Business community is anxious about the shift to federalism — MBC

The business community is concerned about the plan of the Duterte administration to adopt a federal form of government.

"Well, I think, the anxiety comes from ... a lot of discussions that have so far been conceptual. But in the end, you know naman business. What business is looking for are the nuts and bolts," Peter Angelo V. Perfecto, executive director of the Makati Business Club (MBC), told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of business groups in Makati City.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry are part of the meeting.

The anxiety of business groups is driven by the lack of concrete information on the government's plans, Perfecto noted.

"How will this thing come together? What will it mean? How will it impact on business? How will it impact on the economy? How will it impact on business working with a state as against an LGU (local government unit)?" he said.

"If shown to them that things will be better, then I'm sure the anxiety will be addressed. The anxiety right now is, I guess, the lack of information, the lack of clarity about the whole scenario ... " he added.

Perfecto said businesses want concrete plans. "We want to address the slippery slopes.  Siyempre, we want the steps upwards towards federalism to be sure, to be calculated, to be well planned and well thought of. I think that's what they are looking for," he said.

The Makati Business Club counts as members senior business executives of the largest corporations in the country. — VDS, GMA News