CCCI’S first lady prexy vows to equip members
Newly elected Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Ma. Teresa Beltran-Chan vows to make the biggest business organization in Cebu, not just an “engine of growth”, but an effective enabler that will equip its members to be competent in the global arena.
Elected as the first woman president of the 111 year-old chamber, Chan is taking a fierce move to make the organization a more result-oriented voice of Cebu’s business community by institutionalizing its linkages with national agencies specifically the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs ( BOC), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), as well as the lower and upper houses.
She said direct connection with these agencies and law making bodies is critical in protecting and strengthening the private sector as it moves toward a bigger economic playground.
Chan said, although the chamber has already nurtured a strong partnership with the local government, a stronger cooperation and forging direct links with these entities will help the chamber and its members to be kept updated with new state rules and regulations, and even bills and ordinances that may affect the economy and business movement in Cebu.
“If we can request them [ government entities] to consult with us first before issuing new policies, it can promote harmony and stronger cooperation between the government and private sectors,” said Chan.
She added that there are a lot of programs in the government right now that are under-utilized because of lack of knowledge and awareness from the private sector. Chan mentioned a closer coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and in capitalizing the agency’s various programs that can be beneficial to chamber members and the community as well.
Chan emphasized her greater task in leading the largest business group in Cebu, saying this time is the most critical times in the history, as the local economy is on the onset of protecting itself from the entry of global players starting with the opening of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.
Chan, a former banker who served the Philippine National Bank (PNB) as vice president and head for corporate banking for Eastern and Central Visayas before she resigned to focus on her family business in 2001, said that if “real” and pro-active competitiveness advocacies and programs will not be started right now, “our businesses will die a natural death.”
Aside from continuing the existing advocacies and programs of the chamber’s past presidents, she said a major revitalization will be started under her administration, wherein a series of fresh and radical programs will be introduced that would provide instant results, making the CCCI a true enabler of economic development and growth.
She said that the chamber has done everything and had been very effective in supporting its members and being the mouthpiece of the Cebu business community, but today’s changing environment should also be complemented with bolder, braver programs to sustain economic acceleration.
“I just want the chamber to focus on advocacies and programs that will equip members to be truly competitive,” she said adding that together with the chambers new set of officers and board of directors the group will also review on the usefulness of other existing programs the chamber is having right now.
Prior to being elected as president, Chan has served the chamber for over 20 years holding various positions. She said that a more interactive and resultoriented chamber will be expected under her regime, emphasizing that an institutionalized partnership with foreign governments, embassies, and consulates will also be strengthened and revitalized.
Chan will be initially inducted by the Chamber’s board of directors and trustees on March 19, while the formal induction ceremony will be held in April this year.