Local and foreign businessmen on Monday asked the Duterte administration to support 12 economic legislative reform measures.
The Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc. and Joint Foreign Chambers made the request in a letter to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
“We understand that your office, along with the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office under Secretary Sitoy and Neda [National Economic and Development Authority], are coordinating proposals of the various departments and cabinet clusters in preparation for consideration by the Ledac [Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council] and President Duterte,” the business groups said in the letter.
The groups said many of the measures were considered in the last Congress but were unable to complete the legislative process.
These measures included the Bank Secrecy Law amendment, emergency powers to address traffic and transportation crises and the Retail Trade Act amendments.
Three more measures – the Public Service Act amendments, telecom reforms and the Water Sector Reform Act – were also regarded as exigent.
The groups also pushed for BOT [build-operate-transfer] Law amendments, Freedom of Information Act, Corporation Code amendments, apprenticeship program reforms, Comprehensive Tax Reform Package and constitutional amendments on foreign equity restrictions.
