Phl seeks top 20% spot in WB's B-Ready report

The Philippines is aiming to be part of the top 20 percent of countries covered by the World Bank's Business-Ready or B-Ready report, which assesses economies' business and investment climate.

- By Louella Desiderio

"We should be in the top 20 (percent). That is our aim," Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Ernesto Perez told reporters during the 2024 Ease of Doing Business Convention yesterday, when asked for the target in the B-Ready report.

He said the Philippines is not expected to be part of next year's edition of the B-Ready report, but will be included in 2026.

"In 2026, that's our aim. And we're pretty confident because all of those reforms, initiatives are already laid down," Perez said.

The B-Ready report tracks economies' performance in terms of three pillars: regulatory framework, public services and operational efficiency.

In the B-Ready report released earlier this month, the Philippines was in the top 40 percent out of 50 economies in terms of regulatory framework, but will need to make improvements in the two other pillars.

In particular, the Philippines ranked 16th out of 50 economies as it got a score of 70.68 out of 100 in terms of regulatory framework.

In the public services pillar, the Philippines placed 24th with its score of 50.80.

As for operational efficiency, the Philippines was in the 36th spot with its score of 57.95.