Statements

Joint Statement on the Rice Tariffication Law and Agricultural Development

The Rice Tariffication Law (RTL or RA 11203), signed on February 14, 2019, ended the more than 30-year policy of quantitative restrictions (QRs or import bans) on rice import in favor of the shift to tariff as the main instrument in protecting our palay farmers. The RTL favors tariff as a trade instrument because it is more transparent, compared to government-to-government transactions, as anyone who is willing to pay the tariff imposed by the government can import rice.

Joint Statement of Support for Moderated Increase in Pay of Public School Teachers and for Fiscal Prudence

We, the undersigned business and professional organizations, believe that better education is a top national priority. We need it to make the Philippines and Filipinos more competitive, secure and productive. We recognize, appreciate, and value public school teachers as central to this goal, aside from being important leaders of our communities, including during election time. They deserve to be compensated better and given better training opportunities and tools, and we join other sectors in making that a goal.

STATEMENT ON WATER SHORTAGE

March 25 – Makati Business Club supports the efforts that Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System, other authorities, and Manila Water Co. are taking to investigate the water shortage that occurred this month in order to alleviate the situation, take steps to avoid or limit a repeat, and determine accountability and responsibility.

Statement on Press Freedom

21 February 2019 – The Makati Business Club expresses its concern about the arrest of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa on February 13, 2019. Especially while there are questions about whether the law is applicable, we believe the authorities should err on the side of the freedom of the press that is a bedrock of all our rights and liberty.

Business Support Economic Managers Call to Weigh Costs and Risks in Shift to Federal Government

We, the undersigned business organizations, appeal to our legislators to weigh carefully the costs, risks and uncertainty associated with the proposed monumental shift to a federal system of government.

We, too, believe in the need to adhere to the public finance principle ‘funds follow function’. Accordingly, we echo the concerns of fiscal and economic experts about the ambiguous provisions on the division of revenue and expenditure responsibilities between the proposed federal government and its federated regions.