Roxas City has clearly become one of the Premier Cities of the Philippines. Producing Globally Competitive Agri-aqua Products
Highlighted by a Private Sector led Multi-sectoral Partnership strongly supported by the Local and National Governments, Roxas City has clearly become one of the Major Business Hubs of the Country.
Through tests of time and experiences, development initiatives nowadays are better implemented when shared with partners. In participatory governance, Public-Private Sector Partnership is the most effective way of accomplishing the development programs of our public leaders
It was started by the Capiz Halaran Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CHCCI) and the Roxas City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCFCCCI), under the able and dynamic leadership of two young and energetic business icons in Roxas City, Mr. Jose Nery “Bubbles” D. Ong and Mr. Leny Albert Apaitan. Coincidentally, Mr. Ong and Mr. Apaitan were born on the same day, November 14.
Resulting from the various consultations between the development-minded local chief executives and the tourism-oriented local businessmen as well as their desire to support the Eco-Cultural Tourism Program of the Province of Capiz and the Tourism Promotion and Development initiatives of the City of Roxas was the creation of the joint Chambers organization, Capiz Visitors and Convention Bureau (CVCB), Inc. was initiated - the private sector version of the public tourism office
CVCB was jointly conceptualized by the Capiz Halaran Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CHCCI) and the Roxas City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCFCCCI), and strongly supported by Capiz Governor Victor A. Tanco and Roxas City Mayor Vicente B. Bermejo. Organized on July 1, 2008 and subsequently registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on July 31, 2008, CVCB aims to make Roxas City and Capiz a distinct tourist destination for leisure and convention.
Housed as well in the Joint Chamber Office is the Capiz Citizens Action Group (CACAG) whose membership is composed of most members from RCFCCCI and CHCCI. CACAG, a volunteer fire brigade that augments the Bureau of Fire Protection, is also maintaining a Fire Station at
The Joint Chamber Office serves as the provincial secretariat and admin support of CHCCI, RCFCCCI, CACAG, CTMPC/Capiz Cab and the CVCB. Three (3) full-time staff (Executive Director, Admin Officer, Office Assistant) a part-time Taxi Operations Officer and an independent CVCB Tourism Frontliner, handle the day-to-day affairs of the office.
Having seen that the joint office was doing well with one office staff, they thought of hiring a part-time/on-call executive officer, an experienced NGO Multi-Project Development Specialist, to help realize and implement the brilliant development ideas that the two chambers are generating as a result of their joint dinner meetings. The move resulted in the organization of the Capiz Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CTMPC) which operates Capiz Cab, the first ever taxi in Roxas City and the first taxi with meter-issuing receipt in the Philippines outside NAIA which was launched on October 18, 2008. This pioneering project in Capiz was highlighted by LTFRB Regional Director Porfirio Clavel in his report to their national convention in
Managed by the Joint Chamber Office, in a little over six months, CVCB earned the trust and confidence of the local and national government agencies. It proved its significant role in handling committees on big events in the City of Roxas working closely with the Provincial Tourism Office.
Apparently, the CVCB initiative is taking its course towards aligning with a number of success stories in Public-Private Sector Partnership in the Philippines.
