The Civil Service Commission (CSC) invites the public to avail of government services at the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) Caravan held at the 2017 Public Sector Human Resource Symposium on July 4-6 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City.

One of the highlights of the 2017 HR Symposium is the Dekada na ang ARTA, as the CSC celebrates ten years of implementing Republic Act No. 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007 which was signed on June 2, 2007. The event showcases how ARTA helped shape change in public service delivery.

The ARTA Caravan, which began in 2016, engages the citizenry in improving public service delivery by increasing awareness on the anti-red tape campaign and on citizens’ rights and responsibilities as clients or consumers of government services. “To exact accountability, there must be vigilant eyes that watch government operations. It is within the client’s right to expect more for every centavo’s worth of the taxes paid, to clamor for better education, infrastructure, law enforcement, judicial system, and public service delivery,” said CSC Chairperson Alicia dela-Rosa Bala.

At the ARTA caravan, the public can avail themselves of the frontline services of participating government agencies, including:

· Civil Service Commission (CSC) – inquiry on services and career service examination forms;

· Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – business name registration, SME counseling;

· Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) – e-services through GWAPS kiosk;

· Pag-IBIG Fund – online membership registration, verification of membership savings and loan entitlement, Loyalty Card application;

· Philippine Statistics Authority-National Statistics Office (PSA-NSO) – copy of birth certificate, CENOMAR;

· Social Security System (SSS) – issuance of SSS number, online verification of contributions and loan status, screening and receiving of loans and benefit applications, info kiosk;

· Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) – online registration, Member Data Record application and inquiries, ID and UMID application, updates on membership;

· Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – passport appointment system.

Also part of the Dekada na ang ARTA is a photo contest dubbed #MakuhaKaSaARTA, along with other activities slated throughout the year. The contest enjoins the public to capture excellent public service as defined by the ARTA. This includes good physical set-up of a government frontline service office, frontliners ready to serve with a smile, satisfied clients, and observance of No Noon Break policy.

#MakuhaKaSaARTA Photo Contest

The contest is open to all private individuals aged 18 to 65 years old. All government employees and their relatives up to the third degree of affinity or consanguinity are disqualified from joining the competition.

Participants must register online and submit their entries via this link: https://form.jotform.me/artacscgovph/artadekadaphotographycompetition. CSC will accept entries until August 31, 2017.

CSC will publicize photo entries through its Facebook Page (fb.com/PhilippineCivilServiceCommisison) and will open public voting starting September 1, 2017 (12:00 a.m.) up to September 12, 2017 (11:59 p.m.), coinciding with the 117th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary month-long celebration.

Only the top 50 entries with most number of “likes” by the end of voting period shall be shortlisted as qualifiers. Winners shall be judged based on: (a) adherence to the theme/content (50%); (b) creativity and originality (25%); and (c) photographic quality (25%).

Winners will be announced on September 29, 2017. Cash prize of P10,000 and certificate await one winner of #MakuhaKaSaARTA, while P5,000 will be given as a special award for the entry with the most number of “likes”. A consolation prize of P2,000 shall be given to the semi-finalists. For full contest mechanics, interested individuals may visit the CSC website (csc.gov.ph).

The CSC encourages the public to participate in the Dekada na ang ARTA celebration to raise awareness on citizens’ rights to quality government frontline services.