President Benigno Aquino III has approved the Philippine Export Development Plan for 2011-2012, an economic blueprint that will give him a wider role in developing and promoting the country’s exports.
Under the Philippine Export Development Plan, Aquino will sit as Export Development Council (EDC) chair tasked to preside over its quarterly meetings, said Communications Strategy Secretary Ricky Carandang on Wednesday.
One of the recommendations of EDC is to “leverage [on] the popular mandate of the President to get things done" and make him the “export champion." In relation to this, Carandang said the President has agreed to champion Philippine exports on his trips abroad.
“When we go abroad, we do more to promote the export industries. He does [it already] but this will be in a more structured way," Carandang said. He also said Aquino will likely meet more often with the EDC.
The EDC on Monday presented the blueprint to Aquino.
Under the Export Development Act of 1994, the EDC is chaired by the Trade Secretary, with the secretaries of Finance, Planning, Agriculture, Science, Labor and Foreign Affairs, and the governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as members. The EDC also has members from the private sector.
Carandang said the Export Development Act will also have to be amended. — PE/VS
