Some members of the business community in Negros Oriental have lauded the Philippines’ hosting of the 31st ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Summit in Manila.
They expressed hopes that these will bring more opportunities for the country to be able to compete with its neighbors in the region.
Edward Du, president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) said Tuesday evening that “the Philippines, as host of the ASEAN Business Summit, has opened up new doors, new opportunities, and hopefully (will) penetrate new markets for our MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises)”.
“The biggest good news is the announcement of PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) to provide new funds for MSMEs in next year’s budget”, Du added.
However, according to Du, the ASEAN dream of “Prosperity for All” can only be achieved if critical MSME problems are first addressed.
These, he said, would be through 1) ease of doing business between and among ASEAN countries (e.g., Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) red tape licensing issues, customs standardization and simplification, visa processing, connectivity issues, and logistics issues; 2) eliminate all barriers to free trade among the 10 ASEAN nations; and 3) provide digital connectivity in remote rural areas where the poorest of poor live.
Hopeful that there would be no more red tape next for MSMEs plus government funding as promised by the President, MSMEs have a “better chance for competing with our ASEAN neighbors”, the president of the internationally-renowned business chamber pointed out.
Otherwise, if the present red tape by NGAs continue and there will still be poor digital connectivity, the ASEAN dream for Prosperity for All will remain a dream, Du stressed.
Du cited the case of the FDA where only one staff is being assigned to cover the provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Just getting a Certificate of Product Registration from FDA is a “nightmare”, he pointed out, making as an example a local brand of vinegar popularly known as Sukang Tisoy.
A grocery at a mall in Dumaguete City ordered the Sukang Tisoy-labelled bottles taken down from the shelves in the absence of an FDA-CPR.