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.
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.
June 18, 2018 –We, the undersigned Philippine Business Groups, respectfully submit this position paper on the government’s plan to shift to a federal system.
Our economy has achieved robust expansion in recent years, and it is imperative, in the interest of more inclusive growth, that we continue to improve on our competitiveness and our ability to attract job-creating investments through stable policies and reduced uncertainty.
The Makati Business Club calls on the country’s political and judicial leaders to let the House of
Representatives and, if so determined, the Senate follow the impeachment process set forth in the
Constitution against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Regardless of the outcome of the process,
giving the chief justice the chance to defend herself within our constitutionally-defined process is
essential to demonstrate this country’s respect for the rule of law and to assure all Filipinos that we are
protected by our laws.
The Makati Business Club applauds President Rodrigo Duterte, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces Chief General Leonardo Guerrero for their most recent statements, putting an end to speculation about a shift to revolutionary government.