OP-ED EDITORIAL: OPINION & CARTOON – ‘Now enforce the law’ – The Philippine Star – Monday, March 5, 2018

March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 Editor 0 Comment OP-ED EDITORIAL: OPINION & CARTOON – ‘Now enforce the law' – The Philippine Star – Monday March 5 2018

EDITORIAL – Now enforce the law

A new law that aims to make doing business easier in this country is expected to be signed soon by President Duterte. Called the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, the law enhances other measures for cutting red tape and making it easier for investors to set up shop.

Once enacted and in effect, authorities must make sure the law is fully enforced, with implementing rules and regulations ensuring that its objectives will be attained. Despite sustained economic growth, the country lags behind its neighbors in attracting job-generating foreign direct investments. Business requirements and the mountain of red tape for compliance also dampen entrepreneurship especially at the micro level.

In an international survey last year on ease of doing business, the country ranked a dismal 171st globally in ease of starting a business, 112th in registering property and 85th in dealing with construction permits. President Duterte has often said he wants processing time for simple government documents reduced to no more than three working days; for complex transactions, from seven to 10 days; and for highly technical applications, no more than 20 days. This new law aims to make that possible.

The law and implementing rules should also cover barangay units, which are authorized to impose their own fees and raise funds. Barangay requirements add a significant layer of red tape and opportunities for corruption for anyone doing business in this country. Investors have pointed to barangay units as one of the biggest sources of red tape and graft.

Authorities should also review the status of certain gated subdivisions in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized areas, where homeowners’ associations collect their own business fees and the equivalent of road tolls. Any area that becomes highly commercialized must be taken out of the jurisdiction of private homeowners and turned over to the local government, with the roads opened for free public use.

This new law is a welcome development for the business community. The next step is to ensure its proper enforcement.

The Philippine Star – March 5, 2018 – 12:00am

COURTESY: ASEAN OPINION AND EDITORIAL CARTOONS

Sunday March 4 2018

7.1. A perceptions game – The Daily Tribune

7.2 Page twelve Dengue facts – No amount of ill-will from any sector can dispute them – The Manila Bulletin

7.3. Liberal Party hypocrisy – The Manila Standard

7.4. WHICH WAY? – The Manila Times

7.5. Clamp down on profiteers – The Philippine Daily Inquirer

7.6. Now enforce the law – The Philippine Star

7.7. Walisin ang scalawags sa PNP – Pilipino Star Ngayon

8.1. Europe’s youth awakening – For The Sunday Times

Jonathan Eyal – Europe Correspondent

Jonathan Eyal was born in Romania, but has lived most of his life in Britain. Educated at Oxford and London universities, his initial training was in international law and relations, in which he obtained both his first degree and his Master’s with a Distinction. His doctorate, completed at Oxford in 1987, analysed relations between ethnic minorities in Eastern Europe. After teaching at Oxford for three years, Dr Eyal was appointed a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies in London. Since 1990, Dr Eyal has been Director of Studies at the Institute. Dr Eyal has authored books on military relations in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, and became a regular commentator for The Guardian newspaper in London. He started writing for The Straits Times in 2001, and is currently the paper’s Europe Correspondent. He is fluent in French, Romanian, Italian, Hungarian and German.

9.1. Regime’s best-laid plans still subject to folly –
VEERA PRATEEPCHAIKUL FORMER EDITOR
– The Bangkok Post

10.1 Lucky money brings a fight over how to use it – Viet Nam News – By Nguyễn Mỹ Hà

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EDITORIAL – Now enforce the law

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