Manila, Philippines - The competitiveness ranking of the Philippines is expected to improve to 50 from its current ranking of 148 in five years time as the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) improves on areas where the country ranked very low.

NCC chairman Guillermo Luz said that they expect the Philippines to be included in the top 50 of the Doing Business Survey of the International Finance Corp. (IFC) of the World Bank in the next five years.

Luz said the ranking of the Philippines has been declining in the past three years although they hope that this trend will reverse. “We need to work harder.”

The IFC releases an annual survey wherein the Philippines is at the bottom half with a ranking of 148 out of the 184 countries it surveyed.

Luz noted that if they are successful in their reforms, the Philippines will be number

two or number three among ASEAN-member countries.

Luz said they are expecting that in 2012, the ranking of the Philippines will be between 130 to 120. “We want to jump at least five steps and as we get better we can take a bigger leap.” He noted that the IFC will release their 2011 report in October. Although this survey will already reflect the current administration’s policy and effectiveness he said it is uncertain if it will be an improvement. “We can only hope.”

Luz said one of the things they are focusing on right now is the slow process of grating permits both by the National Government and the local government units.

Domingo said he has only met with the car industry once but they were unable to provide him with concrete plans for the Philippines. “There is no serious production base here.” “They are trying to figure out what to do. There is no clarity of thought. It is better to wait.”

By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)