The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) directs the mandatory onboarding of the 73 Trade Regulatory Government Agencies (TRGAs) to the TradeNet through the issuance of Memorandum Circular (MC) 2021-01 last 05 March 2021.  TradeNet is an online platform that harmonizes all licenses and permits for imports and exports.

The MC provides specific guidelines and timelines for the onboarding of the TRGAs. The onboarding process must only take ten (10) weeks from the issuance of the said MC and receipt of the individual letter-request. ARTA assures that administrative sanctions will be filed on with non-compliant agencies.

The EODB-ART Advisory Council endorses MC 2021-01  through Resolution No. 12 ‘Endorsing the Complete Mandatory Onboarding of the Trade Regulatory Government Agencies to the TradeNet’ in compliance with Administrative Order No. 23 s.2020, which mandates all government agencies to eliminate overregulation and expedite business and non-business related transactions in the government.

Currently, TradeNet has only two (2) agencies that are live pilot users, four (4) agencies are in the preparatory stage to go live, thirteen (13) agencies are undergoing process refinements. At the same time, twenty-six (26) are admitted for configuration and linking, as ARTA reported.

Furthermore, the TradeNet is envisioned to improve the ease of doing business and elevate the Philippines’ competitive ranking on Trading Across Borders. –MRJ