Page 4 - Hello Philippines December 2015 'B' ISSUE

2 www.hello-philippines.com BUSINESS & FINANCE December 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition
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MANILA - President Benigno past few years, this initiative—along sector can synergize.
Aquino III has signed into law Republic with the forces for reform—has grown President Aquino addresses the Integrity Summit Wednesday.©Malacanang Photo Bureau All this progress naturally flows
Act 10708, “The Tax Incentives by leaps and bounds. One example is
Management and Transparency Act your Integrity Pledge, which gathers instance, during our time in office, we through which government can offer back to your businesses. Think about
(TIMTA),”PresidentialCommunications signatories from both the public and it: When our people are employed and
Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma private sector, all of whom commit to have managed to receive 22 positive tax incentives and focus on critical are able to bring home greater incomes,
Jr. said Wednesday. exercise zero-tolerance for corruption. that also means they’re empowered
I am told that you have reached more credit ratings actions, moving us well growth areas. These laws passed by consumers, who subsequently have
The law seeks to “promote fiscal than 3,000 signatories as of this year, greater capacities to avail of the goods
accountability and transparency in the with an eye towards reaching 10,000 within investment grade status, and our partners in Congress, among many and services you offer. What we see
grant and management of tax incentives by 2017. here is a virtuous cycle, where good
by developing means to measure the granting us greater financial flexibility. others, will certainly help foster an governance begets economic expansion;
government’s fiscal exposure in these This is indeed very good news this fuels our pursuit of inclusivity, and
grants and to enable the government to me. Over the course of my term, We have likewise increased our environment conducive to growth long it is that inclusivity that leads to a happy
to monitor, review and analyze the our administration can attest to the electorate who will keep like-minded
economic impact thereof and thereby effectiveness of our partnership, and we infrastructure spending, from 1.83 after I step down from office. people holding the reins of power. All
optimize the social benefit of such have proven, time and again, that good this, I believe, is rooted in a culture
incentives.” governance is indeed good economics. percent of GDP in 2010 to 4.10 percent These improvements in our economy, of integrity—one that we continue to
You don’t even have to take my word foster together.
The President mentioned in passing for it. After all, one of the distinguished this year. Of course, as I pointed out however, are only meaningful if they
about signing the law when he delivered members of our audience today— There is no doubt: When government
the keynote speech at the Integrity Mr. Peter Perfecto—spoke about earlier, this is a GDP that has been are felt by all, which is why we have and private sector can engage each other
Summit held in Makati City. the transformation of the Philippine in a positive manner, great things can
economy along the Straight Path during experiencing stellar growth. The goal channeled our resources into massive and will happen. It is in these success
In his speech at the Integrity my last State of the Nation Address. I for next year is to reach at least 5 investments in our greatest resource, stories where we find the importance of
Summit, the President gave a brief remember him mentioning how our summits like this. We need to make the
outline of the gains made by his net foreign direct investments reached percent of GDP. which is the Filipino people. You may most of the opportunity to talk to one
administration in terms of achieving $6.2 billion last year, which was our another, and expand the horizons of our
the goals of “Daang Matuwid” the past all-time high. He talked about our I also encourage you to look closely know of our Conditional Cash Transfer cooperation. We need to speak and listen
five years. He cited, among others, the country’s rise in the World Economic at the performance of our government- (CCT) program, which provides cash to one another to see what we can do
stable macroeconomic fundamentals; Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index, better, and to craft even bolder plans for
the increase in the country’s where, at the time, we went from 85th owned and -controlled corporations grants to the poorest of the poor, as long the future. This year, I am particularly
competitiveness; as well as the gains in 2010 to 52nd in 2014, with that drawn to the theme of your gathering:
obtained from a sweeping reform of the particular organization crediting our (GOCCs). It seems that, in many as they send their children to school and Investing in integrity. It certainly is
government corporate sector. anti-corruption agenda. Let me share countries, when one talks of state have them vaccinated, amongst other accurate to call it an investment. After
even better news: We have once again all, there is always the temptation to
HERE’S FULL TEXT OF THE PRESIDENT’S moved up those rankings to 47th place enterprises, one always mentions gross conditions. During our term, we have pursue the short-sighted benefits of the
in the 2015 report, marking a 38-place unethical and the corrupt, but all of us
SPEECH AT THE INTEGRITY SUMMIT: jump since our administration took inefficiencies. To be honest, at one grown this program almost six-fold, here know: that will only have your
office. Mr. Perfecto already gave quite companies vying to be the big fish in
Whenever I speak of corruption, I a comprehensive list, but the truth point, we were no different. We had going from around 780,000 household the increasingly smaller pond. Whereas
always emphasize the idea that it takes is there are even more reasons to be when we invest in integrity—when
two to tango: Yes, there are always optimistic on the economic front. In the a system that allowed companies to beneficiaries to 4.4 million, or roughly we create systems where the hard-
those in a position of power abusing past five years, our economy’s growth working and the innovative are justly
their positions, but there are also those rate has clocked in 6.2 percent—our award disproportionately large bonuses equivalent to 22 million Filipinos. rewarded, and when we acknowledge
willing to partake in their schemes— fastest in nearly four decades, and one that integrity, along with inclusivity, is a
or even just stand idly by, while others of the fastest in Asia. to GOCCs—even those who were At this point, even with the studies pillar of any working society—then the
steal from the nation’s coffers. The only pond itself grows, and all of us can enjoy
way we can truly end corruption in The necessary macroeconomic perpetually operating at a loss. This is still ongoing, the DSWD reports that greater prosperity.
the Philippines is by taking a holistic elements are definitely in place for us why one of our first moves was to fix this 1.4 million Filipino households have
approach—one that involves both to continue along this trajectory. For Next year, our country once again
government and the private sector. system. We tasked Finance Secretary already been raised above the poverty faces a crossroads. We can continue
along the path of integrity and progress,
This was the belief that spurred the Cesar Purisima to study everything line. Aside from the CCT, another major or we can stray from it and backslide
creation of this summit; it is the belief that can be done to turn the situation step we have taken in terms of inclusive into the hopelessness of the past. To all
that continues to drive it today. Over the those who have worked with us along
around, and with the help of our growth is the expansion of PhilHealth, the Straight Path, I believe the choice
is clear. I have always believed that our
friends in the legislature, particularly which now allows the poorest 40 greatest strength is our people, and in
Senate President Frank Drilon and percent of our population to simply enter the same way that they have made all
that we have achieved possible, I have
Congressman Jun Abaya [Secretary any government hospital and receive faith that they will choose to tread the
Straight Path, not just for the next six
Dismissed BPO employees file suit with NLRC of Transportation], we passed a law free treatment. We likewise wiped out years, but for decades and generations to
after salaries, 13th month pay withheld that truly professionalized how our the inherited backlog of classrooms, come. And it is in this spirit that I invite
you all to further engage yourself in the
GOCCs are run. The improvement has school seats, and textbooks, while process of continuing what we’ve begun
together. I am certain that, standing
DUMAGUETE CITY – Dismissed Christmas, the dismissed employees been stark. Please look at the numbers: restructuring our education program to under the banner of solidarity, we can
truly show the whole world that despite
employees of a business process said. From January 2001 to June 2010, the be at par with global standards, all with all that we have accomplished, this is
only the beginning; that the Philippines
outsourcing (BPO) company in They consider their dismissal as illegal; National Government received P84.18 a view of empowering our children to will continue its rise, and you haven’t
seen anything yet.
Dumaguete City have lodged a complaint worse, the company is immediately billion in dividends. From July 2010 to gain the skills they need to succeed later
Thank you, good day. n InterAksyon.com
before the National Labor Relations hiring contractuals, renewable every two June 2015, this increased to P131.86 in life. For those of working age, we
/ Roices Naguit / News5 / December 9, 2015 / 8:05 pm
Commission (NLRC) for what they claim months as their replacements while the billion. This means that, counting the have granted TESDA greater resources
dividends for 2016, we have a very to train our people to take advantage of
are unfair policies of the company that complaint is with the NLRC.
realistic chance of doubling—in six the growing number of opportunities
resulted in their dismissal. According to them, the personnel
years—what our predecessor collected here. Might I note: We have done this
Sem Eumague, Alan Villanueva, and reduction started in October this year by
in more than nine years. strategically. By working closely with
Rey Puyod are among the agents of batches.
Of course, we have also seen other the private sector, we have increased
SPI Global who filed the complaint for Anakpawis deputy secretary Danny
pieces of legislation that improve our the 28.5 percent employment rate
alleged withholding of their salaries and Cordova has condemned the massive economic landscape. There is of course among TESDA scholars in 2006 to 2008

benefits, particularly the 13th month pay. dismissal of workers at SPI and said that the Competition Law, which fulfills to around 70 percent employment rate

They were reportedly dismissed due based on their assessment, it is being the twin goals of improving the goods among the TWSP scholars—and even
and services available to our people, to 96 percent in certain sectors. That of
to certain violations in the operations of undertaken to do away with the benefits.

SPI as a call center company. He said this is a clear indication that and incentivizing innovation among course is defined as finding a job within

Unfair, their dismissal violates their the company has no respect for the companies here. Yesterday, I also signed six months after graduation. This, I
the Tax Incentives Management and believe, is even more reason why we
human rights because the withholding human rights of the workers including

of their salaries and 13th month pay tenured or regular employees. n PNA / Transparency Act, which will establish should look for more channels through

took effect this month, shortly before December 9, 2015 / 9:28 am a more strategic and deliberate system which government and the private