As a platform to foster the relationship of CCCI with its media partners through dialogue and networking, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlighted the new leadership agenda of its newly elected president, Charles Kenneth Co in its mini-press conference last March 11 at QCafe, Golden Prince Hotel and Suites.
19 media representatives joined and participated in the conference. Sitting as panelists were CCCI President Charles Kenneth Co, together with CCCI Immediate Past President (IPP) Felix Taguiam, and CCCI Executive Director May Elizabeth Ybañez. Present also were some members of the Quality Management Team of the Chamber.
Co officially introduced his leadership agenda primarily focused on mustering big brothers in the business community of Cebu to assist in the recovery of those struggling with more pronounced impact from “COVIDette”.
During the Q& A, he pointed to the benefits of the EPIRA Law which promotes competition in the power sector; CCCI has long since supported the continued implementation of the RCOA which lowered the threshold or the average monthly peak demand to cover end-users and allow them to contract with any licensed or authorized suppliers of electricity on a voluntary basis, The CCCI provided a list of 7 Retail Electricity Supplies in Cebu and calls on businesses to avail of these amidst the continued high rates of power especially in metropolitan Cebu and the threat of power shortage this summer 2022. Co encouraged businesses to utilize the Green Energy Option Program where ever they can
Meantime, Immediate Past President Felix Taguiam called on the press to post a power rate comparison of various distribution companies on a regular basis so that the general public becomes more vigilant about the power rates and on potential erroneous billings
Co expounded on mobilizing Chamber champions to pursue advocacy policies, programs, and practices that make Cebu businesses more competitive with focus on the ease and lowered cost of doing business, infrastructure, and logistics for more sustainable value .chains.
“Because of Odette, there are backlog of shipments. Now our ports are full of empty containers. We also asked OPAV if they can do something about it and talk to the shipping companies to bring the empty containers outside of Cebu”, he added.
To help businesses recover, Co aims to catalyze an enabling ecosystem that fosters value-adding opportunities and an investment climate for economic revival in Cebu and promotes Cebu as major investment gateway in Asia Pacific.
Cebu Chamber’s CIDCC project with the Cebu City government seeks to catalyze an investment climate that fosters value-adding opportunities and promotes Cebu as a major investment gateway in Asia-Pacific ”, explained Co. He cited the recent meeting with NUSTAR which demonstrates business confidence in Cebu. NUSTAR Resort and Casino is an up-and-coming nine-hectare integrated resort facility located in Kawit Point at the South Road Properties developed by Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. (UHRI).
Co also shared his agenda to further enable businesses to be more competitive by upskilling workers to become job-ready and invest in a more competent workforce through trainings and education with improved Government-Industry-Academe collaboration and industry-driven Assessment, Certification and Accreditation Services (ACAS). “ A dualized education-training will address the job-skills mismatch in various industries. Even business owners are provided with upskilling such as the DREAM Program we are implementing with DTI and DICT and the ICT stakeholders which facilitates entrepreneurship and e-commerce”, he added.
The CCCI continues to leverage government support, grants, and financial programs and projects to revive, repurpose and strengthen MSMEs especially those in the Food Industry, Fish/SeaFood Industry, Tourism, Creative Entertainment, and Design, ICT-BPM, eCommerce, Infrastructure, Ship Building, Manufacturing including start-up entrepreneur.
CCCI’s Cebu Business Mobilization conducts year-round events under its Cebu Business Month that fosters a lively spirit for business growth while linking closely with various government
President Kenneth as he is now fondly called, says that Cebu Chamber will help ease transition of the business community reeling from the COVIDettCRON to a surely reviving economy within a safer and healthier Cebu marked by strengthened public-private partnerships and multi-stakeholder collective commitment to combat these threats in our communities.
Asked about the Ukraine-Russia ongoing saga, President Co highlighted the need for each member of the business community managing a key stake in various value chains of our economy to remain sensitive in handling their consumers, suppliers, and employees alike reeling from impact of market price increases whether their product/service is power, fuel, food, transportation or other goods. We have begun to feel the ripple effect from the global tension.
CCCI IPP Taguiam offered that what is needed is a coordinated effort from all stakeholders to lessen the impact of these price changes in the global market.
For more information, visit the CCCI Facebook page or email at info@cebuchamber.org.
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