Business group bares mixed views on state offices and services

FINANCE-RELATED agencies, along with the Tourism department, topped the latest Makati Business Club (MBC) Executive Outlook Survey on the performance of state offices and services, while some of those involved in infrastructure development, dispensing justice and law enforcement were ranked near the bottom of the list.

MBC rates BSP as most satisfactory agency in surveyMBC wants Cha-cha only after 2013 pollsFaster dispensation of justice soughtBusiness group joins chorus vs hero’s burial for Marcos

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas once again topped the survey with a net satisfaction score of 94.6% (96.4% satisfied, 1.8% “not satisfied”), or 17.6 points better than the 77.0% it garnered last year.

The survey, conducted from June 19 to July 23, got responses from senior business executives of 55 of MBC’s 375 member companies. The number of government offices and services covered by the survey rose to 53 this year from 45 in 2011. MBC regularly surveys its members on their outlook for the economy in the first half of the year and on the performance of government agencies in the second semester.

The Finance and the Tourism departments tied with a net rating of 81.8%, followed by the Budget department with 70.9% and the Securities and Exchange Commission with 69.1%. Rounding up the top 10 were the Philippine Economic Zone Authority with 67.3%; the Department of Trade and Industry with 65.4%; the Office of the Vice-President, 58.2%; Department of Education, 56.4%; and Department of Labor and Employment, 56.3%.

Others on the list included the Office of the President and the Senate, both with a net score of 49.1% and tied in 14th place; the Bureau of Internal Revenue with 4.0% (21st); National Economic and Development Authority, 38.1% (22nd); Department of Energy, 36.4% (24th); Department of Public Works and Highways, 30.8% (27th); National Competitiveness Council, 10.9% (32nd); House of Representatives, 0.0% (37th); Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council, -5.4% (42nd) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, -9.1% (43rd).

At the bottom 10 were, in descending order: Department of Transportation and Communications with -12.7% at 44th place; Commission on Elections with -16.3% (45th); Department of Environment and Natural Resources, -18.1% (46th); Bureau of Customs, -18.2% (47th); Public-Private Partnership Center, -23.7% (48th); the Philippine National Police and “garbage collection” both with a -29.1% (tied at 49th place); Supreme Court, -41.8% (51st); “traffic management”, -45.5% (52nd); and Appeals and Lower Court System, -54.5% (53rd).

“The results of the survey could be because there is a vote of confidence in the top agencies and is a testament to good governance. For those which have a more negative perception, it could be because there is a perception of delays in certain projects,” MBC Executive Director Peter V. Perfecto said by phone.

“But as a business community we are ready to help push these agencies,” he added, explaining that “the agencies that were included in the survey are those that we feel have impacted the business community.”

The same survey found:

• 70.9% of respondents “not satisfied” with state anti-smuggling efforts against 27.3% “satisfied” and 1.8% with “no response”;

• those “satisfied” and “not satisfied” with the government’s tax policies and administration making up 49.1% each, and those with “no response” at 1.8%; and

• 81.8% agreeing “with the result” of the impeachment trial that found former Chief Justice Renato C. Corona guilty last May 29 of failing to disclose dollar accounts in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth, 12.7% disagreeing and 5.5% with “no response.” — ENJD