00:00Driving efforts to cut through the red tape and keep the wheels of economic growth turning,
00:04regional leaders and policy makers gathered in Taguig City for a high-level business forum.
00:10The meeting brought together key stakeholders to explore ways to streamline regulations
00:14and strengthen the region's investment climate.
00:17Argad Villegas tells us more.
00:21Regional economic leaders came together today at the ASEAN Business Environment Forum in Taguig City.
00:27This to discuss streaming or slashing the bureaucracy and enhancing regional development.
00:32Discussions focused on the next-gen regulation where the Department of Trade and Industry has partnered with the ASEAN Development
00:47Bank in conducting the activity.
00:49According to DTI Secretary Maria Cristina Roque, government agencies are joining hands to improve doing business in the country
00:56under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
01:01Last year, the country's exports rose by 15.2 percent to reach nearly 85 billion U.S. dollars, an all
01:09-time high.
01:10The government is working on 23 free trade agreements, including negotiations with Canada, Chile, and the European Union,
01:17which are also considered the highest in history.
01:19For the business communities, these FTAs are our competitive edge.
01:25Over 70 percent of our exports now reach partner markets through agreements, allowing Filipino products to enter international market.
01:35Therefore, our products and industries now, this is a big boost to the world market.
01:41So, napaka-importante ang FTA para sa ating Pangulo.
01:46This is very important for our President.
01:49So, we are of an equal playing field now in the global market.
01:52The Secretary also said that the government is taking steps to mitigate the impact of the widening Middle East conflict
01:59and ensure business continuity and consumer protection.
02:02This includes strict price monitoring and immediate adoption of contingency measures.
02:07According to ADB Vice President for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Scott Morris,
02:11economic change is accelerated when big businesses are making long-term investment decisions.
02:16The ASEAN Economic Community Strategic Plan aims to make Southeast Asia more attractive investment destination
02:23through better regulations and connectivity.
02:25Morris added that while progress has been made, some countries in ASEAN are still lagging behind
02:30in global competitiveness and need stronger political commitment and private sector cooperation.
02:36Here in the Philippines, ADB is working with the DTI, Anti-Red Tape Authority, Board of Investments,
02:43and the Department of Information and Communications Technology
02:46to create a more transparent, streamlined, and digitalized business environment.
02:51As ASEAN moves into a new phase of implementation under Vision 2045,
02:56ADB is stepping up its support for regional dialogue, investment, and cooperation across the region.
03:03According to Perez, the agency has also placed one-stop shops in localities
03:08where the agency has existing memorandums of understanding,
03:11like Bataan and the provinces of Albay, Iloilo, Cebu, and in highly urbanized cities in the country.
03:18He also said one of the most effective ways to fight red tape and corruption in the country
03:22is the establishment of electronic business one-stop shops in towns and cities in the country,
03:28where the process for obtaining permits should be online.
03:31This year, the ARTA also focused on digitalization with a platform it developed
03:36that aims to ensure government processes are monitored religiously and implemented promptly and properly.
03:42Best evidence that when you make it easier for businesses to get their business permits,
03:49they will voluntarily register their business and pay the right amount of revenues.
03:54If we fully implement this program across the country, meaning that our target is all local government units
04:02must have this electronic business one-stop shop,
04:06this will not only drive the economy forward by attracting more investors,
04:11but this will even provide more business and employment opportunities for our people.
04:16Gabo Bill de Villegas from the National TV Network for new and better opportunities.
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