The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), and Philippine Ease of Doing Business Foundation (Ease.PH) have formed a partnership to streamline business permitting across the country, aiming to reduce bureaucratic delays and support entrepreneurs, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The initiative comes as the Philippines prepares to chair Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026. Officials say simplifying permits and compliance requirements will help position the country as a more competitive investment destination for both local and foreign businesses.
MSMEs account for about 1.24 million businesses or 99.63 percent of establishments and employ around 6.25 million workers, making them particularly vulnerable to delays caused by complex permit requirements.
The partnership will implement a two-track reform strategy.
The first track focuses on quick reforms through PCCI’s 126 local chambers nationwide, which will serve as anti-red tape partners. These chambers will act as decentralized channels for receiving complaints and monitoring compliance with the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 (Republic Act No. 11032). The system aims to quickly identify bottlenecks such as duplicated permits and inconsistent processing times that affect small businesses.
The second track focuses on industry benchmarking, where Ease.PH will work with sector groups to study how other economies streamline permits in industries such as manufacturing and services. The findings will be translated into practical reform roadmaps for Philippine agencies.
The program also sets measurable targets, including cutting processing times for key permits by at least 50 percent by the fourth quarter of 2026, issuing monthly progress reports to address delay points, and recognizing local government units that show strong compliance with ease-of-doing-business standards.
ARTA said the partnership strengthens government and private-sector collaboration to push for faster services and reduce unnecessary paperwork. Business groups added that sustained reforms are needed to ensure entrepreneurs spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time growing their enterprises.
The initiative is expected to support the broader effort to improve the country’s business climate as it hosts major regional economic meetings during the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.
