PCCI, MAP want appropriate, merit-based talents as Marcos revamps Cabinet
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), two of the country's most influential business organizations, are backing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s move to revamp his Cabinet.
Marcos earlier announced his sweeping call for his Cabinet secretaries to submit their courtesy resignations after his pronouncement that the results of Eleksyon 2025 showed that the people are "tired of politics and they are disappointed with the government."
Notably, members of the President's economic team — Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Economic Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go — have complied with the call of the President.
'We want to continue fostering economic growth and investor confidence. And so we hope that the courtesy resignations will bring in accountable and merit-based appointments. That those who delivered and performed well will be retained. And that new and re-appointments be done the soonest possible time to avoid uncertainty and instability and so as not to derail economic continuity,' the PCCI said.
MAP, likewise, said, 'We hope the President will find the appropriate talents for those he decides to replace —people who can effectively execute his government's plans.'
'We trust that capable, proactive, and committed individuals will be empowered and work together as a cohesive team to execute the nation's plans to uplift the lives of all Filipinos and move us closer to the outcomes our people deserve,' MAP said.
The President, in giving his directive, said he wanted to have an elbow room 'to evaluate the performance of each department and determine who will continue to serve in line with his administration's recalibrated priorities.'
MAP said that Marcos' initiative to reset key leadership roles in his administration underscores the value of principled leadership and accountability in driving progress and delivering meaningful results.
'We understand the President's actions and intentions as this happens in business and the private sector. A CEO needs to make difficult calls, such as replacing talents, with the primary objective of improving the performance of the organization. Difficult as it may be, the call of leadership is to make such hard decisions in the interest of establishing meritocracy and encouraging performance,' MAP said.
The PCCI, meanwhile, said the President's call for the courtesy resignation of his Cabinet secretaries was 'quite surprising given that the government has been performing relatively well in managing the economy.'
The business group said that it was unfortunate that economic growth has been "undermined by developments at the political front."
'We are trying to get more investments for the country especially with the passage of the CREATE MORE Act and the PPP Code,' it said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
an hour ago
- GMA Network
Tarriela: Publicizing WPS incidents to ensure Marcos' successor will still defend PH territory
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela on Saturday said the NTF-WPS' move to publicize China's aggression in the disputed waters was aimed at ensuring that the next President will continue to defend the country's maritime sovereignty. 'We need to reach out to increase awareness more para siguraduhin natin ang Pangulo ng 2028 is not somebody who is going to set aside our fight in the WPS at sasabihin ulit walang kinalaman sa sikmura ng Pilipino ito, magkakagiyera at mangangakong magje-jetski,' Tarriela said. 'We have to make sure na ang mananalong President by 2028 is somebody who is going to pick up what PBBM has started. Itong pangulo na ito ang patuloy na titindig at itutuloy ang laban natin pagdating sa issue ng WPS,' the PCG spokesperson said. To recall, former President Rodrigo Duterte, when he was campaigning in 2016, remarked about riding a jetski to the WPS and telling the Chinese that it belonged to the Philippines. Duterte, however, later backracked and said that the remark 'was a campaign joke.' Tarriela said that the NTF-WPS' transparency efforts, which started in 2023, were meant to increase awareness of Filipinos on the issue of the WPS, 'and I think we have been receiving positive impacts because of that.' 'We can see from 89% awareness of the Filipino people pagdating sa issue ng WPS… the second objective is for the international community to understand na meron isang bansa na katulad ng Tsina that doesn't care about the international law, that doesn't adhere to the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) na pinirmahan din naman nila,' he said. Beyond politics The PCG spokesperson further said that defending the country's maritime sovereignty in the WPS should be a shared responsibility among Filipinos. 'Para sa akin ang usapin ang usapin ng WPS goes beyond politics, goes beyond social needs. Ang issue natin dito that is being challenged here is our identity as Filipinos. Ilang beses ko na sinabi sa ating Kalayaan ang independence natin utang natin nitong lahat sa ating mga bayaning Pilipino na nagbuwis ng buhay dito,' Tarriela said. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, including parts that fall within Manila's exclusive economic zone. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims, but Beijing has not recognized the decision. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
19 hours ago
- GMA Network
Duterte Youth nominee's use of different surname for 'name recall' —Cardema
The Duterte Youth party-list on Friday explained that the alleged use of its first nominee of a different surname is for 'name recall." In a statement, Duterte Youth chairperson Ronald Cardema came to the defense of Drixie Mae Cardema amid allegations on social media that she used a different family name on her Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination (CONA) for Eleksyon 2025. Reports on social media alleged that the full name of the Duterte Youth nominee was Drixie Mae Suarez and not Cardema. 'First of all, Duterte Youth Party-List Cong. Drixie Mae Suarez-Cardema is the sister of former Duterte Youth Party-List Cong. Ducielle Marie Suarez-Cardema,' said Ronald, the partylist chairperson and husband of Ducielle. 'In the start of every Congress, congressmen and senators, formally request the House and the Senate for the political names that they prefer to use for the entire Congress because name recall is key to Philippine politics,' he added. On Thursday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chief George Erwin Garcia said the poll body's Law Department is set to issue a motu prioprio show cause order against the Duterte Youth first nominee for allegedly using a different surname on her CONA. Garcia, however, clarified the case will not affect Drixie's nomination and possible proclamation, saying there were no formal petitions filed for the cancellation of her nomination. 'Para sa amin, yan ay fact-finding muna. Hindi pa naman namin sinasabing may disqualification case o pormal na kaso, election offense, o kung ano pa man,' Garcia told reporters in a virtual interview on Friday. (For us, this is just fact-finding proceedings. We are not saying there is a disqualification or election offense case.) 'Ayaw namin pangunahan muna, ayaw namin ipre-empt ang Law Department. Kung yun ang kanilang depensa, so be it. At least kahit paano meron silang depensa nila sa paggamit ng isang family name na maaaring di yun nag family name ng naturang partylist nominee,' he added. (We don't want to preempt the Law Department. If that is the explanation of the Cardemas, then so be it.) The Comelec will likewise look into the official documents that Drixie submitted when she filed her candidacy for Eleksyon 2025 as well as her previous records, according to Garcia. It can be recalled the Duterte Youth ranked second in the partylist race for Eleksyon 2025, garnering 2.3 million votes. However, the Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, postponed its proclamation due to its pending cases.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
20 hours ago
- GMA Network
Marcos urged to intervene for release of Pinoy seafarers jailed in Algeria
With only four months left before Algeria's Supreme Court hands down its verdict, the wives of three Filipino seafarers convicted of drug trafficking there appealed to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. to personally speak with the Algerian government and help bring their husbands home. At a press conference, the wives — who identified themselves only as Joy, Marie, and Rose — said their husbands were sentenced to 15 years in prison. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said the seafarers were among the eight Filipinos arrested in July 2023 after 35.8 kilos of cocaine were found on MV Harris, a Malta-flagged container ship. While all eight were initially convicted by a trial court, five were later acquitted by Algeria's Court of Appeals, leaving only three to face final judgment. The ruling of the Supreme Court is expected to be released in October 2025. The three are a 43-year-old Chief Officer, a 54-year-old Bosun, and a 29-year-old Ordinary Seaman. Joy said since the last chance to save their husbands is the Supreme Court, a government to government approach should be done. "Kung puwede may government to government approach or diplomatic process na puwede gawin (If government to government approach or diplomatic process is possible, they should do it)," she said. Marie, wife of the Bosun, tearfully appealed to the President for help. "Matanda na ako, 58 years old. Maawa po kayo President Marcos sana po matulungan ninyo kami sa aming mga daing at kahilingan. Please po President Bongbong Marcos," she said. (I am already old, 58 years old, please have pity with us, President Marcos, help us with our concerns and wishes.) The families clarified they have received support from the Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs, including legal assistance and help with their March 2025 visit to Algeria to see their husbands. "May meeting kami kahapon (DMW, DFA). sabi nila they're committed sa kaso na 'to at hindi sila nagpapabaya. Nakikita naman namin nandyan sila to assist pero ang kailangan po namin ay urgency. Baka puwedeng makausap ng Pangulo 'yung government ng po namin aksyon talaga galing mismo sa Presidente. Umaaksyon po ang DMW at DFA, pero iba po talaga ang magagawa ng ating Pangulo," said Rose. (We had a meeting yesterday with DMW and DFA, they said they're committed to this case and they were not negligent. We really see that they are there to assist us but what we need is urgency. Maybe the President can talk with the government of need action from the President. DMW and DFA do their part but it is really different if it is the President.) Cacdac open to appeal Cacdac said he is open to personally appeal to the Algerian government the release of three Filipino seafarers, however, he stressed the need to consult first with the DFA. 'Kino-consider ko na rin na baka puwedeng ako ang magsagawa nung pag-apela. Pero ito'y ini-estima pa natin, tayo'y nakikipag-ugnayan pa sa Department of Foreign Affairs,' Cacdac said in an interview following a press conference held by the wives of the detained seafarers. (I am considering if I can make the appeal but I am still weighing it. We are coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding this.) The DMW chief stressed caution in determining the appropriate course of diplomatic intervention beyond the existing legal appeal: 'Dito sa aspeto ng intervention na hinihingi nila, again, we need to seek the advice of the DFA and also our lawyers, our legal counsel, whether or not this would be the appropriate intervention aside from the appeal to the Supreme Court,' he explained. Cacdac said President Marcos has instructed the DMW to assist the families since the start, but any diplomatic or high-level intervention would have to be carefully evaluated. 'Ang utos ni Presidente, tulungan 'yung mga pamilya, of course, since day one. At this stage, we just need to carefully assess the situation as to whether there will be interventions aside from the appeal sa Korte Suprema,' he explained. He said he was set to meet with the three wives later in the day to reassure them of continued government support. 'Magtatatlong taon na natin silang tinutulungan… Patuloy namin ibibigay ang aming taus-pusong assurance ng assistance at suporta (We have been assisting them for three years. We will continue to give them assistance and support),' he said. The DMW has already facilitated two visits to Algeria for the families. Cacdac said they are willing to assist again should the families wish to return. 'Sinamahan namin sila doon sa dalawang beses… sasamahan namin uli sila para i-assist sila sa pagdalaw sa piitan (We accompanied them during their will accompany them again should they visit again),' he said. Should the Supreme Court rule against the seafarers, Cacdac noted that clemency may be explored—but added that it is too early to discuss that option. 'Kapatawaran could be an option… pero hindi ko muna ibibigay yung option na 'yun at this stage kasi hihingi muna tayo ng kaukulang payo sa DFA, pending yung kaso na nasa Korte Suprema (Clemency could be an option but I would not float that this early because we are still seeking advice from the DFA as the case is still pending with the Supreme Court),' he said. Consular services extended The DFA, for its part, said it has been extending regular consular services to the previously eight and now, three Filipino seafarers detained in Algeria despite challenges in coordinating with authorities in the delivery of those services. "We are coordinating with the Greek shipping company, which has provided legal assistance from the beginning. We assisted by providing consular services (jail visitation) and visa assistance for the next of kin to visit detainees via our ATN Fund," it added in a statement. On the request for diplomatic intervention, it noted that the judicial proceedings have not yet been terminated and that the case is with the Algerian Supreme Court. "While we are exploring all options, the DFA deeply respects a sovereign state's internal processes, and diplomatic interventions should be explored judiciously," it said. It further said that since the case is still ongoing and there is no final and executory decision yet, it may be more prudent to just let the company-hired lawyers to continue to represent the three seafarers at court for now as what they had successfully did for the five others who were acquitted. "Any other course of action, such as back-channeling, may be misconstrued to be maneuvering tactics to rig Algeria's judicial system, or questioning its fairness and impartiality," it explained. The DFA said all options are being explored and the department remains committed to the welfare of all overseas Filipinos. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
