City hosts PCCI’s 18th Visayas Area business confab July 17-18
Iloilo City would soon be serving as gracious host to hundreds of businessmen from all over the Visayas as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) brings here the 18th Visayas Area Business Conference on July 17-18, 2009 at the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center.
The two-day gathering of the best business minds in the Visayas, which carries the theme “One Visayas: Regional Economic Development the Key to Progress,” would have Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Efrain Genuino as keynote speaker in its opening ceremonies. Also expected to be on hand during the lavish opening rites are Tourism Undersecretary Salvador Sarabia, Jr., who is tasked to introduce Genuino, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas, Sr., PCCI president Edgardo Lacson, 18th VABC chairman and PCCI vice president for the Visayas Jose Ng, PCCI regional governor for Region VI Guidon Dela Cruz, CCII president Joe Marie Agriam, and ACCI president Rebecca Pe.
On July 16, a day before the formal opening of the conference, a series of pre-conference activities are at store for the delegates coming from all the nooks and corners of the Visayas, kicking off with conference registration from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Iloilo Producers Association (IPA) will also be opening its bazaar by 9 a.m. while a special golf tournament at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo goes underway by 12 noon. The day is capped by the Chamber Management Workshop on 2 p.m.
After the opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. and the lunch tendered by the Iloilo City government to the attendees, the conference proper starts with Plenary Session 1 titled “Competitiveness in the Midst of Crisis,” with Prof. Ma. Lourdes Sereno, executive director of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center, as resource speaker.
Other talks and their respective presenters for the rest of the day are: “The New Investments Priorities Plan (2009)” of the Board of Investments; “Power Supply in the Visayas” of Presidential Assistant for Panay and Guimaras Usec. Raul Banias; and “Opportunities and Support Programs for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises” which will have two parts: “Business Opportunities in Free/Open Source Software” of the International Open Source Network and “Risk-Based Lending for SMEs (Non-Collateral) of the Small Business Corporation.
Later in the afternoon, a dialogue among Local Chamber Presidents, Regional Governors and PCCI Board will ensure, followed by the Fellowship Dinner hosted by the Iloilo Provincial Government. Also part of the short program during the dinner are the presentation of sponsors, the announcement of the winners in the special golf tournament, the recognition of Galing Iloilo awardees, and a hablon fashion show by renowned Ilonggo designer Poli Abastillas.
On the conference’s second day on Saturday, resource talks and their respective speakers include: “Enhancing Local Competitiveness in Tourism” by Uwe Sturmann, project manager of the German Technical Cooperation’s Private Sector Promotion Program; “Effective Strategies for Managing Tourism Investments” by PCCI Vice Chairman Samie Lim; and “Infrastructure Updates” by PCCI Chairman Emeritus Ambassador Donald Dee.
In the closing plenary session later in the morning, Roberto Amores, 35th PBC chairman and PCCI vice president for agriculture and food, will do a presentation on the 35th Philippine Business Conference right before the presentation and adoption of the 18th VABC resolutions by chairman Jose Ng, PCCI Region VI governor Guidon Dela Cruz, Region VII governor Francis Monera, and Region VIII governor Junie Andrade. (N. Gobuyan)