Marcos appoints Barcelon as LEDAC biz representative

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president George Barcelon as a private sector representative to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council or LEDAC.

Barcelon's appointment papers were signed by Marcos last 21 November. Barcelon also served as LEDAC's private sector representative during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

"I am extremely honored for the trust and confidence of the President. As PCCI head, I vow to commit to working proactively and harmoniously with the government to realize its vision in employing Filipinos, eradicating poverty, and achieving a resilient economy," said Barcelon.

In July this year, the business communities represented by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Foundation for Economic Freedom, Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Confederation, Philippine Franchise Association, Philippine Retailers Association, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines, Inc., Women's Business Council, Makati Business Club, Philippine Plastics Industry Association, and Philippine Hotel Owners Association, called for the immediate passage of priority bills that will spur economic growth.

The Marcos administration has said it will prioritize 30 out of 32 bills approved by LEDAC as its Common Legislative Agenda. Twenty of these bills were priority measures enumerated by President Marcos in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

These include the Valuation Reform Bill, Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, E-Governance Act, E-Government Act, Internet Transaction Act, Government Financial Institutions' Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery bill, Medical Reserve Corps bill, National Disease Prevention Management Authority bill, Virology Institute of the Philippines bill, Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension bill, Department of Water Resources bill, and National Land Use Act.

Also included are the Mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps and National Service Training Program, Budget Modernization bill, National Government Rightsizing Program, National Defense Act, Enactment of an Enabling Law for the Natural Gas Industry, Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, Amendments to the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, and the Condonation of Unpaid Amortization and Interests of Loans of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries.

LEDAC, created through Republic Act No. 7640 approved by then-President Fidel V. Ramos on 9 December 1992, serves as a consultative and advisory body to the President and chairperson of the National Economic and Development Authority Board on specific programs and policies essential to the realization of the goals of the national economy.

The LEDAC also serves as a venue to facilitate high-level policy discussions on vital issues and concerns affecting national development.

In July this year, the joint business community represented by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Foundation for Economic Freedom, the Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Confederation, Philippine Franchise Association, Philippine Retailers Association, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines Inc., Women's Business Council, Makati Business Club, Philippine Plastics Industry Association and Philippine Hotel Owners Association.

The Marcos administration will prioritize 30 out of 32 bills approved by LEDAC as its Common Legislative Agenda (CLA), 20 of which were priority measures enumerated by President Marcos in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

These include the Valuation Reform Bill, Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, E-Governance Act, E-Government Act, Internet Transaction Act, Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery bill, Medical Reserve Corps bill, National Disease Prevention Management Authority bill, Virology Institute of the Philippines bill, Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension bill, Department of Water Resources bill, and National Land Use Act.

The Mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps and National Service Training Program, Budget Modernization bill, National Government Rightsizing Program, National Defense Act, Enactment of an Enabling Law for the Natural Gas Industry, Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, Amendments to the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, and the Condonation of Unpaid Amortization and Interests of Loans of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries.

LEDAC, created through Republic Act No. 7640 approved by then-President Fidel V. Ramos on 9 December 1992, serves as a consultative and advisory body to the President and chairperson of the National Economic and Development Authority Board on specific programs and policies essential to the realization of the goals of the national economy.

The LEDAC also serves as a venue to facilitate high-level policy discussions on vital issues and concerns affecting national development. (RAFFY AYENG)