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CCCI Beginnings, History & Milestones

1903

  • Cebu Chamber of Commerce (CCC) was founded and organized by lawyer Martin M. Levering of law firm Early and Levering, who also organized Cebu Telephone Company (1903) and Visayan Electric Company (1905), with co-organizer John M. Switzer, a young and successful businessman who owned an import company, John Switzer & Company (1901)

1908

  • CCC’s baton of leadership was passed on from Martin M. Levering to CCC co-organizer John M. Switzer

1913

  • CCC entered into a 99-year lease starting January 2, 1914, up to December 31, 2013, for an 812.27square meters reclaimed lot across Cebu Municipal Hall under the American Insular Government of Governor General Francis Burton Harrison.

1919

  • CCC at the forefront of increased shipping and port activities after the First World War

1921

  • A Trade Directory was issued by CCC, giving details about the status of the economy of Cebu.

1928

  • CCC issued another Trade Directory to provide an update on the status of the Cebu economy, especially regarding imports & exports.

1931

  • CCC became a full-fledged non-stock and non-profit corporation on June 15, 1931

1942-1946

  • No activities during World War II

1940’s – 1960’s

  • Quiescent years

1970’s

  • Revival and Rebuilding years-CCCI’s by-laws were amended to conform to the requirement of the merger of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines with the Chamber of Philippine Industries into the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry through Letter of Instruction (LOI) No. 780.

1978

  • On November 2, 1978, CCCI bought a 906-square-meter lot at the North Reclamation Area for P132,000 for P145.70 per square meter

1986

  • CCCI further flourished when the Philippine Government linked the Philippine-German Chamber Cooperation Program (P-GCCP) with the Federal Republic of Germany, with CCCI as one of the principal partners.

1991

  • “Cebu Business Day” was conceived as a festival that provided a venue for local traders and manufacturers to promote their products and services, exchange knowledge and skills, as well as market beyond their boundaries.

1993

  • CCCI was awarded as the “Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas” by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

1994

  • CCCI received its second award as the “Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas”.
  • The Regional Chamber Development Program (RCDP), with financial and technical assistance from Handwerkskammer Kassel (HWK) of the Federal Republic of Germany, provided the impetus for CCCI to partner not only with local organizations but also with foreign agencies.
  • “Cebu Business Week” was formally launched as an annual business festival through Cebu City Resolution No. 1635, Cebu Provincial Resolution No. 367-94, and Presidential Proclamation No. 748.

1995

  • CCCI received its first award for “Most Outstanding Chamber in the Philippines”.

1996

  • For the second time, CCCI received the “Most Outstanding Chamber in the Philippines”.
  • “Cebu Business Week” was expanded and flourished into a month-long series of events, acquiring recognition for its advocacies and the impact it has brought to the city and the province of Cebu, and the Philippines as a whole. Now it is known as “Cebu Business Month.”
  • On August 19, 1996, the P17 million CCCI Center was inaugurated, with members of the CCCI chamber partner from HWK Kassel, Germany ,the  President of PCCI, and Officials from Cebu City and Province

1997

  • CCCI received the “Most Outstanding Chamber in the Philippines” for the third consecutive year and earned for itself a place in the PCCI’s “Hall of Fame”.

2000

  • The City Government of Cebu awarded CCCI as the “Engine of Cebu’s Economic Growth”.

2003

  • The ZDH Technonet Asia cited CCCI as one of the best-managed chambers in Asia. CCCI achieved unprecedented financial performance when its P13M building loan was fully paid.

2004

  • CCCI got its initial global exposure when Cebu Business Month became a finalist in the World Chambers Competition for “Best Chamber Management and Financing Project” in Durban, South Africa.
  • CIDA-PEARL 2 Business in Growth (BIG) was implemented to enhance SMEs’ competitiveness by conducting seminars, trade fairs, and policy studies.

2005

  • CCCI entered into a joint project with the Cebu Provincial Government under its Tourism Promotion Program dubbed as the “Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo,” which until now has been sustained by the Province.
  • The ICT Council was created after the successful and biggest ICT Conference in the Philippines, which was held in Cebu City. The Spa and Wellness Association of Cebu was organized after the conduct of the 1st Beauty, Health and Wellness Show, which made Cebu the emerging health and wellness capital outside Manila.
  • CCCI was awarded again as the “Most Outstanding Chamber of the Philippines” during the Philippine Business Conference and Exposition held in Manila.

2006

  • CCCI became the first chamber in the Philippines and the 4th in Asia to garner an ISO 9001:2000 Certification for its Quality Management System with the assistance of the German Development Service (DED).
  • CCCI implemented its SME Development & Promotion Project, “Meet the Business Legend,” which helps starting and aspiring entrepreneurs by providing a venue for close interaction with notable and established business leaders from prestigious companies.
  • CCCI co-hosted the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit with the PCCI.
  • CCCI was hailed by PCCI as the “Most Outstanding Chamber in the Philippines” for two years in a row.

2007

  • CCCI received an award from the City Government of Cebu as the “Most Outstanding Institution” in the City of Cebu.
  • CCCI conducted its first international outbound trade mission in Daly City, USA.
  • For the third time, CCCI was awarded as the “Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas” by PCCI. The Chamber’s second elevation to the “Hall of Fame” made it the most respected local chamber in the country.

2008

  • CCCI received its first international award as the “Best Local Chamber in the Asia-Pacific –Large Category” during the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) Conference in Manila, surpassing other local chambers in the said region.
  • CCCI further established a metrical basis for its vision of global competitiveness through the conduct of the Touchstone: Competitiveness & Benchmarking Study and strengthened its research arm through the founding of the Cebu Economic Advisory Group (CEAG) and the establishment of the Regional Trade Policy Center under the British Government-funded PCCI-UACT-IMUST Project.
  • CCCI also conceived the Sectoral Participation for Economic Advocacy (SPEAK) and it was implemented the following year.

2009

  • CCCI partnered with Germany’s Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation (AFOS) and SEQUA, the implementing partner of the Federation of Catholic Entrepreneurs (BKU) in Germany, to improve the business environment of the chambers in the Visayas and Mindanao for SME development.
  • CCCI passed the surveillance audit under its ISO 9001:2000 Certification and the assessment of its Quality Management System for the sixth time in three years.
  • Cebu City Council passed City Ordinance no. 2170 on January 7, 2009 renamed to Commerce and Industry Streets from 11th and 13th Streets where the CCCI Centre was built in 1996.
  • CCCI unveiled the newly named streets “Commerce St. and Industry St.” where the CCCI Centre Building is located. CCCI was conferred by the Philippines Foundation, Inc. as the “Perlas Award on the Valuable Institution” for promoting entrepreneurship in tourism and technology, upholding professional values and ethics in the business community, and establishing worthwhile international partnerships.

2010

  • CCCI was declared as the Overall Winner – Developing Nations Category in the Associations Make a Better World Award given by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Center for Association Leadership.
  • CCCI received the ISO 9001:2008 Certification on Quality Management System.

2011

  • CCCI won the hosting rights for the 26th Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) Conference in 2013.
  • Awarded as the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas
  • Awarded as the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Philippines

2012

  • Awarded as the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas
  • Awarded as the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Philippines

2013

  • Awarded as the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas
  • Awarded as the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Philippines
  • Awarded as the Most Outstanding Chamber “Hall of Fame”

2014

  • CCCI was disqualified from the MOCA Awards by its three (3) years of Hall of Fame Awards and sixteen (16) years as Most Outstanding Chamber of the Philippines.
  • CCCI created the CCCI Bantayan Island Chapter covering the three (3) Municipalities of Sta. Fe, Madridejos, and Bantayan, on the island of Bantayan
  • CCCI spearheaded the agreement building with Chambers in Region VII and Government Institutions on the Coordinating Roads and Infrastructure Investment for Development (CR+ID) Project with The Asia Foundation (TAF) under the Coalitions for Change Program of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Embassy in Manila.
  • CCCI became a member of the Cebu Provincial Investment Board, the Infrastructure Committee, and the Cebu Provincial Development Council and its Executive Committee.
  • CCCI forged a Sister Chamber Agreement with Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Sabah Branch, Malaysia on September 18, 2014.
  • CCCI launched the Cebu Food Consultancy Group (CFCG) under the Optimizing & Upscaling Roles in the Food Supply Chain (OURFood) Program. 
  • CCCI entered into a joint project supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) together with BKU/AFOS, DEG, DIHK/German, GIZ, Sparkassentiftung, sequa, RDH, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry regarding Dualized Vocational Education and Training in the context of the K to 12 Reform in the Philippines, for which CCCI organized TVET clusters in food manufacturing, construction, and tourism industries.

2015

  • Sister Chamber Agreement signed between CCCI and Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of South Africa.
  • CCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkiye (Tucson) on October 16, 2015, in Istanbul, Turkey. 
  • The new Cebu Brand: “Cebu, Where the Heart Sings!” was launched on November 13, 2015, at the Ayala Center in Cebu City.
  • CCCI and Sectoral Business Associations in Cebu (through a Memorandum of Solidarity on December 18, 2015) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Cebu City Government to institutionalize cooperation protocols between the City, the business and professional organizations for more efficient and effective delivery of services.
  • Invested Php 5 Million on CCCI building facelifting and retrofitting to expand the leasable area at the mezzanine and provide a more welcoming ambiance at the ground floor.
  • Established the CCCI Naga Chapter in November 2015, and its officers were inducted in February 2016.

2016

  • Conducted 20th Cebu Business Month with the theme “Digital Cebu”
  • Digitized communication within the Chamber using hardware, software and applications.
  • Served as official private sector representative to the Regional Development Council of Region 7, Provincial Development Council and its Committees, Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB).
  • Constructed the P2M roof extension cum Clearance Certificate Waiting Area of the National Bureau of Investigation – Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI-CEVRO) under the Adopt-a-Station Project of the Chamber.
  • Conceptualized and implemented the Kapatid Mentor Me Program for Micro and Small Enterprises in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE); Graduated the first batch of 26 micro and small entrepreneurs under the Kapatid Mentor Me Program.
  • Conducted Inbound and Outbound Trade Missions and Business Matching with local, national, and international business delegates such as from Singapore, Australia, New Zealand,the  People’s Republic of China, Laos, and Taiwan.
  • Business visit to Hiroshima, Japan, upon the invitation of the Hiroshima-Philippines Friendship Society (HPFS). 
  • Organized the Danao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chapter, strengthened the CCCI Naga City Chapter, and the CCCI Bantayan Island Chapter. 
  • Received an “Outstanding Institution Award” for the Trade and Investment Category on February 24, 2016, during the 79th Charter Day Anniversary of Cebu City.
  • Received a “Silver Award” for exemplary contribution and promotion of the National Voluntary Blood Service Program of the Department of Health (DOH) Region VII.
  • Signed a Sister Chamber Agreement with Ormoc City Chamber of Commerce & Industry on September 15, 201,6 at Ormoc City during the 25th VABC.
  • CCCI President Melanie Ng joined the 400 Philippine Business delegation of Philippine President Rodrigo E. Duterte to China on October 19-20, 2016. 
  • Created the Innovation Council of Cebu with 23 representatives from over 10 sectors from the ICT industry.
  • Conducted the first OURFood Conference and Expo on Food Safety at Cebu City Marriott Hotel on June 16-18, 2016. 
  • Launched the Unified Communications Alert and Response System (UCARES) on December 8, 2016, during the CCCI General Membership and Fellowship Night at KPub, Ayala Center, Cebu.

2017

  • Inducted the CCCI Board of Trustees by Philippine President Rodrigo E. Duterte on March 3, 2017.
  • Conducted the 21st Cebu Business Month with the theme “STEP UP Cebu”
  • Hosted the 26th Visayas Area Business Conference with the theme “Connecting Ideas, Connecting Economies” with Chamber Management Workshop on September 28-29, 2017. 
  • Conferred the PCCI National Excellence Award during the 43rd Philippine Business Conference on October 19, 2017, at the Manila Hotel.
  • Graduated over 90 Senior High School students under K to 12 Plus Project with Dualized Training System (DTS) for Construction, Food Manufacturing, and Tourism Industry in partnership with the AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation. 
  • Graduated Batch 2 and 3 with 57 micro and small entrepreneurs under the Kapatid Mentor Me Program
  • Constructed the Php 3Million Livelihood Centre and invested training support for the Women’s Association of Basawon, Bantayan, with the CCCI Bantayan Island Chapter, with funding support from the justiceF Stiftung; supported the livelihood of the wives of fisherfolks in Sulangan, Bantayan, and the fisherfolks of Marikaban, Sta Fe. 
  • Partnered with the Department of Science and Technology for the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (R.I.C.E.) and Technology Transfer
  • Established Command Center of UCAReS at PNP-PRO 7, Osmena Boulevard, Cebu City. 
  • Signed a partnership with Bread for the World, Berlin, Germany, for expert assistance in the Sustainable Agriculture and Marketing program to support interventions in the food value chain.

2018

  • Conferred Special Citation 2018 from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Manila Hotel for its pioneering efforts in education and training development and workforce capacity building by institutionalizing the Assessment, Certification, and Accreditation System Unit within the Chamber. 
  • Received Most Outstanding Chamber in Visayas Award (Province-based Chamber, Level 1) during the 44th Philippine Business Conference and Expo Infrastructure and Digital Economy The Game Changers given on October 18, 2018, at Manila Hotel, Manila. 
  • Benchmarking Mission to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Bangkok, Thailand in October 2018 to visit the TECH VOC education and training system and approaches by the Industry. 
  • Successfully passed a recertification audit under ISO 9001 carried out by TÜV Rheinland. CCCI meets all quality system management requirements of ISO 9001:2015 which primarily focuses on risk-based thinking in order for organizations and companies to examine the possible risks within their processes and services. 
  • The Cebu Chamber Centre which houses the offices of the CCCI underwent its first renovation in 23-years under the stewardship of President Consul Antonio Chiu to make it an office with an impact where we connect opportunities, grow business and create value. Including a full solar-powered roof; Generate 1 Million donation from Ambassador Francisco Benedicto for the retrofitting of the multifunctional rooms for (Trainings, Seminars and Cliniquing). 
  • Establishment of CCCI Cordova Chapter on October 26, 2018 
  • Joined the Province of Cebu delegation to Xiamen, China in Shanghai on September 7-11, 2018 
  • CCCI participated in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in November 2018. The CCCI delegation was composed of 44 people representing 28 companies, led by IPP Melanie Ng, and was part of the biggest ever Philippine Delegation being jointly organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). The trade mission showed China’s firm support to trade liberalization and actively open the Chinese market to the world. 
  • Mobilized 55 CEOs as volunteer mentors for the Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) program 2018 batch. 
  • Obtained technical assistance from Bread for the World Germany Bfdw through the secondment of Mr. Mirko Klein, a Sustainable Agriculture and Marketing Specialist for the food supply chain, covering the period of June 2018 to May 2021. 
  • Conducted ICT Skills Training for Solo Mothers in partnership with the New Zealand Embassy thru Ambassador David Stratchan to enable (23) solo mothers from different barangays in Cebu City to be e-ready. CCCI was selected as the lead convenor for the Asia-Pacific Alliance for disaster management APAD Central Visayas regional platform during its launching on October 12, 2018. 
  • Celebrated one of the grandest Cebu Business Month 2018 with the theme “Innovate Cebu”

2019

  • Elected official private sector representative to the Regional Development Council (RDC) Region 7 with full voting powers and Chair in the Economic Development Committee. 
  • Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Sustainable Fisheries & related food value chains in Central Visayas at Waterfront with AFOS and partners on October 4 at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel and Casino. 
  • CCCI with the presence of Executive Director May Elizabeth Ybañez received a plaque of appreciation from the German Embassy Charge de Affairs for the K to 12 Plus Project held on October 1 at the Bonifacio Global City, Manila. 
  • CCCI opposed CELAC’s Php 341.75 across-the-board wage adjustment. 
  • CCCI is one of the top 5 Chambers, out of the 73 applications from 29 countries for the competition. CCCI is the sole chamber in the Philippines represented in the World Chambers Competition 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 12-14, represented the Philippines under the category, Best Education and Training project that recognizes chambers whose main thrust is “proving that investing in education and training can be crucial to the establishment, advancement and success of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and foster economic development and job creation. 
  • President Virgilio Espeleta won the Movers and Shakers award in the 2019 Asia Human Resources Development (HRD) Awards. Espeleta accepted the awards during the Asia HRD Awards 2019 on July 17 at the Grand Hall at the Cyberjaya University College of Medical Science Campus in Malaysia. 
  • Conducted the 23rd Cebu Business Month with the theme “Innovation in Action” 
  • Establishment of CCCI Balamban Chapter in July 2019. 
  • Results of the Competitiveness Business Survey were analyzed by Isla Lipana Co., a PWC Firm and were presented during the Press Conference on October 29, 2019 at the Summit Galleria Cebu. 
  • CCCI conducted an Outbound Trade Mission at China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) on September 7 – 10, 2019 with the City Government of Cebu led by Hon. Mayor Edgardo Labella and the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Cebu led by Amb. Francisco Benedicto. 
  • Implemented the Solo Mothers Project with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) through the New Zealand Embassy. This project is implemented between the period June 2019 to September 2021. The main objective of the project is to support solo mothers to increase their household income by either entering the workforce or pursuing their own business enhanced by ICT.

2020

  • Conferred the Most Outstanding Chamber Award in the Visayas and in the Philippines during 46th Philippine Business Conference and Expo on October 8, 2020 by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in recognition of the ability of CCCI to help the business community through innovative services and advocacy for policies and programs that enable businesses to survive and become sustainable and competitive in the long run
  • CCCI was in the forefront of providing the framework for a well-coordinated multi-sectoral plan in Project Balik Buhay. Together with the other business organizations in Cebu, the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas OPAV and DOH 7 agreed on a gradual, calibrated opening of work based on risk and impact guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • CCCI President Felix Taguiam received the acclaimed recognition as the Outstanding Private Volunteer against COVID in Central Visayas in November 2020 awarded by the PVO-Regional Development Council (RDC) in acknowledgment of CCCI’s COVID-19 Pandemic Solidarity Fund to assist the medical and nonmedical front-liners and communities in Cebu through distribution of food packs, manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and donation of COVID-19 essential supplies.
  • CCCI also received recognition as COVID-19 Hero Chamber of the Year Award from the Asia-Pacific Association of Chambers facilitated by GlueUp.
  • CCCI underwent its own contemplation in the last quarter of the year with remote coaching by Senior Expert Johan Vander Berg of the Netherlands’ PUM to deliberate a new Organigram enhanced and retrofitted as a response to the evolving needs expressed by our members with resulting streamlined staff complement, refocused allocation of limited resources and reduction of risks that have been brought to light because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Trustees approved the transition into the new organigram within 2020.
  • Internal and external ISO-audits/surveillance were done on-line particularly ISO 9001:2015 Capability Assessment on November 12 via Google Meet and ISO 9001:2015 remote Audit by TUV Rheinland on November 20 via zoom. The lockdown and quarantine did not prevent CCCI from maintaining its ISO 9001:2015 accreditation for Quality Management System.
  • The CCCI champions implemented Programs for its Corporate Social Responsibility and Entrepreneurship, formulated multi-faceted proposals for Cebu’ s economic revival and investment development concierge, co-sponsored talks on business survival strategies through entrepreneurship and digital transformation across various sectors, advocated these through representations in various public private sharing platforms within the city, province and region (City Executive, Legislative Councils and Development Councils), partnered with local, national and international institutions to advance its advocacies implemented this time through a digital landscape.
  • Assistance to members was multipronged including (1) Facilitation of MSME’s access to government programs, policies and reports including the Shared Service Facility of the DTI and (2) Active participation in meetings with the Cebu City local government officers to discuss the business recovery agenda for Cebu City during this pandemic era, including Executive-Legislative Economic Advisory Council and soon after presented concept notes for Cebu’s Economic Revival to the Cebu City Sangguniang Panlungsod.
  • CCCI Covid-19 Solidarity Fund launched in March pooled resources and supported various interventions to protect Cebu and supported our front liners preventing, detecting, and managing the spread of the virus, by enhancing their safety and extending care and comfort. It gathered overwhelming donations valued at Php 5million voluntarily and whole-heartedly shared by our member philanthropists, owners and managers of business companies and industries in the region.
  • The Chamber mobilizing MSMEs and all the 5 Chamber Chapters enabled us to provide personal protective equipment by end of July 2020 with over 3,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) gowns, 10,000 surgical face masks, face shields, thermal guns, hygiene products such as 45 gallons alcohol and 15,000 antibacterial soap distributed to medical and non -medical front liners throughout the island province. CCCI reached 43 institutional frontliners in 19 hospitals/clinics, 32 Local government units and more. Help MindaNOW donation campaign for the benefit of the Mindanao earthquake victims concluded with Php 200,00 cash proceeds donated thru Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

2021

  • The Cebu Chamber’s leadership and dynamism has gained a foothold in the local, national and international community during this pandemic era when the organization bagged the COVID-19 Hero Chamber of the Year award during the 4th  annual Asia-Pacific Association of Chambers or APAC Chamber of Commerce Awards and has been awarded once again as the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Visayas-Province Level 1 and the PCCI Special Recognition of Excellence in the areas of business policy and advocacy during the 47th Philippine Business Conference and Expo.  
  • Under Cebu City Executive Order dated January 10, 2020 “ An Order Establishing the Cebu Investment Development Concierge Center and its Governing Board and Providing its Functions”, the Cebu Chamber engaged with Cebu City Government  and envision Cebu as one of the premier investment gateways in Asia Pacific building, promoting, encouraging and attracting local and foreign direct investments into Cebu while faithfully linking with local businesses and foreign and local consulates and trade attaches.  Since then, the CCCI has laid down the foundations of CIDCC with 5 pillars that pursue programs on business intelligence research, governance, digital promotions, marketing and supply chain ecosystem development. 
  • The shared dream of the late Cebu City Mayor Edgardo C. Labella   progressed to reality with the Cebu Investment Development Concierge Center (CIDCC) on its way to establish its foundations for good governance and a frontline office that provides business intelligence/information, business-matching, promotions, facilitation and advisory services to prospective investors and creates an investment-friendly environment in Cebu City initially then to cover the rest of the island Province. It features Supply Chain Ecosystem Development through Barangay-Based Entrepreneurial Mentoring for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Cebu City among other initiatives. 
  • An opinion survey on the Expanded Truck Ban in Cebu Province vis-à-vis movement of cargo provided the basis for a position paper, followed by the conduct of a consultation Meeting with CCCI Port Champions. Facilitated the CCCI-MCWD Meeting on June 11 relative to the issues on water supply development and pricing. 
  • CCCI released a Statement of Support for the Modernization/ Redevelopment of the Iconic Carbon Market, attended DOE’s Virtual Visayas Energy Investment Forum 2021 on September 8 and attended the Consultation Workshop with Stakeholders and Validation on the PPA Benchmark Estimates on September 21. 
  • CCCI also facilitated the COVID-19 Risk Reduction Project under the Strengthening Evacuation Center Management in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in partnership with the Government of Japan and the newly institutionalized Asia-Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (APAD) Philippines.
  • This COVID-19 Risk Reduction Project in cooperation with Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) Philippines turned over 6 medical tents to the 5 CCCI Chamber Chapters in Naga City, Balamban, Bantayan Island, Danao and Cordova, to equip them further for quick response to multiple disasters and threats during the pandemic and beyond.
  • The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry also strengthened its collaboration with the CCCI Bantayan Island Chapter and the LGU Bantayan in organizing the different programs such as MPA Management Planning, Solid Waste Management, and Fish Drying Facility with AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation, among others. 
  • Co-organized the virtual Central Visayas Business Conference on September 30 in partnership with five European chambers (Italian, German, French, Spanish and Advantage Austria) where we discussed Metro Cebu and Central Visayas economic updates, challenges and opportunities
  • CCCI conducted a business matching in partnership with the Board of Investments Visayas office and the Philippine Trade and Investment Corporation-Japan office participated by 15 CCCI member companies in the IT, construction and real estate sectors.  
  • CCCI held a series of meetings with Australian Ambassador H.E. Steven James Robinson, Bangladesh Ambassador Borhan Uddin, UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, U.S. Embassy John Giray, and Ms. Jizen Reyes, the Commercial officer for British Columbia. 
  • CCCI conducted the Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) Program in partnership with its Cebu Food Consultancy Group (CFCG), a webinar on Funding Programs available for MSMEs hosted by SBCorp and Regional Development Council-Economic Development Committee, a Business Recovery Dialogue for CCCI Food Service Sector Companies, and The Business Next Forum in partnership with SWU PHINMA. 
  • Special projects continued among which were the Kapatid Mentor Me – Money and Market Encounter Program with the Department of Trade and Industry VII and the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, as well as the ICT and Life Skills Trainings for Solo Mothers in Cebu Island with the New Zealand Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and participating LGUs namely Cebu City, Naga City, Balamban, Bantayan and Cordova. 
  • CCCI’s flagship project, Cebu Business Month metamorphosed into Cebu Business Mobilization services offered throughout the year with themes such as “Bring IT On!” for the fast forward digital transformation; “RISE Forward” for opportunities that promote and enable digital transformation, innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity towards resilience and global competitiveness;
  • CBM Tourism thrust for 2021 tagged “Rediscover. Invite. Support. Engage” revolved around promoting local tourist products & destinations to encourage Cebuanos to explore the many local attractions as the pandemic lockdowns were being lifted. Meanwhile, the entrepreneurship sector activities highlighted innovation & the latest trends of business opportunities during the recession experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The Creative Entertainment Industry was a week-long event following its thrust – Reinvent, Imagine, Sustain, and Equip the Creative Entertainment Industry with special focus on Animation, Games, Original Content, Film, Komiks and Music & Theatre. Additionally, The two-days ICT/BPM Summit   converged the public and private players with interactive sessions of out-of-box ideas, updates, opportunities and action plans to build a more Revolutionize, Inclusive, Solidarity and Empowered ICT-BPM Ecosystem, especially for our MSMEs in the post-pandemic era and beyond.
  • The Cebu Business Mobilization engaged with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for Development (STRIDE) Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Department of Science & Technology (DOST), Cebu Institute of Technology University and Southwestern University PHINMA  for the Innovation For Business Recovery (IBR) Program dubbed  Resilient, Innovative and Sustainable Entrepreneurs (RISE) in Central Visayas

2022

  • Co-organized the 2nd Central Visayas Business Conference partnership with Italian Chamber and other international Chambers garnering 181 participants to keep the business communities connected, forward looking and optimistic about the future
  • CCCI reactivated the #BangonCebu! Movement together with its supportive partners in providing interventions after the havoc wrought by COVIDette (i.e., COVID and Typhoon Odette) to the affected community and businesses and further boost efforts for those in consonance with the “rebuild to regain Cebu’s resilient economic trend”
  • For relief operations, Cebu CCI distributed over 2.5k food packs, cash-aid, hygiene kits and water bucket filter sets to the victims of Typhoon Odette
  • Facilitated the Business Continuity Planning Training Program for MSMEs with Asia-Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management-Philippines and its Survey Among Business Enterprises
  • Drafted the comprehensive Tax and Economic Recovery Package Ordinance on the City Business Permits and Taxation in consideration of devastating effect of CoviDETTE especially on the business community with the engagement of IBP Cebu City Chapter 
  • Lobbied the business community’s position against oppressive and excessive tax rates in the Proposed Ordinance enacting the 2022 Revised Omnibus Revenue Code of the City of Cebu.
  • Facilitated and participated in the Philippine Creative Entertainment Trade and Investment Mission to Tokyo, Japan led by the DTI Export Marketing Bureau and Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) – Tokyo Office with 23 delegates comprising the Cebu delegation exposure to the CONTENT TOKYO 2022 Expo on June 29 to July 1.
  • Facilitated the very first post-pandemic Business-to-Business (B2B) Meetings led by the Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy and Industry and the Israel Consulate office in Cebu comprised of 7 Israeli business delegation in the water sector and participated by owners and middle level managers of 55 CCCI member companies.
  • Conducted B2B meetings in collaboration with the Embassy of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (Phil), Inc. (FICCI) comprised 22 India Business delegation across several sectors i.e., agriculture, agriculture, frozen meat, pet food, pharmaceutical, medical instruments, automotive parts, clothing and textile and tiles and ceramics sector with 144 participants from Cebu.
  • Completed implementation of the ICT and Life Skills Training for Solo Mothers project in partnership with the New Zealand Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and in collaboration with the CCCI local chapters, local government units of Cebu City, Naga City, Balamban, Bantayan and Cordova and DICT Visayas Cluster 2 office that benefitted 152 solo mothers.
  • The CCCI’s CBM 2022 Kick-Off highlighted the historic bridge ride over the new and iconic (Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway) CCLEX showcasing 16 classic cars from Tour de Cebu and over 100 big bikes from local clubs Harley Owners Group, Motor7, The Brothers and Triumph with a shared goal of giving Cebu the chance to experience strengthened connections, smooth cooperation, and exhilarating harmony – what a meaningful way than bridging the divide and being the first group to explore Cebu’s newest icon after the previous day’s inauguration of this Private-Public partnership; 
  • Launched the GO Explore Cebu: Round Table Discussions that resonated the need to rediscover what travel and tourism holds for Cebu in the post-pandemic era while providing a venue for free-flowing discussions on industry issues, concerns and recommendations, as well as the government public sector response partaken in  by strategically handpicked panelists;
  • Launched successfully GO Explore Cebu: Tourism Summit that featured tourism leaders from the public and private sectors and provided over 300 attendees another learning momentum.
  • 1,200 racers roared their way through mapped out obstacles during the GO CEBU RACE at the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park last July.  The epic event was an exhilarating triple treat for the racers — an immersive journey to appreciate the delightful sights and sounds that the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park has to offer for family, friends and health and wellness aficionados alike an opportunity to test one’s fitness and endurance.
  • Launched the GO Invest Cebu: Meet Your Negosyante Icons that featured renowned companies like Knottical Power, Bigseed Public Relations, Sugbo Mercado Food Bazaar Inc., Zink Studio, Harbour City Dimsum House and Canbas Custom Furniture and Home Accessories. This event highlighted 6 important takeaways that entrepreneurs and aspiring ones can utilize – Resiliency, Innovation, Social Responsibility, Adaptability, Financial Knowledge, and Experience. 
  • Showcased GO Invest Cebu: Entrepreneur’s Summit participated by 150 participants in a multifaceted exposure to concepts and practices adapted to current times in the form of panel discussions by eminent speakers with networking opportunities. 
  • Engaged GO Invest Cebu: CEO (Connect. Engage. Optimize) Night where leaders from across the economic spectrum deep-dived into meaningful conversations as they connected engagements and optimized business link opportunities that invigorates economic growth far exceeding target projection. 
  • Conducted the “GO IGNITE SUMMIT”, a month-long series of workshops & talks for key industry areas exploring potentials of Cebu through Animation, Video Game Development, Original Content, Film, Komiks, and Music & Theatre featuring both local & internationally acclaimed experts in their own creative fields who discussed the evolution and significance of the industry and how it creates opportunities for new innovative interventions and partnerships;
  • Engaged with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Information Communication and Technology (DICT), Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) and QBO as the first innovation hub in the country, pioneering the first public-private effort to establish an innovation ecosystem in the Philippines.
  • Facilitated the Organizational Meeting with Cebu IT Animators for SunPh Project on April 25, 2022 attended by 13 enterprises with Emottoons, Inc. as the lead Enterprise. CebuCCI registered “Cebuanimation” as Cebu IT Animators Network.
  • Over 50 enterprises in tourism, ICT/BPM, entrepreneurship, and creative sectors displayed a diverse variety of goods, services, and cutting-edge technology during the CBM 2022 GO CEBU GRAND EXPO at the Ayala Center Cebu.  This 3-day expo in November provided a unique opportunity to showcase numerous Collaboration, Proactive Technology Development and Sustainability with the aim to challenge, invite, inspire, motivate MSMEs.
  • The Go Tech Cebu: ICT/BPM held on June 16-17 highlighted Cebu’s position as one of the country’s major and established hubs for the ICT/BPM industry with more areas for sustainable growth, The Summit placed a spotlight on Cebu’s burgeoning startup ecosystem that is significantly helping propel digital innovation in the country. The event gathered more than a hundred attendees from the Business Process Management (BPM) and Startup Community as they converged and engaged on relevant topics about this vibrant industry in Cebu
  • In the continuing evolution of the CEBU INVESTMENTS DEVELOPMENT CONCIERGE CENTER (CIDCC), Cebu CCI and the CIDCC Core Team crafted the CIDCC Vision, Mission and Goals 
  • Formulated the investment process map to serve as basis in identifying opportunities/gaps and in preparing the CIDCC operational plan for the remaining period from October 2022 – June 2023.
  • Established the CIDCC Office at the second floor of the Cebu Chamber Centre 
  • Engaged Famcor Franchise Management & Executive Development Corporation to implement the Barangay-Based Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program (BBEMP) Franchise Management and Executive Development Corporation with 15 to conduct the mentoring classes that benefitted 719 mentees.
  • Engaged Third Team Media Business Solutions to conduct Social Media Marketing Training that benefitted 314 entrepreneurs from the sectors of food and bakery, tech start-ups, gigs, tourism, real estate, trade and business consulting. 
  • Engaged Creative Magnate Institute to conduct Life Skills Training i.e., SUPER YOU Institute with 32 participants, Assertive Communication with 68 participants and World Class Customer Service with 57 participants.

2023

  • Marked its 120th year with a grand Anniversary Gala Night honoring Cebu’s visionary business leaders as “Captains of Industry” whose pioneering efforts propelled the province’s economic growth. This milestone event celebrated CCCI’s legacy and recognized industry pioneers for their contributions to Cebu’s development .
  • Launched the Cebu Business Mobilization initiative, transforming the annual Cebu Business Month into a year-long program of multiple summits and expos across key sectors. These included dedicated events for Tourism, ICT/BPM, Entrepreneurship, and Creative Industries – for example, a three-day Entrepreneurship Summit in Aug. 2023 that equipped businesses with insights on food security, innovation, mentorship, and mental health in the workplace .
  • Strengthened international trade and investment ties by leading and joining business missions abroad and forging global partnerships. CCCI sent delegations to countries like Japan and engaged with European and ASEAN chambers, promoting Cebu as an “open for business” investment hub and opening new market opportunities for local companies.
  • Hosted inbound business delegations to Cebu, exemplified by the India Business Roadshow (Nov 14–15, 2023) co-organized with the Embassy of India. CCCI welcomed over 20 Indian companies for two days of B2B meetings, panel discussions, and networking in sectors such as agriculture, energy, IT-BPM, healthcare, and tourism. The event culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CCCI and the India Business Forum to boost India–Philippines trade collaboration.
  • Actively advocated pro-business policies and reforms. The Chamber engaged in policy dialogues on economic issues – from tax reform proposals to wage structure reclassification – to ensure a competitive business environment. It lobbied the Cebu business community’s position in these discussions, aiming to prevent excessive regulatory burdens and foster sustainable growth .
  • Rolled out community empowerment and CSR programs, including the launch of an ICT and Life Skills Training program for solo mothers. This initiative provided single parents with digital and entrepreneurial skills training to improve livelihoods. CCCI also continued its disaster response initiatives – building on the post-pandemic and post-Odette “#BangonCebu” efforts – to assist affected businesses and communities, reinforcing Cebu’s resilience to crises .
  • Pioneered sustainable business projects to address environmental challenges. Notably, CCCI hosted a Solid Waste Management & Circular Economy Forum (Oct 2023) that convened 100+ stakeholders from government and industry to explore waste-to-energy technologies and innovative recycling solutions. The forum fostered public–private partnerships in waste management and underscored the need for better recycling, reuse, and reduction practices at all levels

2024

  • “Padayon Cebu” – Cebu Business Month 2024: CCCI carried forward its flagship CBM program with the theme “Padayon Cebu”, emphasizing continuous progress for Cebu’s business community. The Chamber organized a series of high-impact events to inspire entrepreneurs, promote collaboration, and spur sustainable growth. Highlights included a Digital Transformation and Innovation Forum in June 2024 – where industry experts and government (DTI/DICT) discussed e-governance, tech tools, and future-proof infrastructure – and a Captains of Industry CEO Networking Night (June 26) uniting top executives for collaboration. CCCI also held a two-day Padayon Cebu MSME Summit on June 26–27, 2024, focused on addressing challenges of micro, small and medium enterprises through talks by industry leaders, policymakers, and startup innovators . To cap the CBM, the Chamber mounted an “Empowering Cebu’s MSMEs” Solutions Expo (August 16–17, 2024) at SM Seaside, convening service providers, government agencies, and support organizations aimed at linking MSMEs to essential tools, financing, and B2B opportunities for growth. These efforts solidified CBM 2024 not just as a month-long celebration but as a movement to “continue” (“padayon”) Cebu’s economic dynamism through innovation and unity.
  • Empowering Communities & Sustainable Livelihoods: CCCI deepened its community development initiatives in 2024, partnering on programs that foster inclusive growth. Notably, the Chamber collaborated with the FISH Visayas Project (an NGO-BMO-LGU initiative) to support coastal livelihoods in Cordova, Cebu. In August 2024, CCCI helped train 35 local fisherfolk (from two associations) in bangus (milkfish) deboning and smoking techniques to create value-added products from their harvests. The project provided skills in food processing, safety standards, as well as basic business finance education for these fisherfolk-entrepreneurs. CCCI, together with the AFOS Foundation and BFAR, even donated complete processing equipment for bangus products to the fisherfolk groups – enabling them to improve product quality, diversify income streams, and move up the value chain. This sustainable livelihood program exemplified CCCI’s commitment to community empowerment, food security, and inclusive economic development at the grassroots level.
  • Focused Policy Agenda for Cebu’s Growth: At the start of 2024, CCCI identified five key advocacy priorities to drive Cebu’s business growth and worked with government and stakeholders toward these goals. The Chamber actively lobbied for: (1) lower power and fuel costs and stable supply to make local industries more competitive; (2) increased national infrastructure funding for Cebu, including vital road networks and bridges; (3) improvements in water supply and mass transit systems to support urban and economic expansion; (4) implementation of e-visas or visa-free entry for key tourism markets to boost the visitor economy; and (5) progress on the Metro Cebu Expressway linking northern and southern metro areas. Throughout 2024, CCCI’s leaders engaged in dialogues, consultations, and forums to push these issues – emphasizing that reducing the cost of doing business and improving logistics and utilities in Cebu are pivotal for sustaining growth. By proactively championing these causes, the Chamber ensured Cebu’s concerns were heard at both local and national levels, laying the groundwork for a more business-friendly environment.
  • Global Partnerships and Market Expansion: Building on momentum from 2023, CCCI further expanded its international linkages in 2024 to open new markets for Cebuano enterprises. The Chamber continued fostering ties with business communities in Europe, North America, and Asia – following up on engagements with countries like Norway, Singapore, Hong Kong, Austria, Korea, Canada, and Germany that had been initiated the previous year. CCCI welcomed visiting trade delegations and ambassadors, showcasing Cebu’s investment opportunities in sectors from ICT/BPM to tourism. It also laid plans for outbound missions: for example, Chamber leaders announced intentions to organize a new trade mission to India in the near future, eyeing India’s vast market for Cebu’s exporters. By the end of 2024, CCCI had positioned Cebu as a key player in several international trade events and strengthened cooperative links with foreign chambers (ASEAN, European, and beyond). These global outreach efforts are expected to translate into business matching, investments, and market diversification opportunities for CCCI members.
  • Member Development and Innovation: CCCI devoted significant effort in 2024 to upskilling its member companies and promoting innovation. Through its Chamber Growth and Business Development programs, CCCI rolled out a series of training workshops, seminars, and forums to enhance members’ capabilities. These capacity-building initiatives covered a broad range of topics – including updates on taxation and accounting standards, adoption of new technology tools (cloud, AI, e-commerce) for SMEs, food safety and handling (for agribusiness and food processors), sustainability and risk management practices, and even skills forecasting to prepare the workforce for future industry needs. By offering these learning opportunities, often in partnership with government agencies and experts, CCCI helped local businesses improve efficiency and compliance, innovate their operations, and stay competitive. The Chamber’s commitment to continuous learning and knowledge-sharing in 2024 has strengthened the Cebu business sector’s readiness for both challenges and opportunities in the evolving market landscape.

2025