The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has recommended to the Office of the President a simplified and faster processing of medical and financial assistance for Filipinos.

At the 2025 Ease of Doing Business Economic Briefing at the University of Asia and the Pacific in Pasig City Thursday, ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez said the agency is leading the streamlining and harmonization of medical and financial assistance across government agencies through a proposed presidential issuance.

“We aim to standardize and simplify requirements, remove redundant steps, and set clear turnaround times for faster processing. This will ensure that the assistance reaches patients when they need it, not much later,” Perez said.

On the sidelines of the event, Perez said ARTA already submitted the proposal to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and only awaiting for the presidential issuance.

He said this initiative will involve all government agencies providing medical assistance like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., as well as the Department of Health and hospitals.

“All agencies giving medical assistance, they need to harmonize and further reduce the requirements. Our target is one day or within the day following the submission of requirements, they have acted on it,” Perez said.

Perez added the agency recommended data sharing among agencies involved in granting medical assistance to remove the burden of processing the same requirements all over again that are needed when seeking help from both national agencies and local government units. (PNA)