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CEBU CITY, Philippines - Food security, energy crisis and infrastructure will be key discussion points of resolutions to be submitted by 17 Visayas-based chambers of commerce next month.
Jose Ng, vice president of the Visayas of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said chamber representatives will approve these issues during the 17th Visayas Area Business Conference (VABC) on August 14 to 16.
?Last year, CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program) was one of the issues discussed. The resolutions submitted by the area business conferences are being seriously evaluated by the government,? Ng said.
?It (CARP issue) might be brought up this year since there's still no decision if it will be extended or not. For infrastructure, issues to be raised will include roads, telecommunications and power,? he added.
San Miguel Corp.?s Girlie Garces, VABC program chair, said the strategic position of the Visayas explains why trade started in the area.
?The Visayas is composed of islands which are inter-connected and these major islands have their own economy. If we bring them together, we can accelerate growth,? Garces said during the press launching on Monday at the Casino Español.
Tourism Secretary Joseph ?Ace? Durano will deliver a talk on ?The Glory that is Visayas,? which will tackle the competitive edges of the area in attracting investors and how these can be maintained.
Garces said Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will deliver a keynote address touching on the best practices of Cebu in strengthening trade, investment and tourism.
?Even when there is a crisis, it is easy for Cebu to rise again because of synergy among Cebuanos, among different sectors,? Garces said.
Other topics include survival strategies in tough times, how to address industry mismatch and the importance of intellectual property rights to enhance competitiveness.
Before the conference, each chamber has already discussed their positions on specific issues, according to Ng.
?The actual (VABC) conference is one day so there is not much time to discuss. We leave it to different chambers to discuss and adopt corresponding resolutions submitted during the VABC,? he said.
The VABC is one of five area business conferences in the country. Other conferences are held in North Luzon, South Luzon, National Capital Region and Mindanao. These meetings are held before the Philippine Business Conference, which is held every third week of October.
At the end of every conference, chamber members submit a set of resolutions to the PCCI, which it submits to the national government for possible inclusion in policy-making discussions.
Ng said the VABC also serves as a venue for business chambers to gain strong position in the progress of trade and industry in the Visayas.
The VABC is expected to gather more than 200 delegates from the Central, Eastern and Western Visayas.
These include chambers of commerce from Aklan Ati-Atihan, Antique, Bohol, Boracay, Capiz, Cebu, Consolacion, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Mandaue, Metro Bacolod, Negros Oriental, Ormoc, Samar and Siquijor.
