DTI urged to fast-track rules on ease of doing business

THE Presidential Anti- Corruption Commission (PACC) has called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to make doing business in the Philippines easier.

The PACC, in a statement on Thursday, said quicker issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the law would help arrest corruption.

Several businessmen have voiced concern on the delay, it added.

“While we understand that the DTI needs to conduct consultations and address some complexity in the law, time is of the essence here,” the statement read.

“We need not tell our fellow workers in government that delays in the processing of permits and other official documents create opportunities for corruption,” it said.

Rowel Barba, Trade undersercretary for the Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Group, earlier said the IRR would be issued by October since the law was made effective in June.

PACC Commissioner Manuelito Luna told TheManilaTimes, however, that it should be released by September.

Luna said it was DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez himself who said it would be done in three months.

“If there is no IRR, then that means the old system is in place, where opportunities for corruption abound. LGUs (Local Government Units) and agencies will have the excuse not to follow the new law because there is no IRR yet,” Luna said in a text message.

In May, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11032, which aims to cut red tape in the government.

It mandates government agencies to comply with the prescribed processing time for business transactions.