MCCI head wants to transform Mandaue

NEWLY-ELECTED Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Philip Tan hopes to transform Mandaue City into a more advanced city.

He plans to achieve this by improving the city’s business viability to attract high-value investments; improving infrastructure to address flood problems; and collaborating with the different business chambers on various projects.

According to Tan, MCCI has always been aggressive in terms of making Mandaue a business-friendly location for investments.

He pledged to continue improving Mandaue’s business climate by forging strong linkages
with various government agencies, including the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and even with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Efforts of promoting transparency, eradicating red tape and making business processes seamless will be on top of my priority,” Tan said.

One of the ongoing efforts is Mandaue’s Investment Code, which will soon be released to the public. According to Tan, identified industries will be granted incentives
under this new investment code.

Tan said the chamber has been helping City Hall in crafting the investment code since the presidency of former MCCI president Eric Mendoza. The new investment code will be launched during the Mandaue Business Month this August, through an investment forum.

“We are looking for more high-value, technology-based industries to open operations in Mandaue with this new investment code,” Tan said. “We would be redesigning the manufacturing businesses in Mandaue, a kind that is globally competitive.”

Tan said he wanted to see more businesses similar to that of Kenneth Cobonpue’s furniture company, which has remained resilient despite the global economic woes.

“Innovation was the key, and we wanted to see more of this in all existing businesses here,” he said.

Having been working with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)-Visayas for quite a long time, Tan said he will also promote the adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to all businesses in Mandaue.

In terms of improving infrastructure, Tan said that under his administration, the chamber will continuously seek solutions to address the problem of Mandaue’s drainage system. Aside from this, he will also encourage the members of the chamber to initiate awareness programs on recycling and solid waste management in the barangay/s where their respective businesses are located.

Tan also sees the need to collaborate with the various chambers in Cebu on projects.

“If we collaborate, then we would see a much bigger impact, not limited to the areas we serve,” he said.

Tan is the president and chief executive officer of Wellmade Motors and Development Corp. based in Tanchan Industrial Complex, Tipolo, Mandaue City.