TOP 2016 presidential candidates yesterday bared economic plans at the end of the two-day annual summit of the country’s biggest business chamber that showed no marked departure from current policies, validating analyst expectations of continuity under a new political leadership that would provide solid ground for continued strong growth.
Facing participants at the 41st Philippine Business Conference & Expo at the Manila Marriott Hotel that carried the theme: “One. Global. Filipino: Synergies in Partnerships for Global Competitiveness,” Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago declared: “I commit to invest in people, public infrastructure and political institutions,” while Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay said in his opening statement: “Our economic agenda is simple: sustainable and shared economic growth.”
Administration bet Manuel A. Roxas II, a former Interior and Local Government secretary, extolled the merits of the current “daang matuwid” (straight path) governance thrust, citing the government’s investment in people and infrastructure.
The three participated in the summit’s presidential forum on the topic “2016 Onwards: Vision for Economic Transformation.”
Senator Grace Poe came after the three had left, blaming “miscommunication” for her late arrival. If elected, she said one room in Malacañang would be used to map out and track progress of infrastructure projects.
The hotel’s ballroom looked set for a debate, but the program’s format was changed and each aspirant was asked to give a five-minute opening statement, answer questions suggested by conference organizer Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), then deliver a closing statement.
In her opening statement, Ms. Defensor-Santiago said faster economic growth could be achieved by investing in roads, bridges, airports and seaports.
She said the people should be prepared for a modern global economy by helping them become more productive.
She went on to say that the country needs a “vibrant and productive” agriculture sector by improving irrigation, building more farm-to-market roads and investing in research and development.
Ms. Defensor-Santiago also said she would invest in the country’s political institutions, noting that it has been almost 30 years since democracy was restored yet political parties remain unstable. She went on to say that she would push for the passage of a law authorizing public funds to support these parties, explaining this would make them more accountable. “Sa paraan na ‘yan pwede nating hingin sa partido na sila ang managot pag may mali sa gobyerno (In that way, we can hold the ruling party accountable if the government commits a mistake),” she said.
Ms. Defensor-Santiago said that “when elected” her first action would be to get the Freedom of Information Bill enacted.
Mr. Binay, the second speaker, said “we have to accelerate infrastructure development,” noting: “We do have the money.”
“We need a sustained 7-8% GDP (gross domestic product) growth per annum to reduce poverty even faster and to attain more inclusive growth sooner. We can achieve this with the right policies, proper implementation and timely delivery of priority projects. And we shall see to it that economic growth and progress are cascaded to the poor and marginalized,” Mr. Binay said.
On the question of honoring contracts forged with the present administration, he assured “there is a sanctity of contract, hindi mangyayari sa akin ‘yan (any breach of contract will not happen in my term).”
He added that allegations about onerous contracts should be proven with evidence and given due process.
Mr. Binay also expressed support for easing or ending economic restructions under the 1987 Constitution to attract foreign investors and “create a more vibrant business environment.”
“We shall work towards a market-oriented and pro-business environment that will allow local and foreign firms to flourish in the Philippines,” he said.
“First, we must amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution that currently restrict the entry of foreign investments in some major sectors of the Philippine economy. This single step serves as the impetus that will help address nagging problems in our country, such as unreliable and expensive power, poor infrastructure, and lack of jobs.”
Mr. Binay reaffirmed his support for the enactment of the proposed fiscal incentives rationalization, build-operate-transfer law amendments, right-of-way law, creation of a Department of Information and Communications Technology, as well as reduction of personal and corporate income taxes.
Mr. Roxas, the third speaker, said he would persevere on “daang matuwid”.
“There is soundness in our position,” he said, citing “structural reforms” put in place since the the current administration assumed office on June 30, 2010.
“We are putting meat in the statement: education is key to a better future,” Mr. Roxas said, citing investments in building modern classrooms, hiring more teachers and extension of primary and secondary school years, among others.
He highlighted his affinity with the business sector due to his stints at the departments of Trade and Industry and of Transportation and Communications.
“Suki na ako sa inyo. Kilala ninyo ako (I am your regular customer; you know me),” Mr. Roxas told his audience.
He said that with policy continuity “we have a chance to bring the Philippines to where we were in the 50s and 60s” when the country was looked upon as one of the best in Asia.
“In 2016, we have that chance.”
Ms. Poe said she would invite the best and the brightest to be part of her cabinet.
“We should transform -- and this may be a bold move -- one of the rooms in Malacanang into an infrastructure war room for projects, with real time feedback capability, if possible,” she said.
She also said that in the first 100 days of her term, “we should be sending to Congress a ramp of bills [sic] to be passed with dispatch. First, is the Freedom of Information Bill.”
NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE
Businessmen did not miss the common thread in the presidential aspirants’ comments.
Donald G. Dee, PCCI chief operating officer, said that the presidentiables’ focus was generally the same “as what this government said it will do”, citing their priorities on infrastructure, education, agriculture and further opening markets.
“What we want to know is what are the other sectors that will suffer if investments in infrastructure will be increased,” he said.
Francis Jose A. Alejandro, PCCI director for energy and power, the economic thrusts presented during the forum were consistent with current directions.
“They are all worthwhile,” Mr. Alejandro noted. “What we want to look at is the sense of urgency. Who can do it faster.”
At the same time, he conceded that yesterday’s forum did not provide a comprehensive picture of presidentiables’ stands. “There was no time to expand,” he said. “There was not enough depth because of the short time.”
The summit was also highlighted by PCCI’s presentation to President Benigno S. C. Aquino III of the group’s recommendations, grouped into the categories: legislative, energy, environment, industry, education, logistics, transportation infrastructure, information and communications technologies and services, intellectual property, capital market development, small- and medium-scale enterprise development, and taxation.
Citing recent socioeconomic gains in his speech and that “[e]ven our harshest critics cannot deny that we have finished projects that have been promised for generations,” Mr. Aquino said “[e]fficient public-private partnerships have... helped us to get big-ticket projects done.”
“I perused the resolution that was handed to me earlier,” he said, adding that Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras will “prepare the appropriate response to update our partners in the business sector as to developments in the points that they [sic] raised”.
“We’d like to tell you that a lot of it is already being addressed, and we’d like to tell you what to expect in the last eight months of our administration.”
Administration bet Manuel A. Roxas II, a former Interior and Local Government secretary, extolled the merits of the current “daang matuwid” (straight path) governance thrust, citing the government’s investment in people and infrastructure.
The three participated in the summit’s presidential forum on the topic “2016 Onwards: Vision for Economic Transformation.”
Senator Grace Poe came after the three had left, blaming “miscommunication” for her late arrival. If elected, she said one room in Malacañang would be used to map out and track progress of infrastructure projects.
The hotel’s ballroom looked set for a debate, but the program’s format was changed and each aspirant was asked to give a five-minute opening statement, answer questions suggested by conference organizer Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), then deliver a closing statement.
In her opening statement, Ms. Defensor-Santiago said faster economic growth could be achieved by investing in roads, bridges, airports and seaports.
She said the people should be prepared for a modern global economy by helping them become more productive.
She went on to say that the country needs a “vibrant and productive” agriculture sector by improving irrigation, building more farm-to-market roads and investing in research and development.
Ms. Defensor-Santiago also said she would invest in the country’s political institutions, noting that it has been almost 30 years since democracy was restored yet political parties remain unstable. She went on to say that she would push for the passage of a law authorizing public funds to support these parties, explaining this would make them more accountable. “Sa paraan na ‘yan pwede nating hingin sa partido na sila ang managot pag may mali sa gobyerno (In that way, we can hold the ruling party accountable if the government commits a mistake),” she said.
Ms. Defensor-Santiago said that “when elected” her first action would be to get the Freedom of Information Bill enacted.
Mr. Binay, the second speaker, said “we have to accelerate infrastructure development,” noting: “We do have the money.”
“We need a sustained 7-8% GDP (gross domestic product) growth per annum to reduce poverty even faster and to attain more inclusive growth sooner. We can achieve this with the right policies, proper implementation and timely delivery of priority projects. And we shall see to it that economic growth and progress are cascaded to the poor and marginalized,” Mr. Binay said.
On the question of honoring contracts forged with the present administration, he assured “there is a sanctity of contract, hindi mangyayari sa akin ‘yan (any breach of contract will not happen in my term).”
He added that allegations about onerous contracts should be proven with evidence and given due process.
Mr. Binay also expressed support for easing or ending economic restructions under the 1987 Constitution to attract foreign investors and “create a more vibrant business environment.”
“We shall work towards a market-oriented and pro-business environment that will allow local and foreign firms to flourish in the Philippines,” he said.
“First, we must amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution that currently restrict the entry of foreign investments in some major sectors of the Philippine economy. This single step serves as the impetus that will help address nagging problems in our country, such as unreliable and expensive power, poor infrastructure, and lack of jobs.”
Mr. Binay reaffirmed his support for the enactment of the proposed fiscal incentives rationalization, build-operate-transfer law amendments, right-of-way law, creation of a Department of Information and Communications Technology, as well as reduction of personal and corporate income taxes.
Mr. Roxas, the third speaker, said he would persevere on “daang matuwid”.
“There is soundness in our position,” he said, citing “structural reforms” put in place since the the current administration assumed office on June 30, 2010.
“We are putting meat in the statement: education is key to a better future,” Mr. Roxas said, citing investments in building modern classrooms, hiring more teachers and extension of primary and secondary school years, among others.
He highlighted his affinity with the business sector due to his stints at the departments of Trade and Industry and of Transportation and Communications.
“Suki na ako sa inyo. Kilala ninyo ako (I am your regular customer; you know me),” Mr. Roxas told his audience.
He said that with policy continuity “we have a chance to bring the Philippines to where we were in the 50s and 60s” when the country was looked upon as one of the best in Asia.
“In 2016, we have that chance.”
Ms. Poe said she would invite the best and the brightest to be part of her cabinet.
“We should transform -- and this may be a bold move -- one of the rooms in Malacanang into an infrastructure war room for projects, with real time feedback capability, if possible,” she said.
She also said that in the first 100 days of her term, “we should be sending to Congress a ramp of bills [sic] to be passed with dispatch. First, is the Freedom of Information Bill.”
NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE
Businessmen did not miss the common thread in the presidential aspirants’ comments.
Donald G. Dee, PCCI chief operating officer, said that the presidentiables’ focus was generally the same “as what this government said it will do”, citing their priorities on infrastructure, education, agriculture and further opening markets.
“What we want to know is what are the other sectors that will suffer if investments in infrastructure will be increased,” he said.
Francis Jose A. Alejandro, PCCI director for energy and power, the economic thrusts presented during the forum were consistent with current directions.
“They are all worthwhile,” Mr. Alejandro noted. “What we want to look at is the sense of urgency. Who can do it faster.”
At the same time, he conceded that yesterday’s forum did not provide a comprehensive picture of presidentiables’ stands. “There was no time to expand,” he said. “There was not enough depth because of the short time.”
The summit was also highlighted by PCCI’s presentation to President Benigno S. C. Aquino III of the group’s recommendations, grouped into the categories: legislative, energy, environment, industry, education, logistics, transportation infrastructure, information and communications technologies and services, intellectual property, capital market development, small- and medium-scale enterprise development, and taxation.
Citing recent socioeconomic gains in his speech and that “[e]ven our harshest critics cannot deny that we have finished projects that have been promised for generations,” Mr. Aquino said “[e]fficient public-private partnerships have... helped us to get big-ticket projects done.”
“I perused the resolution that was handed to me earlier,” he said, adding that Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras will “prepare the appropriate response to update our partners in the business sector as to developments in the points that they [sic] raised”.
“We’d like to tell you that a lot of it is already being addressed, and we’d like to tell you what to expect in the last eight months of our administration.”
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