Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday commended various national government agencies (NGAs) and local government unit (LGU) officials for their contributions to enhancing the ease of doing business in the Philippines. This recognition took place during the awarding ceremony for the One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments, known as "Gawad Bayanihan sa Pamumuhunan: Making It Happen with a Whole-of-Nation Strategy," held at Malaca±ang.
According to Philippines News Agency, the event, led by the Department of Trade and Industry - Board of Investments (DTI-BOI), honored government partners for their effective implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 18. This order, issued by President Marcos, established "green lanes" as a comprehensive governmental strategy to streamline business application processes. In his address, President Marcos highlighted that EO 18 allows investors to secure all necessary permits and licenses for establishing their businesses in the Philippines within approximately 12 days.
"The goal is simple: less red tape, more action, more results, more success, more quickly. We want investments to come in, projects to break ground faster, [and] jobs to reach our people sooner," Marcos stated. He emphasized that swift business operations lead to rapid progress.
The President noted that the One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments has prompted agencies to operate with speed, precision, and certainty, thereby enhancing the overall ease of doing business in the country. Last month, the government certified 187 strategic investments across sectors such as renewable energy, digital infrastructure, food security, and manufacturing, totaling over PHP4.6 trillion in investment value.
Marcos extended his congratulations to the awardees for their pivotal roles in advancing green lanes. "You have shown us that when public service is anchored on integrity, efficiency, and accountability, we can really see progress," he remarked.
According to the BOI, the awardees were selected based on their proactive roles in facilitating investments and overcoming challenges faced by developers. The selection criteria included the establishment of Green Lane focal points, responsiveness and timeliness, action, resolution, and client feedback.
Recognized NGAs included the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) with Undersecretary David Almirol Jr., Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) with Assistant Manager Catherine Buena, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) led by Director Jacqueline Caancan, among others.
Local government officials honored were Northern Samar Governor Edwin Marino Co Ongchuan, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando, Cavite Governor Athena Bryana Delgado, Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos, Laguna Provincial Administrator lawyer Dulce Rebanal, and General Trias Mayor Luis Ferrer IV.
