DTI Launches Green Lanes for Strategic Investments in the Philippines

On July 13, 2023, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officially launched the green lanes for strategic investments, which was established through Executive Order No. 18 (E.O. 18).

 

E.O. 18 is a government-wide response to enhance the ease of doing business in the country by expediting, streamlining, and automating government processes for strategic investments. It covers all National Government Agencies (NGAs) and their regional and provincial offices, government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and other government instrumentalities. It likewise includes Local Government Units (LGUs) involved in the issuance of permits, licenses, certifications, or authorizations for Strategic Investments.

 

One of its features is the simultaneous processing of applications where NGAs and LGUs that receive applications for permits and licenses are mandated to process the same with the presumption that the relevant documents from other agencies have already been issued. Applicant firms need only execute an affidavit of undertaking that it has secured the relevant documents from specific NGAs or LGUs and that it shall submit the complete documentary requirements within 30 working days.

 

E.O. 18 also establishes a One-Stop-Action-Center for Strategic Investments (OSAC-SI), which shall serve as the single point of entry for all projects qualified as Strategic Investments. OSAC-SI shall then identify and designate an investment as Strategic Investment and endorse the same to concerned NGAs, LGUs, and/or quasi-judicial bodies for processing of permits and licenses. 

 

A copy of E.O. 18 can be accessed here, while the full press release can be found here.