PCCI submits PBC resolutions to P-Noy

MANILA, Philippines – The 37th Philippine Business Conference (PBC) submitted yesterday a list of resolution submitted yesterday to President Aquino.

The resolutions include a 14-point sectoral agenda ranging from agricultural development, education and skills development, energy and power reforms, environment, good governance, housing and construction, industry, intellectual property, mining, MSME development, taxation, trade, transport and logistics.

The PBC is the biggest annual business gathering organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

Under the theme One. Global. Filipino. Driving Partnerships, Sharpening our Competitive Edge, the 37th PBC engaged business leaders, government partners and affiliates from PCCI’s 35,000 membership stronghold in more 100 local chambers and 130 industry associations to finalize the resolutions.

The 14-point PBC sectoral agenda identified three strategic priority areas for improved Philippine competitiveness where the business body urged the Aquino administration to address. First, governance promoting transparency and accountablepublic institutions. Second, economic sustainability enabling reforms lowering the cost of doing business, ecological sustainability, improved agro-industrial performance, tourism development and globally competitive educational system; and third inter-modal infrastructure roadmap.

Under governance, PCCI urged the government to pursue openness, transparency and effective competition for PPP projects by issuing an executive order on joint ventures, amending the IRR of the BOT Law and reforms on ROWA negotiations. PCCI likewise urged government to come up with institutional reforms to enhance regulatory functions of MARINA and CAAP as well as institutions facilitating housing and construction.

On Economic Sustainability, PCCI emphasized the need for a legislated Industrialization Policy matched with an ideal competition and trade policy frameworks supporting sector competitiveness, especially in the following: agriculture, manufacturing, mining, energy, transport and communications services, among others. PCCI likewise espoused the need for proactive and business friendly policies supporting revenue generation, trade facilitation, environmental sustainability, MSME development, intellectual property rights, tourism development and visa processing, and investments in PPP projects.

PCCI extensively identified measures at addressing the energy and power related concerns of the country. Foremost, according to PCCI, is the formulation if a five-year electric power roadmap with specific action programs and milestones focused on achieving three goals namely, bringing power rate to a competitive level; sustaining base and reserve power in Luzon; and resolving the Mindanao power supply situation with a good sense of focus, urgency and application of critical strategy led by the National Government and not left alone to private sector initiative. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)