Businessmen submit ‘wish list’ to Palace

The 32nd Philippine Business Conference (PBC) ends today with a call to the Arroyo administration to address specific projects and concerns in tourism, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, education, taxation, customs/governance, SME development and financing, international trade negotiations, transaction flows and costs, mining, investments and competitiveness.

Unlike the resolutions of previous years, the 32nd PBC urged more specific action for specific projects.

In the area of energy, the business sector urged the National Government to provide the enabling environment to make energy costs more competitive and ensure energy self-sufficiency.

They also urged President Arroyo to create a Renewable Energy Authority that would be charged with coordinating and planning the Renewable Energy Program of the government.

The PBC participants pushed for the passage of the Bio-Fuels Bill and its implementing rules and regulations. Stronger cooperation was also urged between the Department of Energy and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in recommending appropriate amendments to the EPIRA, in particular to allow for an earlier realization of open access.

They also urged the National Government to give preferential sugar tariff rates for local food producers and exporters in order to make them globally competitive.

On education, the business sector urged the National Government to give priority in the education of math, science, English, as well as good manners and right conduct in the school curriculum.

They are also urging the Department of Finance to facilitate the processing of valid claims for tax credit and tax refund and for a review of the zonal valuation process especially for areas where the zonal value is higher than market value.

On SME development and financing, the business sector urged the DoF and SMED Council to revisit the implementation of the alternative compliance rule of the Magna Carta of SMEs and the Agri-Agra Law in order to facilitate access to credit for MSMEs and to provide appropriate incentives and sanctions and recommend new guidelines within 30 days.