Quezon City (3 October) -- The business sector has expressed its support for the government’s infrastructure development, an important group of projects that would make a sturdy foundation for the super regions in terms of competitive advantage and economic development.

To formally present the project before the business sector, a Government Infrastructure Forum will be held at the Dusit Hotel Nikko, in Makati City, on October 4. Another objective of the forum is to open possible avenues of collaboration in order to fast-track the implementation of development initiatives outlined by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her recent State of the Nation Address (SONA). In addition, this encourages active participation of the business sector in the completion of these major development projects.

The forum will be hosted and participated in by several major business organizations, namely: American Chamber of Commerce; Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce; Bankers Association of the Philippines; Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference; British Chamber of Commerce; Canadian Chamber of Commerce; Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries of Northern Mindanao; European Chamber of Commerce; Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines; Makati Business Club; Management Association of the Philippines; Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); Philippine Exporters Confederation; and Sta. Rosa City Business Club.

This forum is spearheaded by Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Director General and head of the government’s Infrastructure Monitoring Task Force, Secretary Arthur C. Yap. He said that in order to ensure that the government is sending a strong signal to the business community, all the Super Region Development Champions would be making presentations. These are Subic-Clark Alliance Development Corporation Head Edgardo Pamintuan for the Luzon Urban Beltway, Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano for Central Philippines, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza for Mindanao, Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) Chairman Ramon Sales for the Cyberservices Corridor, and Secretary Arthur C. Yap, himself, for the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ).

Specific projects will be discussed by the heads of the implementing agencies, namely: Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza; Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr,; Department of Energy (DoE) Secretary Raphael Lotilla; and National Irrigation Administrator Arturo Lomibao.

On the other hand, strategic directions, revenue generation, and financing strategies would be discussed by Economic Secretary Romula Neri, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Budget and Management Secretary Rolando Andaya, and Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila.