Mandaue Chamber gears up for the VABC
The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry is this year’s host to the Visayas Area Business Conference (VABC). The VABC is an annual gathering of businessmen from all over the Visayas to discuss pressing concerns that affect the industries in the region. It is a satellite convention of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry designed specifically to encourage interaction and gain insights from the local entrepreneurs that could serve as inputs to policy issues in the national arena.
Unique to this year’s celebration of the Visayas Area Business Conference is its timely holding during the Mandaue Business Month and the celebration of the Cebu Province’s 439th Founding Anniversary, thus gathering with it activities that synergize events for the City Mandaue, the Province and the Visayas as a whole.
The conference aims to delve into furthering ties in the Visayas to gain a strong position for the region in the progress of trade. It aims to strengthen the links to solve shared difficulties of business.
Among the growing problems in the Visayas is the energy shortage in the Western areas that has affected the islands of
In a survey I conducted among the governors of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Visayas and some of the chamber presidents, placed infrastructure on top of the list of setbacks. This consistent and perennial problem shows how hard it is to connect cities and towns; products and producers; suppliers and manufacturers.
With the exception of Guimaras island where a comprehensive infrastructure program is in the offing, the other towns and cities of the Visayas still have long lengths of roads that need concreting and repair. Other farmlands are still laid back in their access to market roads. This has encouraged the influx of middlemen who have the ability to ferry the produce and raw materials through trails and rough roads traversing in steep inclines. This has added to the cost of the consumer and reduced somehow the income of the farmer.
In the areas where comprehensive agrarian reform programs are put to effect, there is also the continuous struggle between recipients of titles who do not know how to manage their estate. They eventually attempt to sell to previous landowners or capitalists who can provide the necessary inputs for production. There is also this dilemma of landowners on the possible coverage of their property under CARP.
Another question is what products can sustain the changes in the climate, and the rampancy of calamities that are no stranger to the country. The greater challenge is the question of effectiveness of the CARP as a whole and whether it should be let go altogether for industries to proceed.
On the sidelines, though tourism is considered among the high dollar reapers in the Visayas, there is a need to strengthen the support system that will invite tourists to spend their money in the country or to invest. Tourism in the Visayas needs to permeate in the service industry that includes a consistent positive attitude of helpfulness and hospitality even among taxi drivers, airport staff, police and traffic personnel, and other front liners. It also is greatly affected by the reputation of the country that is internally shriveled by demonstrations, kidnappings and the culture of mistrust that is very hard to shake-off.
There are many things to discuss in the Visayas. Many areas of cooperation. The room for linkages to further development in the south is wide and fertile and the Visayas Area Business Conference can never be so timely.
One of its topics that really interests me is that on Survival Elements: Old Values, New Take Ups, which will be discussed by Atty. Alexander Lacson. The topic looks into a supposedly intrinsic value of nationalism that is a key to a positive outlook, a good image, pride, and eventually, progress. I hope this sinks in.
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