TACLOBAN CITY - The business sector in the region is expecting 2006 to be a better year as business activities in the country have generally rebounded from the doldrums since the latter part of last year.
James Dechos, executive director of the Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), told Leyte Samar Daily Express that the vibrant business activity that started late last year could be attributed to the fact that more money has been in circulation lately, the dollar remittances of overseas Filipino workers, and the export remittances that registered positive figures.
“We in the business sector will perform much better compared to last year because of these positive developments,” Dechos said.
Dechos said they are projecting an estimated 5 to 6 percent growth rate this year in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
The business sector, Dechos said, is also expecting bigger exports this 2006 as the overall export performance late this year has expanded.
He said that if the vibrant business atmosphere in the region would be maintained, this will bring good effect to the economy of the country.
“It will increase wages and provide more employment, and we are expecting this to happen this year,” Dechos said.
According to him, the business community is optimistic that these expectations could be achieved because they believe that the country is now recovering from its financial woes.
He said the Gross National Product (GNP) growth is still strong despite all that had happened in the country in the past years.
“We remain to be one of the best economic performers in the Asian region and this could even be much better without some political turmoil,” Dechos said.
He said the stronger economy for the country this time is virtually proven by the strong performance of the peso against the dollar in the last two and a half years.
However, Dechos said that the only factor that could derail their expectations are the political issues that might again disturb the business momentum.
“The people are getting tired of all this turmoil, we just want to work and move forward. That should be our attitude, we should not be sidetracked by all these movements,” Dechos said.
He said the business people want them to set politics aside and concentrate more on nation building.
Dechos also called on the people to work hard and do much more business for the good of everybody.
According to him, vibrant business activity will encourage more investors to put up businesses and even expand businesses.
