Proposition

A GREAT fight is brewing among four opposing names who dare to covet the highest political rank in the Philippines. While the top presidential aspirants are strong contenders – each carrying a political track record – one test they have to accomplish is being the most business-friendly.
With a growing middle class, strong domestic demand, stable economic policy and GDP growth, signposts for the Philippine economy are generally in a positive outlook. What the country needs now is a leader who will hold a successful transition of power by 2016.
Elections are shaped by the involvement of corporate businesses. For a leader to initiate a successful leadership, he or she must encourage the support of business leaders.
The country’s largest business organization recently held a two-day conference on Oct. 26-27 to discuss how the government and business community can improve Philippine competitiveness and spur economic growth beyond 2016. Invited during the event were top presidential candidates, Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay, Former Interior and Local Secretary Mar Roxas, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Sen. Grace Poe.
They took turns on the hot seat as they seized the opportunity to appeal to the country’s local business community and explain why they are the best candidate by outlining programs they will pursue if elected president. Among the programs discussed were priority bills, tax reforms, human capital and infrastructure investments, constitutional amendments and addressing corruption in the government.
Binay aims to alleviate corruption in the government and focus on poverty reduction by providing more jobs Filipinos. He allayed the current corruption allegations against him and said he leaves it to the courts to decide on the matter.
“The moral problem actually is not corruption, the moral problem is poverty. That is what I have to face, not a fight against all these allegations but a fight to alleviate poverty in the life of every Filipino,” Binay said.
Roxas will continue the current administration’s track record on anticorruption and public service. He also aims to address corruption in the government.
“We want to eliminate corruption irrespective of what the person’s chaleco is wearing. We are agnostic. We don’t look at their affiliation so long as its corruption, we are against it,” Roxas warned.
Santiago promised a nation that is more prosperous, people who are more united and institutions that are more stable by 2022.  And to promote public accountability, Santiago vowed to have the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) enacted into law when elected as president.
Poe admitted that she has the least number of years in public service among the presidential candidates, but reiterated that she is capable to hold such position.
“Even if they say that my resume is quite lean compared to the others, in terms of my service in the public sector, my resume is lean enough that I don’t have the added baggage that is not necessary to be successful in government,” Poe said.
Sergio Ortiz-Luis, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said that as businessmen and citizens, they are looking at who will take action on his or her promises. He said that business executives were impressed with the plans laid out by the presidential aspirants.
“What we can say is we will record what they promised to us and if they win, we will hold them accountable for what they promised,” Ortiz-Luis said.
The event also highlighted success stories and global and regional trends on business competitiveness, including strategies for business and economic growth, developing a world-class infrastructure and advancing international trade partnerships.
This campaign season has no room for political candidates spouting platitudes. Economists will note that the quality of life enhances business climate.  Because like ordinary citizens, the country’s business leaders are looking for someone who will turn pledges into actions and who can make a corruption-free society possible. (AJPress)