Local and foreign business groups called on the House of Representatives and the Senate to pass priority economic reform bills as the 18th Congress approaches its last few session weeks.
The groups said they sent letters to House and Senate leaders and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office where they pushed for the passage of 11 reform bills which have reached advanced stages in either chamber of Congress and only require counterpart action in the other chamber.
They said the enactment of the following bills will help address post- pandemic economic recovery: Amendments to the Public Service Act; Department of Water Resources Management; Ease of Paying Taxes bill; Freedom of Information; Open Access in Data Transmission; Philippine Creative Industries; Promotion of Digital Payments; Rural Agricultural and Fisheries Development Financing System Act; Secrecy of Bank Deposits Law amendments; Tax Reform Package 3: Property Valuation and Assessment Reform and; Tax Reform Package 4: Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation.
The groups also sought for the early ratification of the reconciled versions of three bills under several bicameral conference committees: Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act, Foreign Investment Act amendments, and National Transportation Safety Board creation
The business groups lauded the enactment of various vital measures, including several which they recommended, which would attract more investment and improve job creation in the economy.
The business groups reiterated their opposition to the inclusion of any provision in the pending Senate version of the amendments to the Public Service Act that expands the legislative franchise requirement to public services beyond those provided under existing laws.
In a separate statement, Chris Nelson, executive director of British Chamber of Commerce, noted the importance of sending encouraging signals to investors, specifically through the passage of key economic bills to help liberalize the economy.
Nelson said the bills amending RTLA, the Foreign Investment Act and the Public Services Act, are certified as urgent.
“We’d like to see a continued focus on measures which will further liberalize the economy, further transparency in setting up and doing ease of business,” Nelson told a television interview when asked about what the Chamber expects from the next administration.
