PCCI to submit resolutions on taxation, agriculture, trade to Duterte at forum

THE 45TH Philippine Business Conference and Expo on Oct. 16-17 will result in resolutions in a breadth of national concerns including agriculture, taxation, trade, transportation, and tourism.

Organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the 38 resolutions will be submitted to President Rodrigo R. Duterte at the conclusion of the event in Manila Hotel.

For agriculture, PCCI will be endorsing the lowering of rice import costs while also urging the government to rationalize the importation of sugar in consultation with industry stakeholders.

To improve investment promotion, PCCI recommends the strict implementation of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act. The law requires government services to process transactions between three to 20 days.

To address energy concerns, PCCI is looking to improve the Palawan tourism sector with sustained and reliable power. They plan to ask the Department of Energy (DoE) and the National Electrification Administration to fast-track power transmission projects and accelerate the development plan to connect cities and municipalities to the main grid.

PCCI is also submitting resolutions to address environment, climate change, and disaster management. For disaster management, they are calling on local government units to craft disaster and risk reduction ordinances for businesses.

PCCI is urging government agencies to address the growing waste management issue, recommending the DoE and the Department of Natural Resources to implement policies that establish waste to energy facilities.

The chamber is also asking the government to assist micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). They urge the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to strengthen its mentoring program “to cascade valuable initiatives like corporate social responsibility, occupational safety and health, disaster risk reduction and management, strategic thinking and planning.”