Palace vows action on businessmen’s concerns, details priority bills

MALACANANG yesterday vowed “prompt action” on reforms pushed by the business community even as President Benigno S.C. Aquino III was largely silent on these during his latest State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Mr. Aquino on Monday delivered his penultimate report to the people, which businessmen found lacking in terms of details on how the government planned to improve the country’s business environment.

Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Jr., in an e-mail, said: “Although the President may not have replied directly to their specific proposals in his SONA last Monday, the major themes underlying their concerns are aligned with the administration’s priority programs…”

“[T]hey can expect prompt action in terms of any or a combination of the following actions: policy review, drafting of proposed legislation, and issuance of executive or administrative orders,” he added.

Industry leaders submitted a joint letter to Mr. Aquino ahead of Monday’s SONA detailing what they said were “much-needed and long-overdue reforms”:

• the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act;

• a road map detailing strategies on how to improve the agriculture sector;

• an internationally competitive fiscal regime for mining;

• establishment of a multi-airport system;

• speedy construction of the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway connector road;

• proper implementation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act;

• a road map towards energy security and electricity price competitiveness;

• revision of the Foreign Investment Negative List;

• the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act; and,

• the creation of a Cabinet-level Oversight Committee on smuggling

The government was also asked to stay the course in its pursuit of key reforms even as certain parts of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) have been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

In his SONA, Mr. Aquino called on Congress to approve:

• the Bangsamoro Basic Law;

• a bill extending the agrarian reform program;

• the uniformed personnel Pension Reform bill;

• a supplemental budget to allow the continuation of DAP-funded projects;

• a joint resolution that will clarify terms related to the high court’s DAP ruling; and,

• next year’s P2.606-trillion national budget.

Sought for comment, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Executive Vice-President Henry J. Schumacher said: “It is understandable that not all constructive recommendations get into a time-limited SONA.”

“But we are confident that our agenda will form part of the work to be done in the remaining time of his (Mr. Aquino’s) administration,” he added.

John D. Forbes, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines senior adviser, agreed and said: “The administration’s programs go far beyond the SONA … Business groups believe all the recommendations in the letter are achievable in this administration.”

Also yesterday, the Palace detailed 30 priority bills it wants legislators to prioritize, compiling a list submitted just before the 16th Congress ended its first regular session last month and the six measures mentioned during Monday’s SONA.

The measures include several items tagged by the businessmen in their letter such as the FoI bill, the negative list and the fiscal regime for mining.

Also in the list are the proposed Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act; fiscal incentives rationalization and amendments to the Build-Operate-Transfer and road right of way laws and the central bank charter.

Malacañang noted that 17 of the priority bills were currently making their way through Congress while the rest had yet to be filed.

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. in a June 3 letter to Congress, said the approval would push inclusive growth, promote good governance and enhance social protection.

“These are legislative bills that intend to achieve inclusive growth. More particularly, they are projected to result in a high, sustained and broad-based economic growth that generates mass employment and draws the majority of the people into the economic and social mainstream, reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals,” he said.

“It is further hoped that these measures will improve the quality of governance, boost the market’s essential institutional infrastructure, and support an economy that guarantees full, equal and universal enjoyment of all human rights,” he added. — Daryll Edisonn D. Saclag and Imee Charlee C. Delavin

Source: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=palace-vows-action-on-businessmens-concerns-details-priority-bills&id=91860