The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said the Philippines is poised to enter the top 20% of countries assessed by the World Bank (WB) Business Ready (B-Ready) report by 2028.
“We must aim high, because this is very important for our country. We must organize the image of the Philippines as ready for business,” ARTA Director General Ernesto V. Perez told reporters on the sidelines of the 2026 Business Ready Reforms Forum on Thursday.
The Philippines placed 53rdrd of 101 economies in the B-Ready 2025 report, which examines the state of global business and investment, particularly regulatory frameworks, public services, and efficiency.
“If we move our standard, this will encourage foreign investors to come here instead of going to Vietnam, Malaysia, or Thailand,” said Mr. Perez.
However, he noted that the confidence of investors is disturbed by issues of the implementation of existing laws aimed at improving the ease of doing business.
“We have all the good laws and regulations available… but the stakeholders don’t hear this,” said Mr. Perez.
In the Philippines, it takes about 53 days to start a Filipino-controlled business, while the registration of a foreign firm takes 77.5 days, according to the B-Ready report.
“Part of the delay comes from disparate processes and a lack of coordination across agencies,” said ARTA Better Regulations Office Director Marbida L. Marbida.
During the forum, Mrs. Marbida presented a draft of a joint memorandum circular (JMC) seeking to create a Business Registration Forum for Business Registration and Licensing (BRF-CRL).
The BRF-CRL is designed to harmonize requirements, issue guidance, maintain regulatory data, and resolve sector-specific registration issues.
The JMC mandates ARTA to act as the chair and secretariat of the BRF, with the Trade and Industry Commission appointed as vice-chair.
The BRF will cater for the registration of key industries such as transport, learning and education, and mining and energy. – Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
