PCCI, ARTA team up for business permit reforms

MANILA, Philippines — The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has teamed up with the private sector to accelerate reforms in streamlining business permits as part of efforts to encourage investments into the country.

In a statement, the Philippine Ease of Doing Business Foundation (Ease.PH) said that under the initiative with the ARTA and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the parties would advance reforms in the business permitting process.

The initiative will involve two tracks, with the first focused on tackling immediately workable reforms and the second involving comparative industry benchmarks from leading economies.

The first track will focus on immediate interventions and involve the PCCI’s 126 local chambers, which would serve as decentralized one-stop shops for receiving and processing complaints under the Ease of Doing Business Act.

The law sets specific processing times for government transactions.

“We will activate a nationwide early-warning system that puts SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in particular – at the center of reform, not the margins,” PCCI president Ferdinand Ferrer said.

The second track will cover industry-specific benchmarking against global standards.

Under this track, Ease.PH will encourage industry associations to look at how leading economies streamline permits in manufacturing, services and other critical sectors and how these can be translated into sector-specific reforms.

The initiative will also involve setting accountability mechanisms such as a minimum 50 percent reduction in processing times for identified permits by the fourth quarter this year and monthly progress reports on solutions.

To encourage compliance, there will also be a recognition program for top-performing local government units.

By reducing bureaucratic barriers and simplifying compliance, the partnership aims to position the Philippines as a preferred investment destination for both foreign and domestic enterprises.