Reduced Processing Time by Over 90% in Crucial Sectors
Following an initiative by the Philippine government, permit processing times have been drastically reduced in key sectors, enhancing the country's business environment and attracting increased investment. The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) announced these improvements during a forum for Ease of Doing Business month held in Quezon City.
ERNESTO PEREZ, ARTA's Director General, highlighted gains in sectors such as telecommunications, energy, construction, and more, resulting from the National Effort for Harmonization of Efficient Measures of Inter-related Agencies Program (NEHEMIA). Among the notable advancements, telecommunication infrastructure saw a 93% decrease in average permit processing time from 241 days to 16 days, with the number of required permits reduced from 13 to eight, and documentation slashed from 86 to 35.
For fiber poles and facilities, permit requirements fell from 11 to five and documentation from 62 to 26, reducing the average processing time from 868 days to 74 working days. Perez attributed the successful implementation of these reforms to close collaboration among government agencies, local governments, and private partners.
Executive Order 32, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has institutionalized these changes and streamlined permits across priority sectors, leading to improved internet speed in the Philippines. Mobile internet speed rose from 18.68 megabits per second (Mbps) in 2022 to 27.75 in 2024, with fixed broadband nearly doubling from 46.44 Mbps to 92.19 Mbps.
Streamlined documentation and processing, though specifics may vary at the local government level, have contributed to the Philippines climbing 31 spots in the United Nations e-Participation Index and 16 spots in the e-Government Development Index, reflecting significant strides in digital governance and service delivery.
While not explicitly stated for telecom-only permits, telecom companies have seen improvements due to executive orders and inter-agency cooperation. For instance, Globe Telecom confirmed that recent government actions boosted telecom permit processing by 20%, although some local government units continue to lag behind in the implementation of streamlined processes. Overall, the Philippines has made significant improvements in permit processing times for key sectors, particularly in telecommunications, through harmonization and automation efforts under NEHEMIA.
- The Philippine government's initiative to reduce permit processing times, particularly in sectors like telecommunications, has attracted more business investment.
- ERNESTO PEREZ, the Director General of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), emphasized improvements in sectors such as construction, energy, and telecommunications, due to the National Effort for Harmonization of Efficient Measures of Inter-related Agencies Program (NEHEMIA).
- Telecommunication infrastructure has seen a significant decrease in average permit processing time, from 241 days to 16 days, and a reduction in the number of required permits and documentation, under the reforms initiated by the Philippine government.
- The streamlined permits and digital governance improvements in the Philippines, such as those in telecommunications, have led to significant advancements in international rankings, including a 31-spot climb in the United Nations e-Participation Index and a 16-spot improvement in the e-Government Development Index.
