RATHER than just promoting the interests and welfare of the business community, officers of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry assured that the activities for this year’s Mandaue Business Month take into account all aspects of living in the city.
MCCI President Jeruel Roa said the observance of MBM every August goes beyond promoting Mandaue City as a hub of industry in the southern Philippines.
They are also including activities to green the empty spaces of the city with a tree-planting activity, fundraising for a planned Mandaue Bridge Park under the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, and a fun run with proceeds to be given to the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (Eruf), which needs to raise P45 million to complete its paramedics training facility in Mandaue City.
Aside from gathering the business community from Mandaue City, the MBM will coincide with the 23rd Visayas Area Business Conference (VABC) on Aug. 21 and 22, which gathers 17 business chambers to discuss issues and concerns surrounding their businesses.
They expect some 500 delegates to join the VABC, an annual event among Visayan chambers under the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in addition to Cebu-based delegates.
The MCCI launched the MBM yesterday and unveiled the theme, “Integration + Innovation = Opportunity.”
For Department of Trade and Industry Cebu Director Nelia Navarro, the MCCI found an apt theme, as she believes innovation is the key to battling the two biggest concerns facing the business sector today--climate change and the full integration of Southeast Asian economies.
The MBM will start with an annual tree-planting activity in partnership with San Miguel Brewery on Aug. 2 at the Mandaue Bridge Park. Activity chairperson Girlie Garces said they also have plans to plant trees in some areas of Paknaan and leading toward the Cansaga Bridge. On Aug. 5, they will launch a fundraising activity called Bridging Dreams and Teams to make improvements in the Mandaue Bridge Park.
A forum on greening innovations for competitiveness will be held on Aug. 20 while an exhibit on the same themes will be held from Aug. 19 to 20 at the Cebu Parklane Hotel in collaboration with the Promotion of Green Economic Development (ProGED). ProGED a joint project of the German International Cooperation, DTI and Department of Science and Technology.
For the VABC, event chairperson Stanley Go said they wanted to bring in speakers who can inspire micro, small and medium enterprises to see that they can go beyond Mandaue, Cebu and the Philippines.Confirmed speakers include Dr. Vicky Belo of Belo Medical Clinic and Goldilocks marketing director Pinky Yee. Ateneo de Manila University’s former director of the Family Business Development Center of the John Gokongwei School of Management Ricky Mercado will provide the learning sessions. Four other speakers are yet to confirm their attendance.
Other issues that will be discussed during the VABC will be consolidated and brought to the attention of national government officials during the PCCI’s annual Philippine Business Conference in October.
Another annual event of the MBM is the Women in Need Now Entrepreneurs and Role models (Winners) competition. Event chairperson Carmel Salvador said two to three women from each of Mandaue City’s 27 barangays will be chosen. Today, they will hold a pre-selection event among 46 contestants and choose 20 finalists.
Now on its fourth year, the Winners competition highlights stories of women’s survival and aims to help them grow their micro businesses with mentorship. This year, the organizers are working with Benedicto College to come up with a Bisaya module to teach micro entrepreneurs the basics in growing their businesses, advertising, using banking facilities and paying taxes. Salvador also hopes to bring the competition province-wide. Awarding will be on Aug. 27.
The MCCI has partnered with national organization Go Negosyo and the Philippine Franchise Association to host seminars and an exhibition at the J Centre Mall on Aug. 28 and 29.
To help Eruf raise P45 million to build the country’s first paramedics institute in a 5,000-square-meter lot near Parkmall, the MCCI is organizing a fun run on Aug. 30.
Eruf Chairman Dr. Pek Eng Lim said the facility will serve as a training school that goes beyond emergency response. These include search and rescue in urban settings, vehicle accidents, chemical rescue, airplane crashes and underwater rescue.
The MBM is part of Mandaue City’s 45th Charter Day celebration.
To promote the events, event organizers have launched an online selfie contest encouraging participants to post self-portraits on their Facebook page.