Business leaders gear up for post pandemic boom

CEBU, Philippines —  Business prime movers in the Visayas are preparing for the post pandemic boom in a recently concluded 31st Visayas Area Business Conference hosted by Ormoc City in Leyte.

The three-day face-to-face conference themed “From Setbacks to Comeback: Getting Business Back on Track,” tackled critical issues in key industries which are considered as drivers to full economic recovery in the region. These are; tourism, agriculture, ICT (information, communication and technology) infrastructure; sustainable energy, among others.

Tourism

During the tourism industry discussion, which zoomed in on tackling “A stronger Visayas Tourism: Revitalizing Sustainable Tourism Through Effective Governance,”

Karina Rosa Santiago-Topes, Regional Director of the Department of Tourism in Eastern Visayas, encouraged everyone to have a positive outlook amidst the uncertainties brought by the pandemic.

“We therefore need strong tourism governance where we, in government should take the lead, have the determination and drive, act as the enablers and innovators, be the unifiers, integrators and reconcilers, and in the midst of the uncertainties brought about by this pandemic, be the hope givers, moral boosters and source of inspiration of our stakeholders to hang on and keep that positive outlook” Santiago-Topes said.

On the other hand, Cleofe Albiso, chairperson of Boracay MICE (meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions) Alliance, emphasized the importance of upholding sustainable tourism in the recovery of the hospitality industry in the country.

“Sustainable tourism is of paramount importance in the recovery of the Hospitality Industry. It is not one sector’s responsibility but rather a commitment of stakeholders in an advocacy of social economic and environmental welfare as we host domestic and international guests in the awesome destinations of our country.” said Albiso.

Agriculture

Agriculture, being one of the priority sectors of the current government, was also extensively discussed during the conference attended by more than 600 business prime movers across the country, as well as officials from the national and local governments.

Highlighted the talking points towards “Modernizing Agricultural Productivity for Food Security in the Visayas,” speaker Rachel Renucci-Tan, Co-Founder of Chen Yi Agventures, stated the importance of investing the best technology to produce premium rice for the Filipino people.

“In order to solve the rice prices in the Philippines, we need to have control of the full value chain; from planting the seed, growing the palay with the farmers, mechanizing the whole process, and then investing in the best technology to produce premium rice for the Filipino people” Renucci-Tan said.

ICT Infrastructure

Bannering the theme “Speed-up Connectivity and ICT Infrastructures: Digitalization in the National ICT Agenda,” host province Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petilla urged delegates to be innovative and technology driven.

“The jobs that we are doing are totally different. I can’t even imagine the jobs that we were doing 30 years ago and as much as I cannot imagine what kind of jobs we will be doing 30 years from now. It’s technology driven. You have to innovate” he said.

Sustainable Energy

The critical role sustainable energy was amplifies during the conference, of which discussions were focused on “Innovations for Sustainable Energy Supply: Towards a Cost- Effective and Efficient Energization of the Visayas.”

Resource speaker Quintin Pastrana, WEnergy Power Pilipinas President, discussed the importance of renewable hybrid systems in the time of political and economic uncertainty.

“In an era of political and economic uncertainty, rising prices, and climate risk— clean, reliable, and affordable energy via smart, decentralized, and renewable hybrid systems are the way to go. And the time to embrace these investments for a more profitable and sustainable future is now” he said.

The VABC is a significant annual event in the region organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) that strives to address challenges affecting business in the Visayas, particularly in the areas of energy, agribusiness, ICT infrastructure, and tourism.

Present in the event were the officers, regional directors, and members of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry headed by their president, George T. Barcelon, SP Member Rey Evangelist, SP Member Peter Rodriguez, SP Member Lalaine Marcos, SP Member Gregorio Yrastorza III, City Prosecutor Atty. Benjamin “Bennet” Pongos Jr., City Legal Officer Atty. Joy Romero, ORCHAM President Twinkle Chu, Regional Governor of PCCI Region 8 Maricel Ngo and the delegates from the different provinces, municipalities, and cities.

PCCI Region VII Governor Melanie Ng also attended the event along with NOCCI President Edward Du, Bohol CCI President Dominic Butalid, Cebu CCI President Charles Kenneth Co and Mandaue CCI President Kelie Ko.