Visayas bizmen to discuss Expanded Anti-red Tape Act

CEBU, Philippines - The business community in Visayas expects to tackle more deeply on the Expanded Anti-Red Tape Act or Senate Bill 1311, during the upcoming 26th Visayas Area Business Conference (VABC) to be held in Cebu on September 28-29, 2017.

Chaired by Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) past president Edward S. Gaisano, the details of the anticipated passage of the bill into law, is one of the hottest topics that will be given emphasis in the two-day event, as Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri confirmed his presence.

Senate Bill 1311, or the Expanded Anti-Red Tape Act, was approved with a vote of 17-0 by the Senate last week.

Zubiri, chairman of the Senate committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship who sponsored the measure, said the bill was crafted in response to the clamor of the business sector and government agencies to improve ease of doing business in the country and make it competitive and compliant with global business practices and standards.

Authored by Senators Panfilo Lacson and Joel Villanueva, the bill sets a new prescribed period for both national and local government offices in processing applications.

In a press conference, CCCI president Melanie Ng said that it is crucial for the business community in the Visayas to know more about this bill, and how it will affect the island economy of Visayas.

This year's VABC expects to gather over 400 delegates from all over Visayas, as well as other parts of the country, Gaisano said.

The ease of doing business and eradicating the weave of red tape in the government agencies are two of the battle-cry concerns of the business community for a long time now.

The Senate has approved on third and final reading the amendment of the Anti-Red Tape Act to further promote transparency in public transactions with the government.

To carry the theme "Connecting Ideas, Connecting Economies," the 26th VABC to be held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino is to be hosted by CCCI in partnership with Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Aside from Zubiri, top-tier speakers will also share their expertise in different significant topics, like  Ambassador Gregory Slayton, managing director of Slayton Capital and member of the board of advisors at Google, Salesforce.com and Bloom Energy.

Other speakers include, shipping king Chester Cokaliong, CEO of Cokaliong Shipping Lines; boxing legend and Senator Manny Pacquiao; Cecilio K. Pedro president of Lamoiyan Corporation; Jose "Joey" Ma. Conception III, president and CEO of RFM Corporation and Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship; and beauty guru Victoria "Vicki" Belo, president and medical director of Belo Medical Group.

His Excellency Zhao Jianhua, Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of the Philippines will also grace the event as guest of honor and speaker. (FREEMAN)