Ni MARK ALFONSO
GANAP nang batas ang Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act of 2003 makaraang lagdaan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., na kauna-unahang sovereign wealth fund ng Pilipinas na susuporta sa economic goals ng administrasyon.
“The MIF is a bold step towards our country’s meaningful economic transformation,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos sa signing ceremony sa Malacañang kahapon.
“Just as we are recovering from the adverse effects of the pandemic, we are now ready to enter a new age of sustainable progress, robust stability, and broad-based empowerment.”
Sa paglagda ng Republic Act (RA) No. 11954 bilang batas, magkakaroon na ang bansa ng kapasidad at kakayahan na mamuhunan sa lahat ng napakahalagang proyektong tulad ng agrikultura, imprastraktura, digitalization pati na rin ang pagpapalakas ng value chain.
“The establishment of a sovereign wealth fund will widen the government’s fiscal space and ease pressure in financing public infrastructure projects,” diin ni Marcos.
“Through the fund, we will accelerate the implementation of the 194 National Economic and Development Authority Board-approved, NEDA-approved, flagship infrastructure projects.”
Tiniyak ni Marcos na pamamahalaan ang pondo ng isang mahusay na may track record at namumukod-tanging integridad.
“I assure you that the fund will be managed by a highly competent personnel with a good track record and outstanding integrity,” banggit pa ng Pangulo.
Nabatid na bubuo rin ng Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) na siyang mangangasiwa sa pondo.
Una nang inihayag ng Palasyo na aabot sa P125 bilyon ang makukuhang investment sa MIF kabilang ang P25 bilyon mula sa Land Bank of the Philippines, P50 bilyon sa Development Bank of the Philippines at P50 bilyon sa pondo ng national government.
Sa pani ni Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, naniniwala siya na masasagot ng Senado ang anumang isyung legalidad sakalinh iakyat sa Korte Suprema ang MIF Act.
“Definitely, halos lahat na yata ng bills na pinasa ng Congress at Senado may umaakyat sa Supreme Court asking for its legality, so we don’t want to preempt what the Supreme Court will say, but we believe that it is constitutionally sound. The versions of the Maharlika Investment Fund is constitutionally sound,” hirit ni Zubiri.
