Saturday, July 28, 2007 Davao, Philippine biz chambers may reconcile later By Grace L.Plata
THE Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCI) has not completely closed its doors to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
DCCCI President Domingo Duerme said they still work in tandem with PCCI on some projects although DCCCI has disaffiliated itself from the Philippine Chamber October last year.
The DCCCI has cut ties with PCCI for unilaterally implementing a re-grouping of Mindanao chambers without consultation and despite objections of affected chambers.
As a result of the reconfiguration, the chamber regions have been reduced from eight to only five.
Former DCCCI president Bienvenido Cariaga has said the reconfiguration of regions was not only done without consultation or due process, but it also totally ignored the history of Mindanao and disregarded cultural sensitivities, thus the move of the local chamber to extricate itself.
Now that the hoopla has died down, Duerme said there is a possibility for reconciliation.
"We will create a committee to look into the matter. For now, we will be concentrating on helping our members in issues that concern them," Duerme said.
DCCCI have always said they can survive even without the help of PCCI, adding that PCCI has done nothing for Mindanao. Instead, it has always been the beneficiary of the efforts of the Mindanao business community.
