FOR their initiatives that united both the public and private sector in the fight against Covid-19, two chambers in Central Visayas won the top awards during the 46th Philippine Business Conference and Expo on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) won the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas and the Philippines (Province, Level 1) while the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) won the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas (City, Level 1) awards.

CCCI president Felix Taguiam said the chamber has been at the forefront of advancing businesses to cultivate a healthy environment for enterprises to thrive.

“CCCI is the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas and in the Philippines for its leadership and dynamism before and during the pandemic. This included its advocacies for the ease and lowered cost in doing business before and during the pandemic, and its multi-stakeholder commitment to combat Covid-19 in Cebu,” Taguiam told SunStar Cebu.

He said the chamber’s role in the Project Balik Buhay and Cebu Citizens Initiative for Covid-19 and the ramping up of Cebu’s economic revival advocacy and plans with the Cebu City Government and the Regional Development Council also became crucial in keeping the business community afloat.

Taguiam said the chamber has been connecting opportunities, growing, reviving, rebooting and repurposing businesses in Cebu while creating value.

The awards were presented by Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president ambassador Benedicto Yujuico and other PCCI officials.

The CCCI has been previously cited as the Most Outstanding Chamber of Commerce in the Visayas for 12 years, Most Outstanding Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines for nine years, and Most Outstanding Chamber in the Philippines Hall of Fame for three years.

MCCI president Steve Yu, on the other hand, welcomed MCCI’s award, saying it is a recognition of their efforts to stand with the business community despite the difficult times.

“When the pandemic struck last March, we never thought that we could go this far in helping our business community thrive amid the crisis. In our own little way, we were able to become the voice of the business community and help lessen the negative effects of the quarantine to businesses. We were able to continue with our advocacies that promote sustainability and green city initiatives,” Yu said.

He said MCCI is grateful to PCCI for recognizing the chamber’s efforts in helping businesses overcome the pandemic and reboot the economy. (JOB)