- The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry is championing legislative measures on logistics and trade facilitation, among others
- PCCI called on President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to endorse 20 measures in his upcoming State of the Nation Address and the 20th Congress
- Other bills relate to digital transformation and infrastructure, education, workforce, fiscal and governance reforms, and digital governance
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has called on President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to endorse 20 “critical” legislative measures, including policies on logistics and trade facilitation, in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the 20th Congress .
In a letter to Malacañang, PCCI president Enunina Mangio said the proposals target structural reforms to “unlock the full potential of our economy” and ensure “broadly shared and sustainable growth.”
The measures align with the administration’s momentum in enhancing competitiveness, expanding economic opportunities, and driving innovation, PCCI said in a statement.
To improve logistics efficiency and reduce costs, PCCI supports the International Maritime Competitiveness Act, and amendments to both the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Act and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Charter that seek to resolve conflicting mandates and enhance regulatory oversight in the shipping and aviation sectors.
Several bills for the International Maritime Trade Competitiveness Act, which aims to strengthen the oversight function of relevant government agencies over the imposition of local charges by international shipping lines, have also been filed in previous Congresses and have been supported by government and the private sector.
There were also bills filed aimed to decouple PPA’s and CAAP’s regulatory and commercial functions.
Several industry stakeholders and business groups have for years recommended the separation of PPA’s functions, citing conflict of interest and saying the exercise of both functions “unnecessarily increases logistics costs.”
PCCI’s top priorities also include the Open Access in Data Transmission Bill (Konektadong Pinoy Act), which seeks to expand high-speed internet access nationwide and fully leverage the government’s Digital Transformation Roadmap and National Fiber Backbone.
PCCI also backs the passage of a National Comprehensive Infrastructure Masterplan, providing a long-term framework for strategic and resilient infrastructure investment.
To unlock the growth potential of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), PCCI calls for amendments to the Magna Carta for MSMEs, enhancing access to finance, markets, and technology.
Agricultural and fisheries reforms are also on the agenda, including the Blue Economy Act, Corporate Farming Act, amendments to the Agri-Agra Law, ASIN (An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide) Law, Warehouse Receipts Act, and the long-awaited National Land Use and Management Act.
PCCI advocates for workforce-aligned policies such as the Apprenticeship Training System Act and amendments to the Dual Training System Act to bridge skills gaps and support youth employment. To bolster export competitiveness, the National Quality Infrastructure Act is also recommended.
To enhance public service delivery and fiscal accountability, the PCCI urges the passage of the Budget Modernization and Reform Act and Customs Amnesty Act.
The Chamber also endorses key digital governance reforms, including the Cybersecurity Act, E-Governance Act, and Artificial Intelligence Act, all of which aim to future-proof the Philippine economy and secure digital infrastructure.
“These measures address structural bottlenecks that hinder investment, logistics, rural development, and regulatory efficiency,” Mangio said.
“We believe President Marcos’ strong endorsement of these bills during his SONA will help fast-track their passage and demonstrate the administration’s commitment to inclusive and future-ready economic growth,” she added.
PCCI reiterated its readiness to work with the administration and Congress to turn the priorities into actionable reforms that will benefit both business and Filipino communities.
Marcos’ fourth SONA and the start of the 20th Congress are scheduled on July 28.
READ: PCCI pushes for passage of economic measures in next Congress
