Foreign chambers draft "change" roadmap for RP

CEBU, Philippines - While the foreign chambers of commerce have strong confidence in the leadership of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the group has created a 300-page roadmap to be presented to different agencies of the government.

Six foreign chambers and the Association of Regional Headquarters for multinational companies (MNCs) are participating in the creation of the roadmap sharing the same goal of helping the Philippines achieve its growth potential as it faces another transition.

“This is the golden opportunity to create change for the Philippines. We want to be part of this change,” said European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) executive vice president Henry Schumacher.

The six chambers include ECCP, American Chamber of Commerce, Australian-New Zealand Chamber, Japanese Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Korean Chamber, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, and the Association of Regional Headquarters in Hong Kong and Singapore.

According to Schumacher the group of foreign chambers will recommend a policy shift, and priority legislation list for the 15th Congress, as the Philippines still has a lot “to fix” in order to achieve a strong economic state.

Top of the list is their recommendation on how to effectively curb corruption, energy conservation, and pushing the passage of a “Competition Law” in the Philippines.

Initially, the group will meet with the new appointed heads of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Although the general sentiment of the foreign chambers on the new Aquino administration is good, Schumacher said “we have to have things organized first.”

He said ECCP already met with the new DOT secretary Roberto Lim and he hopes the new tourism chief will consider the foreign chambers’ recommendation, in order to push change and growth in the Philippine tourism sector.

Schumacher mentioned that the DOT and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) should fight on the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgrading to a Category 2 safety rating.

According to Schumacher this particular concern should be addressed immediately, saying the Philippine tourism industry will suffer if this will not be given a resolution.

On the other hand, Schumacher believes that the new DOT chief knows where the priority areas should be given utmost attention.

Schumacher, who was in Cebu Thursday, to meet with the ECCP-Cebu Business Council , said that the group will be meeting with different department Secretaries in a few days to present their blueprint.

During the meeting with ECCP-Cebu Business Council, Schumacher emphasized the seven priority sectors that should be given priority in Cebu, these are the agri-business sector, IT-BPO, creative industry, manufacturing, infrastructure, mining, and tourism.