Biz sector lauds project to repeal outdated laws

CEBU, Philippines - The move to repeal outdated laws to help improve ease of doing business in the country is a welcome news for the business community, this according to Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Melanie Ng.

Ng shared that one of the advocacies of the chamber is to continue to raise awareness on conditions affecting the ease of doing business, one of which is the tedious processing of permits.

She said that government processes need to be streamlined and the ‘Project Repeal’ of the National Competitiveness Council is a laudable development.

CCCI vice president for External Affairs and Relations Teodoro Locson said that up until now businesses have to process their papers in Manila and that they hope the next administration will do something about it.

Project Repeal of the NCC is aimed at cutting red tape to make doing business easier. The council had its First Repeal Day yesterday at the AIM Conference Center, where it was explained how repealing outdated laws and cutting red tape could help improve the ease of doing business in the country.

The NCC is working closely with the Economic Development Cluster on the

“Project Repeal: The Philippine Red Tape Challenge,” which is aimed at weeding out laws that are no longer necessary and could be detrimental to the economy. Project Repeal was patterned after similar initiatives in United Kingdom, Australia, and South Korea.

To date, the process of opening up a business in the Philippines would take six steps and eight days.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said in earlier reports that he is giving government offices three days to process business permits and clearances, which is also aligned with his campaign to eradicate corruption and red tape in the government.

Eight government agencies participated in the First Repeal Day: the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Finance (DOF), Energy (DOE), Budget and Management (DBM), Labor and Employment (DOLE), Tourism (DOT) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

These government agencies agreed to repeal their respective rules and regulations that are irrelevant and impede business competitiveness.

Initially the NCC will be reviewing department orders of Cabinet Departments and attached agencies. The council is also soliciting opinions from business groups on their position on certain laws that they consider unnecessary. 

More than 3,000 orders  to  be  axed

Following the initial review made on over 14,000 proposals for repeal, NCC co-chairman Guillermo Luz reportedly said that more than 3,000 government departmental orders are likely to be repealed by next month.

Luz said in earlier reports that the process for repeal in Congress could start by the third quarter, and continue with the abolition of EOs until the end of the year. (FREEMAN)