Local governments deemed weakest link in ease-of-doing-business campaign

BDO CAPITAL & Investment Corp. President Eduardo V. Francisco said that he hopes the government will continue to improve the ease of doing business, especially at the local government unit (LGU) level.

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"Most of my clients usually encounter problems at the LGU level. Despite getting support from the Board of Investments and the Department of Energy, when the projects are being implemented, suddenly my clients are being required to submit a lot of permits," he said at the BusinessWorld Economic Forum in Taguig City on Thursday.

"I think that is the weakness of our government; we have too much democracy," he added.

He said that the hope is for the government to be able to simplify the process by requiring fewer permits.

"Those who want to launch a startup go to Singapore because they will be given funding and tax incentives, which we do not provide in our country, and then it is even hard to get business permits (here)," he added.

Separately, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) President Alfredo S. Panlilio said at the same forum that competitiveness will hinge on how much the Philippines pursues innovation, human capital development, and innovation.