THERE have been significant strides in this country’s efforts to improve its competitiveness, but there is also the need for a closer partnership between the public and private sectors in putting the Philippines among the top five competitive economies by 2010, according to Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila.               

Public services have so improved that registration at the Board of Investments has been streamlined for faster approvals. Faster processing of registration has been put in place and the testing period for cement and copper concerns has been cut from seven days to one, Favila said.                 

Also, what took 90 days before a license can be issued by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board has been shortened to 15. According to Favila, there are now fewer documents required by government agencies and the private sector saves as much as P1,200 as a result.           

Favila also cited the new guidelines by the customs bureau against smuggling of agriculture products and, most recently, the rule allowing Chinese businessmen visa-upon-entry to the Philippines, and the travel tax break for Filipino traders joining trade fairs and missions abroad.               

Favila said the government is now working feverishly on the full implementation of Executive Order 554, which waives export fees, as well as another visa-upon-entry scheme for Indian businessmen. 

To continue with the gains made, Favila said the government-business sector tie-up as espoused by EO 571 should be sustained. “Our objective of improving our ranking is achievable if the government and private sector work together,” he said.            

In here, Favila said, is where the clustering of agencies and private sector representatives comes in.

“Clustering is necessary because both the government and the private sector can easily work together in addressing business issues. With clustering in place, investors will know the government agencies to deal with. These agencies will monitor the response of the legislative and judiciary, and is structured in a way that there is no overlapping,” he added.            

Six pillars for competitiveness have also been identified as targets by the task force. These are energy, infrastructure, human resources, transactional cost of doing business, education and financing.  Representatives from the private sector and government agencies have been lumped together to oversee progress in these areas.

THE series of earthquakes, including a 7.1-magnitude tremor which struck Taiwan Tuesday night and Wednesday, damaging undersea cables and seriously disrupting Internet flows in the region, affected most members of the country’s business process outsourcing industry, particularly call centers.

BUSINESS process outsourcing companies (BPO) in the Philippines will continue to expand next year, but the country will still be unable to dislodge India as the world’s leading BPO destination, according to a forecast report by consulting firm Tholons Inc.

TAIPEI—Internet and telephone services across Asia were disrupted, hampering financial transactions, after earthquakes near Taiwan damaged undersea cables.

THERE have been significant strides in this country’s efforts to improve its competitiveness, but there is also the need for a closer partnership between the public and private sectors in putting the Philippines among the top five competitive economies by 2010, according to Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila.

SEN. Joker Arroyo on Wednesday advised lawmakers reconciling the Senate and House versions of the 2007 budget bill to settle the stalemate over what amounts to “less than one-half of 1 percent” of the proposed P1.13- trillion annual appropriations so Congress can pass the money measure quickly as soon as the two chambers reconvene sessions on January 22.

Cracker makers hurt by smuggling

MALOLOS—As New Year approaches there is an equivalent rise in the sale of pyrotechnic products. There is also a significant increase of activity in the fireworks industry.