By Kris M. Crismundo
MANILA, June 10 (PNA) — The Philippines has recorded big improvements in various global reports during the term of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
During the first year of the administration, it was noted that the country’s ranking in global reports was stagnant — mostly among the world’s bottom third.
But the government, through the National Competitiveness Council Philippines (NCC), targeted the country’s rankings in global reports to improve from bottom third to upper third rankings by implementing reforms in public and private sectors.
In particular, Pres. Aquino signed Administrative Order 38 that created the Ease of Doing Business Task Force which aimed to streamline processes in order to simplify doing business in the country.
These reforms also helped the country to improve its rankings in other global reports.
As a result, the Philippines recorded its biggest jump in rankings in four global reports.
The country’s ranking in Doing Business Report and Economic Freedom Index went up by 45 notches to rank 103 and rank 70 in the latest reports, respectively.
Higher rankings in Corruption Perception Index and Global Competitiveness Report were also achieved in the past four to five years.
The Philippines moved up by 39 notches in Corruption Perception Index to rank 95, and a gain of 38 notches in Global Competitiveness Report where the country now placed at rank 47.
Over the last four to five years, the Philippines gained 28 notches in Global Enabling Trade Index; 20 notches in Travel and Tourism Report; 10 notches in Global Innovation Index; 10 notches in Global Information Technology Report; and 2 notches in Global Gender Gap Report.
On the other hand, rankings in two global reports went down. These include Fragile States index by 11 notches and Logistic Performance Index by 13 notches.
Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr., also the NCC chairman, said these reforms started by the national government must be replicated at the local level, especially that the incoming President has a long experience in local governance.
“Our reforms are ongoing, from the processes that affect businesses, among others. The local government should also be able to address that at their own level,” said Cristobal.
“Our advocacy is we go around the country. In fact, we have Regional Competitiveness Council in the country already. We just have to continue since now we have a local chief executive,” he added.
For 2010 to 2011, these were the country’s standings in global reports:
- International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Doing Business Report — rank 148 out of 183 countries;
- Heritage Foundation’s (HF) Economic Freedom Index — rank 115 out of 179 countries;
- Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perception Index — rank 134 out of 178 countries;
- World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index — rank 85 out of 139 countries;
- WEF’s Global Enabling Trade Index — rank 92 out of 125 countries;
- WEF’s Travel and Tourism Report — rank 94 out of 139 countries;
- World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Global Innovation Index — rank 83 out of 141 countries;
- WEF’s Global Information Technology Report — rank 86 out of 138 countries;
- WEF’s Global Gender Gap Report — rank 9 out of 142 countries;
- International Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) World Competitiveness Report — rank 41 out of 59 countries;
- Fund for Peace’s (FFP) Fragile State Index — rank 48 out of 178 countries (reverse ranking, rank 1 as worst); and
- World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index — rank 44 out of 155 countries
