New law makes doing business in PH easier

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the enactment of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 will make doing business in the country easier as it facilitates government processes by removing bureaucratic redtape.

Under the EODB/Efficient Government Act, businesses can expect streamlined processes, reduced processing times from all government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).

Government agencies shall be made to comply with the prescribed processing time: Three working days for simple transactions, seven working days for complex transactions, and 20 working days for highly technical transactions.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said the EODB-EGSDA Act, which amended the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, requires all local government units to streamline procedures for the issuance of business permits, clearance and other type of authorizations by implementing unified business application form. LGUs are mandated to set-up Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) to facilitate business permits application.

The law also provides that barangay clearances and permits must be issued at the city or municipality to speed up transactions.

Apart from streamlining, the law also provides for the creation of a Central Business Portal that will receive and capture application data on business-related transactions, while Philippine Business Databank shall provide LGUs and national government agencies access to information to verify validity and existence of businesses. With this, businesses are not required to submit the same documentary requirement previously submitted.

The DTI secretary, who now chairs the Ease of Doing Business and AntiRed Tape Advisory Council (EODB/ ARTAC) called RA 11032 a landmark legislation that will have a direct impact on all citizens and business sector.

“We realized that for the EODB reforms to be fully implemented and integrated, a whole-of-government approach was necessary. Thus in full support of the President’s vision, Congress enacted a law that will make doing business in the Philippines easier and more importantly, create a more efficient government,” Lopez added.

The EODB-EGSDA law will be implemented by the Anti-Red Tape Authority, an agency under the Office of the President that will monitor compliance of agencies, and implement and oversee national policy on anti-red tape and ease of doing business. The sevenmember Ease of Doing Business and Anti-Red Tape Advisory Council will be composed of the secretaries of DILG, DICT, and DOF, and two members from the private sector. The EODB/ARTAC will serve as the policy and advisory body of ARTA, to be chaired by DTI secretary, and the Director General of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) as vice chair.