A summary on the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) Web site on the list drawn up by leaders of the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) in meetings on April 17 and 22 -- the latter with Filipino business leaders -- bared the following priorities:

• cutting Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL) restrictions;

• passage of Resolution of Both Houses 1 to lift the constitutional cap on foreign ownership of land, natural resources, public utilities, media, and advertising;

• establishment of a Department of Information and Communication Technology to better address Web connectivity and data protection issues;

• taking the National Food Authority out of rice trading;

• enactment of the proposed Freedom of Information (FoI) law to improve transparency in government;

• signing into law of the proposed fair competition act to better guard against unfair trade practices;

• non-extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, countering a bill in Congress that now seeks to extend the period for identification and distribution of farm lands after the program ended in June 2014;

• lifting the moratorium on new mining applications without waiting for the new mining revenue-sharing scheme to secure congressional approval, in the belief that the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 is an “effective piece of legislation”;

• ensuring additional power capacity by 2016;

• adoption of a comprehensive energy road map;

• formation of an Energy Council with private sector participation to craft a “deliverable” industry road map;

• completion of appointments to fill empty posts among constitutional bodies and in the Philippine National Police;

• approval of the proposed Customs Modernization and Tariff Act to upgrade practices and better curb smuggling;

• adoption of comprehensive tax reform for individual and corporate income taxpayers;

• support for agriculture infrastructure with more investments, farm-to-market roads, and irrigation to trim costs while maximizing farm productivity; and

• addressing congestion in land, air, and sea ports with “more permanent solutions” that include amendments to the build-operate-transfer (BOT) law and facilitation of right-of-way acquisition for infrastructure projects.

Pressed for details, ECCP Executive Vice-President Henry J. Schumacher said the list was a “work in progress” and could be updated “late this week.”

“These issues have been on the agenda of business organizations for a long time, including in Arangkada,” he added, referring to the annual progress report prepared by the JFC to assess government action on business concerns.

Sought for comment, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Jr. said Malacañang remains receptive to suggestions. “We are always open to proposals from the business sector and other stakeholders,” Mr. Coloma said via text. “Concerned government agencies are expected to give due attention and consideration, and give feedback to these stakeholders.”

The proposed FoI and competition laws, as well as amendments to the FINL, BOT, and right-of-way laws form part of the 29-item list of priorities laid out by Malacañang at the start of the current 16th Congress in 2013.

MINING MORATORIUM STAYS
The proposal to lift the moratorium on granting of new exploration permits, however, got the cold shoulder from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

“The rationale of the Executive branch: why would it allow new mining projects if it would incur more losses for government with a lesser share in revenues? Then it’s better to not issue permits until the share of government is more equitable,” MGB Director Leo L. Jasareno said by phone.

“It is sticking to that position for now,” he added, clarifying that the Environment department issued an order that took effect on April 2, allowing area expansion for existing mining exploration projects.

The moratorium on new mining projects was imposed in 2011 and extended in 2012 through Executive Order No. 79.

A bill filed in the House of Representatives earlier this year and pushed by Malacañang to raise the state’s take from mining has been opposed by the industry for being onerous and uncompetitive. 

Source: Business World Online