Business group submits policy recommendations

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has crafted policy resolutions that capture the business community’s collective aspirations and expectations from the new administration.

The resolutions, which cover the areas of food security, health and employment, among others, are set to be turned over to President Marcos today at the 48th Philippine Business Conference and Expo.

To achieve food security, the PCCI is urging the national government to amend the Agrarian Reform Law to increase land retention limit from five to 24 hectares, implement a debt condonation program for unpaid amortizations of agrarian reform beneficiaries, and convert Certificates of Land Ownership Award into fee simple titles.

For its resolution on health, the group is urging the national government to reform the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. into a science-based and transparent healthcare system and encourage public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law.

In terms of employment, the group is calling on the government to work together with the private sector to reenergize the economy by supporting new investments to generate employment, provide assistance to pandemic-surviving micro, small and medium enterprises, amend all restrictive and punitive labor laws, and enact laws that will increase productivity.

Also covered by the resolutions is education. The group is urging the government to amend the Philippine Qualifications Framework Law to create a Philippine Qualifications Authority, which will establish and maintain qualification standards for all levels of education and training.

As for national security, the group has stressed the need for the government to deepen cooperation with neighboring states as well as expand participation in regional and multilateral defense agreements, while accelerating the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The PCCI is also pushing for the development and implementation of a nationwide internet connectivity program that is reliable and competitive by passing into law the Open Access in Data Transmission Act.

In addition, the group is urging the government to address climate change and environmental protection by developing PPPs to establish world-class water and waste management infrastructure as part of its resolution on environment and climate change.

The group is also urging the government to accelerate the integration of the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids to enable the free flow of electricity nationwide, and for the Department of Energy to amend the implementing rules and regulations of the Renewable Energy Act to allow 100 percent foreign investment in solar and wind projects.