PCCI-Central Visayas to seek government help on priority concerns

CEBU, Philippines —  The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI-Central Visayas) plans to craft a joint position paper to magnify the region’s need for support from the government.

PCCI-Central Visayas regional governor Melanie Ng said, although each chamber, among the six business organizations within the region, has its own concerns and needs (for fast recovery), it is also important to have a unified voice, to get attention from authorities and get the support they badly needed to rebuild their respective economies.

According to Ng, she will soon convene the presidents and board members of the member chambers to identify priorities and shared concerns that need intervention from the different agencies of the government.

Within Central Visayas, there are six business organizations, these are Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI), Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Panglao Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ng acknowledged that it is beneficial for the business sector within the region to form one voice and get the attention or gain stronger collaboration from authorities, after all rebuilding the economy is a shared goal.

Individually however, each chamber has initiated stronger partnership with their respective local government units (LGUs). The MCCI and CCCI for instance also vowed to strengthen their collaboration with the Cebu Provincial government as well as the Mandaue City and Cebu City governments.

One of the most pronounced concern across the region is the issue of high power rate.

Upon entering her PCCI-Central Visayas governorship, Ng was told by PCCI officials to continue the fight against high power rate.

Former PCCI-Central Visayas Governor Edward Du, who is also the past president of NOCCI, specifically directed Ng to “continue with the fight” with high power rates.

Meanwhile, Ng also stressed the importance of working closely with new Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, on how the region’s business sector can help the government and vice versa towards tourism recovery.