BALANCE BETWEEN BUSINESS, ENVIRONMENT
CCCI president Antonio Chiu says they will spearhead activities that will ensure Cebu is able to balance the need to grow the tourism sector and yet preserve its environment
The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will heighten its efforts in helping Cebu tourism attain a balance between economic gains and ecological preservation.
CCCI president Antonio Chiu said the chamber will spearhead initiatives to maintain Cebu’s attractions.
“We must consciously balance our pursuit of economic gains with our concern for the environment. This is an endeavor that we must seriously take, especially because Cebu is one of the top tourist destinations in Asia and the world,” said Chiu during the recent induction of CCCI’s newly-elected officers at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.
Chiu said he will urge each business enterprise to participate in the protection of natural resources as well as in their own business premises.
“We will work with the community to manage the efforts of progress, keeping in mind the preservation of our environment,” he said.
The temporary closure of Boracay Island served as an eye-opener, not only for the tourism sector but all of its allied services and industries to look into their business practices.
Boracay will be off-limits to tourists for six months, starting last April 26, as it rehabilitates. Since then, many of Cebu’s tourist attractions have started to evaluate their policies toward the environment.
Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Director, Shahlimar Tamano, in an interview, said his office will work to make sure guests coming to Cebu and the region are secure, safe, and that its tourism attractions are clean.
Besides ensuring the healthy condition of Cebu as a tourist destination, Chiu also pledged to forge partnership with government agencies and cultivate a business climate that would create more opportunities and encourage businesses to think big.
He added that the chamber has also outlined projects geared toward the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“We will make available from our network, the most qualified and experienced consultants who can share with you their wealth of knowledge and expertise so that you lose no opportunity to grow and improve in your trade,” said Chiu.
The CCCI official noted that in their recent strategic planning session, they laid down the ground work to engage chief executive officers (CEO) in a more effective way and facilitate sectoral discussions on common issues affecting industries.
“We will endeavor to upgrade the enabling system and make for a seamless organization and management to fulfill its role better as an enabler of business and influencer or change,” said Chiu.