5 more gov’t regulatory agencies join online platform

Five more government agencies are expected to join the online TradeNet platform this year ahead of the full coverage mandated for 76 regulatory agencies in 2022, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

Finance Undersecretary and anti-red tape czar Gil S. Beltran told reporters last week that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency had already been processing special export and import permits for chemical firms using TradeNet.

“At least five [agencies] should be added before the end of the year. It’s just that before an agency goes online there are things they have to do like issue a manual so that the private sector, individuals and corporations know what to do. And then they will have to conduct public hearings, that is required,” Beltran said.

The internet-based trading platform TradeNet was designed to simplify import and export documentary processes across at least 7,400 regulated products of 76 trade regulatory government agencies.

By 2022, all of the country’s regulatory agencies must be connected to TradeNet or else “be removed from the list of regulators,” the DOF official said.

Beltran admitted that connecting to TradeNet had been slow among most agencies due to graft and corruption—the practice that the online platform wanted to eradicate by reducing red tape.

Beltran said he was hopeful that the implementing rules and regulations of the Ease of Doing Business Law would be released as well as the head of the Anti-Red Tape Authority it established be appointed soon in order to fast-track approval of government permits. —BEN O. DE VERA