THE Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) is crafting the chamber’s strategic direction in the next five years in preparation for the new leadership that is assuming office on June 30.

“In preparation for the changes in the national and local leadership, the present and past board of trustees of the chamber held a strategic planning last April. The plans will define the strategic directions of the chamber in the next years,” said MCCI president Donato Busa.

Marlene Bedia, MCCI’s executive director, noted that the chamber is already done with the first phase of the strategic plan but is scheduled to meet again to reevaluate programs and think of new ones to remain relevant and ensure these programs are in line with that of the new administration.

Bedia added the 50-year-old business chamber is reviewing the performance of all its programs. She assured that programs that have significant effects on the community will be continued and will be pitched to the new leaders in Mandaue City to earn continued local government unit (LGU) support.

Busa, during the MCCI’s recent general membership meeting at the City Sports Club Cebu described the events 2015 and 2016, as “interesting times.”

The Philippines hosted last year the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and Cebu became one of the major meeting hubs of the conference. Then Cebu hosted in January the International Eucharistic Congress, which placed Cebu in the world map, as it welcomed thousands of delegates from all over the world.

“These major events challenged the logistical capabilities of our province and cities and we are proud to say that Mandaue Chamber, as well as our members played key supporting roles in various capacities,” said Busa.

MCCI organized the Expo Mandaue both in Cebu and in Manila to showcase the products of Mandaue City to the world during APEC. The show in Manila ran for a week and MCCI and Mandaue City were the only chamber and LGU that were featured during the APEC Leader’s Summit. The show was featured in both national and international media, including CNN.

For this year, Busa said the chamber will bank on the gains they had last year, as they gear up for the upcoming Mandaue Business Month (MBM), which will be chaired by Steven Yu.

MBM’s month-long activity this August will be anchored on the theme “Bold Moves. New Frontier.”

Moreover, the chamber will continue to identify issue that affect business through its business conference called “Mandaue Talks with Business.”

“Prominent issues that were discussed last year were the perennial traffic and the truck ban. We will again use this platform (Mandaue Talks with Business) to coordinate with the new administration of Mayor-elect Luigi Quisumbing,” said Busa.

MCCI has also paid a courtesy visit to Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and Congressman-elect Jonas Cortes.

The business chamber also launched this year a program called Men In Business (MIB) in partnership with San Miguel Brewery and the University of Cebu-Banilad.

The program aims to train men who are heads of families to become entrepreneurs. It is chaired and co-chaired by Girlie Garces and Amado Go, respectively.

Busa disclosed that mentorship for their business enterprises is ongoing and the awarding of the winners is slated next month.

During the GMM, MCCI also introduced its newly-elected members of the board of trustees for 2016-2018, namely, Amado Go of Cenapro Chemical Inc.; Edgar Allan Po of Winners Plastic; Romelinda “Girlie” Garces of San Miguel Brewery, Inc.; Wilson Ng of Ng Khai Development Corp.; Glenn Anthony Soco of Mandaue Integrated Manpower Service; Vicky Dy of Adnet Corp.; Mark Anthony Ynoc of San Remegio Properties; and Stanley Go of Virginia Foods Inc.

Last year, MCCI inducted 53 new members, which brings their membership today to a total of 256 companies with several others still processing their applications.