To Aquino with love: Trade bloc airs ‘real sentiments’

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) will submit to President Aquino a set of proposals to address what it perceives to be impediments to the country’s growth.

In a briefing on Wednesday, PCCI president Miguel B. Varela said the recommendations would focus on power, industry competitiveness, employment mismatch and education standards, as well as ease and cost of doing business in the country.

To address the high cost of power in the Philippines, the PCCI is urging the government to mandate and oversee regular power generation and supply bidding to level the playing field in terms of long-term bilateral supply agreements; fast-track the establishment of an ancillary reserve market; and to assure reliable, adequate and reasonably priced power supply in Mindanao.

The PCCI is also seeking the establishment of benchmarks and the provision of necessary policy or financial support to ensure that small and medium enterprises will have the capacity to participate in regional trading activities.

Varela further said that the business group will call on the government and higher-education institutions to enhance the current curriculum to improve education standards and address the mismatch in employment.

To help revive industries and improve competitiveness, the PCCI will urge the government to draw up a masterplan for land, air and sea terminals to seamlessly link airports and seaports to cities and key destinations, thus ensuring the efficient movement of people, goods and services.

“We will also be calling on both the government and private sector to work together in lowering the cost of doing business, diversifying exports, promoting competition, seizing the benefits of international trade and liberalization, and supporting the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises,” Varela added.

He noted that the group’s proposals, which “speak of the real sentiments” of the business community, will mark the culmination of the 39th Philippine Business Conference slated next week.