Gov’t calls for bizmen’s help in fight for good governance

CEBU, Philippines - While the Philippines is well on its way to economic stability, the government is asking the private sector to help in its fight for good and better governance, instead of leaving the work to the public sector.

“We made big strides in the fight to bring better governance. It’s not just the responsibility of the government, it’s a private-public-partnership,”  Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima told the business sector during the recently concluded 2nd National Business Conference of Independent Business Clubs and Chambers.

In his keynote speech, Purisima asked the business players in the country to work together with the government specifically in bringing  good governance, and fighting corruption.

The finance chief said that the Philippines is on its way to resolve the fiscal part, while it has also working on fixing problems and challenges that affect the economic health of the country, such as infrastructure, and policies, among others.

Under the PPP, Purisima said the government may close at least eight projects this year, while over 20 projects are on the pipeline that are expected to be implemented by next year.

He said that as the government recognized Cebu as the anchor of the country’s tourism, it will start soon the rehabilitation of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA), and will work on solving the traffic problem in the metropolis, and other issues.

Purisima further urged the private sector, including the general public to believe on the Philippines’ promising economic journey saying “We have a psyche that has been hurt. It’s  time to tap our back for the small advances we made.”

“We need to believe  on the future of the Philippines—that we can be better. We have to accept the cards that have been drawn to us in the past, so that we reach the tipping point,” he added.

On the policies side, the secretary vowed to align existing policies and open up the Philippine market.

“We need to make doing business in the country easier. Help us (government) to make this an even better government. We shouldn’t hang ourselves, instead lets tap ourselves in the back,” Purisima reiterated his call to the private sector.

He said what matters now, is that the Philippines is “marching forward” as a country.

Aside from  improving the country’s fiscal position, he said there are three important sectors that will bring the country to a much better economic health, these are the promising contribution of Mindanao, tourism and the mining sector.

He said Mindanao will bring the Philippines growth in the future. Its strategic location that is right in the middle of “coral triangle”, is seen to bring the country at least one to three percent growth contribution annually.

On the other hand, while the business sector vowed its support to the government, it has presented seven critical concerns that they want  the Pnoy administration to seriously look into, in order to achieve the goal of sustainable and inclusive growth.

The business group formally submitted its letter to President Benigno Aquino III during the conference, emphasizing several issues that should be acted upon immediately by the government.

These issues include: the active participation of the Philippines to the ASEAN Economic community by 2015; the establishment of a support system for the Philippine industries and business to spur countryside development; the establishment of the Department of Information, Communication and Technology (DICT); a substantial public investment of resources in the regions, with special focus on Visayas and Mindanao; the government’s recognition of the Cebu Tourism Roadmap, and other tourism related issues; and improving the ease and the cost of doing business in the country.  (FREEMAN)