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PASAY CITY, October 21, 2025 (SDN) — In a resolution out of the Philippine Business Conference & Expo (PBC&E), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( PCCI) headed by Consul Eunina V. Mangio, president, has reminded President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. of their contributions to national funds through their taxes.
Their reminder was made through one of their three resolutions in the course of the October 20-21 event here at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Metro Manila.
“We have contributed to national funds thru taxes locally and nationally and have paid additional assessment of taxes. We provided many fees to enable us to do business,” the PCCI resolution signed by 34 members says in an unmistakably serious tone.
“Yet, trillions of pesos supplied and intended to protect our communities from disasters have been squandered through ghost projects, substandard work, and inflated contracts. This is more than financial loss — it is a fatal breach of public trust that leaves our people vulnerable and outraged.”
So, the country’s business community strongly called on the President to post-haste and with transparency adopt four measures they put forward, such as:
- Empower the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) with full legal authority and independence to conduct a swift, comprehensive investigation free from political influence.
- Prosecute all those responsible impartially and without regard of rank, position, political affiliation or personal relations.
- Implement institutional reforms, ensure restitution of ill-gotten wealth and embezzled funds of the government, and strengthen procurement and oversight systems, preventing future abuse.
- Provide regular public updates on the progress of investigations and reforms and to publicly disclose all audit findings to demonstrate genuine commitment and credibility.
Mr. President, “we strongly urge you to act decisively to signal your administration’s genuine commitment to justice, integrity, and accountable governance.
The resolutions were to be signed by the following PCCI members:
1. Association of Abaca Pulp Manufacturers of the Philippines
2. Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry
18.Management Association of the Philippines
3. Association of International Shipping Lines, Inc.
19. Philippine Association of Legitimate Service
4. Association of Petrochemical Manufacturers of the Philippines
20.Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
5. Capital Markets Development Foundation, Inc.
6. Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines
21. Philippine Exporters Confederation
22.Philippine Food Exporters Confederation
23.Philippine Franchise Association
24.Philippine Hotel Owners Association, Inc.
25.Philippine Plastics Industry Association
Financial Institute Executives of the Philippines
26. Phllippine Retailers Association
27. Philippine Steelmakers Association
28. Philippine Young Entrepreneurs Association
29. Samahan sa Pilipinas ng mga Industriyang Kimika
30. Supply Chain Management of the Philippines
31. Tax Management Association of the Philippines
32.Women’s Business Council Philippines
33.Filipina CEO Circle
34.Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines
The PCCI’s “urgent appeal” to the President seemed to jibe with the theme of Vice President Inday Sara Duterte’s Keynote Address at the conference, where she linked the use of technology as a tool to thwart corruption.
“More, important4, it is our tool against corruption,” the Vice President pointed out.
“We take away the power of corrupt leaders to manipulate public funds and capitalize on people’s money for personal interest, greed, and political ambition,” she added.
Even Dennis Anthony H. Uy, president and CEO of Converge ICT Solutions, Inc., agreed on the use of digital transformation to thwart corruption.
“Less human intervention, less corruption,” Uy, chair of the 51st PBC&E, said, citing the experience of other countries like Singapore.
Various major business sectors — large, medium, small, and micro — comprising the PCCI have weighty words to describe what happened to the ill-fated flood control projects and infrastructure, such as “historic, massive, and unprecedented corruption scandal” which they wanted the President resolve without delay.
The PCCI plans to submit their appeal to Marcos upon signing by their members. — EDD K. Usman (©)
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To be updated.