Business supports PBBM's comprehensive SONA
Published Jul 24, 2023 11:01 am
# Business lauds comprehensive SONA
The private sector seemed to agree with President Marcos that “the state of the economy is sound and improving” and lauded the comprehensive report to the nation, but disagreed with the president on how to further ease doing business in the country, stating that government should do more than just rely on digitalization.
Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr., president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., agreed with the President of his description that “the economy is sound”, saying “there is no doubt it is improving.” The leader of the exporters’ group also noted that the country’s growth targets as well inflation forecasts are realistic. He agreed that prices are stabilizing, including prices of medicines, particularly life saving medicines, clear improvement in jobs generation, and the impressive line-up of infrastructure projects. While the President did mention efforts to further ease doing business in the country through digitalization and ordering all government agencies, including local government units, to fully embrace technology to improve government services, Ortiz-Luis stressed that “digitalization is a tool but not a solution.” He lamented that the government is pinning its hopes to improve ease of doing business through digitalization. “Digitalization, yes it can increase transaction volume but it is not for everyone, others don’t have the equipment and training how to proceed with it,” he said. “It cannot help someone improve his borrowing, for instance,” he added. While he was looking for specifics on how to further ease of doing business, Ortiz-Luis said there could not be enough time to do that in the SONA. Overall, business leaders cited the president’s second SONA for being comprehensive and well executed without much fanfare. George T. Barcelon, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Edgard B. Lacson, chairman of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), and Ortiz-Luis acknowledged that the second SONA was more comprehensive and substantive. “The report is substantial and inspiring in content and delivery. It covered all major wish list of business, workers- domestic and OFW-and ordinary citizens such as infrastructure build better more, housing, agriculture, loan condonation, water management, territorial integrity, taming inflation, digitalization, ease of doing business, food security, power source stability and affordability, and many more good god governance policies and practices,” said Lacson. Unlike previous SONAs, which were littered with live testimonials and video clips, Lacson said that PBBM’s SONA was uncluttered by imageries, symbols and cinematographic aids, “giving it an official character and well produced event.” “Of course, as they say the test of the pudding is in the eating. the well documented and rehearsed SONA is filled with accomplishments, work in progress and aspirational programs. Sustaining the gains, completing unfinished projects and delivering the promises will be a big challenge to the govt of PBBM,” he said. Barcelon also noted that the president did not touch so much on the specifics to ease of doing business, but took note of the president’s “wielding power on his second year of office” when he declared war against cartels. He said that the reason the President chose to stay on top of the agriculture department could be due to his effort to pin down price manipulators, cartels and hoarders. He also cited the determination of the president to improve education in the country especially with the review of the K-12 program to be more effective and generate more graduates that the industry needs. Meantime, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) lauded the successful transition of the country from a pandemic mode into a vibrantly recovering nation, under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. In a statement, MAP President Benedicta Du-Baladad said that while they see improvements on the economic front, “let us not lose sight of the most important undertaking of the government - to ensure that all these economic gains will redound to the benefit of the Filipino people whose lives need uplifting the most.” “We welcome the initiatives mentioned by the President that would address critical social development issues, such as malnutrition, low level of education, employment, providing better social services, improving health services, digitalization for financial inclusion. These are the very same advocacies that drive the flagship projects of the MAP,” the statement added. MAP has urged the government to continue taking steps to further narrow the income disparity and ensure that economic gains redound to a more equitable distribution of wealth across the board. MAP cited its initiative for inclusive development such as its Campaign against Malnutrition and Child Stunting, and easing of the education crisis as one of the country’s top priorities. For its part, the Makati Business Club supports the Marcos Administration’s push for reforms in the power and water industries and its plans to maintain or accelerate infrastructure investment. “We believe these reforms are critical to increase the investment needed to create more jobs and better lives for all Filipinos,” MBC Executive Director Francisco Alcuaz Jr. said in a statement. “We need them for economic competitiveness and for better and reliable public services for all.” On power, MBC supported the DOE’s opening of renewable energy to 100 percent foreign investment, and also supports the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry Development bill. The Makati-based business group also agreed with the President’s plan to maintain infrastructure spending at five to six percent of GDP, citing in particular the plan to rehabilitate the NAIA and Laguindingan airport via Public Private Partnership. It welcomed the administration’s push for Technical Vocational Education and Training as a key means to give more Filipinos the skills needed for the current and future economies. Other initiatives that gained MBC’s support is the President’s resolve for digitalization, including the paying of taxes, and to address the growing crisis in the pension system of military and uniformed personnel. Meantime, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) expressed appreciation that the President’s SONA focus on the government’s commitment to address the nation’s many pressing challenges. “The Chamber is highly encouraged by the President’s emphasis on key economic priorities, namely the easing of inflation, increasing of production, promoting industry development, accelerating infrastructure development, advancing human capital development, boosting job generation, and ensuring social protection,” the ECCP said in a statement. The ECCP, likewise, welcomed the recognition of critical areas such as investments toward hard and soft infrastructure, the enabling of a sound business and economic landscape in the country, and the continued promotion of structural reforms that aim to sustain and shore up investor confidence in the Philippines. As an organization representing European and Philippine businesses in the country, the ECCP further appreciates the drive of the current administration to secure more trade deals. As such, the Chamber hopes to see the recommencement of the EU-Philippines Free Trade Agreement talks as well as the retention of the EU GSP+ grant in the near future. The Chamber believes that the condition is ripe for this mutually beneficial trade arrangements. Citing the P3.9 trillion total investment pledges with the potential to generate 175,000 jobs, ECCP said “We look to government to further solidify the country’s position as an attractive investment destination through incentives schemes and the proper implementation of green lanes to boost the country’s competitiveness and facilitate ease of doing business. With the efforts of the current administration as well as several roadshows, we are cautiously optimistic and confident that we shall see results [investors] sooner rather than later.”
The private sector seemed to agree with President Marcos that “the state of the economy is sound and improving” and lauded the comprehensive report to the nation, but disagreed with the president on how to further ease doing business in the country, stating that government should do more than just rely on digitalization.
Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr., president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., agreed with the President of his description that “the economy is sound”, saying “there is no doubt it is improving.” The leader of the exporters’ group also noted that the country’s growth targets as well inflation forecasts are realistic. He agreed that prices are stabilizing, including prices of medicines, particularly life saving medicines, clear improvement in jobs generation, and the impressive line-up of infrastructure projects. While the President did mention efforts to further ease doing business in the country through digitalization and ordering all government agencies, including local government units, to fully embrace technology to improve government services, Ortiz-Luis stressed that “digitalization is a tool but not a solution.” He lamented that the government is pinning its hopes to improve ease of doing business through digitalization. “Digitalization, yes it can increase transaction volume but it is not for everyone, others don’t have the equipment and training how to proceed with it,” he said. “It cannot help someone improve his borrowing, for instance,” he added. While he was looking for specifics on how to further ease of doing business, Ortiz-Luis said there could not be enough time to do that in the SONA. Overall, business leaders cited the president’s second SONA for being comprehensive and well executed without much fanfare. George T. Barcelon, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Edgard B. Lacson, chairman of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), and Ortiz-Luis acknowledged that the second SONA was more comprehensive and substantive. “The report is substantial and inspiring in content and delivery. It covered all major wish list of business, workers- domestic and OFW-and ordinary citizens such as infrastructure build better more, housing, agriculture, loan condonation, water management, territorial integrity, taming inflation, digitalization, ease of doing business, food security, power source stability and affordability, and many more good god governance policies and practices,” said Lacson. Unlike previous SONAs, which were littered with live testimonials and video clips, Lacson said that PBBM’s SONA was uncluttered by imageries, symbols and cinematographic aids, “giving it an official character and well produced event.” “Of course, as they say the test of the pudding is in the eating. the well documented and rehearsed SONA is filled with accomplishments, work in progress and aspirational programs. Sustaining the gains, completing unfinished projects and delivering the promises will be a big challenge to the govt of PBBM,” he said. Barcelon also noted that the president did not touch so much on the specifics to ease of doing business, but took note of the president’s “wielding power on his second year of office” when he declared war against cartels. He said that the reason the President chose to stay on top of the agriculture department could be due to his effort to pin down price manipulators, cartels and hoarders. He also cited the determination of the president to improve education in the country especially with the review of the K-12 program to be more effective and generate more graduates that the industry needs. Meantime, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) lauded the successful transition of the country from a pandemic mode into a vibrantly recovering nation, under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. In a statement, MAP President Benedicta Du-Baladad said that while they see improvements on the economic front, “let us not lose sight of the most important undertaking of the government - to ensure that all these economic gains will redound to the benefit of the Filipino people whose lives need uplifting the most.” “We welcome the initiatives mentioned by the President that would address critical social development issues, such as malnutrition, low level of education, employment, providing better social services, improving health services, digitalization for financial inclusion. These are the very same advocacies that drive the flagship projects of the MAP,” the statement added. MAP has urged the government to continue taking steps to further narrow the income disparity and ensure that economic gains redound to a more equitable distribution of wealth across the board. MAP cited its initiative for inclusive development such as its Campaign against Malnutrition and Child Stunting, and easing of the education crisis as one of the country’s top priorities. For its part, the Makati Business Club supports the Marcos Administration’s push for reforms in the power and water industries and its plans to maintain or accelerate infrastructure investment. “We believe these reforms are critical to increase the investment needed to create more jobs and better lives for all Filipinos,” MBC Executive Director Francisco Alcuaz Jr. said in a statement. “We need them for economic competitiveness and for better and reliable public services for all.” On power, MBC supported the DOE’s opening of renewable energy to 100 percent foreign investment, and also supports the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry Development bill. The Makati-based business group also agreed with the President’s plan to maintain infrastructure spending at five to six percent of GDP, citing in particular the plan to rehabilitate the NAIA and Laguindingan airport via Public Private Partnership. It welcomed the administration’s push for Technical Vocational Education and Training as a key means to give more Filipinos the skills needed for the current and future economies. Other initiatives that gained MBC’s support is the President’s resolve for digitalization, including the paying of taxes, and to address the growing crisis in the pension system of military and uniformed personnel. Meantime, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) expressed appreciation that the President’s SONA focus on the government’s commitment to address the nation’s many pressing challenges. “The Chamber is highly encouraged by the President’s emphasis on key economic priorities, namely the easing of inflation, increasing of production, promoting industry development, accelerating infrastructure development, advancing human capital development, boosting job generation, and ensuring social protection,” the ECCP said in a statement. The ECCP, likewise, welcomed the recognition of critical areas such as investments toward hard and soft infrastructure, the enabling of a sound business and economic landscape in the country, and the continued promotion of structural reforms that aim to sustain and shore up investor confidence in the Philippines. As an organization representing European and Philippine businesses in the country, the ECCP further appreciates the drive of the current administration to secure more trade deals. As such, the Chamber hopes to see the recommencement of the EU-Philippines Free Trade Agreement talks as well as the retention of the EU GSP+ grant in the near future. The Chamber believes that the condition is ripe for this mutually beneficial trade arrangements. Citing the P3.9 trillion total investment pledges with the potential to generate 175,000 jobs, ECCP said “We look to government to further solidify the country’s position as an attractive investment destination through incentives schemes and the proper implementation of green lanes to boost the country’s competitiveness and facilitate ease of doing business. With the efforts of the current administration as well as several roadshows, we are cautiously optimistic and confident that we shall see results [investors] sooner rather than later.”