Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go welcomed the results of the World Bank’s B-Ready 2025 report, which reflects the country’s steady progress in improving business climate reforms.
Business Ready (B-READY) is a benchmarking tool that evaluates the global business and investment climate across three pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services, and Operational Efficiency.
It is part of the World Bank’s new strategy to mobilize private investment, create jobs, and boost productivity, enabling economies to accelerate inclusive and sustainable development.
“This report affirms that our reform agenda is delivering results. We are doing everything in our power to strengthen investor confidence and make it our mission to ensure that the Philippines remains a top business destination to drive inclusive and sustainable growth for our people,” Secretary Go said.
In 2025, the Philippines’ overall score increased to 61.04 from 59.81 in 2024.
In particular, the Philippines achieved its highest score in the regulatory framework category at 73.86 in 2025, up from 70.68 in 2024, reflecting key reforms such as the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act, Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA), VAT on Digital Services, and the Enhanced Mining Fiscal Regime.
Overall, these priority measures demonstrate the Marcos, Jr. administration’s commitment to a more efficient and transparent regulatory environment.
The Philippines was among the stronger-performing economies within its peer group in the report. Notably, the country demonstrated particularly strong results in the Regulatory Framework pillar, performing at a level comparable to economies in a higher-performing group.
The country also saw significant improvement in the public services pillar at 57.82 from 50.80 in 2024. This increase reflects ongoing efforts to improve government services, making it easier for businesses to navigate administrative processes and operate in the country.
Among the topic areas assessed in the report, the Philippines scored the highest in Utility Services at 80.24 by implementing strong safety regulations for electricity and water connections, supported by certification, inspection, and liability frameworks, along with continued infrastructure investment.
This was followed by Financial Services, which scored 73.22. The sector’s strong performance reflects robust credit infrastructure and improvements in collateral registries and credit bureaus, enhancing access to credit information. Advances in e-payment systems, loan processing, and digital banking have also increased reliability and efficiency, making financial services more accessible and effective for businesses.
Finally, the country scored 70.42 in Labor, which was driven by consistent enforcement of labor regulations, clear rights and obligations for employers and employees, and established institutional frameworks. Strengthened worker protections and improved social protection have enhanced the accessibility and reliability of the labor market.
“However, we do not stop here. We must continue to improve implementation, service quality, and operational efficiency if we are to build a business environment that truly empowers our people—creating more jobs, better jobs, and meaningful opportunities for every Filipino,” Secretary Go said.
