Businessmen submit 8-pt plan to P-Noy

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s leading businessmen presented to President Aquino yesterday an eight-point recommendation on reforms that need to be implemented immediately in several economic sectors.

At the conclusion of the 40th Philippine Business Conference held at the Manila Hotel, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) urged the government to address pressing concerns in energy and power, education and human resources development, economic integration in Southeast Asia, port congestion, traffic congestion, transportation and infrastructure, agriculture, and rehabilitation efforts in Eastern Visayas after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Under energy and power, the PCCI urged the national government to formulate an integrated and sustainable energy and power roadmap with a definite target level of power supply capacity and rate as well as a well-defined process and timeline for achieving this.

The chamber also supports the implementation of the Department of Energy’s demand aggregation and auctioning policy that would induce transparent and efficient supply contracting. This would also attract more direct investments in power generation while creating greater competition.

Under education and human resources development, the PCCI urges the government to enter into partnerships with the private sector to provide the country’s workforce with relevant skills for employment.

The chamber also urges the government to draw up strategies and programs that would integrate small and medium enterprises in the regional and value chains to ensure their competitiveness when the economic integration in Southeast Asia is fully realized next year.

In relation to this, the PCCI asks the government to develop with the private sector, strategies for the promotion of Philippine brands amid the Asea economic integration.  The chamber likewise seeks improved physical connectivity between Mindanao and the so-called East Asean Growth Area comprising Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The PCCI is also urging the government to immediately decongest Metro Manila through the development of the countryside. At the same time, development efforts in the provinces should complement and sustain the capital’s growth and development.

The chamber also urged the national government to maximize the utilization of the Subic and Batangas ports to decongest the Port of Manila.

The PCCI likewise asked the government to immediately ensure the smooth flow of traffic in Metro Manila.

On transportation and infrastructure, the PCCI urged the government to prioritize the full development of the Clark International Airport parallel with the Ninoy Aquino International Airport before other airports.

In the agriculture, the chamber said the government should implement proper infrastructure and policy directions to ensure food security in the country.

The PCCI also urged the government to fasttrack the completion of post-typhoon recovery in Eastern Visayas.

In his address at the closing of the conference, President Aquino expressed appreciation for the proposals from the private sector, saying the government is now undertaking steps to address pressing concerns particularly with regards to the power supply and port congestion.

“I believe that the past four years and three months have shown you the sincerity and, more importantly, the results of our commitment to turn the tide in the Philippines. Reforms in key systems and processes have led to leaks being plugged and resources being maximized; more contractors and investors are not only registering interest in infrastructure projects, but are competing to build what we need,” he said.

Aquino said that as the government finds a more permanent solution to port congestion that is effecting the movement of cargo, the business sector is encouraged to continue operations during the weekend.

“Diverting traffic to Subic and Batangas is only a short-term solution; high utilization rates for both may mean that we run the risk of transferring the problem we encountered in the Port of Manila to those very ports. Right now, the more effective solution in addressing the issue of congestion is to continue operations through the weekend. In support of this, the Bureau of Customs and the port operators, among others, are open on Saturdays and Sundays to facilitate the movement of cargo,” he said.