Cebu chamber named COVID-19 hero for Asia Pacific region

CDN FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY, Philippines — An international award-giving body gave recognition to the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) for its efforts in addressing the crisis brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The CCCI was named as awardee in the COVID-19 Hero Chamber Award category at the 2020 APAC Chamber of Commerce Awards.

The winners were announced on GlueApp’s official website on February 3. GlueApp is the core organizer of the event.

APAC Chamber of Commerce cited and commended CCCI’s actions to join with the government and non-government organizations in the fight against COVID-19.

These included CCCI’s initiatives to donate a total of P5 million worth of protective gear such as face masks, PPE, face shields, and medicines for workers battling the outbreak at the frontlines and relief packs to families affected by the crisis.

The APAC Chamber of Commerce also mentioned the Project Balik Buhay, the strategized rapid mass-testing in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu, for “calibrating the opening of work based on risk and impact guidelines under General Community Quarantine while taking measures to help the health system cope as cases continued to rise.”

“Impressive leadership and proactivity (sic) shown during the pandemic by implementing relevant and practical solutions, positioning the Chamber as a valuable force for effective management.” said Sid Peimer, executive director of  Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The CCCI, in a statement published on social media, expressed gratitude for the recognition they received.

“Last year was an extremely difficult one for the whole humankind and brought unprecedented changes to the whole world, but the CCCI has fought through and continued serving the business community of Cebu,” said the CCCI.

With over 1,000 members, CCCI is the Philippines’ second-largest business-oriented organization, next to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

Other winners of the 2020 APAC Chamber of Commerce Awards were American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (Large Chamber of the Year Award), Swedish Chamber of Commerce Singapore (Small Chamber of the Year Award), Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (International Chamber of the Year Award), Ayr Chamber of Commerce (Local Chamber of the Year Award), Tatum Albertine, Executive Director, American Chamber of Commerce Myanmar and Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei, CEO, The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (Executive of the Year Award), Adam Castillo, Governor, American Chamber of Commerce Myanmar (Rising Star of the Year Award), The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (Excellence in Technology and Innovation of the Year Award), Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (Best Virtual Event of the Year Award), and Swedish Chamber of Commerce Singapore (Best Community Engagement Program Award).

/dbs