Businesses raise gov’t score

THE GOVERNMENT last year moved on more reforms prescribed by the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) in December 2010, according to the latest assessment the group released yesterday. 

The assessment rated 462 measures out of 471 that JFC recommended in late 2010 to help improve the country’s competitiveness and attractiveness to investors. JFC tapped experts — consultants, former public officials, businessmen and academics — to assess progress using a six-star rating system (from one star — “no longer relevant” to six stars — “completed”).

In the 2nd Arangkada Philippines Forum at the Makati Shangri-La yesterday, JFC issued a report showing that 290 recommended measures had either been started, showed substantial progress or had been completed last year, or 64.59% of the total rated minus 13 prescriptions that were deemed “no longer relevant.” The 2012 tally compares with the 2011 count of 232 such “active/moving recommendations,” or 51.44% of total assessed minus 11 prescriptions that were no longer relevant.

In the same comparative years, the number of so-called “dormant recommendations” — those that had either regressed or were “not ongoing” — fell to 159 (35.41%) from 219 (48.56%).

The same report compared 2011 and 2012 performance to determine how many prescriptions showed improved grades, downgraded ratings or were “steady” (ratings unchanged). The assessment showed that from 2011 to 2012, ratings improved for 151 prescriptions, declined for 41, and were “steady” for 258.

The report also showed that while there was progress in most prescription categories, four — airports, power, logistics, judicial and legislation — showed some regression.

“We are happy there are improvements and the results are encouraging and may increase FDI (foreign direct investments),” Rhicke Jennings, president of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, said in remarks during the forum, noting the results were “in line with what we wanted to see this year.”

“But there is still much that needs to be done,” Mr. Jennings said. “Driver of economic growth should shift from consumption to investments, and infrastructure…is still less than what is ideal.”