The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business group, asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to endorse 20 priority bills in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) as well as in the 20th Congress agenda.
PCCI president Enunina Mangio said in a letter to Malacañang the proposals aim to drive structural reforms that would “unlock the full potential of our economy” and promote “broadly shared and sustainable growth.”
These measures align with the administration’s goals of boosting competitiveness, expanding economic opportunities and fostering innovation, she said.
Topping the PCCI list is the Open Access in Data Transmission Bill (Konektadong Pinoy Act), which seeks to expand nationwide access to high-speed internet and support the implementation of the Digital Transformation Roadmap and the National Fiber Backbone.
PCCI also advocates for a National Comprehensive Infrastructure Masterplan to guide long-term, resilient infrastructure investments.
It said to enhance logistics and reduce operational costs, the business group supports the International Maritime Competitiveness Act and proposed amendments to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Act and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Charter, aimed at resolving regulatory overlaps and improving oversight in the shipping and aviation sectors.
It said to empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), it supports updates to the Magna Carta for MSMEs to improve access to finance, markets and technology.
The PCCI also calls for key reforms in agriculture and fisheries, including the Blue Economy Act, Corporate Farming Act, amendments to the Agri-Agra Law, ASIN Law, Warehouse Receipts Act and the long-pending National Land Use and Management Act.
The group is pushing for workforce-aligned reforms such as the Apprenticeship Training System Act and amendments to the Dual Training System Act to address skills gaps and promote youth employment. It also backs the National Quality Infrastructure Act to improve export standards and competitiveness.
It said to improve fiscal discipline and service delivery, the PCCI supports the Budget Modernization and Reform Act and the Customs Amnesty Act.
It also endorses the Cybersecurity Act, E-Governance Act and Artificial Intelligence Act to secure infrastructure and future-proof the economy.
“These measures address persistent bottlenecks in investment, logistics, rural development, and regulation. A strong endorsement from President Marcos during his SONA can accelerate their passage and underscore the administration’s commitment to inclusive, future-ready economic growth,” Mangio said.
