Unlock the Future: Regulating the Use of Artificial Intelligence | 01 August

On 1 August 2024, the ECCP and its ICT-BPM-KPM Committee conducted the “Unlock the Future: Regulating the Use of Artificial Intelligence” at Dusit Thani Manila. At the forum, key resource persons from the government and private sector provided an overview of the current status of the Philippine AI landscape as well as exchanged insightful dialogues on strategies in transforming the country as a premier destination for AI-driven investments.

The event featured a roster of government leaders and industry experts namely Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy; Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Assistant Secretary for Employment and Human Resource Development Cluster Paul Vincent Añover; DTI Center for Artificial Intelligence Research (DTI-CAIR) Managing Director and Chief AI and Data Officer Dr. Erika Legara; Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP) Vice President Hon. Monchito Ibrahim; GCash Chief Data Officer Sara Venturina; and Crayon Software Experts Philippines Channel Sales Director Carlos Sevilla.

Joining the panel discussion are Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Economic Counsellor Dr. David Klebs; International Labour Organisation Enterprise Development Specialist Mr. Hideki Kagohashi; SAP Philippines President and Managing Director Mr. Rudy Abrahams; IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) President and CEO Mr. Jack Madrid; Predictive Systems Founder and Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) Board Member Allan Tan; and Connected Women Founder Gina Romero. The open forum was moderated by Quisumbing Torres Partner Atty. Divina Pastora Ilas-Panganiban, CIPM.

ECCP ICT-BPM-KPM Committee Co-Chairpersons Messrs. Karl Bantiling and Erik Nielsen also hosted the event and delivered the closing remarks, respectively.

The Chamber would like to thank our Event Partner Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI); Event Supporters Eastern Communications, GCash, and PT&T Corp.; as well as Event Patrons Asticom and Converge, for making this event possible.

ECCP Aviation Committee Meeting with MIAA General Manager Eric Castro Ines | 14 August | Photo

On 14 August 2024, the ECCP Aviation Committee met with Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Castro Ines at the MIAA Administration Building in Pasay City.

At the session, the group had the opportunity to understand the short- and long-term goals of the Authority for the country’s main gateway. The Committee likewise shared its advocacy recommendations as well as raised industry concerns on runways, airport slots, and digitalization, among others.

NEDA Stakeholders’ Chamber Special Meeting on SDGs | 14 August | Photo

The ECCP participated in a Special Meeting of the Stakeholders’ Chamber on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) organized by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) last 14 August 2024 via Zoom.

At the meeting, NEDA briefed the Chamber members on the Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) on the SDGs (PCB-SDG) initiative, which is pursuant to the Republic Act (RA) No. 11467. The group also had an overview on the background and rationale, scope and coverage, framework, and general guidelines of the PCB-SDG.

ECCP Aviation Committee Meeting with NNIC General Manager Lito Alvarez | 15 August | Photo

The ECCP Aviation Committee paid a courtesy visit to the General Manager of the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) Lito Alvarez last 15 August 2024 at the San Miguel Corporation Head Office in Mandaluyong City. At the session, the Committee discussed its 2024 advocacy recommendations and raised industry issues on airport operations, passenger movements, as well as safety and security, among others. Mr. Alvarez then presented the plans and priorities of the NNIC as it takes over the Manila Airport on 14 September 2024.

Joining the meeting were NNIC General Manager Lito Alvarez; ECCP Director Jussi Hoikka; ECCP Aviation Committee Co-Chairperson Atty. Mannix Manalo; International Air Transport Association (IATA) Country Manager for the Philippines Samuel David; Turkish Airlines Philippines General Manager Huzeyfe Akhan; Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) Director Max Motschmann; and ECCP Aviation Committee Senior Advocacy Officer Chienie Nethercott.

NEDA Market Sounding Activity: Inclusion of Purely Private Business Undertakings in the List of IFPs | 16 August

On 16 August 2024, ECCP Vice President and Treasurer Jonathan Webster attended a Market Sounding Activity hosted by the NEDA INFRACOM Secretariat, held at the PPP Center of the Philippines office. The activity’s objective was to discuss the inclusion of purely private business undertakings on the list of IFPs. Various Private Sector Entities (PSEs) were present to aid in the formulation of the said policy and its criteria. The result of the market-sounding activity will be incorporated into the revised IFP Guidelines, to be presented to the NEDA Board.

ECCP Food and Beverage Committee Meeting | 27 August | Photo

On 27 August, the ECCP Food and Beverages Committee convened for a regular committee meeting at the ECCP Office in Makati City. During the meeting, committee chairperson Ms. Helen Grace Baisa highlighted the Chamber’s recently concluded Nutrition Forum held last 30 July at Dusit Thani Manila.

Moreover, the group engaged in fruitful discussions on recent industry developments centered on the Philippine Nutrient Profile Model, front-of-pack labelling, and the DOH’s draft Administrative Order on the Promotion of Healthy Diets.

Energy Smart Forum 2024 | 28 August 2024 

Insight Series: Tourism-Driven Real Estate | 29 August 2024 | Photo

The ECCP, along with its Real Estate Committee, organized the first installment of its Insight Series 2024 entitled “Tourism-Driven Real Estate,” last 29 August at the Leechiu Property Consultants Inc. (LPC) Office in Makati City.

This event encouraged an engaging dialogue between industry leaders and experts on navigating the challenges, opportunities, and significant developments in the tourism and real estate industries. Providing valuable insights during the panel discussion were Ms. Samantha Managsica, Director and Assistant Vice President for Hospitality of AppleOne Group and Mr. Hanky Lee, Owner and Founder of The Henry Hotels and Resorts. The session was moderated by Mr. Alfred Lay, Hotels, Tourism, and Leisure Director of Leechiu Property Consultants Inc.

The Insight Series 2024 is a sequence of talks centered around emerging discussions on the intersections of tourism, housing, design, and the workplace with the real estate industry. The second installment of this series is set on 19 September.