2024 Aviation Summit | 2-3 October 2024 | Photos
With over 300 participants on board, the Summit explored critical topics shaping the future of both Philippine and global aviation.

Presented by experts from the government and private sector and key aviation stakeholders, discussions delved into key topics such as the industry’s outlook, innovations in airport and aircraft designs, digitalization, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and the latest regulatory and legislative frameworks.

Sessions also covered best practices in cybersecurity, the role of public-private partnerships and cross-sectoral collaborations, and strategies for upskilling industry professionals to meet the growing demands of the sector.

We also had the privilege of hosting the launch of the Philippines Sustainable Aviation Fuel Feasibility study between the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Energy, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, in cooperation with Airbus. The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificates (SAFc) Marketplace POC between DOTr and EC-Impact was likewise launched.

Further, we were honored to guest many distinguished individuals, including SAPIEA Sec. Frederick D. Go; DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista; Senator Grace Poe; Philippine Space Agency Director General Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr.; DTI Philippines Usec. Mary Jean Pacheco; DOTr Usec. Bobby Lim; Public-Private Partnership Center Executive Director Cynthia Hernandez; Mr. Mike Szücs of Cebu Pacific Air; Mr. Benoît de Saint-Exupéry of AIRBUS; Ms. Yuli Thompson of IATA; Mr. Kurt Edwards of IBAC; and General Manager Angelito Alvarez of New NAIA Infrastructure Corp., among many others.

And of course, our appreciation to our Master of Ceremonies, NewsWatch Plus Philippines Executive Producer Ms. Lois Calderon, and Moderators, IATA Country Manager for the Philippines Samuel David, ECCP Aviation Committee and AsBAA Philippine Chapter Co-Chairperson Atty. Manolito Manalo, and Philippine Association of Aviation Colleges and Institutions Executive Director Steven Virata.

Our sincerest thanks to Event Partners Department of Transportation, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, British Embassy Manila, and German Embassy Manila; Co-Presenters Cebu Pacific Air and Airbus; Platinum Partner Philippine Airlines; Bronze Partners Aviation Concepts Technical Services Incorporated, SITA, and Rotary Fixed Wing Aviation Incorporated; Networking Partners Ocampo & Manalo Law Firm, Lufthansa Lufthansa Technik AG, MedAire, Metrojet and Wingbox Aviation Inc. for the support!

We likewise recognize our Conference Kit Partner Daher Industrial Services; Advocacy Partner Secure Connections; Session Partner WANZL Harle Hospitality; Booth Partner Berthaphil Inc.; Minor Prize Partner AirAsia; Raffle Partner Turkish Airlines; Table Top Partners Universal Aviation Philippines, Federal Land, Filinvest; Beverage Partners Le Cellier and Stella Artois; and Media Partners Aviation Updates Philippines, AvGeek Philippines, PortCalls, and Travel and Tour World.

ECCP Courtesy Meeting with TESDA Director General Secretary Benitez | 4 October | Photos
With the goal of exploring partnerships to sharpen industry’s competitiveness for advanced manufacturing, the ECCP paid a courtesy visit to newly-appointed Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez earlier today at the TESDA Main Office in Taguig City. At the meeting, the Chamber, together with its Technology Partner Bosch Philippines, had the opportunity to discuss the private sector’s role in boosting the country’s industry 4.0, among others.

Joining the Secretary were TESDA Deputy Director General Nelly Nita Dillera; Executive Director Floramel Joy Songsong; Chief PLO-PNAD Ma. Bernadette Refuerzo; and Supervising TESD Specialist Rodger Patrick Castillo.

ECCP President and Bosch Philippines Managing Director Paulo Duarte; Bosch Philippines Business Development Manager Karla Ravida and Corporate Communications and Government Relations Officer Juan Diego Bautista, as well as ECCP Senior Advocacy Officer Chienie Nethercott took part in the engagement.

Doing Business with Finland | 8 October | Photos
Aimed at fostering business connections between Finland and the Philippines, the Doing Business With Finland event held on 8 October 2024 brought together together leaders players in education, IT-BPM, circular economy, renewable energy and sustainability.

Organized in collaboration with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Finnpartnership, Education Finland, and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), the seminar provided valuable insights into Finland's expertise in these sectors while exploring the Philippines’ promising market opportunities.

Speaking on Finland's renowned education and Information Technology strengths and innovations were H.E Saija Nurminen, Ambassador of the Embassy of Finland in Manila; Minnamari Marttila, Administration Director and Deputy to the CEO at Finnfund; Nikke Karjalainen, Grant Financing Manager at Finnpartnership; Jaakko Skantsi, Programme Director at Education Finland; and Outi Hakanen, Ambassador for Education at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

On the Philippines side, key officials and business leaders further discussed the country's investment opportunities in the same sectors. Speakers included Evariste Cagatan, Executive Director of the Department of Trade and Industry - Board of Investments; Crispian Lao, Vice Chairman of the National Solid Waste Management Commission; and Mr. Jack Madrid, President and CEO of the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).

The forum served as a platform for knowledge sharing and networking, particularly in the sectors of education, IT, and sustainability, which are crucial for the future development of both countries. Moreover, the session provided Finnish companies with opportunities to meet and initiate meaningful discussions with Filipino firms and pave the way for potential partnerships.

ECCP Courtesy Meeting to the EU Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Massimo Santoro | 8 October | Photo
Last 8 October, the ECCP paid a courtesy visit to the new Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Philippines His Excellency Massimo Santoro. The Chamber and the Delegation reinforced their commitment to advance the EU-Philippines Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as well as explored opportunities for collaboration to support the negotiations.

Joining the meeting were EU Delegation Minister Counsellor and Head of the Economic and Trade Section Philipp Dupuis; ECCP President Paulo Duarte; and ECCP Director for Public Policy, Advocacy, and Projects Sophia Ordoña.

Human Capital Committee Meeting with DOLE | 9 October | Photo
On October 9, 2024, the ECCP Human Capital Committee convened with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Director for Bureau of Working Conditions, Atty. Alvin B. Curada in Taguig City. The meeting was led by ECCP Human Capital Committee Chair, Atty. Jon Zuñiga.

At the meeting, the committee discussed contractual arrangements, particularly Department Orders No. 174 and 150. Atty. Curada shed light on the impacts of such provisions towards employees and employers alike. The director also discussed areas of collaboration for ECCP and the DOLE in the future.

To learn more about the Human Capital Committee, please reach out to advocacy@eccp.com.

Real Estate Insights Series: Elevating Lifestyles: Trends and Opportunities in the Philippine Luxury Condominium Market | 10 Oct | Photos
A bright future ahead for the Philippine Luxury Condo Market!

On October 10, 2024, Leechiu Property Consultants in partnership with the ECCP, held the second installment of the Insights Series – Elevating Lifestyles: Trends and Opportunities in the PH Luxury Condo Market at the Leechiu Property Consultants Office in Makati City.

The exclusive session featured insights into the local luxury condo market from speakers John Kendrick Peña, Sales Development Unit Head of Arthaland Corporation; Jemelle Sosa Pastor, COO of SosaJB Property Management, and May Liwanag-Coronel, High End Residential Segment Sales Head of Rockwell Land Corporation.

Key discussions revolved around emerging trends in luxury condo development, the latest sustainability and green building initiatives, and the evolving buyer preferences shaping the Philippine real estate landscape.Leechiu Property Consultants Executive Director of Commercial Leasing Lyla Fronda-Ledonio gave the welcoming remarks, while Director for Commercial Leasing Mikko Barranda closed the session. Hosting the event was Tam Angel, Investment Sales Director at Leechiu Property Consultants.

JFC Meeting Hosted by the ECCP | 11 October | Photo
The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) convened for its monthly meeting last 11 October at the Manila House Private Club in Bonifacio Global City, chaired by ECCP President Paulo Duarte. During the meeting, the group discussed key policy and legislative updates to address industry concerns with a particular focus on the CREATE MORE Bill, led by AmCham Philippines, and Administrative Order No. 23-2024 or the Implementation of a Digital and Integrated System for the Pre-Border Technical Verification and Cross-Border Electronic Invoicing of All Import Commodities, led by the ECCP.

Moreover, the JFC finalized preparations for the 13th Arangkada Philippines Forum happening on 24 October at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City. With the theme "Level Up: Upskill. Upscale. Uplift.," the forum will explore opportunities and challenges for the labor market posed by shifting demographics and rapid technological advancements — focusing on key economic sectors like agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and other emerging industries.

Luncheon Meeting with DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara | 16 October | Photos
On October 16, 2024, the ECCP and Event Patron Wadhwani Foundation organized a Luncheon Meeting with Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara.

During his keynote speech, Secretary Angara provided updates on the agency's most recent initiatives and programs, along with outlining key priority areas in the education sector.

This was followed by a panel discussion featuring panelists Mr. Elvin Ivan Uy, Executive Director of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP); Dr. Chito Salazar, Advisory Council to the Congressional Commission on Education of the Philippines and President of PHINMA Education and the Philippine Business for Education (PBED); and Ms. Angela Chen, Vice President of Wadhwani Foundation.

Moderated by Mr. Andrew Masigan, Columnist at the Philippine Star & BusinessWorld, the session provided valuable insights into the current Philippine education landscape, strategies to upskill Filipino teachers, pathways to increase student participation in STEM fields and to bridge graduates to employment, and other joint efforts that the public and private sectors can undertake.

Our gratitude goes out to Atty. Renz Javier Ayongao, Associate at DivinaLaw, for hosting our event, and to our attendees for making it an engaging session!

Courtesy Visit of Holy Cross of Davao & Anhalt Germany to the ECCP | 16 October | Photo
Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) and Anhalt University of Germany paid a courtesy visit to the ECCP on 16 October 2024 to discuss their newly forged partnership. This collaboration marks a significant milestone as HCDC becomes the exclusive Philippine partner of Anhalt University, paving the way for the first Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) institution in the region. This visit sets the stage for further cooperation and explored opportunities for the Chamber to support this initiative.

ECCP meeting with Digital for Development (D4D) Hub | 16 October | Photo
Last Wednesday, the ECCP met with the Digital for Development (D4D) Hub to explore areas of cooperation. The discussion focused on aligning efforts to drive digital transformation and development initiatives. Additionally, the D4D Hub shared an insightful overview of their work and key projects. Both parties expressed optimism about future partnerships to promotie digital innovation in the Philippines.

Launch Ceremony of the Copernicus Mirror Site in the Philippines | 18 October | Photo
In cooperation with the ECCP, the European Union and Expertise France organized a private sector engagement workshop as part of the initiatives of the Launch Ceremony of the Copernicus Mirror Site in the Philippines held on 17-18 October 2024 at Fairmont Hotel, Makati. This workshop explored how Copernicus National Capacity Support Action Programme in the Philippines (CopPhil)’s capabilities can support businesss in key sectors such as resilient agriculture, sustainable fisheries, and green tourism.

In February 2023, the EU, through its Global Gateway initiative, launched the first CopPhil. In partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), CopPhil provides Filipino institutions with access to free and open Earth Observation (EO) data from the EU's Copernicus programme, alongside advanced tools for developing EO services. These services are vital for protecting ecosystems and supporting local livelihoods.

13th Arangkada Philippines Forum | 24 October | Photos
Organized by the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC), the 13th Arangkada Philippines Forum convened various stakeholders to explore perspectives on upskilling and upscaling human capital to accelerate the country's growth last 24 October at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

The forum identified opportunities and challenges for the labor market posed by shifting demographics and rapid technological advancements, with a focus on key economic sectors like agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and other emerging industries. It also tackled economic reforms for a future-ready Filipino workforce.

ECCP President Paulo Duarte delivered the welcome remarks as well as the closing keynote address. We were likewise honored to host several distinguished resource persons, including Danish Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Franz-Michael Mellbin, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, and Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba. The JFC was also pleased to have Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Congressman Marquez “Mark” Go delivering the Special Addresses, outlining the legislative priorities of the Senate and House of Representatives, focusing on human capital development.

Launch of the Philippine Standards Coalition | 25 October | Photos
The ECCP is pleased to participate in the official launch of the Philippine Standards Coalition (PSC), an industry-wide initiative promoting responsible practices in the sale, marketing, and promotion of alcohol in the Philippines. Held on 25 October 2024, at Dusit Thani, Makati, the event brought together key stakeholders to collaborate on reducing harmful alcohol use and supporting public health objectives through self-regulation.

ECCP meeting with the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of Finland | 25 October | Photos
The ECCP had the privilege to welcome a Finnish business delegation led by Mr. Ville Tavio, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of Finland, on October 25 at EDSA Shangri-La. ECCP shared insights on the Philippine business landscape, highlighting key opportunities and challenges in sectors such as ICT, cybersecurity, water, and waste management. Discussions also covered recent economic reforms, updates on the EU-PH FTA, ease of doing business efforts of the Chamber, and opportunities in the mining sector's downstream industry. With a positive outlook on bilateral trade, ECCP looks forward to strengthening EU-Philippines relations and supporting Finnish businesses entering the market.

CICAC 2nd General Assembly and 8th CICAC Meeting | 25 October | Photos
The ECCP is honored to have taken part in the Customs Industry Consultative Meeting and Advisory Council's (CICAC) 2nd General Assembly and 8th CICAC Meeting, represented by ECCP Customs and Logistics Committee Co-Chair Mr. Michael Kurt Raeuber and ECCP Tax and Financial Services Committee Vice Chair Atty. Alden Labaguis. The discussions focused on streamlining customs processes, addressing industry challenges, and strengthening partnerships between the private sector and government for a more efficient trade environment in the Philippines.

Closing the Gap Workshop 2024 | 28-29 October | Photos
The Closing the Gap Workshop is a regional workshop organized by the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package - Higher Education Programme (SCOPE-HE) held in Bangkok, Thailand from 28 to 29 October. It marks the beginning of an annual series that aims to foster stronger connectivity between Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET institutions), the private sector, and regulators.

This first workshop primarily focuses on mapping and identifying key issues and gaps in employability within the agri-food sector in the ASEAN region. Relatedly, it featured discussions on tackling the diversity of the agriculture sector, navigating sector-specific challenges, and building resilient societies through relevant skills training of the workforce.

Present at the workshop was ECCP Agriculture Committee Chairperson Ms. Ruth Novales.

To join or inquire about the Agriculture Committee, please contact advocacy@eccp.com.

ARTA Doing Business Convention Day 1 | 28 October | Photos
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) commenced the 2024 Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Convention on 28 October at the Sheraton Manila Hotel. The three-day event aims to highlight government reforms and policy shifts that would create a more business-friendly Philippines.

The first day of the convention identified opportunities, challenges, and accomplishments for EODB policies in the country with a focus on identifying ways to become more competitive, transparent, and inclusive. It further examined the results of the World Bank's inaugural Business-Ready Report and how the Philippines is positioned in regional and global terms. While significant progress has been made, the convention outlines how there is much more to be done in improving ease of doing business in the country. Specific areas of improvements were in the areas of business entry, business location, taxation, market competition, and business insolvency.

ARTA Director General Ernesto V. Perez delivered the welcome remarks followed by a keynote speech by Mr. Guillermo "Bill" Luz, Chairman of the Advisory Council at the Asian Institute of Management - Rizalino S. Navarro Policy Center for Competitiveness. The convention also hosted several distinguished resource persons, including Navotas City Mayor John Tiangco, MAP President Mr. Rene Almendras, PCCI President Ms. Eunina V. Mangiio, DTI Usec. David L. Almirol Jr., and World Bank economist Mr. Gonzalo Varela.

Present at the first day of the convention was ECCP Senior Advocacy Officer Austin Sy.

DOE Public Consultation on the Draft Implementing Guidelines of the Philippine Transport Vehicles Fuel Economy Labeling Program on Fuel Economy Label of Road Transport Vehicles (VFELP-IG on FEL-RTV) | 28 October | Photo
The ECCP took part in the Public Consultation on the Draft Implementing Guidelines of the Philippine Transport Vehicles Fuel Economy Labeling Program on Fuel Economy Label of Road Transport Vehicles (VFELP-IG on FEL-RTV) organized by the Department of Energy. Held on 28 October in Taguig City, the Chamber was represented by its Premium Member Shell Philippines and member companies Autohub Group and Civic Merchandising Inc.