Dialogues with business groups urged

MANILA, Philippines - Administration lawmakers urged yesterday economic managers to conduct dialogues with various business groups and foreign chambers to assure them that the Philippines remains a good investment site despite the surge in heinous crimes and the latest deadly terror attack in the country’s financial capital.

Ang Kasangga party-list Rep. Teodorico Haresco said the recent crime wave, including the ones involving policemen, and the deadly bus bombing last week have sent jitters among businessmen, especially foreign investors.

“The Cabinet economic cluster must make an extra effort to reassure the business community that our country remains safe and that investments will be protected,” Haresco, vice chairman of the committee on small business and entrepreneurship development, said.

“A little more attention should be given to the Dialogues with… foreign business chambers and those representing global corporations in these dialogues since they have the power to decide whether or not to transfer their operations from the Philippines,” he said.

Haresco said it is easy for foreign business to pull out their investments or “hub” of operations from the Philippines to other countries in the region, such as Thailand and China, if the government does not do anything to improve the peace and order situation in the medium term.

“If we consistently show instability or breakdown of law and order or if terror attacks happen frequently, it would not be surprising if they would see that happening in the next several years and so, they could already be planning now a pullout,” Haresco said.

He said it is also important that authorities be able to immediately solve the latest terror attack and the high-profile crimes that would show the Aquino administration is decisive.

Foreign business leaders interviewed on television earlier warned that the government must show decisiveness and resolve in ending the spate of criminality. According to the 2010 Global Peace Index, the Philippines is ranked 130th among 149 countries.

For his part, Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said workers in local government units can easily become “force multipliers in the war against crime and terror.”

He said the LGUs respective traffic enforcers, barangay workers, and even street sweepers can be given some training to make them the “eyes and ears of the community to prevent crime or thwart terror attacks.”

“Having LGU workers tapped is an effective community-based approach to curb criminality and terrorism,” Castelo said. “After all, it is down at the LGUs or barangay level that the first line of defense could be made very effective.  It is also at this level that provides a ‘disabling environment’ for any unlawful, illegal, or suspicious activity by any individual or group to flourish or even start,” he said.

Dasmariñas City Rep. Elpidio Barzaga suggested that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) should compel all passenger buses to reinforce public safety by installing closed-circuit TV video cameras in their vehicles.

“This is a practical and sensible measure to help repel future bomb attacks and other potential criminal acts against buses, including rampant armed robberies,” Barzaga said.

He said the LTFRB and local government units should also oblige bus operators to set up security cameras in terminals and stops.

“These are exceptionally hard times that demand ironhanded precautions, including the widespread use of public surveillance cameras, to fight terrorism and other crimes against persons and property,” he said.