Strategic plan that transcends administrations pushed
March 23, 2015 at 13:46
by Bernie Magkilat
March 22, 2015
The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) has urged for the formulation of a long-term strategic plan for the country that transcends administrations to ensure continued development in the country despite changes in leaderships.
In a speech before the Management Association of the Philippines in Makati, Doris Magsaysay-Ho, who represents the Philippines in the ABAC which is composed of 63 business leaders from 21 APEC-member economies, has called for a long-term national strategic plan as one measure that should ensure inclusive growth in the Philippines. The Philippines will host this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Summit, which will gather leaders and heads of state from 21 member countries in November this year.
“We need a long-term strategic plan that transcends administrations,” Magsaysay-Ho said.
She noted that various government agencies – National Economic and Development Authority, the Department of Trade and Industry and the government think tank Philippines Institute Development Studies, – are crafting long-term national roadmaps to identify the Philippines’ unique selling proposition for key sectors.
“Hopefully, the business sector through the MAP, Makati Business Club and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other organizations including the church, labor and civil society would be included to vet the roadmap so we have one country plan to guide policy and investment,” she said.
She said the DTI which is working on industry roadmaps with business association should be the custodians through the different administrations of the proposed long-term national strategic plan.
Magsaysay-Ho also stressed that for strategic plans to work “we must have a strong civil service and bureaucracy as partners of business.” She stressed the need to change the practice of having government appointees deep into levels of government.
Magsaysay-Ho has also called for the expansion of the country’s vision for trade in services for the country’s young population saying seven APEC economies have already sent a joint expression of support for the ABAC Philippines services thrust.
Thus, she said, there is a need to strengthen coalition among organizations and services sectors to craft roadmaps, but stressed that things are slow. The plan is to institutionalize the National Services Coalition in 2015.
In the shipping sector, for instance, Magsaysay-Ho stressed that the Philippines has the key ingredients to be a maritime center offering services to the global shipping industry.
“But we need to be much more determined and focused with a business plan if we are to compete with a country like Singapore,” she said.
She also pushed for the internal adoption of APEC’s action plans for SMEs to ensure their financing resources. In addition, she also called for the need to address constitutional constraints around land ownership by perfecting the rule of law around long-term land leases.
“We should study other countries’ legal structures and how long-term leases, can be accepted by banks as collaterals,” she added. As the country’s foremost woman business leader, MAP has tapped Magsaysay-Ho to be its speaker in this “Women’s Month”.
According to her, the true power for inclusive growth lies in the hands of business by bringing more women into the corporate world’s boards, building more long-term value driven relationships with suppliers, supporting innovation centers, investing in young entrepreneurs, reduce the bureaucracy so farmers and entrepreneurs can survive.
She reminded her businessmen audience that inclusive growth is more than an economic notion, it is a cultural one, a new mindset to embrace.
“Inclusive growth is the best enlightened self-interest to sustainably grow our businesses and the economy in a sustainable way to long-term prosperity and political stability,” she concluded.
Read more at https://www.mb.com.ph/strategic-plan-that-transcends-administrations-pushed/#1wD3LJCrte6GTR5I.99
