The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has set its sights on making the country rank in the top one-third of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report by the end of President Benigno Aquino III's term in 2016.

"We feel this ranking is important to attract investors, improve our trade and sustain [growth of the] gross domestic product (GDP)," Gulliermo M. Luz, NCC co-chairman said in a news briefing.

The Philippines ranks 85th out of 139 countries in the latest WEF Global Competitiveness Report and 148th among 183 economies in the Doing Business Report 2011 of the International Finance Corp. (IFC), the corporate financing arm of the World Bank.

To attain its goal, Luz said the NCC implemented the Performance Governance System (PGS) in six government agencies whose operations affect competitiveness, good governance and social development.

"We're doing the works today. Hopefully, we will know the positive results toward the end of the year," 

An initial batch of national government agencies has embarked on the PGS path. Among them are the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Education, and Philippine National Police. 

Two agencies certified in the "compliant stage" are the Department of Health and Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The Development Academy of the Philippines, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and the Maritime Industry Authority have begun implementing the PGS.

Luz said 126 local government units have streamlined their business permit and licensing systems by cutting processing time, steps, number of signatures and volume of forms applicants needed for approval. He also said 82 LGUs are currently streamlining their business licensing processes.

Luz explained that this program addresses the high cost of doing business in the country, a constraint identified in the IFC Doing Business Report. He also said the LGUs that streamlined have reported a 12 percent to 15 percent increase in revenues.

The NCC is a public-private sector council created in 2006 through Executive Order No. 571. 

original source: GMA News