Business groups push passage of 10 bills to boost economy

MANILA, Philippines – Local and foreign businessmen are pushing for the passage of 10 bills to boost economy.

In a letter written to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) asked the Senate to pass Amendment to Customs Brokers Act or SB 3396, Department of Information and Communication Bill (DICT) or SB 2546, Freedom of Access of Information Bill or SB 3308, Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives Bill, Simplified Net Income Tax Scheme (SNITS), Anti-Smuggling Bill, Amendments to the BSP Charter Bill, Land Use Bill, Residential Free Patent Bill and the OECD Tax Compliance Amendments.

“With the Senate now in session for the final year of the 14th Congress and the interest of many legislators shifting towards the 2010 election campaign, we the undersigned representatives of Philippine business groups and foreign chambers of commerce communicate our support for final passage of the bills,” the letter said.

The businessmen reminded the lawmakers that Enrile together with House Speaker Prospero Nograles and President Arroyo emphasized the importance of final passage of priority economic legislation for a more rapid recovery of the Philippines from the global economic crisis and improved national competitiveness.

The businessmen further noted that the Amendments to BSP Charter and SNITS bills were specifically endorsed by the President in her recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July.

At the same time, the businessmen likewise wrote to Nograles asking for the passage of four bills namely the Amendments to the BSP Charter Bill, Anti-Smuggling Bill, Land Use Bill and OECD Tax Compliance Amendments. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)