Villar promises investor-friendly environment

Presidential aspirant Senator Manuel Villar Jr. touted his management skills before the country's top businessmen on Wednesday, promising not just to level the playing field but also attract foreign investments through clear rules, simple tax laws, a competent labor force and decent infrastructure. Speaking before some 300 members of the influential Makati Business Club at the Dusit Thani Hotel, the Nacionalista Party standard bearer also cited the need for businesses to finance start-ups and small enterprises to reawaken the Filipino's entrepreneurial spirit. "What I will do is create an investment climate where our country will be back on the radar screen of foreign investors. Simply leveling the playing field is not good enough. What good is a level playing field here, if the field in other countries is much more attractive?" Villar said. But top officers of the business group did not seem impressed, noting that while the lawmaker delivered his speech well, it was not as meaty as rival Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III's government platform. Businessmen also questioned Villar's continued refusal to refute charges that he had enriched himself and his companies over the C-5 road extension project at the state's expense. "There was no clarification of what happened in the Senate. He gave the same answers," MBC Executive Director Alberto Lim told reporters in Filipino. "One of the concerns of the business community is his refusal to answer questions in the Senate hearing on the C-5 issue," former MBC chief Guillermo Luz said. Lim also doubted Villar's promise that he would not illegally amass wealth to recover his election expenses. Villar was the second presidential candidate to speak before the MBC. Last month, Aquino told the businessmen he would pave the way for a level playing field, a streamlined process for business transactions, and strong political will to stamp corruption and rebuild the country's damaged institutions. (See Noynoy vows clean gov't, level playing field for biz) In his speech, Villar also promised to weed out corruption, build infrastructure, raise education standards, create jobs, cut poverty and promote an environment conducive to investments. Under his administration, he said, bidding for big government contracts will be televised. "Like most of you here, I know the difference between knowing what has to be done, and actually being able to do it," Villar said. He also defended his pro-poor stance, saying it doesn't mean he would be anti-rich. "I will focus on the poor because I understand their plight, but I also understand that we will need businesses to grow and thrive so the economy can move forward and our people can find employment," Villar said. A survey of MBC members in December showed that Aquino was their top pick for President, getting 61 percent of their votes. They said corruption was the top issue (79 percent) that the next administration should address, followed by peace and order (35 percent) and infrastructure (24 percent) — Amita Legaspi/NPA, GMANews.TV