MCCI to reiterate call to stop gov’t red tape

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) will stage another call to President Rodrigo Duterte to shorten, if not eradicate, the weaves of bureaucracy and corruption that is still happening in some government agencies.

"We will call the attention of the President again to cut the red tape, streamline bureaucracy, and other regulations that are still affecting the ease of doing business," said MCCI president Glenn Soco.

MCCI, which is currently celebrating its 11th Mandaue Business Month (MBM 2017) is planning to submit another position paper on this purpose, as businesses are still experiencing difficulties in doing business with some agencies in the government.

This move, he said is just following the President's direction for the business sector to be assertive and insist change and being the watchdog of government services across agencies.

During a dialogue with the Cebu business sector in March this year, Duterte asked the help from the Cebu business sector in his fight against corruption within the government, and challenged every businessman to report directly to him any hint or act of double-dealing.

"Help me minimize or do away corruption. I cant help Filipinos kun hindi ninyo ako tulungan. Akong bahala sa inyo," Duterte told business leaders.

"Filipinos are not assertive. He knows his right but don't do anything about it, " the President said referring to a proactive move in reporting immediately corruption, delayed permit approvals, or delayed tactics by government agencies especially in granting business permits, and other paperworks.

It is on this context, that Soco said MCCI will move to pressure the government in sustaining its fight for corruption, specifically in the regional, provincial or even in the municipal levels.

Soco also mentioned that there are also parts of the constitution that need to be updated, and that some of the rules are already outdated and don't anymore apply in the current business landscape. (FREEMAN)