Businessmen would like presidential aspirants to address pressing questions on jobs creation, full implementation of ease of doing business, modernization of agriculture, as well as commit to continuity in the implementation of good policies and programs of the past administrations as the way to economic growth.
This was pointed out by officials of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), which will hold the 47TH Philippine Business Conference & Expo (PBC & E), an annual gathering of businessmen in the country, on Nov. 17 and 18, via a hybrid format of a combined limited physical and a virtual platform with the limited face-to-face to be held here at the PCCI Innovation Center.
Jeffrey Ng, chairman of this year’s 47TH PBC, stressed that presidential aspirants Vice-President Leni Robredo, Senators Bato dela Rosa, Ping Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, Mayor Isko Moreno and former Senator Bongbong Marcos will have a dedicated “Presidentiables Forum” on November 18 to answer pressing issues the Philippine economy. These issues were part of the collated resolutions from the various are PCCI conferences leading up to the annual PBC.
“As part of the PBC resolutions, we are asking the candidates to answer questions and topics on creation of jobs, full implementation of the ease of doing business, and modernization of agriculture,” said Ng.
Edgardo G. Lacson, PCCI chairman on 47th PBC & E Resolutions Committee, added that businessmen would like to see continuity in the implementation of good policies and programs of the any of the past administrations.
“We want presidentiables to commit to continue all good policies of all past administrations. The problem is they stopped implementing these good policies simply because it is not their creation and they are so conscious of their legacies. So, we would like a continuing program of good policies, not bad policies,” said Lacson.
In his opening speech, the 47th PBC & Expo chairman explained that this year’s conference stressed that the business community would like to take up with the candidates for the highest position of the land their priorities in their first 100 days in office.
Presidentiables must also share their perspective on catch-up economic recovery strategy; support programs for micro small and medium enterprises, agriculture and fishery sectors; continuity of the Build Build Build infrastructure projects; digital transformation platform; and plans for Philippine education and preparing the youth for the industrial skills of the future.
“The last one is critical for us because it gives our country the strongest fighting chance of rebounding effectively and formidably. Our demographic dividend of 18–45-year-olds have a technology-mindset that should be oriented to our innovation strategy,” Ng stressed.
Likewise, presidential candidates must also discuss how to fast track the internet connectivity to be comparable with that of ASEAN and to fast track the government’s infrastructure program, among others.
According to Ng, each candidate are given in advance a set of questions to address, but they are free to address the PBC in their opening and closing statements.
The 47th PBC will focus on innovation as an effective way to adapt, to develop agility, and to be future-ready. Innovation has deep strategic and organizational implications on our overall competitiveness and is the cornerstone of building and growing our respective businesses and making them thrive.
“ The 47th PBC highlights our proactive and shared vision to reset and rebuild the economy by tapping on innovative ideas and pioneering technologies and leveraging on existing platforms for innovation and partnerships. Anchored on the Ambisyon Natin’s 2040 vision of a better quality of life for all Filipinos, one that is “matatag, maginhawa at panatag”, the 47th PBC is putting the innovation agenda at the centerstage of national economic policy planning and enterprise-level development for inclusiveness and long-term sustainability,” Ng said.
As has become the annual tradition, the 47TH PBC will have Vice President Leni Robredo to deliver the Opening Keynote Message and President Duterte for the Closing Keynote Message.