‘Inclusive growth’ needs private sector

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras on Tuesday urged the business community to help the government in its thrust to make economic growth inclusive—or benefit the poor—and adapt business models that can significantly contribute to poverty alleviation.

“The government cannot solve all the problems. We’re not good at sustainability. We need you, the private sector, to adapt an inclusive business [model]. We invite you to be part of the spatial and dimensional [facet] of poverty reduction. You can grow your business and build in new areas,” Almendras said in his speech at the 65th inaugural meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines.

“The only solution to poverty and the only way we can face up to the challenge of inclusive growth is if you, the private sector, participate. Growth will be more sustainable and truly effective if the private sector joins and builds inclusive business where they are most needed,” Almendras told businessmen.

There are a good number of areas outside Metro Manila and provinces that have yet to enjoy inclusive growth, among which are those in the 2012 list of priority areas or those considered as the “top provinces based on poverty magnitude.” These included Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Sur, Cebu, Pangasinan, Negros Oriental, Camarines Sur, Leyte, Iloilo, Sulu and Quezon.

Almendras gave an assurance that the government would commit to providing the necessary infrastructure and other investments that could help businesses set up shops in these areas where they were needed most.

MAP president Gregorio Santillan Navarro meanwhile urged the Philippine government to come up with its own “wish list” that will enable private companies to identify the industries and geographical areas they could chart plans for an “inclusive business.”

According to Navarro, the government would also have to continuously engage the “business community so we know exactly what we’re supposed to do and what we’re supposed to contribute.”

“[Take] what’s happening with the rehabilitation efforts [in the Visayas]. What the government should do is to create an exchange or website wherein you’ll put your wish list. Each community, each barangay and each province can put in their wish list and the private sector can respond and choose which areas and what things they can give,” Navarro said in reaction to Almendras’ speech.

“We have had breakfast meetings between MAP members and the government. But we continuously need to know what the government is doing, and which areas and where businesses should be. This country will not progress much if we are unable to bring up the level of the poor,” he noted.