SONA draws mixed reaction from business
The business community has mixed reaction to President Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
George T. Barcelon, president of the country’s largest business organization the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said the President touched on a lot of issues but failed to mention agriculture and the micro, small and medium enterprises.
“We should uplift the rural people and they are the ones into agriculture,” he said.
Overall, he said, the President’s speech was comprehensive enough. He cited the socio-economic platform and the infrastructure programs of the government.
He also noted of the president’s emphasis on the continued campaign against illegal drugs, tax reform and education to improve the country’s competitiveness.
Barcelon said they welcomed the President’s commitment for improved Internet services but said this should have a specific timeframe.
“I was hoping I would hear that by next year our internet service is already comparable with the middle ground of ASEAN countries, there should be a timeline,” he said.
He also supported the President’s call for right sizing of the government bureaucracy but said that efficiency should be more important.
PCCI Chairman Emeritus Francis Chua lauded the President’s resolve to effect change in the country from his fight against illegal drugs to protecting the environment.
He cited the portion on illegal drugs where the President stressed that it is the root cause of evil and that martial law is the least cost and fast solution to the terrorism being waged by the Maute Group in Mindanao.
He also lauded the President’s consistent policy on mining when he urged mining firms to follow the law or he will shut down their operations.
The President’s commitment to provide free Wi-Fi and improved internet connectivity was a big relief for the business community, Chua said.
“Most of all, the President is pushing for his infrastructure development agenda,” Chua said.
Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, said “I heard all I wanted to hear.”
He, however, said that the mining portion of the speech was too long that some of the time allotted to it could have been devoted to other issues.
“I wish there could have been more details to the government’s infrastructure projects,” he said.
Jesus Januario Atencio, president of low-cost property developer 8990 Holdings, lamented that there was hardly any mention of the housing or any significant shelter program in the President’s speech.
“This gives the impression that housing – a vital economic and social mobilizer – is not that prominent in the President’s consciousness. This only means that we need to strengthen our advocacies, convince those in the corridors of power that housing can and should be a centerpiece program that provides not only economic benefits but more.
Importantly, a more stable and inclusive Philippine society,” said Atencio.
American businessman John Forbes, senior advisor at the American Chamber of Commerce, described the President’s speech as “forceful.”
“The President took a very strong stance on his top policy concerns, including drugs and rebellion. However, it was not – as predicted by his spokesman – much about ‘a comfortable life for all’,” he said.
“We would have liked to hear about his top legislative priorities and reforms to create more jobs, more details about Build, Build, Build, and more priority bills measures than the six he mentioned. We welcome early passage of the BBL, rightsizing, national land use, procurement, tax measures, and implementation of the RH law.”