The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) are moving to streamline government payment processes, aiming to ease long-standing cash flow problems that have delayed infrastructure projects and strained contractors doing business with the state.
The Philippines’ rise to 47th out of 70 economies in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook marks a notable step forward, but sustaining the momentum will depend on deeper structural reforms, stronger institutions, and accelerated digitalization of government services, according to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has extended to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) the Silver Award representing the highest rating of 92.8 percent or “Very Satisfactory”, among 50 government agencies in the agency’s Report Card Survey (RCS) 2.0.
The Philippines must do more than sign trade deals—it must help smaller businesses turn them into export sales, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PhilExport) President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said.
The Department of Agriculture is urging lawmakers to approve its P198.4-billion proposed 2027 budget, noting farmers and fisherfolk now face rising costs, climate risks, and global economic pressures.
The Department of Energy will proceed with its updated bidding rules for brownfield coal resource areas despite opposition from key industry player Semirara Mining and Power Corp. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin affirmed that the revised terms will apply uniformly to all prospective bidders, as the government seeks to prioritize domestic fuel supply over foreign exports.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Wednesday that the proposed plant would have an initial annual production capacity of 200,000 units, serving both domestic and export markets. Construction is targeted to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with completion expected within 12 to 18 months.