Go pushes reforms to address concerns

The newly created Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) is spearheading programs and reforms to address investor concerns and streamline processes.

- CATHERINE TALAVERA

"While we have made significant strides to create a conducive environment for investments, there's much work to be done for our country to be globally competitive," OSAPIEA Secretary Federick Go said during a forum on ease of doing business conducted by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).

Go said his office is working with Congress to bring back certainty in the country's laws to assure investors of predictability and firm implementation of policies that protect their investments.

"As we speak, we are taking major steps to resolve issues stemming from the tax reform for acceleration and financial inclusion, the corporate recovery and tax incentives for enterprises, otherwise known as the CREATE Law and TRAIN Law. Both laws have generated serious concerns for foreign direct investors, particularly exporters, and I have put this on top of our to-do list," Go said.

He said they are looking at ways to simplify the application of incentives for all future registrants.