MANILA - The International Finance Corp. (IFC) doubts that the Philippines' ranking in the World Bank's annual survey on the ease of doing business has improved even with increased efforts to enhance the country's competitiveness.

In a press briefing, officials of the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, explained that out of 10 factors measured in the survey, the Philippines' performance was only better in 2: paying taxes and getting credit.

The country still fared poorly in other factors, including the ease of starting a business, registering property, dealing with construction permits, trading accross borders, enforcing contracts, closing a business, hiring workers, and protecting investors.

"We particularly expect some improvement on getting credit, particularly because of the Credit Information Systems Act or R.A. 9510, which was recently signed into law," said IFC Associate Operations Officer Gerlin Catangui.

The Philippines' ranking has been sliding in the IFC's Doing Business Survey--which polls accountants, law firms, and other agencies involved in regulations and the overall local business environment of the country--since the IFC first commissioned the study in 2007. The Philippines ranked 121st in 2007, 136th in 2008 and 140th in 2009.

The official Doing Business 2010 Survey will be released on September 9.

The IFC noted that the country has lagged behind its neighbors in Asia.

Part of the problem, said IFC Development Specialst for the Senior Private Sector Kim Jacinto-Henares, is the lack of coordination among government agencies and lawmakers.

"We are a little weak on coordination. We're good at creating ideas, but these ideas would be even better if each stakeholder is informed or coordinated with what efforts are already being done, and what to do to build upon these," she said.

"There are a lot of efforts, but we do not grade effort alone, we grade implementation. The aim of the study is to encourage the stakeholders to continue with these efforts and not be discouraged by whatever comes out of the survey," she added.

But the IFC stressed that with efforts underway to improve the business environment in the country, the Philippines' overall ranking may improve in the next 2 to 3 years.

IFC Consultant Mayet Patag pointed out that 4 local governments--Metro Manila, Quezon City, Mandaluyong and Marikina--have already begun a project called the Standardization for Business Legislation and Permit Process, which aims to automate and streamline all permit processes in the cities.

"This is a result of the Doing Business Survey in 2009, the dream is to conrouage web-based processes and speed up the ease of doing business in the said areas. There are efforts, it just didn't reach the cut-off this year, so we may see the effects later on," she said.

She said the IFC hopes that local governments nationwide would adopt the initiative.