Creation of new Lapu chamber hits a snag

CEBU, Philippines — At least 30 companies have already expressed interest in joining the Lapu-Lapu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to establish a strong business presence in the rapidly growing city, but will have to wait as the creation of the new chamber encounters some delay.

In an interview with Melanie C. Ng, the area vice president of PCCI-Visayas, she mentioned that the creation of the new Lapu-Lapu Chamber is experiencing a slight delay because the inactive old chamber needs to be delisted from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

According to Ng, PCCI-Visayas has received growing interest from corporations based in Lapu-Lapu, especially the Aboitiz Group through the Aboitiz Infra Capital, which is the private operator of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and also owns Mactan Economic Zone II.

“They [businesses] saw how being a member of the chamber can help advocate for programs like the ease of doing business, especially since there are a lot of investments coming into Lapu-Lapu,” Ng said.

These companies have recognized the importance of having a support group just like the local chamber, “they saw the opportunity and the need for a chamber in Lapu-Lapu. If we work together, all the business chambers, as PCCI One Visayas, our voice will be much stronger.

PCCI officials, Ng said have already been informed about the request to delist the old Lapu-Lapu Chamber, to create a new organization. The PCCI-Central Visayas regional governor has to write a formal letter to PCCI about the delisting.

Recently, PCCI has officially enjoined the Talisay City Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Other towns that have already established their local chambers of commerce and industry include; Toledo City, City of Naga, Bantayan and Cordova.

Ng added that PCCI-Visayas is also working on delisting the old Consolacion Chamber of Commerce and Industry to create a new chamber.

Meanwhile, she clarified that the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is a provincial chamber, which means it is considered as a mother chamber of the local chambers of commerce or chapter chambers. —