Great Speeches: Sample Talking Points

From the Author: The format of talking points need not follow the rigid format of an actual speech. Usually, talking points just need to have bullet points that will highlight the most important matters to be discussed. Just like the sample below.

OUTLOOK ON THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY
2ND HALF – 2005

GENERAL OUTLOOK

BUSINESS IN GENERAL IS HOPEFUL THAT THE ECONOMY WILL REMAIN IN GOOD SHAPE THE IN LATER PART OF 2005 AMIDST THE PRESSURES WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH AT THE MOMENT.

BOTTLENECKS

CONTINUOUS INCREASE IN THE PRICES OF PETROLEUM – AFFECTS BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND INCREASES PRODUCTION COST; AFFECTING THE GENERAL PUBLIC GIVING RISE TO OTHER ISSUES ON TRANSPORT COST, WAGE AND PRICES OF COMMODITIES LEADING INCREASE IN INFLATION

BUDGET DEFICIT – REMAINS TO BE A SERIOUS GOVERNMENT PROBLEM – CAN ONLY BE ADDRESSED IF THE NEEDED LEGISLATION ON INCREASE GOVERNMENT REVENUES SUCH AS VAT IS PASSED AND IMPLEMENTED PROPERLY

GOVERNANCE ISSUES SUCH AS CORRUPTION AND INSURGENCY AFFECTING INVESTOR CONFIDENCE AND FOREIGN CAPITAL INFLOW TO THE COUNTRY


ECONOMY IN THE 1ST HALF OF 2005

BUSINESS’ VIEW ON THE ECONOMY IN THE 1ST QUARTER OF THE YEAR IS SOMEWHAT MIXED.

o THE CREDIT DOWNGRADING, INCREASING PRICES OF BASIC COMMODITIES AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON GOVERNANCE REFORMS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE WEAKNESS OF THE ECONOMY ON THE 1ST QUARTER OF 2005;

o ON THE OTHERHAND, THE RECOVERY OF THE PESO, CONSISTENT POSITIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE STOCK MARKET, STABLE INTEREST RATES AND THE REMITTANCE INFLOW FROM OUR OFWs CONTRIBUTE TO THE POSITIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE ECONOMY.

WHAT BUSINESS HOPES TO SEE IN THE 2ND HALF OF 2005

PASSAGE OF KEY LEGISLATION AND ECONOMIC REFORM MEASURES THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO IMPROVING THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMIC CONDITION, THESE INCLUDE:

o THE VAT BILL – 2% INCREASE IS MORE OF A BETTER OPTION THEN TACKLE THE EXEMPTIONS AS THEY IMPACT ON CONSUMER INTEREST

o ANTI-SMUGGLING BILL THAT WILL PUT TO A STOP TO SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES THAT SEVERELY HURT THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND AFFECT GOVERNMENT REVENUES OF OVER P50 BILLION EVERY YEAR

o POSSIBILITY OF REVIVING THE OPSF TO PROTECT CONSUMER INTEREST IN THE CONTINUOUS INCREASE IN THE OIL PRICES. PCCI IS SERIOUSLY TACKLING AND THIS MATTER AND PREPARING ITS POSITION TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT

o GOVERNMENT SHOULD INCREASE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR SME DEVELOPMENT – WE NEED TO DEVELOP ENTREPRENEURS ESPECIALLY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

ISSUES THAT NEED WIDE SECTORAL CONSULTATIONS

o WAGE INCREASE – BOTH EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS ARE AFFECTED BY THE PRESSURES OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL ECONOMY – INCREASING THE WAGE SHOULD TRANSLATET TO AN INCREASE WORKERS’ PRODUCTIVITY AND THE BUSINESS OUTPUT– IT SHOULD GO HAND IN HAND – THEN WE CAN BE MORE COMPETITIVE AND PROVIDE MORE TO PROVIDE FOR WORKERS’ DEMANDS. WE ARE ALSO HOPING THAT WE CAN BROADEN THE TAX EXEMPTION BASE OF THE WORKERS AS INCENTIVE

o TRANSPORT INCREASES – SHOULD BE DECIDED ON THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUTING PUBLIC – TAKING ALSO INTO CONSIDERATION THE INCENTIVES THAT GOVERNMENT CAN OFFER TO LESSEN THE IMPACT OF A TRANSPORT FARE INCREASE AND THE PRICES OF OIL.

o INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS – THIS IS NOT GIVEN ENOUGH ATTENTION BUT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. RIGHT NOW, OUR COUNTRY IS PROCEEDING TOWARDS LOWERING OF TARIFFS PER OUR COMMITMENT TO ASEAN-AFTA AND WTO.

o THUS, PUBLIC INTEREST IS AT STAKE SINCE WE ARE NOW LIBERALIZING OUR INDUSTRIES. WE HAVE UPCOMING TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH JAPAN AND US WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY BENEFIT US BY ATLEAST $20 BILLION OF EXPORTS.

o BUT WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN TACKLING THESE TRADE AGREEMENTS, WE SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION HOW THESE AGREEMENTS CAN IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THE RURAL AREAS AND ADDRESSING POVERTY.