PCCI presents business priorities to PNoy

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Friday presented to President Benigno Aquino III a list of actions the current administration should undertake to enhance the country’s business competitiveness. The PCCI revealed to the President 41 resolutions it came up with during the three-day Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Manila. One of the resolutions concerning banking and finance urged the government to review the entire tax system on the national and local levels, according to the PCCI. The resolution is aimed at simplifying the tax system and coming up with a consolidated revised tax code and updated implementing revenue regulations. The PCCI also asked the Bureau of Internal Revenue to rationalize the expanded or creditable withholding tax system and to simplify the requirements for the processing of applications for tax treaty relief. Energy and environment The chamber also asked the government to “direct and spell out in clear terms" the country’s energy goals in terms of supply reliability, supply quality, rate or tariff competitiveness within the region, and how to sustain them. The PCCI said the Energy Department and the Energy Regulatory Commission should regularly set and establish timely benchmarking of the of the generation and final power rates or tariff against other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The group also asked the Energy Department to propose amendments to the Electric Power Industry and Reform Act of 2001 and other related measures. The PCCI urged the Climate Change Commission to immediately craft a national and local climate change action plan in coordination with the private sector. The government should mandate the full implementation of the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 with a “feasible and realistic plan" in consultation with the private sector to address the lack of landfills, materials recovery facilities, and treatment of facilities for toxic and hazardous waste. The PCCI urged the government to come up with more comprehensive measures on environmental protection, review ordinances on mining, and provide tariff support for the biofuels industry. The support for the biofuels industry could be bolstered by increasing tariffs on imported bioethanol fuel to 20 percent “by providing quota mechanisms while domestic capacity is still being developed." Public-Private Partnerships The government should craft a national infrastructure development plan to “realize the goal of strong and effective private-public partnership" or PPP for all infrastructure projects, the PCCI said. Aquino first laid out his plan for stronger PPPs in his State of the Nation Address last July when he urged the private sector to take a more active role in the government’s development and reform plans. The PCCI said that the PPP thrust should intensify the development of viable feasibility studies for priority projects, enhance and expand existing guidelines on Build-Operate-Transfer schemes, and fast-track the bidding process for projects with existing feasibility studies such as the LRT1 South extension, LRT2 extensions, CALA toll road, C6 phase 1, and LCC terminal. Aquino, in a speech at the end of the business conference, reiterated that role of the private sector in improving the country. “I encourage you to participate in the building of airports, roads and rail projects, transport terminals, water supply, and agriculture support facilities, among others," Aquino said. “We are simplifying the process of establishing a business and in stamping out red tape, and relaxing regulations on air travel to and from the country. All of these reforms are being undertaken in order to create a business-friendly atmosphere that will benefit you and the entire nation in the long run," the President said. - JE/OMG, GMANews.TV