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[OPINION] A forum for the future

BUSINESS CHIC By Johnny Litton  | Updated November 20, 2017 – 12:00am

Arangkada Philippines Project chief-of-party and American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) senior adviser John Forbes discusses the forum program and presents the latest Arangkada publication

The Joint Foreign Chambers of the
Philippines recently celebrated the
sixth anniversary of its Arangkada Philippines Forum at the Grand Ballroom
of the Marriott Hotel Manila in Pasay
City. With the theme Implementing the
Ten-Point Agenda, the forum discussed
key programs and policies that support
the achievement of President Duterte’s 
ten-point socioeconomic agenda for the
years ahead. Led by Arangkada Philippines Project chief-of-party and American Chamber of Commerce of the Phil
ippines (AmCham) senior adviser John
Forbes, the forum was attended by distinguished industry leaders from both the public and private sectors, including National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) secretary and director general Ernesto Pernia and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. A prestigious roster of speakers, panelists, and moderators came together to discuss the many advocacies of the private sector that will surely lead to higher and more inclusive growth. Congratulations to the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines for a successful Arangkada Philippines Forum!

A new milestone for Robinsons Land Corp

Robinsons Land Corp., led by president Frederick Go, celebrated another milestone with the topping off ceremony for one of its prime projects, Chimes Greenhills. Located along Annapolis Street in San Juan City, the 40-storey mixed-use residential development under RLC’s Robinsons Communities brand also has a hotel component managed by Robinsons Hotels and Resorts. Seen in the photo during the noteworthy event are Robinsons Hotels and Resorts project director Bernardo Mariano, RLC project office head Rodanil De Silva, Robinsons Communities head of business development Edgardo Samson and head of sales Ferdinand Adriano, Robinsons Luxuria, Residences and Communities business unit general manager Henry Yap, Robinsons Infrastructure and Integrated Developments associate project director Glenn Encarnacion, Robinsons Hotels and Resorts director of sales Monica Casperino and RLC Allied Services and Support Departments assistant vice president lawyer John Evangelista. Congratulations to Robinsons Land Corporation for this award- winning development!

Source: https://www.philstar.com/business-usual/2017/11/20/1760440/forum-future

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[OPINION] Continuity in advocacy

By Melito Salazar Jr. | Published 

If we want change to happen, there is a need to constantly and continually hammer on the advocacies that we espouse. Once we stop, there will be absolutely no chance for change to occur. That is why I understand and appreciate the unceasing efforts of family, friends, and sympathizers of Jonas Burgos who, up to today despite the frustrations including the acquittal of the military officer allegedly responsible for his disappearance and the non-appearance of witnesses, continue to persevere in ferreting out the truth.
 
Their hope is that at some future time they will succeed. Their yearnings are bolstered by recent developments that seem to indicate the creeping sensitiveness of the Duterte administration to public sentiments. The Duterte decision to make the PDEA the lead government agency in the fight against drugs and shifting the PNP focus to criminality is an example how overwhelming public concern can lead to meaningful change.
 
It is not only in societal issues that continuity of advocacy can produce results. A good example in the business arena is Arangkada Philippines, a derailed source of policy documents with recommendations from the foreign investment community to support increased foreign investment and the resultant job creation. Since the late 2010, Arangkada has prepared and published five policy briefs and seven policy notes in addition to its original book – Arangkada Philippines 2010: A Business Perspective. While sponsored by the seven members of the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) the policy papers and notes are a product of a consultative process involving academe, other thought leaders in a diverse field of expertise and other businessmen.
 
Building on the Seven Big Winner Sectors (agribusiness, business processing management, creative industries, infrastructure, manufacturing and logistics, mining and tourism, medical travel, and retirement), the recommendations are monitored to indicate progress and a sense of the seriousness of government. They are complemented by other reforms in the general business climate – business costs, environment and natural disasters, foreign equity and professionals, governance, judicial, labor, legislation, local government, macroeconomic policy, security, social services for education, health, and population and poverty.
 
Progress of implementation are brought up to the highest level of the Philippine government like President Benigno Aquino just as was done in March 7, 2016. Recently, the JFC organized the six annual Arangkada Forum on the theme “Implementing the 10-point Agenda of the President Rodrigo Duterte Administration” with five panels discussing key programs, policies, and programs supporting the agenda and grouped as follows: Muscling the Economy: Filling the Infrastructure Gap; Philippine Industrial Revolution: Manufacturing, Logistics, and Mining; Game Changers: Agribusiness, Creative Industries, and Tourism; Disruptive Technologies: Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Drones, Robots, etc.; and Philippine Workforce 2030: Human Capital Challenges and Solutions. Even just a cursory look at the Duterte economic agenda reveals that much is anchored on previous recommendations of Arangkada and thus it was not difficult to marry the two and identify priority areas for action. Such areas can be gleaned from comparing 2017 metrics with 2016 such as average broadband speed at 4.5 Mbps compared to 1Mbps; BPO employment of 1,300,000 compared to 536,128; foreign direct investment of $7.9 billion in contrast to $1.1 billion; and unemployment rate of 5.5% compared to 7.30%.
 
Accomplishments are clear but the road ahead is replete with challenges for the Philippines still lags behind its ASEAN partners in terms of overall competitiveness. The World Economic Forum 2016-2017 Global Competitiveness Report identified problematic areas that affect competitiveness – inefficient government bureaucracy, inadequate supply of infrastructure, corruption, tax rates, tax regulations, policy stability and restrictive labor regulations.
 
It is clear that while the 10-point Duterte agenda addresses some of these areas, it can only succeed if all of the areas are acted upon. We are fortunate that we have JFC through Arangkada that will continuously monitor and sustain their advocacy for inclusive economic growth. One wishes all other advocates would ascribe to continuity and sustainability. Only then can real change occur.
 
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[OPINION] Judicial Issues and Corruption

By  Henry J. Schumacher | October 2, 2017
 

 

During the very well attended Arangkada Forum on September 14, there was much focus on sectors with substantial growth potential—including agriculture, creative industries, information and communications technology, manufacturing, mining, logistics and tourism. But—not surprisingly—the cost of doing business, judicial issues and corruption were raised in many panel discussions.

In building a competitive business environment, judicial and anticorruption policies are very important to attract and to keep investors. Reforms in the administration of justice are ongoing, but their implementation should be continuously intensified.

Some of the problematic factors in the WEF competitiveness ranking pertained to the judicial and security problems that afflict the Philippines. According to the WEF ratings, investors also identified corruption (16.9 percent), policy instability (7 percent) and crime and theft (3 percent). The Supreme Court and the judicial system it administers face major challenges, such as case backlog, using modern technology and obtaining more funding. These are factors that investors very much consider before they invest in a particular country and comprises of what makes a country competitive.

Clogged courts have long been an issue in the Philippine judiciary system. It often takes numerous years to have a case decided and, as new cases come every year, caseloads have piled up. Major reforms have been introduced under the leadership of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes A. Sereno, including computerization of decisions, court records and continuous trials.

Corruption has long been a major concern for doing business in the country. Only in recent years has it moved down from first to third place in the WEF assessment to be slightly below red tape and poor infrastructure. In the Transparency International annual Corruption Perception Index the Philippines improved from 134th in 2010 to 101st in 2016, yet is still ranked in the bottom 50 percent, along with Indonesia, Thailand  and Vietnam.

The Arangkada Team has listed 26 recommendations; I have taken the liberty to reduce the recommendations a bit:

  1. Continue to increase judicial salaries and hire more judges, encouraging new judges to reduce the case backlog more. Steadily raise the budget for the judicial branch.
  2. Make greater use of alternative dispute resolution and arbitration to resolve civil disputes outside of courts, which should reduce the backlog of cases and hasten justice.
  3. Reduce the caseload of the Supreme Court by limiting acceptance of cases largely to cases involving national issues.
  4. The Ombudsman should improve its capability to investigate and prosecute allegations of corruption against public officials. The Sandiganbayan should reduce its backlog of cases and increase it conviction rate.
  5. Pass amendments to the Ombudsman Act to Strengthen the Ombudsman as an Institution, Upgrading of Ombudsman Employee Skills, Augmenting Compensation and Benefits, and Enhancing Fiscal Autonomy.
  6. The government must demonstrate through consistent example that it has the political will to greatly reduce corruption. Investigating, bringing charges against and successfully prosecuting government officials and private-sector persons and corporations guilty of not paying proper taxes, bribery and other major corrupt acts must be sustained.
  7. Public officials and private persons found guilty of major corrupt activities should, after a fair trial, be punished with heavy sentences, including imprisonment and seizure of assets.
  8. Strengthen the anticorruption legal framework by passing: a) anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act amendments; b) Witness Protection Act; and c) Whistleblowers Protection Act.
  9. Pass laws to exempt BIR and BOC employees from the Salary Standardization Act (or, better, privatize the activities of both government organizations).
  10. Appropriate resources should be provided to the justice- sector actors to support the fair administration of justice.
  11. Strengthen economic justice. Establish and enhance special courts that will address specific cases and pursue contract enforcement. For instance, infrastructure courts, commercial courts, cybercrime courts and environmental courts.
  12. Streamline rules on the disposition of land cases. The Supreme Court should study the need to designate special courts on land- dispute settlement.
  13. Raise scientific-investigation capabilities and strengthen witness and whistleblower
    protection.
  14. Reinforce alternative ADR mechanisms so that courts can refer cases for ADR and help in the speedy disposition of cases.
  15. Information and communication technology should be used sector-wide to help address fragmentation in the justice system and greatly enhance the information management of the whole justice sector.

There is no doubt that good intensions by the government and the private sector are not enough; judicial reform and anticorruption initiatives are needed to successfully implement the 10-point socioeconomic agenda of the Duterte administration.

Image Credits: Skypixel | Dreamstime

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/judicial-issues-and-corruption/

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Eastern Communications joins JFC in support of Phl economic growth at 6th Arangkada Philippines Forum

Posted on Sep 26 2017 – 8:45pm by Upgrade Staff
 
 

The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) held the 6th Arangkada forum, themed “Implementing the 10-Point Agenda”. Co-sponsored by Eastern Communications, the 6th Arangkada Philippines Forum tackled the acceleration of the country’s economic growth using the administration’s 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda, which includes recommendations on key programs and policies in the fields of agribusiness, business processing management, infrastructure (telecommunications, water, transportation and power), manufacturing, logistics, mining and tourism.

(From left) Mary Grace Villaruel, Eastern Communications Market Intelligence Specialist , John D. Forbes, Chief of Party, The Arangkada Philippines Project and Senior Adviser, The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Bruce Winton, President, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Jurelyn San Antonio, Eastern Communications, Campaign Management Coordinator, Hiroshi Shiraishi, President, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc., Melanie Tabuena – Eastern Communications Product Management Specialist and Sidney Esteron, Eastern Communications Associate Account Manager

The 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda aims to spur self-sustaining and inclusive growth throughout the country, with its successful implementation depending not only on the efforts of the government but also the active participation of the business community. The fastest growing of the larger ASEAN-6 economies, Philippines’ economy has been seeing significant developments , with its gross domestic product (GDP) growth averaging 6.3 percent from 2011 to 2016.

However, National Competitiveness Council (NCC-private sector) Co-chair Guillermo M. Luz also pointed out the struggle to keep up with neighboring countries.

“In the report for global competitiveness or global competitiveness Index, we’re ranked 47th in 2015 but we slipped in the last year to 57th. This is a reminder that if we slow down (even) for a little bit, if we relax too much, other countries will move up,” Luz said.

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To speed up the country’s economic growth, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Usec. Denis Vilorente stressed the importance of filling in the infrastructure gap. Among the projects needed are the proposed Mega Manila subway, construction and rehabilitation of airports and seaports, construction of 13 new bridges across Pasig River, and the rehabilitation of Guadalupe Bridge.

The modernization of the country’s telecommunication infrastructure is another challenge that needs to be addressed. As estimated by the World Bank, a country can achieve a 1.38-percent increase in its GDP if the broadband penetration is increased by 10 percent. Competitive digital connectivity can lower the cost of doing business while the digitization of processes and providing convenient online applications and licensing can cut down processing time and curb red tape, thus increasing the ease of doing business in the country.

DICT Undersecretary Dennis Vilorente said that they are now working on the reform of the public sector document processing through digital transactions and urging the local governments and agencies to make use of the GovCloud to reduce the paper filing for private firms and individuals.

The JFC recommends supporting start-up ventures to encourage the industry to move up the chain towards more technology and innovation driven ventures.

As one of the country’s telecommunications companies, Eastern Communications understands the role played by digital connectivity in spurring a country’s continued economic growth. Modernizing the country’s telecommunication infrastructure coupled with stronger start-up and SME support prompts a series of positive effects on the economy, such as bringing in investments, creating jobs, initiating innovations, and forming a progressive entrepreneurial industry.

Source: https://www.upgrademag.com/web/2017/09/26/eastern-communications-joins-jfc-in-support-of-phl-economic-growth-at-6th-arangkada-philippines-forum/

 

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[OPINION] Agribusiness

By Henry J. Schumacher | 

During the Arangkada Forum on September 14, there was much focus on sectors with substantial growth potential—including agriculture, creative industries, information and communications technology, manufacturing, mining, logistics and tourism.

Although the Philippines is becoming a majority urbanized country at a fast rate, close to half of its citizens still live in rural areas. Significantly from the vantage of development and inclusive growth, 73 percent of the poor are rural residents. Over 12 million Filipinos, close to one-third of the total work force, rely on agriculture for their livelihood.

Despite its size and importance to the economy, the overall agriculture sector contributed less than 10 percent to GDP in 2016; the last year in which it produced more than 20 percent of GDP was 1969.

Among the main challenges to agriculture growth:  (1) ability to utilize overseas market access; (2) poor logistics and supply chain; (3) poor access to finance; (4) inadequate crop insurance; (5) land market inefficiencies; and (6) poor extension services.

Philippine agricultural exports are the lowest of the Asean-6 and below 5 percent of the total from the region. A country, such as Vietnam—with a population size close to the Philippines but with less land available for agriculture—exports four times that of the Philippines. Exports of agricultural goods from the Philippines were $6.9 billion in 2014, while imports were $8.7 billion. Vietnam—at $26 billion—has become a leading exporter of rice, coffee, fish, fruits and nuts. Top actual and potential Philippine exports include banana, cacao, coconut products, coffee, mango, marine products, pineapple and sugar.

Quite a number of recommendations were made at the Arangkada Forum to drive agribusiness (I selected a few):

  1. There is a need to review government programs that distort market competition for land and that potentially affect small farmers’ access to credit and preclude their ability to benefit from economies of scale;
  2. Create an irrigation master plan to set the direction for irrigation development;
  3. New agriculture, forestry and fisheries enterprises should be developed, while existing ones will be encouraged to increase production and to go beyond producing merely raw materials through increased value adding of products with higher market value.
  4. Facilitate the use of appropriate farm and fishery machinery and equipment;
  5. Strengthen the extension system through the engagement of a pool of professional extension workers that will provide technical and business advisory services;
  6. Diversify into commodities with high value adding and market potential. Commodities that can be developed based on vulnerability, suitability, and value-chain analyses of the Department of Agriculture (DA) include mango for coffee, dairy cattle, abaca, rubber, banana and cacao;
  7. Expand agribusiness enterprises through new and innovative production and marketing schemes. New forms of linkages, such as contract farming and corporate farming, that will connect farms to markets and other upstream services should be established;
  8. Farm-to-market roads, bridges, and railways should be constructed to connect small farmers to the agricultural value chain. Interisland water transport (e.g., roll-on roll-off nautical highway);
  9. Raise investments in research and development for production and postharvest technologies;
  10. Pursue bold initiatives on crop insurance that reaches a large swath of an underserved market segment;
  11. Improve market information, technology transfer, marketing, export promotion and broader trade facilitation measures.
  12. Give priority to high-value, export-winner crops, such as avocado, banana, cacao, coffee, mango, marine products, mongo beans, peanuts, pineapple, red hot chilli, squash and tobacco.
  13. Integrate small farmers into larger enterprises, such as cooperatives; and
  14. Improve agricultural support infrastructure and services, such as farm-to-market roads, cold storage and irrigation, to facilitate the distribution of agricultural products and increase farmer income.

In other words, we need to deliver support services to farmers and fishermen, such as financing, incentives, technology, irrigation, postharvest facilities, farm-to-market roads, improved logistics and integration in the supply chain to fully develop the potential of the agricultural industry to develop rural areas and the countryside.

What would justify a heavy budget allocation for agricultural productivity and profit? There will be more investments in agriculture, farmers will get easier access to finance, there will be lower unemployment  and supply/value chains will be created. As a consequence, some 20 million rural Filipinos can be lifted out of poverty. And the children of farmers will stop moving from rural areas to urban centers, or become overseas Filipino workers. Isn’t this what the 10-point socioeconomic agenda of the Duterte administration had in mind? Fighting poverty in agriculture? If the DA budget allocation is properly implemented, millions can be given dignified lives.

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/agribusiness/

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Infra projects lack skilled workers

By Richmond Mercurio (The Philippine Star) | Updated September 18, 2017 – 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Businessmen are worried that the country’s “golden age of infrastructure” may lose its luster given the shortage in skilled labor in the construction sector.

For both local and foreign businessmen, the realization of the government’s ambitious “Build Build Build” program may take a hit, if such skilled labor supply tightness continues.

“If the economy grows, we do not have enough qualified people. Even the infrastructure, if you talk about it, there’s a shortage in construction workers, welders, and others,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president George Barcelon said.

“We do already see the severe shortage in skilled labor. You find enough unskilled labor, but you find severe shortage in skilled labor. If we want to see just half the projects through that are in the pipeline, we cannot cover that with local talents alone because we need more people that understands the industry and will make it better,” European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) president Guenter Taus said separately.

Real estate consultancy services firm Colliers International Philippines said the lack of skilled workers in the country is already causing construction delays in the private sector.

The Duterte administration is ushering in what is touted as the golden age of infrastructure through an aggressive infrastructure spending program.

Dubbed Build Build Build, the government will spend a total of P8.4 trillion or approximately $160 billion for infrastructure in the next six years.

For 2017 alone, the government allocated 5.4 percent of gross domestic product for infrastructure spending.

“If we want to grow at the rate that is forecasted, we need to look at sources of foreign employment in various sectors,” Taus said.

The ECCP has long been lamenting restrictions on international contractors in the country.

At present, foreign contractors in the construction industry operating in the Philippines can only hold 40 percent equity in businesses.

This, according to businessmen, makes foreign investors reluctant to bring in technology and capital into the country.

“Opening up of the construction industry serves many purposes. One, it provides you with the labor you may not have enough of. Second, it provides you with transfer of technology in some fields. And third, it also provides you with competition, it basically keeps costs down,” Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines president Julian Payne said.

Source: https://www.philstar.com/business/2017/09/18/1740032/infra-projects-lack-skilled-workers

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The JFC to Hold Sixth Arangkada Philippines Forum to Implement the Ten-Point Agenda

On September 14, 2017, the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines will hosts its Sixth Anniversary Forum with the theme “Implementing the Ten-Point Agenda” at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.
Continuing the previous forum themes of Move Twice as Fast (2012), Realize the Potential (2013), More Reforms=More Jobs! (2014), Invest NOW for Inclusive Growth! (2015), and A Bolder and More Inclusive Decade (2016), the JFC has selected the theme Implementing the Ten-Point Agenda to discuss key programs, policies, and projects that support achievement of the ten points in the years ahead.
As stated by Department of Finance Sec. Carlos Dominguez at the Dutertenomics Forum II held on April 25, 2017, “(T)he economic program of the Duterte administration…. needs wider public discussion and a broader base of support. The 10-point economic program of the Duterte administration takes into account the large trends defining our economic opportunities. These economic opportunities bear real fruit only if they are undertaken with audacious policy making.”
The forum takes place at a time when the prospects for the Philippine business and investment climate remain very positive. Despite some security issues, which have weakened the country’s image abroad. GDP growth, one of the highest in Asia, remains above 6.5% per annum and has been positive for almost two decades. The unemployment and underemployment rates—the highest in ASEAN—are slowly declining, as is the poverty high proportion of population living with $2 or less a day. Gross capital formation is steadily rising, inflation is low, and foreign reserves are high. FDI has grown over 500% in 2014, 2015, and 2016 to over $6 billion a year, with potential to rise soon above $10 billion. The country enjoys a favorable potential demographic dividend. Nevertheless, its economic engine is not running on all cylinders, a challenge which will be examined at the forum.

Over 40 distinguished experts will share their views, to be discussed within the two frameworks of the Ten-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and the JFC Seven Big Winner Sectors (Agribusiness, Business Process Management, Creative Industries, Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Logistics, Mining, and Tourism). Prominent figures in media namely, Atty. Anthony Abad (Bloomberg), Mr. Jose Roberto Alampay (BusinessWorld), Mr. Coco Alcuaz (formerly ANC), Mr. Quintin Pastrana (formerly Bloomberg), and Ms. Maria Ressa (Rappler) will moderate the five panels.

The five featured panels focus on implementing points of the Ten-Point Socioeconomic Agenda of the Duterte Administration. The panels are:

  1. Muscling the Economy: Filling the Infrastructure Gap,
  2. Philippine Industrial Revolution: Manufacturing, Logistics, and Mining,
  3. Game Changers: Agribusiness, Creative Industries, and Tourism,
  4. Disruptive Technologies: Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Drones, Robots, Etc., and
  5. Philippine Workforce 2030: Human Capital Challenges and Solutions.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia will speak on the Philippine Development Plan and AmbisyonNatin 2040. Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno who will speak on the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure project of the Duterte Administration. PCCI President George T. Barcelon and House Economics Committee Vice Chair Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda are among other prominent speakers.

Other speakers and panelists include:

  • NCC Private Sector Co-Chair Guillermo M. Luz,
  • Former MWSS Chairman Ramon Alikpala,
  • Former DOTr Undersecretary for Airports Atty. Roberto C.O. Lim,
  • Royal Cargo CEO Michael K. Raeuber,
  • DICT Usec. Engr. Denis F. Villorente,
  • DTI Asec. Rafaelita Aldaba,
  • PCCI Transportation, Infrastructure and Logistics Chair Dr. Enrico L. Basilio,
  • SEIPI President Dr. Danilo C. Lachica,
  • COMP OIC-President Atty. Ronald Recidoro,
  • DOT Usec. Rolando Cañizal,
  • Creative Industries Expert Henry J. Schumacher,
  • Cargill Philippines President Philip Soliven,
  • McKinsey & Company Managing Partner Suraj Moraje,
  • IDC Philippines Head of Operations Jubert Daniel Alberto,
  • USAID STRIDE Project Chief of Party Dr. David Hall,
  • AIM Associate Professor Dr. Erika File T. Legara,
  • NEDA Usec. Rosmarie G. Edillon,
  • Philippine Business for Education Executive Director Love Basillote,
  • World Bank Manila Program Leader for Human Development Gabriel Demombynes,
  • DOLE Usec. Ciriaco A. Lagunzad III,
  • DepEd Asec. Atty. Nepomuceno A. Malaluan, and
  • IBPAP President and CEO Rey Untal.

The JFC has invited President Rodrigo R. Duterte to deliver the keynote address.

The JFC will award the fifth Arangkada Lifetime Achievement Awardee to a distinguished retired civil servant. Previous recipients are former President Fidel V. Ramos (2013), former PEZA Director General Lilia B. De Lima (2014), SGV founder and former chairman Washington Z. Sycip (2015), and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto R. Romulo (2016).
Expected attendees include industry and academic experts, investors, and diplomats. In particular the forum welcomes government officials and media as partners in Arangkada’s advocacies of the strong and inclusive growth of the Philippine economy that maximizes domestic and foreign investment, job creation, and an option for more Filipinos to work at home instead of abroad.
The JFC will release a new Arangkada document with pro-business and investment policies related to the Ten-Point Socioeconomic Agenda of the Duterte Administration, drawn from Arangkada 2010: A Business Perspective, previous Arangkada assessments, policy briefs and policy notes, the Philippine Development Plan, Dutertenomics, and two Sulong Pilipinas consultations organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for business and government leaders.

The Sixth Anniversary Arangkada Philippines Forum is sponsored by the following corporate, organization, and media partners:

To register, please log on to https://arangkada.teamasiaevents.com/. For assistance, please contact our Registration Manager, Marlon Saquing at +63 2 847 3500 local 310, or email [email protected].

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Join us as the Philippines continues to Arangkada!

We would like to invite everyone to The Sixth Anniversary Arangkada Philippines Forum: Implementing the 10-Point Agenda. We have invited President Rodrigo Duterte to be the keynote speaker and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Department of Budget and Management Secretary Ben Diokno to be among the key speakers to discuss the Ten-point Agenda, the Philippine Development Plan, and Ambisyon Natin 2040.

We have prepared a distinguished panel of industry experts from both the government and private sectors to discuss the 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda of the Duterte Administration as well as key programs and policies that support achievement of the ten points in the years ahead.

The Arangkada Philippines Forum 2017 will be held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom on September 14, 2017. REGISTER NOW!

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The Sixth Anniversary Arangkada Philippines Forum: Implementing the 10-Point Agenda

The Arangkada Philippines Project (TAPP) and Marriott Hotel Manila MoA signing for the Sixth Anniversary Arangkada Philippines Forum. In-photo L-R: Marriott Hotel Manila General Manager and American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines President Bruce Winton, The Arangkada Philippines Project Chief-of-Party and American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Senior Adviser John Forbes, and TeamAsia Managing Director Bea Lim.

The Sixth Anniversary Arangkada Philippines Forum of the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines will be held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom on September 14, 2017. This year’s forum with the theme “Implementing the 10-Point Agenda” will focus on the 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda of the Duterte Administration. The forum will discuss key programs and policies that support achievement of the ten points in the years ahead.

The topics that will be discussed in the forum utilizes the framework of Arangkada’s Seven Big Winner Sectors (Agribusiness, BPM, Creative Industries, Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Logistics, Mining, and Tourism). The forum is divided into five panels with the following topics: Muscling the Economy: Filling the Infrastructure Gap; Philippine Industrial Revolution: Manufacturing, Logistics, and Mining; Game Changers: Agribusiness, Creative Industries, Disruptive Technologies: Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Drones, Robots, Etc. and Tourism; Philippine Workplace 2030: Human Capital Challenges and Solutions

We have invited distinguished industry leaders and experts from both the public and private sectors to join the event. President Rodrigo Duterte has been invited to be the keynote speaker and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Department of Budget and Management Secretary Ben Diokno will be among the key speakers to discuss the Ten-point Agenda, the Philippine Development Plan, and Ambisyon Natin 2040.

For more information visit the event website at www.investphilippines.info/forum2017, email [email protected], or call 751-1495.

The Sixth Anniversary Arangkada Philippines Forum is sponsored by 3M, Auto Nation Group, Inc. (Jeep), BDO, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Capital One, Coca-Cola FEMSA, DoubleDragon Properties, Emerson Electronics, First Philippine Holdings, Globe Telecom, Leechiu Property Consultants, Manila Water Company, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Mondelez, Moog Controls Corporation, Pacific Cross, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, Regus Philippines, Royal Cargo, Santos Knight Frank, SGV & Co., Social Security System, Sumitomo Corporation of the Philippines, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., Tourism Promotions Board, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, and Travellers International (Resorts World Manila).

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