Mactan Development Forum slated June 26

More than 300 individuals are expected to join the first Mactan Development Forum to be held on June 26 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Mactan.

The forum aims to establish a protocol of cooperation between the business community, civil society and the government that will focus on the speedy development of Mactan Island as the primary international gateway for Visayas and Mindanao.

The Office of the President, through the presidential assistant for Central Visayas, in partnership with the Mactan Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has organized event, dubbed as “A gateway for Change.”

Four major government departments and agencies will be taking part in the forum: the Department of Tourism, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

MICCI president Efrain Pelaez said that the forum will gather together various sectors interested in Mactan’s development - from the business sector, different government agencies, civic societies and non-government organizations.

“We hope to attract as well as participation from existing and potential investors of Mactan,” said Pelaez, whose business chamber is batting for a graft-free Mactan.

For the past four years, the MICCI together with the Cebu Business Club launched a campaign that would follow up high-profile graft and corruption cases in Cebu together with religious and civic groups.

Recently, CBC and MICCI launched what they called “Catch a Big Pugapo” movement in relation to the Coalition Against Corruption’s own campaign called “Catch a big fish” program.

Pugapo is the Visayan name for the Lapulapu fish. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM