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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Bulacan launches contest to promote business-friendly governance

Bulacan launches contest to promote business-friendly governance

Published Oct 8, 2025 04:21 pm
The Provincial Government of Bulacan launched the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Champion Contest in Central Luzon to promote regulatory excellence, digital innovation, and efficiency among local government units (LGUs).
Governor Daniel R. Fernando and Anti-Red Tape Authority Secretary and Director General Ernesto V. Perez together with (from left) Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office Head Attorney Jayric L. Amil, Provincial Administrator Antonia V. Constantino, Vice Gov. Alexis C. Castro, Board Member Fortunato Angeles, and Board of Investment Director of the Investments Assistance Center Ernesto C. Delos Reyes, Jr. pose beside the signed Ease of Doing Business (EODB) pledge wall during the Launching of the EODB Champion Contest held at Mesa Alta, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center, City of Malolos, Bulacan on Tuesday, Oct. 7. (Photo from PPAO)
Governor Daniel R. Fernando and Anti-Red Tape Authority Secretary and Director General Ernesto V. Perez together with (from left) Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office Head Attorney Jayric L. Amil, Provincial Administrator Antonia V. Constantino, Vice Gov. Alexis C. Castro, Board Member Fortunato Angeles, and Board of Investment Director of the Investments Assistance Center Ernesto C. Delos Reyes, Jr. pose beside the signed Ease of Doing Business (EODB) pledge wall during the Launching of the EODB Champion Contest held at Mesa Alta, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center, City of Malolos, Bulacan on Tuesday, Oct. 7. (Photo from PPAO)
The event, organized by the Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office (PCEDO), was held on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Mesa Alta, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center.
Governor Daniel Fernando and Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Secretary and Director General Ernesto Perez led the ceremonial signing of the EODB Pledge Wall, along with local officials, agency representatives, and private sector partners, signaling a shared commitment to faster, simpler, and more transparent government transactions.
Fernando said the initiative aligns with his administration’s vision of making Bulacan a model of good governance and inclusive growth.
“Higit sa mga patakaran at proseso, ang tunay na tagumpay ay nasa kooperasyon at malasakit. Tulad ng mga kooperatiba na nagtataguyod ng bayanihan at sama-samang pag-unlad, gayundin ang ating layunin sa EODB program, na walang maiiwan sa pag-asenso, at bawat Bulakenyo ay may patas na pagkakataon para magtagumpay (More than policies and processes, true success lies in cooperation and compassion. Like cooperatives that advocate for bayanihan and collective progress, our goal in the EODB program is also to leave no one behind in advancement, and for every Bulakenyo to have equal opportunities to succeed)," he said.
Meanwhile, Perez lauded Bulacan for being the first in the region to launch an EODB competition, calling it a “model effort” to encourage compliance and innovation at the local level.
The contest is open to all cities and municipalities in Bulacan. Participants will be evaluated based on three key areas: compliance with EODB laws, service efficiency and impact, and innovation through digital integration.
Winners will be recognized during an awarding ceremony on Dec. 12, where special citations will also be given for Innovation Champion, Investment Facilitation Champion, and Customer Service Champion.
The EODB Champion program is anchored on Republic Act No. 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, as well as Executive Order No. 18 (Constituting Green Lanes for Strategic Investments) and Proclamation No. 818 (Declaring May as Ease of Doing Business Month).
The event was also attended by ARTA Chief Administrative Officer Mary Grace Manabat, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bulacan Director Myrvi Apostol-Fabia, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)-Bulacan Director Gerald Victor Calamaan, Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) President Carina Tengco-Bautista, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Bulacan Director Maria Cristina Valenzuela, and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Chief Statistical Specialist Elmor Baroquillo, and Board of Investments – Investments Assistance Center Director Ernesto Delos Reyes Jr., who each expressed their messages of support for the program.

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