Top industry leaders representing the country’s business groups have called for united action to sustain interventions to address gaps in the pandemic response and economic crisis.
In a virtual weekend roundtable discussion hosted by the Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute on “The Private Sector as a reliable partner to the government in economic recovery,” Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute President Dindo Manhit, in his opening statement said:
“I’ve long argued that the shared prosperity will be crucial in uplifting the lives of Filipinos, accelerating the country’s economic momentum and in helping rebuild the nation toward sustainable and resilient development.”
Manhit said, “Economic solutions can address this if we can provide good jobs that can generate enough savings, that can allow people to overcome some of these social difficulties brought about by the pandemic beyond the health challenges.
“I believe that the private sector can demand transparency and accountability in governance. We need to shape that environment.”
Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said, “If we will act in unison, work together, join forces and focus on some key areas where we can all make a difference, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that the private sector can be a massive generator of goodwill in our country and a solution to many of our problems.”
He added: “I do believe that the private sector is a force for growth and a force for good. And if we continue to put our collective resources and determination, the task will be able to force multiply the growth and the good that we can do in nation building.”
On the other hand, President of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr.., expressed concern on the government’s response to the increasing rate of unemployment, and the slow re-opening of the economy which he said had hampered business operations of small and medium enterprises, and the big corporations.
“Based on the very slow reopening of business with the medical and the military making decisions for the domestic economy, we see business recovery to start only next year,” said Ortiz-Luis Jr.
The President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ambassador Benedicto Yujuico, said, “PCCI is well aware of the suffering local business endured during the height of the enhanced community quarantine last year. In our consultations with members and local chambers, we saw how various industries experienced major losses and were rendered powerless.
“I think it is time for us to work with the government to assess where we are because in the future, we need to be better prepared as we realize to take care of our own people and not to depend on other countries for our health and welfare.”
Management Association of the Philippines President, Gigi Montinola, said, “Lack of mobility, difficulties in logistics, inadequate public transportation, continued mask wearing, social distancing, and lack of consumer confidence are the major negatives. Digitalization, work from home, and a rapid positive cultural pivot towards climate change, healthier lifestyles, and simpler lives are the positives. The vaccine will help, but don’t bet your business on it.
“The pandemic today looks gruesome. But even if we are the slowest to recover, this too will pass. And we have to do our share to make this pass more quickly.”
Makati Business Club Chairperson Edgar Chua said, “Government spending is focused on subsidies or import duties which distorts the production and markets. A solution being proposed is to shift spending to research and development, to improve productivity and market connectivity, and to lower the various costs associated with the whole value chain.
“Our crops remain low value and not diversified despite laws intended to promote the shift.”
Stratbase ADRi Chairman Ambassador Albert del Rosario said, “Developing secure Business-to-Government and Citizen-to-Government platforms integrated with real-time information management systems will eliminate the need for physical presence and the slow and archaic paper-based, manual signature heavy process, in getting the necessary permits, payment of fees and taxes, and other documents.
“Public and private institutions can no longer cling to their old ways and must now step-up their digital transformation to deliver their services and products efficiently and extensively.”