Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla on Tuesday, November 3, met with representatives of Philippine restaurateurs to discuss business challenges and possible government reforms as part of the proposed creation of an Investment Ombudsman.
The meeting, held at the Ombudsman headquarters in Quezon City, gathered representatives of around 1,000 restaurant business owners who raised concerns involving government regulations, including the proliferation of fake PWD identification cards and tax collection issues.
“Let's make a compendium of the problems that we are facing,” Remulla said, emphasizing the need to document recurring concerns and identify government processes that may discourage investments or create opportunities for corruption.
The proposed Investment Ombudsman aims to protect businesses and investors by addressing bureaucratic bottlenecks, promoting transparency, and identifying systemic issues that enable corrupt practices.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the agency has been actively pursuing complaints against erring government officials.
Remulla cited the graft and bribery cases filed against former Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Director Jesus Fernandez over alleged irregularities in a P485.6-million ambulance procurement.
The consultation follows Remulla's meeting with Cebu business owners last month as the agency continues to gather concerns from different business sectors.
