THE ANTI-RED Tape Authority (ARTA) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Mindanao universities to integrate ease-of-doing-business topics into academic curricula.
Eldie C. Barrientos, ARTA Eastern Mindanao chief administrative officer, said the agreement is meant to bring Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, closer to the ground, particularly to students and extending to master’s programs.
“They will already learn this as students, and even in master’s programs, the ease-of-doing-business topics will be integrated,” Barrientos told reporters in a sideline interview during the Rollout of the Philippine Ease of Doing Business Reform Guidebook and Business Ready Report at the Regional and Local Level on Thursday.
He said the partner universities are the first for ARTA under the initiative.
Two universities were from Davao Region, while the third one was Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) from Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat.
Dr. Roy G. Ponce, president of DOrSU, congratulated ARTA on what he called a significant milestone with “very clear metrics” and a clear reform guide.
Ponce said DOrSU, based in Mati City, is likely the largest state university in the Davao Region, with seven campuses, more than 1,000 employees, and 17,000 students.
He said initial discussions point to integrating the topics into its curricula and possibly its National Service Training Program.
SKSU President Cyrus E. Terrona said the university will integrate special topics on ease of doing business and efficient government service delivery into its Master of Public Management program.
He said the university is revising its curriculum and will keep the topics in the updated version, and the essential topics covered by the partnership remain integrated into the updated curriculum.
“This is not simply an addition to our present academic offerings. This is a commitment that we intend to sustain. We want to ensure that this agreement is translated into actual programs and measurable results,” he added.
He stressed that good laws achieve their purpose only when the people implementing them understand and practice them.
Beyond curriculum integration, ARTA is visiting schools in Eastern Mindanao Region to encourage students to form ARTA Student Movement chapters that advocate for ease of doing business.
ARTA also met the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) XI, and talks for a MOA with the commission are in the pipeline.
Barrientos said students have been receptive, as reflected in the attendance at their symposiums.
