MCCI to present policy proposals to Bam Aquino

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) will be preparing its own policy recommendation to the Philippine government, through Senator Bam Aquino, who is expected to be the keynote speaker at the upcoming MCCI Business Summit 2013.

One of the flagship events of the Mandaue Business Month (MBM 2013), the Summit is slated on August 16 at the Cebu International Convention Center.

It is seen to be a good venue for Cebuano businesses to gain insights and air out their concerns to the senator, who is known as the only social entrepreneur who entered the Senate so far and who vowed to support entrepreneurs to compete in the borderless market regime nearing ASEAN integration.

MCCI Business Summit 2013 chairman Stanley Go said the MCCI hopes to present its policy proposition to Aquino, and that one of the concerns of the businesses right now is how to prepare themselves for the ASEAN regional integration and government’s plan to protect the local business players.

Aquino is expected to talk about the “Road to Competitiveness: A Policy Agenda” and "Growing Your Business and Competing Globally".

The whole day "Business Summit", which expects to gather at least 400 participants from the business sector in Cebu and other neighboring provinces, as well as other multi-sectoral players, has lined up several important resource speakers such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) senior deputy economist Norio Usui, branding expert Jacqueline Alexis Thng, ASEAN strategic consultant Tita Datu Puangco, digital and direct marketing specialist Nader Anvari,  inspirational speaker Michael Angelo Lobrin, human resource management consultant John Philip Orbeta and entrepreneurship academician Antonio M. Del Carmen.

Go said that the Summit hopes to equip business owners, entrepreneurs and even students to thrive in the tough corporate landscape pressured by the global competition.

In a press conference, Go mentioned that participants will not only get a glimpse of the prospects of Philippine economy and their impact on business and Filipinos in general to be discussed by Usui, but other speakers will also enlighten the participants in different aspects in the backdrop of global economic fragility.

This year's MBM, whose activities will be spread in the entire month of August, banners the theme "Engaging Change: Be fit. Be connected. Be ahead."

Chaired by San Miguel Corporation executive Romelinda “Girlie” Garces, the MBM 2013 will also highlight the finalization of the creation of Mandaue Investment Code, working closely with the Mandaue City local government.

Garces said the MBM 2013 wants to push a holistic awareness of what to expect “so we will know how to deal with the shifts and prepare to be ahead of them. We have also taken into account the importance of public-private partnership in our pursuit of progress.”

MBM 2013 events also include “Trees Brew Life”, Mandaue Anti-Dengue Day, Search for Winners-3, SSS Pensioners Day, Surgical and Dental Mission, MCCI’s Best launching, Men in Business launching and Lose to Win-Grand Finals, among others. /JMD (FREEMAN)