“From Setbacks to Comebacks: Getting Business Back on Track.” This is the theme of this year’s VABC 2022 which commenced yesterday, August 25, 2022 where Ormoc City is the host.
City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez hosted the welcome dinner with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) officers and delegates at the Sabin Resort Hotel- Rose Grand Ballroom.
In her message, Mayor Lucy presented to the guests her “Tree of Dreams”- an analogy of how she aspires Ormoc City towards progress and resiliency moving forward. She shared to them her plans of making the city the FIRST FULLY INTEGRATED DISASTER RESILIENT CITY.
Emphasizing on strengthening the “soil of peace”, the city will strive to maintain the record as the safest city which will be essential to the “growth, prosperity, and advancement to be made for and by GOOD BUSINESS of Ormoc City.
“This is our city, let us all unite and dream together because we all need each other. Government cannot succeed without good businesses, and good businesses cannot succeed without good government.”, said Mayor Lucy.
CLGOO Jean Redi Briones presented also the innovations of Ormoc City to help businessmen process efficiently and effectively their deliverables for compliance purposes.
Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Sr. also welcomed the delegates. In his message, he disclosed his plans on amending an ordinance to “provide more non-fiscal benefits to businessmen.” His plan to promote small businesses through the passage of the sidewalk, transient, and ambulant vendors ordinance will “foster entrepreneurship in all levels of the society irrespective of their capital.”
Present also in this event were the officers, regional directors, and members of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry headed by their president, George T. Barcelon, SP Member Rey Evangelist, SP Member Peter Rodriguez, SP Member Lalaine Marcos, SP Member Gregorio Yrastorza III, Atty. Benjamin “Bennet” Pongos Jr.- City Prosecutor, Atty. Joy Romero- City Legal Officer, Twinkle Chu- ORCHAM President, Maricel Ngo- Regional Governor, PCCI Region 8, and the delegates from the different provinces, municipalities, and cities.
This year, the 31st VABC has lined-up various business sectoral activities and will tackle issues concerning business in the Visayas which include Energy, Agri-Business, Tourism, and ICT Infrastructure. An estimated delegation of 600 business leaders, key industry players, government executives, and private sector leaders from Region 6 – Western Visayas, Region 7 – Central Visayas, and Region 8 – Eastern Visayas, participated in the event held at the Ormoc City Superdome, Ormoc City. (City Government of Ormoc)
