Business leaders urge voters to elect biz-minded officials

CEBU, Philippines - Now that the campaign for local government positions has officially started, business leaders urged the voters to consider public servants who acknowledge the role of the private sector towards economic development and who adopt corporate governance, sustainability and enterprise development.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Philip Tan said in an interview that aside from remarkable economic growth, developed countries progress with better political system.

He added that the government also has to agree that without a better economy that is primarily driven by businessmen, a country could not move forward.

He said that candidates nowadays should look into creating platforms on pushing for business and economic development.  He believed that Filipinos, at present, are more cautious and selective in putting the right people to government.

Tan lauded the good governance, transparency and effective efforts of the Aquino administration to enable business environments in the country after the Philippines recently bagged its first investment grade credit rating from Fitch.

“He’s making a difference whether it is big or small. Now the real target is to get better,” he added.

He said that since it is an election year, probable political leaders should aim to sustain the improved performance of the country in the coming years.

He also clarified that the trickledown effect to the ordinary citizens would not be sudden but shall eventually transpire as businesses will expand and offer employment opportunities, thus increasing their purchasing power and driving the economy faster.

Rey Calooy, president of Filipino-Cebuano Business Club, Inc., echoed the same sentiments as Tan, saying that the government has to acknowledge the role of the private sector in attaining the country’s progress.

He said that political leaders should adopt corporate governance system to ensure productivity and efficiency of the delivery of services to Filipinos. He added that candidates should work into formulating more legislation for businesses, promoting entrepreneurship rather than just politics and supporting the establishment of an investor-friendly climate in the country.

Calooy then advised the electorate to carefully assess the competencies and qualifications of the running politicians in terms of leadership.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Lito Maderaso said that political leaders should always maintain a careful balance on economic development and general welfare of the majority of the population.

He added that they should also look at environmental issues particularly on the livability, traffic conditions in metropolitan areas, solid waste management, zoning, and availability of natural resources.

In terms of competitiveness and sustainability, he also cited that the government should work out on providing a conducive environment for businesses and strengthening the local bureaucracy for the country to be investor-friendly.

In his own perspective, he cited the qualities of a good leader which includes being compassionate to the less fortunate, having the political will to do what is right and being sincere enough to serve.

Meanwhile, Maderaso welcomed the sovereign credit standing of the Philippines after being granted with the BBB- investment grade rating, saying that more investors are eyeing at the country particularly in the capital and stock market and cost of borrowing money abroad will go lower in terms of interest rates.

He said, however, that the country still needs to attract more foreign direct investments (FDIs) which he considered as a long-term and more sustainable economic development that businesses should aim for.

“We are actually competing for FDIs since they are the real economic drivers of a country,” he added.

He said that the problems of the business environment such as infrastructure especially in VisMin areas, access mobility, bureaucracy, red tapes, ease of doing business and cost of power should be resolved. He also suggested the improvement of the agriculture sector in the country especially in terms of technology and livestock production./JOB (FREEMAN)