Businessmen present wish list to Aquino

BUSINESSMEN ON Friday outlined their concerns on the economy and governance at a meeting in Malacañang with President Benigno C. Aquino III.

A wish list for the next six years was presented by Makati Business Club (MBC) chairman Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr. in behalf of his group, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Management Association of the Philippines and the Joint Foreign Chambers.

Mr. del Rosario, while noting recent gains such as a stock market surge, the strong peso and an oversubscribed global bond issue, said much more needed to be done.

“We believe that the administration will be well served if it were to more clearly articulate its vision for the economy for 2010-2016 and define its priority programs to establish the context for key projects it is pushing,” he said.

Businessmen are also concerned over vacancies in key government positions, which if left unfilled for long would send the impression that the Aquino administration was lacking a sense of urgency.

The government, Mr. del Rosario added, should also articulate clear and stable policies with respect to major economic sectors.

“For instance, in the power and mining sectors, investors are reluctant to make investments because of policy uncertainties and instability,” he said.

The Finance department was encouraged continue its campaign to prosecute, convict and jail major tax evaders and smugglers.

The businessmen’s proposals include:

* wage setting reforms and the upgrading of the Labor Code as “significant provisions have become much archaic and irrelevant to the globalized environment”;

* early implementation of an open skies policy and full use of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 3 (NAIA 3) terminal to improve access to tourist spots;

* a review of the common carriers tax which was described as discriminating against foreign firms; and

* the pursuit of a disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness program.

Responding to the wish list, Mr. Aquino said his government would maintain its openness to suggestions that would be beneficial to the people.

On appointments, he said the government was seeking to fill up some 4,300 positions in the bureaucracy before a September 25 appointments ban kicks in ahead of next month’s barangay elections.

“We’re trying our best. We are having a lot of successes but getting the right people to all of these jobs is obviously not that easy given that there are very, very few perks and benefits that we can give to them,” Mr. Aquino said.

On tax evasion cases, Mr. Aquino declared: “I would be escorting the first convicted individuals to their accommodations at the National Bilibid [prison]. There is great room for expansion.”

As for the common carriers tax issue, he said it would be discussed with his allies in Congress at the soonest possible time.

He also vowed to review the Labor Code and the use of the NAIA 3.

“We are hoping that we will be able to do all the steps necessary within six months,” Mr. Aquino said.

Malacañang said Friday’s event was the culmination of a series of meetings that started in Cebu last Wednesday and was followed by a briefing with Mindanao businessmen. — A. M. G. Roa, Businessworld