THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) on Sunday welcomed the Philippines’ rise to 47th place in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, up from 51st the previous year among 70 economies.
The report is published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), a respected business education school in Lausanne, Switzerland, known for its annual reports and benchmarks evaluating how global economies foster environments for sustainable value creation and business competitiveness.
ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez said the results affirm the value of sustained regulatory reform, calling them proof that efforts under the Marcos administration to cut red tape, simplify procedures, digitalize services, and promote transparency “are beginning to translate into measurable gains.”
A highlight from the report was the Philippines’ performance in the Business Efficiency pillar, where it jumped 16 places to 30th — its best ranking since 2017 and ahead of its pre-pandemic 2019 level.
The country also improved in Government Efficiency, rising from 51st to 45th, its strongest showing under the current administration and its best since 2021.
Perez attributed the gains to a whole-of-government approach. “Competitiveness is not built by one agency alone. It is the result of national agencies, local government units, the private sector, and the public working together,” he said.
While describing the results as a “strong positive signal,” ARTA acknowledged more work remains, citing the need to address bureaucratic inefficiencies, strengthen institutions, and ensure reforms are felt consistently across all levels of government.
The agency said continued progress will hinge on deeper digitalization, regulatory streamlining, one-stop-shop mechanisms, and whole-of-government reengineering — all aligned with the Ease of Doing Business Act, which mandates faster and more efficient public service delivery.
