CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PamCham) expressed optimism over development prospects in 2020, particularly Pampanga and the whole of Central Luzon.
PamCham president Rene Romero, in his New Year message, shared that businessmen and investors have a greater task to fulfill this year as advocates of development and generators of livelihood.
“As we begin the New Year, 2020, which incidentally is also the start of a new decade in the 21st century and the third millennium, I urge you (PamCham members) to be more conscientious and particularly mindful of the vital role, we as business people and prime movers of the economy play in our community. Let us contemplate on the fact that we are the generators of employment and providers of livelihood to our countrymen,” Romero said.
He stressed that the chamber has an overwhelmingly empowering and fulfilling task at its disposal.
“And if done responsibly and diligently, our province, our region and ultimately our nation, will be able to rise above our growth challenges and reach full development status, sooner rather than later. Our global competitiveness level will be at par with our more developed Asean neighbors.”
“Pampanga’s development in the past decade brought about a gradual transformation in the local milieu, both favorable and not so favorable. Most welcome of course is the inflow of investments from major business players and consequent surge in local economic activities that bring about more employment for our workers. As expected, these states of affairs augmented livelihood income of the community and expanded the local economy. On the other hand and not as welcome, because this is now constantly bewailed by the local community, is the increase in local traffic volume that evokes harrowing visions of the congestion in Metro Manila,” added Romero.
Pampanga, he noted, is now primed for unprecedented development and sustained growth can be propelled by the business community which PamCham leads.
“Now is the most opportune time to get involved and become active participants in the direction setting of our province’s economic growth. We will be persistently resolute in pursuing advocacies that will foster local economic growth that will empower our local homegrown businesses.”
As the voice of business, PamCham he said, is tasked to promote development as well as protect the welfare and interest of the local business community, which severe traffic congestion threatens, among other things.
“PamCham has been unwavering in its advocacies for government to put in place transport and road infrastructures in the province that will prevent us suffering the same fate and committing mistakes made in the National Capital Region. To complement these efforts, the chamber is adjuring the strict implementation of traffic rules and regulations by the local traffic enforcement. Working to our advantage in this task is our active involvement in the Regional Development Council where we sit as co-chair of the Sectoral Committee on Infrastructure Development (SCID) which has the DPWH, the LTO, the DILG and our LGUs as members, alongside our partners in government, we regularly consult and propose traffic management measures intended to alleviate congestion and promote balanced development for the province of Pampanga and the Central Luzon region,” Romero furthered.
“I encourage you to start the year with this mindset, embrace and be motivated by the role of PamCham, thereafter commit responsibly and diligently exercise this power all throughout the decade. Let us altogether welcome 2020 with renewed hope, positive energy and ebullient cheers in anticipation of an auspicious year ahead,” concluded Romero. (JTD)