BANAUE, Ifugao – The first set of officers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Ifugao Chapter will be sworn into by Engr. Alfonso T. Lao, Area Vice President of the PCCI Northern Luzon, during their scheduled induction ceremonies on 26 February 2015 at the Banaue Hotel here.
Lao said the organization of PCCI chapters in the different parts of Northern Luzon and regional chapters will be one of the major thrusts of his administration in order to empower the business sector to be key factors in the crafting of sustainable economic measures in the local level.
“Business plays a key role in rural development that is why businessmen in the countryside must be active in local governance so that their inputs will be considered in the adoption of local economic policies,” Lao stressed.
He said the example set by the PCCI Ifugao Chapter will be the model to be used in the establishment of other chapters in the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, Abra and Mountain Province.
“We have to contribute in improving economic activities in the countryside so that there will be adequate employment opportunities and sources of livelihood for the people. We have to bring business to potential business centers in the region,” Lao said.
The first set of officers and directors for 2015-2017 were Jonathan Cuyahon, President; Godfrey Dominong, Vice-President; Nora Luglug, Secretary; Phranaret Luglug, Treasurer, Aldrich Cumti, Auditor; Joyce Buyucan and Cleto Jonathan Tocyap, Press Relations Officers; and elected directors were Dra. Ligaya Idolor, Betty Imayaho, Romeo Buhong and Fr. Valentin Dimoc.
For his part, Cuyahon expressed his gratitude to the leadership of Engr. Lao in working out the timely organization of the PCCI Ifugao Chapter, saying that the expertise extended to them was sufficient in organizing the local chamber chapter.
“We will try our best to help improve the economy of the province through our harmonious working relationship with the government,” Cuyahon stressed.
He said they will try their best to actively participate in the crafting of local economic policies so that the plight of local businessmen will be considered and put together for the benefit of overall growth not only in the different municipalities but also the province as a whole.
According to him, there is a bright potential for the growth of businesses in the different parts of the province because of the continuous surge of the local tourism industry which has been the major source of livelihood among locals over the past several decades.
Cuyahon claimed the continuous discovery of new ecotourism destinations province-wide is a good sign that development is just around the corner and that economic growth is inevitable which will contribute in improving the lives of the people.
