CCCI celebrates award with pledge to continue being engine of growth

By Katlene O. Cacho
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

AFTER winning two big awards during the Philippine Business Conference and Exposition (PBC&E) last week, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) pledged to continue its efforts to become the engine of economic growth in Cebu by doing more advocacy programs that would benefit the entire province.

CCCI was awarded this year as the “Most Outstanding Chamber of the Philippines” and the “Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas” by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

In a press conference yesterday, PCCI vice president for Visayas Francis Monera lauded the efforts of the CCCI, saying the chamber was recognized because of its exemplary leadership and dynamism; advocacy programs to the local community; active participation in the regional and national activities; and for being the engine for global competitiveness through its ISO accreditation.

CCCI was awarded the “Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas” in 1993, 1994 and 2007.

The chamber was also recognized the “Most Outstanding Chamber of the Philippines” from 1995 until 1997. The chamber also landed twice in the PCCI’s Hall of Fame.

“The recent award we earned is our seventh,” said CCCI president Samuel Chioson.

While the 37th PBC&E focused on the Aquino Administration’s private-public-partnership program, Chioson said the chamber has long started their PPP initiatives here such as the Adopt-a-Police Station and Adopt-A-School programs. He said the chamber will also enter into an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for their Chamber Forest project.

According to CCCI trustee Mario Panganiban, the chamber will sign a memorandum of agreement with the DENR for the 25-year lease of 500 to 1,000-hectare property for the tree planting project.

In the same event, Panganiban was also named the 2012 Cebu Business Month chair. He said next year’s CBM celebration will focus on the preparation for the CCCI’s centennial celebration and hosting of the Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry Conference on 2013.

“We will build on the momentum of this year’s theme: Business Beyond Boundaries. The four industry tracks such as IT-BPO, tourism, entrepreneurship and growing sectors will still be highlighted,” Panganiban said.

Major events for CBM 2012 will be announced before the end of this year.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 19, 2011.