EASE IN DOING BUSINESS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Villar Signs MOA on Ease of Doing Business and to Attract Investments

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) joined 35 other agencies in supporting the government anti-red tape initiatives in line with the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s directive on further easing doing business and make the Philippines more attractive to investors.

DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar signed Monday, September 2, 2019 the newly-enhanced Investment Promotions Unit Network (IPU Net) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) increasing the collaboration among government agencies directly involved in the establishment of business and investments projects.

The signing of the new IPU Net MOA by Secretary Villar was witnessed by DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina E. Cabral, Stakeholders Relations Service Director Elizabeth P. Pilorin, and officials of the Board of Investments (BOI) namely Executive Director Atty. Raul Angeles, Investment Assistance Service Director Atty. Bobby Fondevilla and Aftercare Services Division Chief Ernesto C. Delos Reyes Jr.

From a group of 28 government agencies including DPWH that first signed the IPU Net MOA in April 2007, the strengthened cooperation among 36 offices will facilitate resolution of issues and concerns of local and foreign investors such as in the processing of business registrations, permits and licenses.

Delivery of frontline government services and any delays are addressed immediately with the strengthened partnership and  the direct involvement of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) in compliance with Republic Act (RA) No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.

The new MOA also states that IPU Net of 36 agencies/offices should act on investment issues and concerns within 72 hours from the receipt of the complaint or query, but not later than 15 days, as prescribed under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

It also aims to promote the use of the One Window Network (OWN) of the BOI and other online facilitation systems available in other government agencies in fast-tracking the submission of investment-related issues, concerns and queries.

Aside from DPWH, the other  signatory-agencies to the new IPU Net MOA are the BOI, Department of Trade and Industry, ARTA, Civil Service Commission, Office of the Ombudsman, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of the Interior and Local Government(DILG), Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Tourism, Department of Transportation, DENR-Environmental Management Bureau, DILG-Bureau of Fire Protection, DILG-Bureau of Local Government Development, DOF-Bureau of Customs, DOF-Bureau of Internal Revenue, DOF-Bureau of Local Government Finance, DOF-Securities and Exchange Commission, DOH-Food and Drug Administration, DOH-Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau, Bureau of Immigration, Manila International Airport Authority, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, National Economic and Development Authority, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and Public-Private Partnership Center. (VerGarciaBlogs)