Business group pushes reforms in 10 priority areas

Infrastructure, energy among sectors attractive to investments

MANILA, Philippines —  The country’s largest business organization is pushing for reforms in 10 priority areas to attract investments and create domestic value and benefits that reach communities beyond major corridors.

During the 52nd Philippine Business Conference and Expo yesterday, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) resolutions committee chair Pablo Gancayco presented the group’s resolutions to be submitted to President Marcos.

The resolutions call for a policy agenda that aims to move the country beyond attracting investment to creating Philippine value.

For the PCCI, the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) and opportunities associated with the Pax Silica initiative are an important starting platform to show how infrastructure, investment, technology and connectivity can be developed as an integrated economic system.

“Major infrastructure and investment projects should attract investors and also create practical pathways for Philippine enterprises and workers to participate in the resulting value chains,” the PCCI said.

To achieve this, the PCCI identified 10 integrated priority areas that need reform.

In particular, the PCCI said that economic corridors should be delivered alongside the development of strategic infrastructure that links industrial and agricultural production, logistics, tourism and communities.

Another priority area the PCCI is pushing is securing reliable, affordable and competitive energy to support digital infrastructure, manufacturing and agricultural productivity as well as tourism activities.

The PCCI is also pushing the development of local suppliers for strategic industries.

“The objective is not simply to attract strategic investors, but to increase domestic value creation and enterprise participation in their supply chains,” it said.

The PCCI also pushed for agriculture modernization and links to higher-value markets.

As part of its priority areas, the PCCI also pushed for reforms to create a fair, simple and predictable tax and regulatory environment to encourage investment.

The PCCI is likewise urging the government to strengthen National Quality Infrastructure and Standards, noting that such serve as a competitiveness tool to help Philippine enterprises meet market standards and offer safe, reliable and internationally competitive goods and services.

Reforms to upgrade enterprise and worker productivity are also being pushed.

The PCCI is also pushing for a resilient, sustainable and inclusive economy by leveraging tourism, halal and regional opportunities, including those in Mindanao.

As part of the push for the 10 priority areas, the PCCI also urged the government to prioritize the passage of the following legislative measures:  Amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991; General Tax Amnesty Act; Customs Amnesty Act; Philippine Ports Authority Charter Reform; International Maritime Trade Competitiveness Act; Amendments to the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; Revised Warehouse Receipts Law of the Philippines; National Quality Infrastructure Development Act; National Measurement Institute of the Philippines Act; Revised National Apprenticeship Program Act; Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability Act; People’s Freedom of Information Act; Anti-Political Dynasty Act; Party-List System Reform Act and Digital Media Anti-False Information Act.

Over the next 12 months, the PCCI is pushing for the following reforms to support the desired outcomes: an LEC delivery dashboard; a green lane for contractors; strategic industry supply-chain mapping and a supplier-development or buyer-matching mechanism.

Other low-hanging fruits include an agriculture enterprise-readiness and market-linkage initiative for food safety; resolving customs processing issues; a National Upskilling and Reskilling Tripartite Accord aligned with priority industry needs; faster resolution of energy bottlenecks and  stronger public-private dialogue at the corridor, regional and national levels.