29th Mindanao Business Conference
The affiliate chambers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Mindanao is championing a package of infrastructure intervention measures aimed at ensuring business survival and continuity during the 29th Mindanao Business Conference on September 10-11, 2020.
The first ever virtual hosting of Mindanao’s biggest business conference of the PCCI will be hosted by the Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) through online live streaming via ZOOM with a record audience expected to participate in the virtual event despite restrictions on travel and gatherings brought by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“With theme, Mindanao: Journeying to the New Normal, we recognize the urgent need to boost confidence to overcome emerging challenges and opportunities,” said Ma. Teresa A. Alegrio, PCCI Area Vice President for Mindanao. “This stems from a deep understanding of what the new normal presents so that responses to meet them are carefully crafted.”
MinBizCon is an annual event organized by the PCCI that aims to create a venue for businessmen, key industry players, government executives, and other private sector leaders to discuss economic concerns and opportunities in Mindanao resulting to policy actions for the development of the region.
Through PCCI Mindanao Resolution no. 2020-004 (A Resolution Endorsing To The IATF-EID Proposed Intervention Measures For Business Survival And Continuity of Mindanao MSMEs and Other Industries) the 42 local Chambers of Mindanao will be requesting the National Government’s immediate and urgent intervention to prioritize a package of proposed recommendations aimed at ensuring the business survival and continuity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), in the manufacturing and industry, and agricultural sector.
MSME’s constitute over 90 percent of the number of business establishments nationwide and in Mindanao.
The resolution covers Health Care Capacity, Infrastructure, Economic Stimulus, Structural Reforms, Capacity Building, and Domestic Tourism.
Infrastructure Initiatives
Among the infrastructure intervention measure being championed by PCCI Mindanao are the following:
· For DOE, DPWH & DOTr to re-start the implementation of the following strategic infrastructure projects which are included in the Build-Build-Build program and the approved RDC Infrastructure projects of the national government: Shelter Projects under the Marawi Rehabilitation project; Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project; Rehabilitation of the Agus and Pulangi Hydropower Complexes; Mindanao Railway; Expansion of the Laguindingan Airport; Panguil Bay Bridge, and Improvement of Night Landing and Runway facilities of Secondary Airports all over Mindanao.
· For the Department of Finance (DOF) to prioritize funding allocation and procurement of services for all pending DPWH-DTI ROLL-IT projects to expedite and efficiently transport raw materials from agricultural areas to main processing or manufacturing centers;
· For the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to provide access for local/Private Telecommunications Companies, Cable TV, Internet and Value Added Service Providers to their existing tower facilities and infrastructure including unused internet bandwidth, to fast track deployment of broadband internet services to underserved areas in compliance with its mandate of bringing information and communications technology to all Filipinos;
· For DICT to enjoin the National Electrification Agency (NEA) to suspend its recent rate increase in Pole Rental Fees for rural electric cooperatives to reduce the costs for Telcos, Cable TV and Internet Service Providers to consequently stop these being passed on to consumers, and ultimately enable more people especially in remote areas, gain access to affordable communications that provide urgent, essential and timely information during this time of the pandemic;
· For DILG to order the LGUs and other government agencies, to reduce the number of permits now being required in the building and erection of Telco cell site tower and radio facilities and in the roll out and installation of fiber optic and coaxial cables underground and aboveground, in order to fast track the deployment of much needed Broadband Internet infrastructure nationwide which is crucial to the success of DepEd’s online education program.
The foregoing proposals were extensively discussed across all the 42 Local Chambers of Commerce in Mindanao during several Regional Consultations with PCCI President Ambassador Benedicto Yujuico, PCCI Mindanao Area Vice President Maria Teresa R. Alegrio, and PCCI Regional Governors Arturo Milan (South Eastern Mindanao), Roderico R. Bioco (Northern Mindanao), Paul Gudmalin (Western Mindanao), Pete Marquez (Central Mindanao), Aldrin Ibbo (BARMM), Julie Senense (Eastern (CARAGA) Mindanao) and Loreta Sy (South Western Mindanao) with Promote NorMin Foundation President Elpidio M. Paras. (PCCI Mindanao)
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