Philexport calls for speedy implementation of Ease of Doing Business Act

THE UMBRELLA organization of Philippine exporters has reiterated its call for the speedy and full implementation of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Act.

It has, likewise, called on businesses to continue their efforts in innovation as the industry anticipates a sustainable export rebound in the coming months.

Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. identified urgent actions needed to address problems hounding the export industry, as well as maximize opportunities.

He called for the full imple- mentation of the EODB and Efficient Government Service Act of 2018 through the immediate appointment of a director general to lead the Anti-Red Tape Advisory (Arta) Council.

“The now half-year delay in the implementation already undermines the very intention of the law which is to shorten government transactions and eliminate bureaucratic and regulatory barriers,” Ortiz-Luis stressed.

To address policy uncertainties particularly on unpopular tax reforms, the Philexport chief said it is imperative to improve on the messaging system between the government and the private sector.

“More comprehensive dialogues between the government and stakeholders will be needed to ease the concerns over the possible bureaucratic and financial burden that the proposed reform may entail,” he said.

Port congestion

Ortiz-Luis said the group is also looking forward to the release by the government of a Joint Administrative Order (JAO) meant to resolve port congestion.

He noted the JAO, which is being finalized with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Finance and Department of Transportation will include policies not only aimed to address port congestion but also regulate local charges imposed by international shipping lines.

For the enterprise-level intervention, the Philexport chief also underscored the importance of continuous engagement in innovation and research and development (R&D).

Ortiz-Luis cited the regional inclusive innovation centers that the Board of Investments (BOI) has put up nationwide and a recent technology that is currently disrupting the manufacturing industry and “a must” in the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0.

Additive manufacturing

Called additive manufacturing, or better known as 3-D Printing, the technology allows faster product prototyping at a much lower cost, he said.

In response to the global trend, Ortiz-Luis further said the government has invested for the creation of the Advanced Manufacturing Center (Amcen), the second facility in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next to Singapore, which will house R&D projects and initiatives involving additive manufacturing technologies.

“Located within the Department of Science and Technology compound in Taguig, this will be a shared research facility accessible to all entrepreneurs. It is aimed to complement the FabLabs that were set up the DTI in various regions in the country,” he added.