The Aquino administration is planning to identify outdated laws that hinder efficient public service delivery, the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) said.

In a statement, Guillermo M. Luz, NCC co-chairman, said they are currently studying an idea called “Project Repeal” to identify outdated laws that are long due for revision.

Luz explained that while the government continues to strive in holding its officials accountable for performance, certain policies at the national and local levels are not harmonized to work with each other.

“We have realized that certain policies at the national, departmental, and local levels have made it difficult to reduce the cost of compliance and enforcement and consequently hinder efficient public service delivery,” Luz said.

Currently, Luz said NCC is now planning to organize a team that will facilitate the planned “project repeal” in partnership with both chambers of Congress.

The official, however, did not give additional details about the plan, or name certain laws that need to be reviewed, but added the project aims to lower the cost of doing business in the country and lessen the regulatory burden.

Meanwhile, Luz said the government and the private sector will continue to work together this year to further raise the country’s global competitiveness.

“Public-private collaboration can be an effective driver of change and we hope to bring about even more reform through this formula. Already we have begun to lay the groundwork on certain projects that will institutionalize good governance practices,” Luz said.

In September last year, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said that the Philippines jumped seven notches in Global Competitiveness Index after the government implemented governance and fiscal reforms.

The country now holds 52nd place in the competitiveness ratings, after ranking 59th in 2013.

Introduced in 2004, the WEF Global Competitiveness Report tracks the competitiveness of countries based on their performance in 12 categories. The categories—branded as the 12 pillars of competitiveness—include a country’s institutions, infrastructure, market and economic environment, health and basic education, among others.

The WEF noted the Aquino administration’s principal role in driving economic growth and overall competitiveness in the country.

The Makati Business Club (MBC), meanwhile, said the Philippines has the potential to further rise in the global competitiveness ranking as long as the government remains focus on key reforms that it wants to institutionalize.

By: Chino Leyco