RP competitiveness remains major issue despite typhoons
DESPITE the destruction and flooding caused by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, the government must remember that competitiveness is one of the most pressing issues in the Philippines today.
Representatives from academe and private sector highlight the importance of instituting reforms that seek to improve the country’s competitiveness even before the May 2010 polls through the project Improving Philippine Competitiveness Through Policy of Economic Reforms.
The project is funded by a £30,000 grant from the British Embassy in Manila. The project will be implemented by the University of the Philippines Open University until March 31, 2010.
One of the major aims of the project is to present the next Congress with recommendations that could steer competitiveness reforms beyond 2010 through legislation and policy actions.
“It is essential that the handover from one administration to the next should not lead to a loss of momentum in terms of economic and social reform. That is why this project is intended to provide a continuing forum for consultations and discussions about reforms needed before and after the upcoming elections, in order to improve the country’s competitiveness,” British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie said during the launch of the project in Quezon City on Tuesday.
Asian Institute of Management Policy Center executive director Dr. Ma. Lourdes Sereno said the country’s competitiveness has worsened based on the results of the 2009 World Competitiveness Yearbook released by the Institute for Management Development.
The report showed that the country’s rank declined to 54th among 57 countries. The ranking was determined based on 330 indicators grouped into four factors—government performance, business efficiency, infrastructure and labor productivity.
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