ANTI-RED Tape (ARTA) Secretary Ernesto Perez on Monday welcomed the Philippines’ overall placement at the center among 101 participating economies in the 2025 B (Business)-Ready Report of the World Bank Group (WBG).
“The Philippines placed 53rd out of 101 economies, positioning it at the midpoint of all assessed countries. This outcome underscores the country’s ability to remain competitive amid a wider comparison set that now includes more advanced economies,” said Perez, whose agency is tasked to streamline government services, reduce bureaucracy, and fight corruption.
Perez told The Manila Times that the 2025 B-Ready Report reflects a broader and more competitive assessment, with expanded coverage that includes additional high-income and upper-middle-income economies.
Also, the ARTA chief said the country has demonstrated remarkable strength in the Regulatory Framework Pillar, placing 26th out of 101 economies.
Advancing the score from 70.68 in 2024 to 73.86 in 2025, the ranking reflects progress in making clear and predictable rules that support business operations from startup to closure, he explained.
“Gains were also observed in the Public Services Pillar, with a score of 50.80 in 2024 to 57.82 in 2025, placing 51st out of 101 economies. This indicates continued improvements in government services accessibility and delivery to businesses,” said Perez, a lawyer.
Beyond pillar-level gains, Perez said the WBG report shows improved performance in Utility Services, Market Competition (including competition policy, innovation and public procurement), and Financial Services.
Business Entry likewise posted measurable progress, with its rating increasing from 48.49 in 2024 to 50.25 in 2025, reflecting tangible reductions in the time required to start a business, ARTA said.
Moreover, ARTA said the average time to register a new domestic firm was approximately 75 days in 2024, down to 53 days in 2025, while the period for a foreign firm improved from about 106 days to 77.5 days over the same period.
At the same time, Perez emphasized that the B-Ready Report highlights priority areas for further reform, including business insolvency, international trade, and labor, recording lower ratings in relation to 2024.
Moreover, the agency said business location also registered a slight decline, from 60.28 in 2024 to 59.74 in 2025, pointing to the continued need to streamline land use, zoning, and permitting processes.
According to WBG, the B-Ready Report “assesses the regulatory framework and public services directed at firms, and the efficiency with which regulatory framework and public services are combined in practice.”