The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, expressed concern that both the local and foreign trade and investments communities would have second thoughts about doing business here after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources cancelled contracts of 75 more mining projects despite a resolution by the Mining Industry Coordinating Council.
“Due process and multi-stakeholder reviews were guaranteed by DENR Secretary Lopez herself and other MICC members just days before the new cancellations orders,” said PCCI president George T. Barcelon. “She herself signed the MICC resolution and now it is not followed.” “How can a company risk stockholders’ money in projects if the investment rules are unclear and uncertain,” Barcelon said. “Business needs confidence that rule makers would honor contracts.”
“We hope the President could consider moving on this issue of due process quickly because investors could put on hold their investments decisions,” he said.
He said the resolution of the MICC, which Secretary Lopez co-chairs with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, was clear in installing a multi-stakeholder review of the results of DENR audits of compliance with mining rules and regulations. He recalled that responsible mining companies held a press conference at the PCCI last Friday and even hailed the action of the MICC in installing the due-process mechanism.
The MICC resolution was signed also by the other members of the climate change adaptation and mitigation and economic development clusters of the Cabinet.
In the clusters also were the secretaries of finance, budget, National Economic and Development Authority, trade and industry, justice, National Commission on Indigenous People, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and the Presidential legal counsel. (PCCI Press Releases)
Meanwhile, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce invites all PCCI Members and officers of the local Chambers north of Luzon to a Tax Reform Roadshow: “Deepening Understanding of the Tax Reform Measure (HB 4774 and HB 4688)” on March 10, 2017, 12:00 Noon to 5:00 P.M. at Makati City, exact Venue: to be indentified soon).
For further information and queries, you may contact Ms. Ara Cruz or Ms. Janessa Satolices at 02-846-9196 loc. 110 You may also contact Ms. Angie Albay at o2-846-8196 loc. 102.