EDITORIAL - Urgent business

Local and foreign business groups have asked Congress to give priority to 12 pending legislative measures to prevent the country from further slipping in global competitiveness. None of the 12 involves amending any provision in the Constitution, which is the principal preoccupation these days of the House of Representatives.

The recommendations were presented last week to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Joint Foreign Chambers, Philippine Exporters’ Confederation and the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines.

The business groups were originally pushing for the approval of 75 measures, but the list was whittled down to the 12 that they deemed most urgent. Among other things, they want the passage of laws that will bring down power costs, overhaul the pre-need industry, curb smuggling and rationalize fiscal incentives. They want communications separated from transportation and another executive department created for it. And they want to promote transparency through the long delayed passage of the Freedom of Access to Information Act.

Businessmen have long pushed for many of the measures, and there is no certainty that they will get what they want this time. Congress and Malacañang have sat on the proposals even as foreign direct investments steadily plummet together with national competitiveness as reflected in regular international surveys.

“Time is of the essence,” PCCI president Edgardo Lacson said as the business groups presented their recommendations to the LEDAC. Congressmen do have a sense of urgency, but only when it comes to measures that will redound to their personal benefit and that of their patron, such as the Right of Reply bill. Even Charter change, which could lead to more investments if the right provisions are amended, has been set back by the partisan agenda of those trying to ram Cha-cha down the nation’s throat through a Senate-less constituent assembly. Until policy makers can rise above narrow partisan interests and act on urgent matters, the country will not be able to catch up with its global competitors.