THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is confident that the Philippines will rise to the top 20 of an annual World Bank ranking that assesses the business environment of countries.
“We have to aim high because this is very important for our country,” ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez told reporters on Thursday, referring to the Business Ready (B-Ready) list where the Philippines placed 53rd out of 101 economics last year.
“With the support of the private sector, we can do this,” he added.
“The World Bank report is very critical” in terms of attracting investments, Perez continued.
“Instead of going to Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, they will come to the Philippines.”
Following the release of the 2025 edition of the B-Ready Report in January, the ARTA chief had said that the result “underscores the country’s ability to remain competitive amid a wider comparison set that now includes more advanced economies.”
The Philippines, however, still lags Asean neighbors such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Perez said there is still enough time for the country to catch up and expressed confidence that the country’s ranking would improve in the 2026 report, which is expected to be released in December.
The B-Ready initiative is currently in a three-year rollout phase ending this year during which its processes and methodology will be revised. The World Bank has said the changes over 2024-2026 would affect “comparability across the rollout years.”