LOCAL and foreign business groups are calling on Congress to focus on priority economic legislation to help improve the country’s investment climate.
In a press conference for the Arangkada Philippines publication, Peter Perfecto, Makati Business Club executive director, said lawmakers should push for bills aligned with the Philippine Development Plan instead of measures that could negatively impact on how business is run such as a recent proposal for a four-day workweek.
“There are very clear priorities. We hope Congress can focus on these priorities,” he said.
The PDP of the National Economic Development Authority outlines the government’s growth targets and the strategies on how to achieve these goals.
MBC is supporting anti-corruption measures, the rationalization of fiscal incentives and anti-trust or fair competition legislation, among other bills pending before Congress.
Perfecto said that business groups are confident some of the measures they are pushing would get lawmakers’ nod by next year especially those that are “bound by global commitments.”
Besides the MBC, the Philippine Exporters Confederation and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines called on lawmakers to prioritize bills on anti-smuggling and data privacy.
“[It is about] sending correct signals to investors,” Martin Crisostomo, BPAP executive director, said.
Besides the local business groups, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and other foreign business assemblies expressed confidence that the 15th Congress will push for business and economic reform legislation.
The Arangkada Philippines, www.arangkadaphilippines.com, catalogues proposals of foreign and domestic investors and business associations that aim to accelerate the country’s economic development. The publication was launched by the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines last year.
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By: Euan Paolo C. Anonuevo
Source: The Manila Times, Sept. 7, 2011
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