The Department of Interior and Local Government was the first national government agency that immediately responded to the call, the SONA, of Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The city had its first awareness of the need to streamline civil applications systems and procedures after it attended a forum held at the Waterfront Mactan and initiated by DILG immediately after the President’s SONA.

Early on, specifically on September 10, 2001 DILG Jose D. Lina, Jr. issued Memorandum Circular No. 2001-120 which instructed all local chief executives to execute an “Anti-Red Tape Program for Local Governments”. The Circular established the Program Components and Implementation, which includes the Simplification of Internal Regulatory Systems, the Installation of One-Stop Shops, and the Installation of Customer Complaint Desks.

In response to a directive by Regional Director Roberto C. Abejero, dated April 05, 2002, the city submitted an “Anti-Red Tape Project for LGUs” Accomplishment Report. The Report, in tabular form, showed the city’s immediate response to the DILG advocacy by promptly adjusting its systems and procedures. The effort was guided by the “Local Government Regulatory Service Operations Manual - A Guide in Streamlining Regulatory Systems for Cities and Municipalities, issued last April 2002.

Aware of the strong determination showed by the city to adopt a streamlined systems and procedures, the DILG, through Director Rolando M. Acosta of the Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS), linked the city up with the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) which offered its expertise in formulating innovative approaches to a re-engineered civil applications processing.

A letter dated April 9, 2002 and sent by Director Rolando M. Acosta, informed the city of a possible institutional tie-up with both the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). An initial, exploratory meeting was scheduled last April 19, 2002. It was in that meeting that an agreement, in principle, was reached for such a collaborative effort to simplify the city’s civil application systems. The draft Tripartite Agreement, which was drafted by MAP was sent to DILG on April 12, 2002. This same draft Agreement was discussed during the April 19, 2002 meeting.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Mandaue gave the Honorable City Mayor Thadeo Z. Ouano the authority to sign the Tripartite Agreement last April 18, 2002, through Resolution #09-192-2002. The Tripartite Agreement was signed May 6, 2002.

Under the Agreement and as proposed, the Anti-Red Tape Program of the city is to be managed by a Steering Committee that is chaired by the City Mayor, representing the City as the Executive Sponsor. He is assisted by the City Administrator who acts as the Program Director. He is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the Program. Support services are provided by the representatives coming from the DILG, the MAP Volunteer Consultants, the concerned City Department Heads, a representative from the City Council, and the representatives from the Mandaue Business Community.