PCCI wants fasttracked ecozone proclamation

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) wants government to fasttrack the presidential proclamation of economic zone applications already approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) as these has caused some investors to hold back on their planned investments.

The resolution on the economic zone proclamation is one of the 10 recommendations submitted by the country’s largest business group to President Duterte at the close of the 43rd Philippine Business Conference and Expo.

PCCI president George Barcelon said this is the first time PCCI has included an item about fasttracking the presidential proclamation of economic zone applications in its annual set of resolutions.

“This issue on economic zone is quite pressing. Lately we’ve been hearing that there are pending applications. This issue is causing some concern to those investing in PEZA zones. According to them, the proclamations have stalled recently, unlike in the past,” Barcelon said.

 “Like the buildings being built for business process outsourcing, if you don’t have the proclamation, then it is natural that they hold back first because they are not yet sure if the economic zone where they are locating would be proclaimed or not,” he added.

In an interview last July, PEZA director general Charito Plaza said foreign investment pledges secured by the country are on the verge of being pulled out as delays on the proclamation of new economic zones have resulted in applications piling up at the Office of the President.

Aside from the delays in the proclamation of new economic zones, the PCCI has also issued resolutions for the sectors of agriculture, education, energy and power, environment, industry development, SME development, and transportation and logistics.

For the improvement of ease of doing business in the country, the PCCI urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue and local government units to review, simplify and streamline processes, requirements, and fees in business registrations, licenses and closures.

Barcelon said the PCCI has high hopes the Duterte administration would take immediate action on its current set of resolutions.