MBM 2014 focuses on core challenges

CEBU, Philippines -  As the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched this year’s Mandaue Business Month, MCCI president Jeruel Roa stressed the need to see beyond supporting Mandaue as “hub of industry in the Southern Philippines.”

Roa said the knowledge and resources of the people and teaching them to be more productive is vital for the economic growth of the city.

Thus, MBM 2014 is gearing towards encouraging society stakeholders to touch other aspects in the city life aside from the business community.    

 “Mind you, this is an expression of how we should do things in the community,” he said.

The business sector is now facing two big challenges -- climate change and the looming economic integration next year -- and that business people should know how to face the effects of these events, said Nelia Navarro, Department of Trade and Industry Cebu Provincial director.

She noted the business month’s theme, “Integration + Innovation = Opportunity” should be able to address the concerns that are threatening the sector.

MBM events

One of the events of MBM is a climate change forum dubbed Greening Innovations for Competitiveness slated on August 20, which is a shared project of Promotion of Green Economic Development, German International Cooperation, DTI and Department of Science and Technology.

MCCI will also host this year’s 23rd Visayas Area Business Conference which will gather 17 business chambers from all over the Visayas region. The meeting will be done along with the MCCI Business Summit.

The conference on August 21 - 22 aims to join local chambers and discuss the concerns and problems that are affecting businesses, noted Jose Ng, area vice president for Visayas of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which supports the business forum.

About 500 business delegates from Visayas and Metro Manila are expected to attend in addition to the Cebu-based participants.

Ng said they will compile the solutions to be discussed during the forum and eventually present these to the national government during the Philippine Business Conference in October in Manila. 

VABC Director Stanley Go said they want to inspire the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs by inviting successful individuals and their businesses: Cosmetic Surgeon Vicky Belo of Belo Medical Clinic, Marketing Director Pinky Yee of Goldilocks Bakeshop and Ricky Mercado, former director of Family Business Development Center of Ateneo de Manila University.

“We hope that with these inspirational stories, the business sector -- the small and big -- would see that it is not impossible that Filipino brands will not be in the carts of foreign nations,” Go explained.

Fund raising

In addition, the MBM officers will start the business month with the annual tree planting on Aug. 2 at the Mandaue Bridge Park with the support of San Miguel Brewery; on Aug. 5, the MCCI will launch the fund raising activity to improve the Bridge Park under the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

Another fund raising event will be done for the construction of the paramedics training facility in Mandaue City of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation which needs to raise P45 million. On Aug. 30, the chamber will have fun run for a cause to raise funds for ERUF.

ERUF Chairman Dr. Pek Eng Lim, a gastroenterologist, said the school is intended for search and rescue training for car and urban accidents, airplane crashes and underwater accidents -- other than medical emergency response.  (FREEMAN)