The government can create an agency or office that will focus on maintaining and implementing the Philippine National Single Window (NSW) and facilitating trade transactions.

Richard Moya, Undersecretary for Transparency and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Initiatives at the Department of Budget and Management, made this suggestion based on the experience of Kenya relating to the implementation of its Electronic Single Window System (ESW) and ease of doing business initiatives.

The presentation was made by Bureau of Internal Revenue Deputy Commissioner Lilia C. Guillermo during the 1^st Joint Roundtable Discussion of the National Single Window Working Group of the National Competitiveness Council and USAID Trade-Related Assistance for Development (TRADE) Project last January 20 in Makati City.

"The office will function as a technical support office to the web-based electronic system. With the agency as the business process owner of the NSW, traders will be able to process trade regulatory requirements at a single entry-point," said Moya.

Such agency can coordinate transactions focused on trade facilitation through the NSW system and the 40 linked government agencies. The agency or office can also handle other ease of doing business initiatives such as the Philippine Business Registry (PBR).

Moya pointed out that with the introduction of the Philippine NSW, the trade and logistics industry through the help of integrated ICT systems will use a single internet-based interface with the 40 government agencies.

"With the NSW in place, there will be lower business cost, faster trade documentation process and release, easier trade compliance, transparency and predictability of government processes, and transactions can be performed with government agencies regardless of time and location," he said.

The roundtable discussion was organized by the NSW Working Group of the NCC. Also present at the discussion were NCC Private Sector Co-Chairman Guillermo M. Luz, NCC NSW Working Group Private Sector Co-Champion Ramon Kabigting, Bureau of Customs-Technology Management Services Acting Director Angelica Sarmiento, and other representatives from the Export Development Council, National Economic Development Authority, Bureau of Export Trade Promotion, PHILEXPORT, Philippine Institute for Supply Management, Philippine Chamber of Air Express Operators, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Tariff Commission, Bureau of Animal Industry, Insurance Commission, Bureau of Import Services, Philippine Ports Authority, and Food and Drugs Administration.