PCCI urges reforms in agri, energy & services sectors

MANILA, Philippines – The government is being urged to focus on reforms in the energy, agriculture and services sectors to attract more investments to the country, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said.

PCCI president Miguel Varela told reporters at the sidelines of the last day of the 38th Philippine Business Conference and Expo yesterday that the PCCI would want the government to focus on reforms in the energy sector since the high power cost in the country is among the concerns raised by investors.

“We all know of the high energy costs,” he said.

One of the reforms in the energy sector being pushed by the PCCI in its resolution presented to President Aquino yesterday is for the Department of Energy (DOE) to work closely with the Mindanao Development Authority and other local stakeholders for the creation of the Mindanao Power Monitoring Commission to address the continuing power supply and sustainability issues in Mindanao, which in turn impedes the entry of investments and the on-going peace process.

The PCCI, in its resolution, is likewise urging the DOE to seriously consider establishing a National Demand and Supply Aggregator Agency to create true competition and generation adequacy, induce competitive tariff rates and efficient supply contracting.

Varela said the PCCI would also want the government to work on reforms in the agriculture sector since many firms are also interested in developing lands for food supplies.

“We can do so much in agriculture given our resources,” he said.

In particular, the PCCI would want the government to make available more loanable funds to agriculture to help address the lack of access to credit of Filipino farmers.

The PCCI is likewise recommending the promotion by the Department of Agriculture (DA) of the use of hybrid seeds to further increase rice production.

The PCCI is also pushing for the expansion of the scope of research activities of the DA to counter rising food costs and lessen dependence on food imports.

Varela said the government must also pursue reforms in the services sector since many individuals are engaged in that sector and rely on it for their income.

“The government must provide continuous boost to the sector, have programs to help let’s say, BPOs (business process outsourcing) to even grow,” he said further.

Other reforms were also pushed in the areas of education, environment, housing and construction, information and communications technology, mining, small and medium enterprises development as well as transportation and logistics.

Varela said the private sector is willing to work with the government in order to undertake the reforms and encourage more investments to the country which would help support economic growth. -Louella D. Desiderio (The Philippine Star)