In a landmark move to transform the Philippines’ regulatory environment and foster a more competitive business landscape, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) officially launched the first Philippine Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Reform Guidebook on May 22, 2025, at the Manila Hotel, Pasay City.
The groundbreaking guidebook, developed in close coordination with various government agencies, private sector partners, and the World Bank Group, outlines critical reforms and provides a strategic roadmap to implement them. Serving as a core reference for policymakers and industry stakeholders, the document is a major step toward improving the ease of doing business in the country.
ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez, who led the launch alongside the Better Regulation Office’s Doing Business Division, emphasized the transformative vision behind the initiative.
“We are pleased to launch this guidebook today as part of the first National Ease of Doing Business Month, under Proclamation No. 818,” said Secretary Perez. “The theme—‘From Red Tape to Red Carpet: Better Business Movement in a Bagong Pilipinas’—captures our mission to transform everyday experiences for citizens, entrepreneurs, and investors.”
The PH EODB Reform Guidebook is expected to elevate the Philippines’ performance in global competitiveness indices, including the World Bank’s B-READY Report and the Philippine Global Competitiveness Report Card, reinforcing the country’s image as a thriving investment destination.
Secretary Perez also highlighted the broader vision of regulatory reform as a pillar of good governance:
“This is the necessary work of mature governance—it must be done again and again until the experience of government becomes predictable not for its slowness, but for its fairness.”
In recognition of key contributors to the reform agenda, ARTA hosted an Awarding Ceremony for EODB Partners during the event. Honorees included both government agencies and private sector organizations, whose collaboration was instrumental in driving reforms and cultivating a more competitive regulatory landscape.
The event featured distinguished speakers and guests, including:
- DOF Assistant Secretary Neil Adrian Cabiles
- Office of the President Asec. Kristine Joy Diaz-Teston
- Australian Embassy Economic Counsellor Luke Villiers
- World Bank Group Senior Economist Jaime Frias
- Buklod Bayani Coalition Secretary General Roberto “Bobby” A. Alvarez Jr.
- Ambassador Ilan Fluss of the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines
- DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac
- DBM Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay
- DICT Undersecretary for eGovernment David Almirol
The launch aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies and turn red tape into a red carpet of opportunities. ARTA reaffirms its commitment to streamlining government processes nationwide, paving the way for a more inclusive and business-friendly Philippines.
