Pampanga next economic powerhouse?

According to Romero, the event was historic as this was the first time the three top chambers assembled to make the voice of the business community louder.

SAN FERNANDO City, Pampanga — Three big business organizations are joining hands to boost the province’s financial earnings and make it the next economic powerhouse in Central Luzon.

The Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PCCI), the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (MACCII), and the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) created an alliance during the first-ever Tri-Chamber General Membership Meeting and Introduction of New Members at the Laus Group Event Center on Thursday.

The meeting of the three organizations was led by their respectively leaders, namely: Rene Romero of the PCCI; Myra Rivera of the MACCII; and Dr. Bong Alvaro of the CILA. The meeting was chaired by Alvaro and was developed after a successful joint board meeting of these organizations in Clark Freeport.

According to Romero, the event was historic as this was the first time the three top chambers assembled to make the voice of the business community louder, the local economy of the province stronger, and be a better partner for Pampanga’s inevitable progress.

Prior to this, Romero said, PamCham already signed a sisterhood agreement with the PCCI in Quezon City that aims to give each chamber an opportunity to enhance their respective organizations.

During the general membership meeting, Dr. Cielito Habito, Economics professor at Ateneo de Manila University and former National Economic and Development Authority Director General, discussed the trends, opportunities, and threats the Philippine economy has.

Habito said that business chambers in Pampanga should make sure to “give that kind of a pressure on our local leaders to provide the kind of environment that you need so that your potentials can be fully realized.”

Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, who graced the event, has expressed his full-support for the business sector, and openness to partner with them in achieving economic growth.

In response, Romero said that their sector is also willing to propose ideas that could help in the development of the whole province of Pampanga.