Senate Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship Committee Chairperson Koko Pimentel III on Thursday urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to expedite the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the ease of doing business (EODB) law so that the country could immediately benefit from the provisions of the law that seeks to spur business and encourage investments in the Philippines.
Pimentel said that he had hoped that the DTI would issue the IRR earlier, but he understood the need for the DTI to conduct consultations with affected stakeholders.
“I was initially under the impression that the DTI would be able to finish the IRR way before the October 22 deadline because of the urgency involved,” said Pimentel, co-chair of the Congressional Oversight Committee tasked to monitor the implementation of Republic Act 11032.
“Be that as it may, they should have anticipated this, and should now work overtime to ensure the timely release of this law’s IRR.”
“Given the far-reaching impact of the law, however, I can understand why the DTI is reaching out to business groups, local government units, government offices, and other sectors to address the concerns regarding certain provisions of the law,” added the legislator from Mindanao.
“Be that as it may, they should have anticipated this, and should now work overtime to ensure the timely release of this law’s IRR.”
President Rodrigo Duterte signed RA 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, last May.
Pimentel, a Mindanao native, had earlier stated that the Senate Trade Committee would be closely monitoring the timelines enumerated in the EODB Act, particularly with regard to the finalization of the law’s IRR, and the review and possible repeal of outdated, redundant and unnecessary licenses, clearances, permits, certifications or authorizations being required by NGAs, LGUs, and private entities.
“This outstanding law will lose all meaning if it is not implemented properly.”
According to Pimentel, “mawawalan ng saysay ang napakagandang batas na ito kung hindi ito ipatupad ng maayos. (This outstanding law will lose all meaning if it is not implemented properly.) Aside from finalizing and issuing the IRR, the DTI and the other involved agencies must also work to make sure that people know about and understand the law, so that it can be maximized.”
The EODB law amends the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 and requires all LGUs to streamline procedures for the issuance of business permits, clearance and other type of authorizations by implementing unified business application form. LGUs are mandated to setup Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) to facilitate business permits application. The law also provides that barangay clearances and permits must be issued at the city or municipality to speed up transactions.
The measure also establishes a Central Business Portal––that will receive and capture application data on business-related transactions––and a Philippine Business Databank that will provide LGUs and national government agencies access to information to verify validity and existence of businesses. As a result, businesses will no longer be required to submit the same documentary requirements they have previously submitted.
