During the ongoing 35th Mindanao Business Conference in Cagayan de Oro City, business leaders are advocating for stronger local chambers to better support small and emerging enterprises.
A Vision for Future-Ready Chambers
The question before us is not simply how do we keep our chamber operating. The bigger question is how do we build chambers that will remain strong and relevant even long after our term of leadership has ended.
Nenita R. Malbas, PCCI Mindanao Chairperson
- Chambers need to provide pathways to market for small businesses.
- Leadership succession should be intentional and proactive.
- Concerns among businesses are largely consistent across regions.
Nenita R. Malbas, chairperson of the conference and area vice president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Mindanao, emphasized the need for chambers to evolve beyond traditional functions.
In her address, Malbas highlighted the importance of strong governance, engaged membership, and financial sustainability as key components of a future-proof chamber.
Dr. Alberto P. Fenix Jr., president emeritus of PCCI, stressed that leadership transition must be deliberate, encouraging chambers to nurture future leaders who can infuse new ideas.
Dr. Irene Austria Floro, chair of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce, pointed out the need for tangible actions to address common business concerns.
Floro proposed a system to gather regional issues, study them, and convert them into actionable resolutions accessible via a dedicated portal by MinDA.
The conference, themed 'Accelerating Inclusive Growth for Business Through Innovation and Sustainability: Bridging the Gap, Scaling the Future,' aims to unite various stakeholders to shape the region’s economic trajectory.