Vision
PCCI is the voice of Philippine business recognized by government and international institutions. As a proactive catalyst of development, PCCI promotes and supports the drive for globally competitive Philippine enterprises in partnership with government, local chambers, and other business organizations.
Mission
The main responsibility of PCCI is to provide focused advocacy for business growth and sustainable development by providing business services for the advancement of grassroots entrepreneurship, chamber development, international trade relations, business innovation and excellence, and operating efficiency. These will be achieved through a professional organization working in close cooperation with various stakeholders in public and private sectors.
PCCI pushes for public-private partnership in developing strategies for agri modernization
Economic experts are pushing for the development of the agriculture sector to speed up recovery and poverty reduction. At the webinar organized by the Philippine Institute for the Development Studies (PIDS) on “Modernizing the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Sector: Issues and Challenges,” authored by PIDS Senior Research Fellow, Dr. Roehlano Briones, experts agreed that any long-term strategic plan for resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy should have the agriculture sector as a major component.
Dr. Briones said that Philippine agriculture is lagging compared to its neighboring countries due to the lack of support coming from the national government. He said that the Philippines should abandon elements of traditional industrial policy inconsistent with market approach and that the Philippines should phase out producer support in the form of elevated price policies in favor of expenditure programs. Consider instead funding modern industrial policy for the agri-food system.
Further, the Philippines should implement area-based, bottom-up planning in determining strategic interventions to meet the needs of farmers and rural enterprises along the value chain and adopt a results-based management approach to the AFMP, with implementation monitored by a Program Benefit Monitoring and Evaluation System (PBMES).
Briones also discussed the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997 (R.A. 8435) as landmark legislation for modernizing agriculture and fisheries. He said that it is a way of addressing the past and looking at the agriculture sector of the Philippines.
Dr. Larry Lacson, PCCI co-chair for Agriculture and Fishery Committee who sat as reactor discussed the importance of engaging private sector stakeholders in crafting plans and strategies, budgets, and programs for the sector. He cited the Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), which is supporting the recovery of the hog sector from the African Swine Flu through a mix of interventions including clustering and consolidation strategies of small hog raisers to facilitate technical support and other services.
Dr. Lacson further said consolidation and/or clustering whichever is applicable must be implemented to achieve economies of scale. Farmers should have the opportunity to cope-up through incentives, subsidies, and modern technology. Further, he emphasized that the Philippines should not adopt the liberal policies of more advanced countries as its agriculture has a different situation.
Lastly, Dr. Lacson presented the following recommendations of the PCCI’s Agriculture and Fishery Committee as a way of boosting the sectors:
1. To amend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law to increase landholding size and encourage investments and modernization,
2. To institutionalize more programs that promote modern technologies, and lastly,
3. The Philippines should not be import-dependent. If there is a need to import, there should be a sound strategy to avoid depressing the farm gate. --- Joanna Paula Pascual