Business groups warm up to Duterte’s 10-pt agenda

MANILA, Philippines - So far, so good.

That is the business community’s verdict to what the incoming administration has in store for the private sector days before president-elect Rodrigo Duterte assumes his post.

The incoming administration is fresh from conducting a two-day workshop with the business community early this week in Davao where Duterte’s economic programs for the country were detailed.

“The meeting in Davao sends a very good signal that the president and his team are willing to listen to the business community,” Makati Business Club (MBC) chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. said.

During the Davao workshop, the incoming Duterte administration presented its 10-point socioeconomic agenda, an expanded agenda from previously announced eight-point economic plan.

“Those are all welcome by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). Most of them in fact, if not perhaps aside from two, were all our suggestions which we course through Sonny Dominguez, and we’re very happy with it. We never thought that he will waver on those things because those are really fantastic economic agenda,” MAP president Perry Pe said.

Both MBC and MAP are hoping that the government’s interaction and partnership with the business sector would be sustained throughout the six-year term of Duterte.

“The reason for the success of the Aquino administration is the very close collaboration with the business community. We have had access to at least the economic ministers on a regular basis and we have formed ourselves into both the Philippine business groups and joint foreign chambers where we come together and meet regularly,” Del Rosario said.

In response with the business community’s call for a continued close interaction and partnership, a member of the incoming administration assured the private sector that they will be heard and will be well taken care of in the next six years.

“Incoming finance secretary Sonny Dominguez is a businessman himself so he knows the importance of business and he is friendly and very understanding to the business sector,” incoming socioeconomic planning secretary and National Economic and Development Authority director general Ernesto Pernia said.

“I’m not a businessman nor is (incoming budget secretary) Benjamin Diokno but as economists, we know that the business sector would be a major player in the economy, not the government. The government is just an enabler and a conducive environment provider. It should not be in business,” Pernia added.