Sta. Cruz Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.

26/02/2026

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Sta Cruz Chapter is extending its full support to PCCI San Pablo – recognized as its mother chamber – during the latter’s 13th Induction Ceremony. The significant event is being hosted at Auravel Grande Hotel and Resort, a premier venue in the Calabarzon region that provides an elegant and professional setting for this milestone occasion.

This gesture of solidarity underscores the strong collaborative bond between local PCCI chapters in Laguna province. As a mother chamber, PCCI San Pablo plays a foundational role in guiding and mentoring smaller affiliate chapters like PCCI Sta Cruz, helping them build capacity, develop business programs, and advocate for the interests of local enterprises. The induction ceremony will formalize the new set of officers who will lead PCCI San Pablo for the upcoming term, setting the strategic direction for initiatives focused on empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), promoting trade and investment in the area, and driving sustainable economic growth in San Pablo City and neighboring communities.

25/02/2026

That's great to hear that the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Sta. Cruz chapter showed their support by attending the 4th Induction of Officers and New Members at Palazzo Antonio in Lipa City! Such participation strengthens inter-chamber connections, fosters collaboration among business communities in Calabarzon, and helps drive collective initiatives for local economic growth.

Would you like to know more about PCCI's upcoming activities in the Laguna or Batangas area, or are you involved with any of the chambers mentioned?

20/02/2026

The "Nagkakaisang Negosyante sa Sentro ng Laguna" held its first GMM on February 20, 2026, at Pindot Office, Pagsawitan, Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Topics included a DTI refresher, franchising, and corn farming. Six new members were inducted, bringing active membership to 46, and guests were present for future recruitment.

20/02/2026

It sounds like a truly successful and impactful first General Membership Meeting! Held on February 20, 2026, at the Pindot Office in Pagsawitan, Sta. Cruz, Laguna, the meeting covered important topics such as a refresher from the Department of Trade and Industry, franchising, and corn farming. This focus on practical knowledge undoubtedly provided great value to the attendees.

Adding to the success, the meeting also included the induction of 6 new members, bringing the total active membership to an impressive 46. This growth signifies a vibrant and engaged community.

17/02/2026

The PCCI is held its first General Membership Meeting with Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon as the Guest of Honor and Speaker. With the theme “Regaining Public Trust: DPWH at the Forefront”, the meeting emphasized the shared commitment of both the government and private sector to restore public trust and transform the image of the local economy.

PCCI Sta Cruz attended the First GMM

07/02/2026

04/02/2026

𝐏𝐂𝐂𝐈 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐁𝐎𝐃 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) announces its new set of Board of Directors for the year 2026-2027 headed by President Ferdinand “Perry” Ferrer, who assumed office effective January this year, succeeding former PCCI President, Consul Enunina V. Mangio.

Ferrer, Chairman and CEO of EMS Group of Companies, is joined by other elected directors as follows:
● Mr. Jude Aguilar, PCCI Chairman, and Chairman, Electronic Commerce Payments, Inc (EC Pay)
● Mr. Bryan Ang, PCCI Vice President for Industry and Manufacturing and Director for Industry, Service, Transport Logistics and Infrastructure, and Vice President, CMLC Group
● Mr. Arturo C. Guerrero III, Vice President and Director for Labor and President, Temps and Staffers, Inc.
● Ms. Melanie C. Ng, Vice President and Director for MSMEs and EVP, Ng Khai Development Corporation
● Mr. Apolinar Aure, Director for Innovation, ICT and Science and Technology and President, AEA International Corporation
● Mr. Bernardo Benedicto III, Director for Publicity and Promotion and Vice Chairman, Alpha One A1 Grand Industrial Sales, Inc / Benedicto Steel
● Mr. David Chua, Director, Energy and Power, Water, Capital Market and President, Cathay Pacific Steel Corporation
● Dr. Hernan B. Delizo, Director, Health and Wellness President, Ambulatory Health Care Institute, Inc.
● Dr. Alberto P. Fenix, Jr., Director, Education and Human Resources Development and Philippine Chamber Development Institute and President, PCCI HRDF
● Mr. Edgardo G. Lacson, Director, Environment and Climate Change, and Corporate Governance and President, MIS Maritime Corporation
● Mr. Christopher Lim, Director, Tourism, Retail, and Franchise and President, Philippine Franchise Association
● Ma. Alegria S. Limjoco, Chairman, Phoenix Publishing Corp
● Mr. Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr., Director, National issues and CSR, President, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.
● Mr. Alfredo M. Yao, Director, Agriculture and Fishery, and Taxation and Chairman, ZESTO Corporation

Area Vice Presidents are
● Ms. Yolanda R. Dela Cruz, National Capital Region and President, Nisco Philippines Enterprise
● Atty. Maria Amalia T. Cayanan, North Luzon. Also Director, Sustainable Development Goals and President, Centro Colegio de Tarlac Metro Bamban
● Mr. Hoover S. Picar, South Luzon and Operations Manager, Goldstar Agric-Vet Corporation
● Atty. Jobert A. Peñaflorida, Visayas and President and CEO, Fiesta Philippines, Inc.
● Ms. Nenita R. Malbas, Mindanao and Managing Partner, Malbas, Mahinay & Co., CPAs

Former PCCI Chairman George T. Barcelon and Consul Enunina V. Mangio were appointed Chairman Emeritus and President Emeritus, respectively.

The new leadership will be working on a strategic direction anchored on three priorities - strengthening governance, positioning the Philippines as a competitive investment and trade hub; and ensuring the country’s workforce is future-ready through upskilling and reskilling. “These pillars are inseparable—good governance builds trust, trade and investments create opportunities, and skills empower our people to seize those opportunities,” the PCCI Chief said.

27/01/2026

An advocacy of Sta Cruz CCI
Partnership with Youth Organization.

27/01/2026

𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐘 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐃, 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐍

The Philippines continues to broaden its trade engagement amid a challenging global environment.

During the Industry-Trade Policy Dialogue on 26 January 2026, Undersecretary Allan Gepty of the Department of industry’s International Trade Group discussed developments on the PH-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the PH–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the PH–Chile CEPA, and the implications of US tariff measures.

𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒙𝒕

• The Philippines recorded a USD 45 billion trade deficit in goods in 2025, underscoring the need to strengthen domestic manufacturing and export capacity.
• Trade in services remained in surplus at USD 9.8 billion, highlighting the importance of services and professional exports in the country’s trade strategy.

𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

• PH–UAE CEPA. The country’s first FTA in the Middle East eliminates tariffs on 95% of Philippine exports to the UAE and expands market access for Filipino professionals, particularly in healthcare, engineering, and architecture.
• PH–EU FTA (under negotiation). With an estimated USD 12 billion in unrealized trade potential, the agreement covers not only tariffs but also government procurement, digital trade, sustainability, and labor standards.
• PH–Chile CEPA (under negotiation). The Philippines’ first prospective FTA in Latin America, strategically important for securing copper supplies vital to EVs, data centers, and AI-related industries.
• US Tariffs. The Philippines faces a 19% reciprocal tariff rate, with additional Section 232 tariffs affecting steel, auto parts, and a limited number of semiconductor tariff lines.

𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝑹𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓

Business stakeholders welcomed the expansion of trade agreements but highlighted several practical concerns that will determine whether these translate into real gains:

• Compliance Costs and Standards. Firms, especially SMEs, expressed concern over their capacity to comply with SPS, technical, sustainability, and labor standards, particularly under the proposed PH–EU FTA.
• Government Procurement Commitments. Questions were raised on the potential impact of opening government procurement markets, balancing the protection of local industries under the Tatak Pinoy strategy with the need to access advanced technology and equipment not produced locally.
• Automotive and Manufacturing Sensitivities. Industry participants flagged concerns over tariff concessions on motor vehicles and automotive parts, noting that impacts differ depending on whether firms are import-dependent or engaged in local production.
• Competitive Disadvantage in Key Markets. Businesses pointed to zero-tariff access enjoyed by competitors such as Vietnam in certain markets, including Mexico. Undersecretary Gepty clarified that accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) targeted by 2027, could help address this gap.
• Awareness and Utilization Gaps. Many firms remain unaware of existing FTA opportunities, while others lack the institutional capacity to take advantage of them even when tariffs are reduced to zero.

𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅

Undersecretary Gepty emphasized that FTAs alone are not sufficient. Targeted technical assistance, exporter education, and support for SPS and standards compliance, particularly for SMEs, are critical to unlocking the Philippines’ unrealized export potential. Stakeholder input will remain essential as negotiations progress, especially in sensitive areas such as government procurement and digital trade.

𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬.

23/01/2026

Happy Birthday

Happy 80th Birthday, Tita Shirley Zaguirre!Cheers to 80 amazing years filled with love, laughter, and countless beautiful memories! May your day be overflowing with joy, warm hugs, sweet smiles, and lots of reasons to celebrate. Wishing you good health, happiness, and many more wonderful moments surrounded by the people who love you so much. ✨💐☺🥰❤