Manila truck ban knocks PHL 9 notches down WB's Doing Business rank

The truck ban imposed by the City of Manila earlier this year caused the Philippines to be considered less friendly to investors in terms of doing business, according to a World Bank Group report.

 

The day time truck bank imposed in February was eventually lifted last September after the national government, its agencies and the private sector blame the ordinance for having constrained the cargo movement through the container terminal ports of Manila.

 

In World Bank's "Doing Business 2015: Going Beyond Efficiency," the Philippines has slipped nine notches to 95 from 86 last year.

 

"In the Philippines trading across borders became more difficult because of a new city ordinance restricting truck traffic in Manila," the report read.

 

In February, Mayor Joseph Estrada enforced a day time truck ban, which kept Manila's main roads off limits to cargo trucks from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. as part of efforts to alleviate traffic congestion in the city.

 

The national government, truckers and port operators blamed the truck ban for the worsening situation in the ports as it created backlogs in the processing of shipments through South Harbor and Manila International Container Port.

 

The annual WB Doing Business report, which covers 189 economies, analyzes regulations that apply to an economy’s businesses during their life cycle, including start-up and operations, trading across borders, paying taxes, and resolving insolvency. 

 

The report cited Singapore as the most business-friendly economy not only in Southeast Asia but in the rest of the world.

 

"Singapore made enforcing contracts easier by introducing a new electronic litigation system that streamlines litigation proceedings," World Bank said. – Danessa O. Rivera/VS, GMA News