Capiz CCi report for May 2009

Prepared by: JONITH A. BLANCAVER
Exec. Director
CHCCI/PCCI Region VI
Covering the period May 1 to 30, 2009

CHAMBER / REGION / AREA
Capiz Halaran Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CHCCI)/
PCCI – Region VI /
Visayas Area

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED


1.CHCCI with other business organizations in Roxas City, Capiz, welcomed the first ever, historic and the only flight from/to Cebu-Roxas-Cebu of Cebu Pacific Air’s ATR –72-500 on May 2, 2009. CHCCI President, Jose Nery Ong, was one of the prime movers for the business sector in Roxas City and Capiz province to pass a resolution requesting Cebu Pacific Airline to run a direct flight from/to Cebu-Roxas in order for airline passengers in this city/province no longer take 2-3 hour land travel to Iloilo to take a flight to Cebu. This resolution was favorably endorsed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Roxas City and the Sangguning Panlalawigan of Capiz. The flight is the first flight from Cebu to Panau Island (6:10 AM) flying 3 times a week (TThS).

2. CHCCI assisted the Capiz provincial Tourism Office in organizing the Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants association in the Province of Capiz in a meeting called last May 8, 2009 at the Hall of Governors, Provincial Capitol, Roxas City. Four (4) of the 7 elected officers of the Association of Resorts, Restaurants and Hotels of Capiz (ARRHC) are members of the joint chamber of commerce, while majority of the incorporators are also chamber members.

3. Recognizing the strong partnership of CHCCI with the City Government through its partnership undertaking in organizing and managing the Capiz Visitors and Convention Bureau, Inc., CHCCI Executive Director was tapped as a resource person during the Orientation-Seminar of Tricycle Drivers on May 8, 2009 at the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center, Roxas City. Mr. Blancaver discussed the topic Tourist-Friendly Transport System for one (1) hour to around 500 tricycle operators and drivers. CHCCI received another invitation as a regular resource person./ speaker on the same topic on the next batches. Roxas City has 3,500 tricycles more or less.

4. Last May 12, 2009, Roxas City celebrated is 58th Charter Anniversary. The Chamber with the CVCB was tasked by the City to welcome its guests at the Roxas Airport and assisted in their transfer from the airport to the hotel. CHCCI with the Roxas City Filipino-Chamber of Commerce joined the Job Fair assisting 5 of its member-companies in accepting and pre-screening applicants. Those who passed were then referred to the companies who participated. The joint Chamber was able to accept 15 pre-screened applicants whereby 4 were already hired. The participating companies are the Red Sun Restaurant, Facial Plus, San Antonio Resort and the Capiz Times. CVCB also searched for a Marketing Assistant through the joint Chamber table receiving 4 pre-screened applicants whereby one (1) is being considered for the position desired.

5. From May 15 – 30, CHCCI staff conducted a research on Local Revenue/Tax Code in Roxas City and its neighboring city/capital town (Kalibo, Aklan and Passi City, Iloilo). These materials will be used by the business organizations led by the joint Chambers of Commerce, to propose for the revision of the Roxas City Revenue Code. Local businessmen here are raising concerns that the 1997 local tax code of Roxas City is obsolete and that it needs to be updated. Earlier this year, the 2 chambers initiated a move to look into the provisions of the tax code especially the business tax rates, much more that the City will be implementing the new policy on computing business tax based on the businessman’s ITR computed by BIR. The City Executive welcomed the initiative of the Chambers and expressed support to the win-win proposal of the business sector to revise/update the Local Revenue Code of Roxas City.

CHAMBER/REGION/AREA
Capiz Halaran Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (CHCCI) /
PCCI- Region VI /
Visayas Area

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

1.Call for a joint Chamber meeting to present the research on Local Tax/Revenue Code from Kalibo, Aklan and from Passi City, Iloilo compared with the Roxas City Local Revenue Code of 1997, and consolidate inputs/comments from the members for inclusion to the proposal of the business sector for the revision/updating of the Local Revenue Code of the City of Roxas that is win-win to both the businessmen and the City.

2.Participate in the reorganization of the Peace and Order Council of the City of Roxas. CHCCI President was invited by the City Mayor, Hon. Vicente B. Bermejo, as one of the members of the Council, for a reorganization meeting next month.

3.Call for a general membership meeting as soon as CHCCI president arrives from his US Rotary International-sponsored exchange visit, to discuss revision of the name of CHCCI to PCCI-Capiz, and to hear the a privilege speech of the CHCCI president.

4.Participate in partnership projects/programs/ activities with the City and the Province on its forthcoming big events i.e. National Indigenous People’s Month to be held in Roxas City in October 2009.

CHAMBER/REGION/ AREA
CHCCI/Region VI/Visayas

CURRENT CONCERNS PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

1. Obsolete City Local Revenue Code of 1997

- Propose revision/ updating though research and consultative meetings with the members and the City Government,and lobby for the revisions/ updating of the Local Revenue Code of the City of Roxas that is win-win to the City and the business sector.
2.Amendment of the name of Capiz Halaran Chamber of Commerce and Industry to Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Capiz.

- Call for a board meeting to discuss the amendment and when approved,process/submit necessary documents to PCCI National thru PCCI Region