Saturday, October 16, 2010

PCCI maps strategy to grow key industries

By Abigail L. Ho
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:24:00 10/16/2010

Filed Under: Economy and Business and Finance, Education,Environmental Issues, Agriculture, Energy, Banking

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s biggest business group, has mapped out a strategy for strengthening a number of key industries that are crucial to the growth of the economy.
The proposals are contained in various resolutions in several categories, including agriculture, education, mining, energy, banking and finance, etc.
The group urged the passage of pending legislative bills, and proposed new laws that it said policymakers should consider formulating.
In agriculture, the group sought incentives to corporate farming, “without prejudice to the land reform program of government,” as well as the enactment of a bill that would allow farmers to use land acquired through land reform as collateral for bank loans.
Iwahig Penal Colony
It asked for a review of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act; for the implementation of research, development, support and training programs for small farmers; the use of the Iwahig Penal Colony as a hybrid seed plantation; the restoration of the Quedan “D” sugar allocation for food processors and exporters; and the reorganization of the Sugar Regulatory Administration to include private-sector representatives.
In banking, finance and taxation, the group asked for a review of the national and local tax system and come up with a consolidated revised tax code and updated revenue regulations; a simplification of the requirements for tax treaty relief; and rationalization of the expanded withholding tax system.
Support for DepEd K+12
In education, the group expressed support for the Department of Education’s proposed K+12 scheme, and asked for a comprehensive and cohesive policy to address the mismatch in education and employment.
In energy and power, the PCCI asked for clear policy objectives for supply reliability and quality, rate competitiveness, and sustainability of competitive rates.
In line with this, it asked for regular benchmarking of generation and final power rates against other Association of Southeast Asian Nations member-states to give proper guidance to consumers.
For National Ecology Center
In the environment, it called on government to formulate and implement the National and Local Climate Change Action Plan, fully implement the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and put up a National Ecology Center that would formulate guidelines on the use of environmentally acceptable materials.
In the area of good governance, the group suggested that the Department of Finance set up a special prosecution unit to facilitate the resolution of smuggling and tax evasion cases.
In housing and construction, the PCCI sought the appointment of a dedicated trade undersecretary to handle the manufacturing industry for construction.
Infra development plan
In infrastructure, the group sought the formulation of a National Infrastructure Development Plan, which would help realize the goal of successful public-private partnerships. Feasibility studies should be conducted as soon as possible on priority projects, while accelerated bidding processes should be conducted for projects with existing feasibility studies, it said.
In the area of intellectual property, the PCCI urged the Senate to ratify the country’s accession to the Madrid Protocol, which would automatically grant recognition by other signatories of patents and registrations filed in one member-country.
The mining sector should also be given close attention through a harmonization of local taxes, and a review of the legality of open-pit mining, it said.
The PCCI sought to boost tourism through the full implementation of the Tourism Law.
Master plan
The group also urged the government to come up with a master plan for the construction of airports and ports to prevent duplication of investments.
The PCCI listed a number of pending bills that it said should be passed within the next six years, including the Anti-Trust, Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives, Freedom of Access to Information, Simplified Net Income Tax, Department of Information and Communications Technology, among others.

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