Let rule of law prevail: PCCI

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The Philippine Chamber of Commerce of Industry (PCCI) called on authorities to uphold the rule of law and the Constitution and cooperate with all sectors rather than use animosity within the next two months as the country strives to recover from the economic disruptions brought by the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

This was one of the 10 actionable and most urgent measures submitted by the PCCI to the Department of Finance at the Sulong Pilipinas 2020 dialogue yesterday.

PCCI’s statement comes in the wake of the ongoing debates on the anti-terrorism bill.

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“To align peace and order initiatives with good governance, the Department of National Defense, Philippine National Police , and the Armed Forces of the Philippines should reaffirm their commitment to the rule of law and to defend and uphold the Constitution, as well as engage multi-sectoral dialogues to promote cooperation rather than animosity across sectors of the society within the next two months,” said PCCI president Benedicto Yujuico, on recommendation number 8.

The sweeping recommendations covering a range of sectors from agriculture, education, investments and tourism which Yujuico said “the government must take to ensure that our country and our people, especially the most vulnerable, recover from COVID-19 in as quick and sustainable a manner as possible.”

First on the list is a call for the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry together with local government units (LGUs) to set up a system where small farmers can efficiently deliver their produce to food hubs located in various cities and provinces where prices are regulated by locals by 2020 to give a ready market to farm produce.

PCCI said the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) should partner with LGUs and private institutions to provide flexible learning materials, free wifi connection, and access to computers for both students and teachers before the start of the next school year. This is to ensure continued learning for all students, especially those from lower income families.

To promote financial inclusion and digitalization, the government should implement the National ID system and ensure digital connectivity of all government agencies and LGUs as soon as possible, Yujuico said.

PCCI also urged the legislature to pass a bill that will provide guidelines and mechanisms on how the different government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), and private organizations can efficiently and effectively provide aid to affected areas and communities as soon as possible. This, it said, will strengthen the government’s response mechanism to pandemics, the

To improve internet connectivity and accessibility in the country, PCCI urged the National Telecommunications Commission to implement policies that will allow an increased number of service providers, and at the same time, the executive and legislative branches of government should certify the Open Access in Data Transmission Bill as urgent and ensure its passage into law by July 2020.

The PCCI said the Department of Transportation together with the Inter-Agency Task Force and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority should allow the operation of mass public transportation including buses and jeepneys, and at the same time look into more sustainable transportation modes and open more and wider pedestrian and bike lanes within the year.

To strengthen the manufacturing sector, value chains and linkages between agriculture and manufacturing should be strengthened for improved collaboration, prioritization of homegrown resources and raw materials in supply chains, and enhanced product specialization.

To improve the competitiveness of Philippine tourism and support the development and growth of the sector, PCCI said LGUs and the Department of Tourism should improve coordination, align efforts, and work together to craft a more detailed recovery plan by 2021.

The group enchoed calls for more foreign direct investments and ensure job creation and preservation through the passage of the Public Service Act, Investment Act, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, and the Liberalization of the Agriculture sector by August 2020.

“We at the PCCI are ready to do what we must in providing employment, reviving economic activity, and contributing to the recovery of the Philippines,” Yujuico said in his remarks.

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