The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Antipolo held a Members’ Night as the general membership of the organization and their friends bonded with the officers of the Board of Directors in an evening of fun with the best drinks and food at The Penthouse of Emraud Square Plaza.

While it was evening of fun, laughter and camaraderie PCCI Antipolo President Bryant Kim An addressed the general membership to explain the goals of the organization as well as the many advantages of becoming a member.

“Nagkaroon tayo ng Members’ Night para ipaalam sa inyo kung bakit merong Philippine Chamber of Commerce – Antipolo. Ano ba ang purpose kung bakit tayo dapat mag join?” said Kim An.

The PCCI head enumerated the benefits to the members which he categorized as national and local.

National include: opportunity to be part of standing committee of PCCI which crafts policies that will be heard by national government; being able to participate in bidding process for government projects; gaining access to national business areas during the PCCI conferences; meeting foreign business partners; availing of APEC Business Card which allows easy transit through Immigration during foreign travel; and receiving useful information about national business concerns.

Local include: having your voice head by local government officials especially lawmakers who craft ordinances which govern all activities in Antipolo; being present through representatives in local government councils like Antipolo City Development Council which conduct quarterly meetings to plan the city’s future; meeting fellow business leaders in your community, learning their concerns and even possibly partnering up for new projects.

Kim An shared that with Antipolo being declared an International Marian Shrine the city government expects international tourists to visit Antipolo City. The city government means to improve the streets and other infrastructure in the city to attract foreign tourists and PCCI Antipolo is an important partner in that undertaking.

The PCCI President invited the members to not only pay their dues but to be active participants as PCCI performs its role as the voice of business in the city collaborating actively with the local government for the benefit and improvement of the city of Antipolo.

 “Hinihikayat ko kayo na hindi lang mag join. Hindi lang magbayad. Kungdi mag join, as in talagang sumama kayo sa amin sa mga activities natin dito sa PCCI Antipolo. Hinihikayat ko na sana magtulungan tayo kasi hindi kaya ng isang tao lang na alamin lahat ng sector ng businesses dito sa Antipolo,” said Kim An.

Roland Moya, Director General of ECOP (Employers Confederation of the Philippines), also explained the organization’s goals as well as the advantages of being members of ECOP while also being a member of PCCI.

 “ECOP ay pareho ng PCCI dahil isang business organization din. But PCCI deals with larger issues like the regulatory environment, taxation, investments, pati yung local economic development,” said Moya. “Yung ECOP mas focus sa business organization dahil ang mandate ng ECOP is on labor and social policy issues. So alam natin na merong mga union, di ba? These are organizations representing workers. Yung mga may-ari naman ng negosyo ang nag-re-represent sa kanila ang ECOP.”