The Trade Department vowed to reduce steps in business procedures in a bid to improve the global competitiveness ranking of the Philippines.
The department, the lead agency in the ease of doing business initiative, is supporting Gameplan 4.0, designed and prepared by the National Competitiveness Council and the EODB Task Force based on the doing business report of International Finance Corp., the investment arm of the World Bank.
“We’ll continue with the initiative to reduce business processing procedures. We still target the upper third bracket, although it will be a bit of a stretch this year. This will be challenging,” Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. said Tuesday during a conference at the Philippine International Convention Center.
The Philippines has posted significant gains in the Doing Business Report since its implementation, moving up 45 notches in the past five years.
The Philippines currently ranks no. 103 out of 189 economies in the report. The country aims to rank 63rd in world rankings by 2016.
Cristobal noted that the country’s micro, small and medium entreprises, and not the large corporations, would bring inclusive growth.
“We do not do this because of the annual report, neither because of business. We do this to uplift the small players that comprise about 64 percent of the business community. They will lead us to growth,” he said.
The EODB Task Force has committed to deliver several improvements make an impact on the processes measured in the report.
On starting a business, business applicants can now obtain all the relevant reference numbers, like Securities and Exchange Commission registration number, Bureau of Internal Revenue Tax identification number and employers registration number at the SEC head office and selected satellite offices in malls.
On paying taxes and payroll-related payments, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth have made it easier for companies employing 10 or more workers to pay monthly contributions through an online payment system in Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines.
On dealing with construction permits, the issuance of the fire safety evaluation clearance and fire safety inspection certificate are now integrated with the processes under the department of building official.
Several reforms are also being undertaken to ease trading across borders.
The terminal appointment booking system issued by the Metro Manila Development Authority speeds up the booking of containers, with updates done through mobile devices anytime.