudsman had already removed a BFP chief and intended to pursue additional cases against officials implicated in wrongdoing.

The agency also plans to hold a regulatory summit in 2027 to bring together government agencies and discuss measures to improve transparency and streamline public services.

Remulla cited efforts to make the Land Transportation Office's existing Land Transportation Management System work more effectively, allowing transactions such as renewals to be processed online and reducing opportunities for fixers.

He said the agency's work should extend beyond prosecuting erring officials to fixing systems that allow inefficiency and abuse of authority to persist.

The dialogue, organized with the participation of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), brought together businesses of different sizes to share their experiences with government procedures.

Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic Clavano IV said the consultation aimed to establish a continuing channel for businesses to raise concerns before these escalate into formal complaints.

He said the office would document recommendations from participants and consider them in its institutional initiatives.

CCCI President Regan Rex King welcomed the engagement, saying stronger collaboration between the Ombudsman and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) could help rebuild public confidence in government institutions.

King said concerns raised included fire safety permits, other regulatory requirements and the need to accelerate digitalization to make transactions faster and more transparent.

Barbara Gothong Tan of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry said she welcomed the Ombudsman's decision to reach out to the business sector, expressing hope that the consultation would lead to concrete action and more dialogues.

Tan said she was pleased that the agency was listening to businesses and looking forward to sustained engagement.

Anthony Noel of the Lapu-Lapu Chamber of Commerce also welcomed Remulla's visit, particularly his commitment to improving the ease of doing business and working with agencies such as ARTA.

Noel said digitalization and closer coordination among national agencies and local governments could help address business challenges.

He also cited ongoing cooperation between the Lapu-Lapu business chamber and the local government to further improve business processes.

Meanwhile, Remulla emphasized that corruption cases must be supported by evidence before prosecution, saying the agency would continue evaluating complaints and following the appropriate legal process.

He said the Ombudsman's broader objective was to make government work better while holding officials accountable for abuses of power, underscoring the role of businesses in creating jobs, sustaining economic activity and attracting investments.(MyTVCebu)