The Marcos administration is working to create a favorable environment for businesses to thrive, including a push for a digital economy, Speaker Martin Romualdez said during the 44th National Conference of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines on Tuesday.
Romualdez said Congress joined hands with the administration to cut red tape and promote ease of doing business, among others.
“Recognizing the advent of the digital economy, we’ve championed the Digital Philippines program. This is a dual effort to enhance our digital infrastructure and arm our workforce with the necessary digital skills, creating an avenue for more job opportunities in the tech sector,” he said.
“Moreover, we are committed to ensuring that our economic growth is inclusive and sustainable. We are prioritizing sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and services, which are crucial for job creation, particularly for marginalized communities,” Romualdez added.
Addressing several foreign dignitaries present, Romualdez said now is the time to invest in the Philippines which has the fastest-growing economy in the world, apart from having a very popular leader in President Ferdinand Marcos.
He said the House of Representatives is working hard to institutionalize needed reforms, noting that before the 19th Congress adjourned its First Regular Session, the chamber approved 33 out of the 42 priority legislations in the common legislative agenda of the Legislative-Executive Advisory Council (LEDAC).
Romualdez said among the approved measures was the Maharlika Investment Fund bill, which seeks to create the country’s first-ever sovereign investment fund that is expected to become a major source of funding for the administration’s big-ticket projects.
Romualdez exhorted the ECOP to continue its partnership with the government to ensure sustained post-pandemic recovery and growth.
He also thanked the business leaders for their resilience and fortitude in facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by keeping their businesses afloat to ensure millions of Filipinos have a lifeline or a source of income during the crisis.
“I am confident that with the continued collaborative efforts of the Marcos administration, the 19th Congress, and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, we can achieve a prosperous and resilient economy, offering a brighter future for all Filipinos,” he said.
