The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to utilize his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) to champion the country’s economic objectives, urging a sharp focus on expansion, capital inflow, and employment creation instead of political squabbles.
In an official statement issued Thursday, MAP President Donald Lim expressed the group’s desire for the Chief Executive’s speech to mark a definitive turn toward actionable economic measures.
“We in the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) hope that this year’s SONA marks a pivot from politics to economic execution,” Lim said.
While affirming its backing for governance reforms, MAP stressed that the administration must present “a clear economic agenda that creates jobs, attracts investments, improves food security, lowers the cost of doing business, and restores confidence.”
Lim noted that fortifying the domestic economy remains indispensable to safeguarding the country against escalating global conflicts and severe environmental threats.
“Building economic resilience is critical to our human security in the face of mounting geopolitical challenges and approaching climate change risks,” Lim said.
The prominent business group also signaled its backing for the priority bills identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), noting that these legislative pushes foster public trust and government transparency.
Addressing the recent probe into flood control initiatives, MAP welcomed the public scrutiny, viewing it as a clear demonstration that no entity remains above accountability.
“The investigations have sent a strong signal that the government is serious about accountability, and they must result in convictions where appropriate, stronger procurement systems, greater transparency, and ultimately better public service,” Lim said. “The public expects timely resolution and institutional reforms that prevent similar problems from happening again.”
However, while supporting anti-graft campaigns, MAP warned that anti-corruption drives should not inadvertently derail national development targets.
The organization asserted that legitimate, transparent, and vital infrastructure endeavors must proceed unhindered. It emphasized that continuous funding for health and education is essential, as freezing public spending risks causing collateral damage to jobs, investments, and overall growth.
“The solution is not to stop building, but to build with greater transparency, stronger oversight, and modern digital tools,” Lim said.
“This is precisely why reforms, such as the CADENA Act, are important – they institutionalize transparency so that the government can move faster while strengthening public accountability.”
MAP pointed out that ordinary citizens continue to grapple with high inflation while enterprises navigate economic volatility.
“We must fight corruption decisively, but we should not let the fight against corruption become a brake on economic growth,” Lim said.
“It is time to bring the conversation back to creating jobs, attracting investments, stabilizing food prices, and improving the daily lives of our people.”