Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Ernesto Perez aims to put the Philippines in the top 20 percent ranking of the World Bank Group’s Business Ready (B-Ready) Report before the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ends in 2028.

In its yearend press conference in Quezon City Monday, Perez said the President designated ARTA as the focal point for the annual B-Ready Report, which was launched by the World Bank in 2023.

“As to the exact directive target, the President has not really specified. But knowing the President, of course, we will always aim for the top… For my part, possible top 20 (percent)…maybe before the end of this administration,” Perez said.

The ARTA chief emphasized that improving the Philippines’ ranking in the B-Ready Report is crucial as this will be among the bases of foreign businesses when investing in a country.

In the inaugural B-Ready Report released in October 2024, the Philippines ranked among the top 40 percent of 50 economies in the pilot run.

World Bank’s B-Ready Report assesses the business and investment climate of an economy based on three main pillars—Regulatory Framework, Public Services, and Operational Efficiency.

The country ranked 16th in the Regulatory Framework pillar, making it to the second quintile among 50 surveyed economies

However, it was among the bottom quintile for the Public Services and among the fourth quintile for the Operational Efficiency pillar.

“This means we have good laws in place but we need to improve on how we implement these policies,” the ARTA chief added.

To improve the country’s ranking, Perez said a whole-of-government approach should focus on comprehensive reforms aimed at reducing regulatory bottlenecks, enhancing infrastructure, and making government services more accessible through digital platforms.

Going AI

Next year, ARTA will fully implement the Electronic Complaints Management System, which will use artificial intelligence (AI) in handling red tape concerns.

ARTA Undersecretary Geneses Abot said this will allow the agency to process complaints 24/7 and at a faster rate.

Abot added that by using AI, ARTA can gather data about the top concerns of the citizens and most erring government offices both at the national and local levels. (PNA)