PCCI: Focus on project delivery, not politics

MANILA, Philippines — Businessmen are urging the Duterte administration to focus on delivering projects instead of letting itself get sidetracked by politics.

The country’s largest business organization – the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – is set to hold by the middle of the month its 43rd Philippine Business Conference (PBC) and Expo where it would submit a set of resolutions to President Duterte.

“We hope that through the PBC we will be able to help government focus on its deliverables and not be sidetracked by politics and other disturbing news,” PCCI president George Barcelon said.

He said that while some elements in the administration’s 10-point socio-economic agenda, like the reduction in bureaucracy, are in the works, there’s still much to be desired.

“But are we satisfied? Of course not, we haven’t really felt that it has really improved much,” he said.

Barcelon said it is important that investors get assurance from government that they are in an environment conducive to business and that the necessary infrastructure exists to ensure their competitiveness.

He stressed they acknowledge the reality that development projects take time to complete.

He admitted that negative reports in the media are “unsettling to a lot of people” especially businessmen.

“Hopefully, some of these issues will quiet down and for the business sector, these are things that we know take a life of their own. Our focus is still really broadening that base of economic activities, especially helping the micro, small and medium enterprises because these are really where the jobs will be coming from,” Barcelon added.

Aside from the implementation of key infrastructure projects, Barcelon said PCCI sees the reduction of bureaucracy and the streamlining of business processes as other important elements that the government should stay focused on.