Reporter
The e-commerce sector could contribute P1.2 trillion to the economy by 2022, representing 5.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP), according to the government’s new e-commerce roadmap.
This projection is double the 2020 baseline of P599 billion, or 3.4% of the GDP, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said at the online launch on Friday. The department also plans to double the number of e-commerce businesses.
“We hope to increase the number of e-commerce enterprises from 500,000 in 2020 to 750,000 by 2021 and one million by 2022,” he said.
To develop the roadmap, the department had conducted focus group discussions attended by organizations in the payment, logistics, platform, and government sectors.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) led the private sector in recognizing heroes in the medical community during this pandemic via the Gawad Bayaning Kalusugan award that was presented to the initial batch of 24 awardees.
PCCI President Amb. Benedicto Yujuico said this is their way of honoring healthcare professionals “who continue to risk their lives on a daily basis just so others may live”.
PCCI President Amb. Benedicto Yujuico
The health frontliners are the true heroes of this pandemic and we are and should forever be grateful. This Gawad Bayaning Kalusugan initiated by Dr. Carl Balita serves as a national tribute to individual health professionals and healthcare teams form hospitals,” Yujuico said.
Published January 16, 2021, 7:00 AM
Multisectoral groups, comprising of 51 largest and widely-represented private sector associations, have urged for the immediate enactment of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) bill to boost market confidence, save jobs and provide instant relief to businesses’ suffering from the COVID-19 impact.
“We, members of some of the largest and most widely-represented private sector groups in the country, reiterate our strongest and unequivocal support for the immediate enactment of the CREATE Bill,” stated the joint statement.
Congress has been deliberating the CREATE Bill for three years already, but both Houses have a hard time reconciling their versions.
Private sector groups reiterate call for immediate passage into law of CREATE bill By TED CORDERO, GMA News
Published January 15, 2021 1:10pm Fifty-one of the country’s largest private sector and business groups on Friday called anew for the immediate passage into law of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) bill. “We humbly request the Senate and the House of Representatives to move quickly and decisively to push CREATE forward and ensure its immediate enactment,” the groups said in a statement. “We join the multisectoral call for the passage of this important legislative measure with urgency. After three years of deliberation, every day of delay comes at the risk of losing more jobs and hemorrhaging more investments,” the groups added.
SunStar Business leaders hope for better 2021, but risks loom
BETTER YEAR. Business leaders expect the economy to improve amid the new challenges of this pandemic-induced economic crisis. / SUNSTAR FILE
+ December 31, 2020 THE new Covid-19 strain has dampened the positive 2021 outlook of the business community that was gearing up for its road to recovery.
As business leaders looked forward to the vaccination of the population, the new virus variant meant that enterprises would again brace for another year full of evolving policies and uncertainties.
“While the emergence of the vaccine against Covid-19 provides at least a psychic relief for all, worrying mutation of the viral disease is a damper. Against this constant threat late into the year, it would be best to remain vigilant and conservative,” Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Felix Taguiam told SunStar Cebu.