Business Month to last 3 months

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/07/26/business-month-last-3-months-421145
• Sunday, July 26, 2015

By Mia A. Aznar

TO COMMEMORATE their 50th founding anniversary, the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) will be celebrating the annual Mandaue Business Month for much longer.

At the launching held Saturday, officials announced that the MBM could extend all the way to October, to pave the way for more activities and not overshadow the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’s ministerial meetings that will be held in Cebu.

The chamber’s golden anniversary celebrates game-changers and some activities will be held in honor of companies and personalities in Mandaue that have managed to adjust to the changing times to become what they are today.

The celebrations start with the term of newly-elected president Donato Busa, owner of Busa Printers, who was elected last June 3.

Busa has been in business for 33 years and has long been a member of the MCCI. He left for three years to concentrate on his committee membership in the International Eucharistic Congress, keeping busy with plans to bring the business community closer to “the ultra poor” or those who earn P100 or less for a family of five.

On his return, he wants to continue that mission of bringing the business community closer to the needy. He also hopes to bring the MCCI membership to 300, adding 50 new members by next month.

Under Busa’s leadership, the chamber hopes to make Mandaue City require all businesses to “synergize” with the MCCI. Busa said they have already discussed with local government officials in Mandaue City and will ask them to craft an ordinance making this possible.

Busa noted that many European cities require businesses to be part of their local chambers so they can work together in developing their cities hand in hand with the government.

While he does not expect the local government to compel all businesses to become members of the MCCI, they are leaving it to the lawmakers to thresh out how businesses can coordinate with them in different areas of cooperation. He said businesses can cooperate with each other in ways that will benefit the entire city, such as in the disposal of hazardous wastes. He noted that currently, disposal is only limited to “malata ug dili malata (biodegradable and non-biodegradable).”

“But what about the hazardous material?” he pointed out.

He also hopes to establish a packaging design center so that Mandaue City-made products can be packaged better and made more competitive.

For the Mandaue Business Month (MBM), the 22 activities have been spread out over three months.

After Saturday’s kickoff with a human formation of the number 50, they will begin the month with a business seminar on applying laws on business human resources at the San Miguel Brewery.

There are also medical and dental missions, mangrove planting, seminars, forums and evening celebrations from August until October.

One of the highlights of the MBM is the Mandaue Business Summit on Aug. 14 at the Oakridge Pavilion, featuring speakers like leadership guru Francis Kong, Singapore-based CEO Ho Sun Yee, ABS-CBN chief digital officer Donald Patrick Lim, and former 80’s actor turned businessman Chinkee Tan. Event co-chair Stanley Go said the summit is meant to be a day of learning and that entrepreneurs from neighboring cities in the Visayas will attend the event.

Another activity that has gained international recognition for its unconventional but effective setup is the Winners (Women in Need Now Entrepreneurs and Role models) Search. Now on its fifth year, the contest celebrates women entrepreneurs from each barangay by helping them with entrepreneurial skills and awarding the winner in the style of a beauty pageant.

Program chairperson Carmel de Pio Salvador said they placed second out of 79 entries in the World Chambers Competition held in Torino, Italy, losing the top spot to a Canadian program. Nevertheless, Salvador said they learned a lot from other projects and were proud they were even considered, as the Winners search is a young program.

To kick off the search, they will hold a Winners Fashion Walk at the Parkmall on Aug. 16 featuring women of all ages and professions wearing what they consider fashionable. The grand finals will be on Aug. 27.

The chamber has been tasked to manage the #iammandaue shop, a boutique at the City Time Square showcasing products that are made in Mandaue City. MCCI Executive Director Marlene Bedia said this is in partnership with the Mandaue City Government and will feature food, furniture, decor and souvenir items that were manufactured in the city. The store will open on Aug. 7.

They will also hold the Rediscover Mandaue Industrial Tour on Sept. 18, a project promoting Mandaue as a place to visit.

“Most people who are not from Cebu often ask, ‘Asa na ang Mandaue (Where is Mandaue)?’ Even Mayor Cortes has said he has had that experience. We want to show it as the industrial hub of Cebu,” Bedia said. Aside from the factories that feature state-of-the art technology, she said Mandaue has its share of entertainment centers and cultural heritage sites that need to be promoted.

The Expo Mandaue on Oct. 8 to 11 at the SM City North Wing will also showcase what Mandaue City has to offer, including services provided by the local government.

Other activities include a Commission on Elections off-site registration, Chamber Night dinner, SSS Pensioners Day, Glee for Gold show choir competition, Mandaue Mall Adventure, and the 50th Year Gala Night.