PNoy forms task force to enhance PHL's business competitiveness

President Benigno Aquino III has created a task force to propose measures that will make doing business in the Philippines easier.

Under Administrative Order 38, Aquino directed Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo to lead the task force, to be composed of 12 government agencies, that will review and develop policies to enhance the Philippines' business competitiveness.

Aside from the DTI, the task force will include representatives from:

• the National Competitiveness Council,
• the Department of Finance,
• the Department of Interior and Local Government,
• the Department of Justice,
• the Bureau of Internal Revenue,
• the Bureau of Customs,
• the Land Registration Authority,
• the Credit Information Corp.,
• the Securities and Exchange Commission,
• the Social Security System,
• the Home Development Mutual Fund, and
• the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the task force shall make sure that the government will be able to implement its Gameplan for Competitiveness—a reform strategy that aims to fast-track processes such as registering property, getting construction permits, and paying taxes.

"The task force is seen to significantly help improve our ranking in the survey since it is tasked to ensure the full implementation of the Gameplan for Competitiveness," Ochoa said in a statement Tuesday.

The Philippines ranked 138th out of 185 countries in the "Doing Business" survey of the World Bank's International Finance Corporation that was released last year.

The task force has 60 days to submit their recommendations to Aquino's office on how to promote efficient business practices in the country. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News