The Philippine Good Regulatory Principles

Scottish author and government reformer Samuel Smiles once said, "A man without principles and will is like a ship without a compass; it changes direction with every change of wind." This statement is equally true when it comes to regulators and regulatory agencies because without any fundamental principles to guide them, regulations will be as fickle as the shifting winds. Thus, establishing sound and solid regulatory principles for government regulators that could serve as their guide and foundational reference is one of the most important foundational blocks in our ongoing efforts to build an efficient regulatory management system (RMS).

On July 1, 2021, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) officially launched the Philippine Good Regulatory Principles (PGRP), a set of 10 guidelines or core principles on how to promote fair, consistent, accountable and targeted regulations through effective dialogue between regulators and regulated entities. Regulators are authorized persons, such as those in the ARTA, who aim to effect transformative change within government agencies. The 10 principles can be summarized as clarity, legal and empirical basis, benefit-cost, assessment, engagement, coherence, whole-of-government, continuous evaluation, competition, and risk management.