President Marcos Jr. cites FFCCCII’s ‘high-impact’ socio-civic projects, importance of PH-China ties

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivering his speech before the new officers of FFCCCII. PNA PHOTO BY JOEY O. RAZON

On June 7, 2023 at Malacañan Palace in Manila after administering the induction of the newly elected 2023-2025 officers of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his speech, assured the leaders of the Filipino Chinese community that the national government is doing its best to improve the business climate in the Philippines and to strengthen the economy.

Improving ease of doing business

President Marcos said his administration has already taken the necessary steps to address the issues on ease of doing business in the country.

“Cognizant of the concerns of the sector, we will continue to listen and exert efforts to improve business climate and foster ease and efficiency of doing business,” Marcos said. “We have taken note of the issues that you have raised during our meeting last year and we have initiated many steps and adjustments to address those challenges,” he added.

In October 2022, Marcos and his officials met with the top officers of FFCCCII at Malacañan Palace to discuss goals and plans to usher the Philippine economy into the post-pandemic new normal.

Importance of PH-China ties

In his speech, President Marcos also cited the importance of the diplomatic relations and economic cooperation of the Philippines and China, and the positive contributions of the FFCCCII to strengthening this bilateral partnership. China is the largest trade partner of the Philippines, also becoming the important investment, tourism, infrastructure and technology partner of the country.

It was the parents of President Marcos, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos and then First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who on June 9, 1975, pioneered the opening of official diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) then led by Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai. That historic event was preceded by an earlier famous visit by Madame Imelda R. Marcos accompanied by her teen-aged son and now President Marcos, to Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou.

Marcos thanked the Federation for “having nurtured this relationship and served as a bridge between our two nations” for almost 70 years. Next year will be the 70th anniversary of the FFCCCII.

President Marcos also recognized the FFCCCII for being “at the forefront of efforts to bring investments and open various economic opportunities” which have benefited both the Filipino Chinese community and the general Filipino public.

Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs’ ‘astuteness, acumen’

He added: “Through your astuteness and acumen, the Federation and their members have injected dynamism to our country’s economy and our society, changing lives and communities in the process. For that, we recognize they are the most important and trusted partners of the government through the years.” President Marcos described the Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs as the country’s “partners in development.”

Leading the FFCCCII officers were newly elected president Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro (the industrialist delivered a speech in English and Filipino to reaffirm the Filipino Chinese business community’s support for Philippine economic development and social progress), honorary president Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong, honorary president Ambassador Francis Chua, honorary president Tan Ching, executive vice president Victor Lim, among others.

FFCCCII OATH-TAKING. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. poses for a photo with the new set of officers of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) who took their oath at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañan Palace in Manila City on June 7, 2023. The government is doing its best to improve the business climate in the Philippines, Marcos assured the group of Filipino-Chinese business leaders. PNA PHOTO BY JOEY O. RAZON

Accompanying President Marcos were his officials Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil, and National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Joeben Tai (who is also a board member of the FFCCCII).

Marcos said the government is implementing strategic initiatives that would benefit the business sector, including the digitalization efforts and the improvement of tax administration and fiscal incentives system. He noted that in Dr. Pedro’s speech, he had stressed digitalization as one of the new thrusts of FFCCCII in helping modernize and uplift Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs’ businesses and the whole Philippine economy.

Government and FFCCCII partnership, ‘high-impact’ socio-civic projects

Marcos said his administration would continue to preserve and strengthen its “reliable” and “mutually beneficial” partnership with the FFCCCII.

“We look forward to further deepening and strengthening that relationship through continuing dialogue and amicable approaches,” he said.

Marcos said the FFCCCII is one of the “most important and trusted” partners of the government, acknowledging the federation’s “high-impact” socio-civic projects in the country.

Among the civic projects include the “Operation Barrio Schools” with idealistic and philanthropic Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs donating and constructing numerous rural public school buildings in all regions of the Philippines. FFCCCII also conducts regular medical missions for disadvantaged communities. It has also been at the forefront of diverse calamity relief operations, whether typhoons or other disasters.

Another high-impact civic project supported by FFCCCII are the many Filipino Chinese volunteer fire brigades all over the country, which help victims of fires and other calamities regardless of their ethnic or socio-economic backgrounds.

Partners in the transformation of PH economy

Marcos expressed optimism that strengthened partnership for economic revitalization would yield “greater benefits for businesses, our citizens and our country.”

“Rest assured that this administration will continue to support this healthy relationship. It is not only a healthy relationship, it is one that we consider to be a necessary partnership, and I think it has been made clear that the policy of this administration is to have critical partners in the transformation of our economy,” Marcos said.

“May this partnership between the Philippine government and the Federation live on for decades to come. Let it remain to be the government’s dependable ally in the pursuit of our aspirations for a prosperous, inclusive and resilient society, and a more comfortable, secure life for us all,” he added.

Marcos also urged the newly elected FFCCCII officers to sustain the Federation’s legacy.

“With your unquestionable and proven dedication, wisdom and professionalism, I am certain that we will have positive influencers and prime movers in our communities to ably guide our economy to greater heights,” he said.