Stratbase holds forum on government-private tieups

MANILA, Philippines — Key government officials, business leaders, experts from the academe, and civil society will gather in a two-day conference next week to share insights on how partnerships between the government and the private sector can promote inclusive growth and sustainable development moving forward.

Organized by think tank group Stratbase, the event carries the theme “Pilipinas Conference 2022: Onward to New Beginnings: Sustaining and Improving Philippine Development,” and will be held on Nov. 21 to 22.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman,  Transportartion Secretary Jaime Bautista, Finance Undersecretary for Fiscal Policy and Monitoring Group Maria Cielo Magno and Delegation of the European Union Ambassador and head Luc Veron are among the speakers in the event.

Stratbase president Dindo Manhit said with the fiscal challenges the current administration need to address, the best way to outgrow the country’s economic crisis is by investing on and prioritizing the Filipino people.

He said with ongoing deliberations on the P5.268-trillion proposed national budget, lawmakers should make sure the budget will prioritize and serve ordinary people.

“At the end of the day, ordinary citizens are actually the main drivers of development, but they need to be given the opportunity. We need to turn these citizens into productive members of society. They earn. They have income. They have livelihood. They consume. That’s what drives the economy,” Manhit explained.

He then urged the Marcos administration to engage and partner with the private sector.

“As you engage more with big business and conglomerates, they are actually the top tax payers. They are the top job creators and a strong source of investment across the country. Private companies should be seen as a key partner of government,” he said.

“It’s good to have them, to listen to them, to engage with them, instead of vilifying them because that’s what former President Duterte did. There is always this perception that the Philippines is controlled by oligarchs or protectionist.”