Business group supports Aquino’s economic team
MANILA – The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the largest business organization in the country, pledged its support for President Benigno Aquino III’s economic team citing the group’s track record in managing the country’s foremost economic and business concerns.
PCCI president Francis Chua said the appointments of the cabinet secretaries and agency heads who belong to the economic team would boost business and investor confidence.
The teams include Cayetano Paderanga Jr., Cesar Purisima, Gregory Domingo, Lito Alvarez, Kim Henares and Proceso Alcala as heads of National Economic Development Authority, Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Department of Agriculture, respectively.
They are noted to have vast experience in providing long term policy solutions and sound advice on addressing issues such as the high budget deficit, improved revenue collection, infrastructure development, bureaucratic red tape and corruption, among others, Chua said.
“PCCI is indeed pleased with the roster of President Aquino’s economic team. It is our great desire to work closely with them to ensure that the interest of the private sector, more so, the small and medium entrepreneurs are reflected on the table,” he added.
PCCI has submitted to President Aquino a list of policy and action agenda it hopes to be addressed in the first 100 days of the Aquino administration.
Among these include: addressing the deficit problem, curtailing smuggling, assuring consistent investment and business policies to attract and maintain foreign investors, and total eradication of corruption at all levels in government.
“What PCCI submitted to the President is reflective of our strong desire to elevate public-private partnership to a new level. We hope to further elaborate these specific measures once we jumpstart our discussions and meetings with the economic team,” Chua added. PNA
