Duterte, Magpale assure Cebu chamber of support

Ma. Teresa B. Chan (right), CCCI immediate past president, turns over the gavel to Melanie Ng, 2016 CCCI president. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale have assured the members of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) of their support.

Duterte made the pronouncement in a message read by CCCI president Melanie Ng during the group’s general membership meeting on Friday.

“Let me assure our Cebuano businessmen and professionals and those in the small and medium scale enterprises, which are the backbone of our economy, of my support as your president,” Ng quoted Duterte as saying.

The chamber had invited Duterte to the meeting, but the Davao mayor said he could not make it.

In his message, Duterte said that in order to sustain economic development in Cebu and the Visayas, he has appointed Cebuano businessman Michael Dino as his presidential assistant for the Visayas.

“He, along with other new officials, will help us easily address concerns and needs of Cebu and the whole Visayas region,” said Duterte.

Duterte said his message to CCCI members was his first opportunity to thank Cebuanos for the support he received in the recently concluded elections.

Duterte, whose family hails from Danao City in Cebu, said he is proud of his roots, but even prouder of the young men and women of Cebu “who have attracted world-class admiration for their work, designs, creativity, professionalism, and work ethic.”

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, the chamber’s keynote speaker during their meeting, also assured the business organization of the provincial government’s support.

“We will do everything to synchronize our programs and projects with the course that you will be taking,” she said in her speech.

Magpale looked back on her first interactions with the chamber when she was still a member of the Provincial Board in 1993 handling the tourism committee.

It was during her first term as board member when she got to work with the chamber.

“Where Cebu is now as a tourism and investment destination is your doing. Government is only here to assist,” she told members of the business organization.

Magpale said the Capitol’s present thrust is developing more eco-tourism destinations in the province as tourists have become increasingly interested in nature tours.

They also want to make sure that the province’s resources are well taken care of through proper development so these can withstand pressures brought about by natural disasters.

Among the attractions that the provincial government seeks to develop are the Aguinid Falls in Samboan, Batawang River cruise in Tabuelan, and canyoneering activities in Badian and Alegria, the vice governor added.

During the meeting, immediate past president Ma. Teresa Chan turned over the presidential medallion to Ng.

Ng said the new set of chamber leaders will focus on four major strategic thrusts in the next two years to make the organization more relevant to its members and the business community in Cebu.

The chamber, which counts over 700 members at present, expanded its membership with the induction of 36 more members last Friday.

They included Drake International, St. Paul College Foundation, Inc., Kpub Bbq Meat All You Can, Bayfront Hotel Cebu, Duros Land Properties, Inc., Rose Pharmacy Inc., Haier Electrical Appliances Philippines, Inc., Philcare, and Crown Regency Hotels & Resorts.