Going to the Philippines to set up a business?

A quick guide on how to set up a business in the Philippines, from company name registration to registering with SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG.

Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) – This is the government agency where single proprietorship enterprises register and secure its certificate of registration.

Subic Bay, Philippines is bordered on the east by Zambales mountains and the South China Sea on the west. A former US Naval base, Subic is now a freeport zone and a gateway for the transportation of goods. And, while it’s topography is more of a jungle paradise, technology, infrastructure, and industry have changed the landscape and the standard of living in the community.

To boost global competitiveness and attract more local and foreign entrepreneurs, the government of the Philippines passed the Ease of Doing Business Act of 2018 (Republic Act 11032) on May 28, 2018.

Kittelson & Carpo Consulting together with Carpo Law & Associates and AHC Certified Public Accountants, organized a seminar titled, “Essentials of Corporate Taxation, HR Management and Payroll Processing in the Philippines” on April 25 at the Kittelson & Carpo Community Area in 8F Marajo Tower, BGC, Taguig City.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), under the SEC Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 16 Series of 2020, adopts a relaxed set of guidelines on the authentication of Articles of Incorporation in applications for registration of new domestic corporations, promoting an easier process for business registration in the Philippines.

The Philippines, being a rapidly developing country, have cities that act as its engines of growth. If the urban-growth is well-organized and executed properly, the cities can help increase the regional innovation, economic growth, and prosperity.

The Philippine economy looks robust with two of its cities crashing into the top 10 of the Tholons Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations for 2014. Since its opening, the IT-BPO market in the Philippines has demonstrated great potential to become a global leader by leveraging a world-class workforce. The country’s I.T. Business Process Association of the Philippines or iBPAP, along with other local government agencies, promotes the industry, in part through campaigns designed to develop IT-BPO capabilities in additional hub cities.

Kittelson & Carpo Consulting and Carpo Law & Associates, in partnership with the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines, brings you “Doing Business in the Philippines”. This covers discussions on how new updates and issuances from the SEC, PhilHealth, and BIR will affect current business operations, as well as projections on how the newly implemented TRAIN Law will channel favorable changes in the current Philippine business climate.

The term ‘location, location, location,’ applies to where you decide to put your office. Metro Manila, the capital of the Philippines is home to several business districts: Makati, Bonifacio Global City, and Ortigas being the main hubs. Choosing a location is the most important factor when starting your business in the Philippines. Determining the best area for your organization is key for your employees alleviating them from the congestion of the entire city.

Starting a business can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially for first-time entrepreneurs. That said, it is common for first-time entrepreneurs to overlook certain aspects of business operations, leading to unwanted consequences for their business.

According to data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the government recently issued 20 new exploration permits in the first three months of 2010 alone. An exploration permit enables mining companies to tap the mineral resources of a particular area, and open them up to mining activities.

Business in the Philippines has remained strong and resilient over the years, making the country one of the fastest-growing economies in the ASEAN region.

Atty. Amanda Carpo, Country Head of InCorp’s subsidiary company in the Philippines, Kittelson & Carpo Consulting, and Mr. Eric Chin, Group Head of Business Development of In.Corp Group, took part as speakers in the event, “Doing Business in the Philippines: Regulations, Law, and Taxes and Policies”.

Atty. Amanda Carpo, Country Head of InCorp Group’s subsidiary company in the Philippines, Kittelson & Carpo Consulting, will participate as speaker in a seminar entitled “The Philippines’ Consumer Economy: An Overview of the Philippine Market, its Consumer Landscape and Opportunities Available for Singaporean Companies”.