The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Quezon City (PCCI-QC) held a significant event on January 21, 2026, at the Quezon City M.I.C.E. Building. The event focused on leadership transition, continuity, and future-proofing the local economy. It also marked the official start of the new board of trustees and officers for the 2026–2027 term.
Moreover, this event stands as one of the most relevant and recent milestones of the 2026 Induction and Turnover Ceremonies. It will help shape the city’s business agenda for the next two years. As company representatives, Mr. Steven Eusebio, Partnership Manager, participated in the event alongside various businesses and major companies.
Key Leadership of PCCI-QC
-
President: Anne Marie B. Francisco
-
Chairman: Atty. Arnel D. Mateo
-
Executive Vice President: Anthony Gedang
-
Internal Vice President: Richie Cuna
Distinguished Guests and Industry Partners
The event brought together well-known guests, business leaders, and collaborators. Notably, it featured the special participation of Mayor Joy Belmonte, Senator Robinhood Padilla, and MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre.
In addition, representatives from the Quezon City Government were present. Their participation reinforced why Quezon City has consistently been recognized as one of the “Most Business-Friendly” cities by the PCCI. Industry partners, such as PALSCON (Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors), were also honored. They received a Plaque of Recognition for their efforts in improving the ease of doing business.
Core Agenda Prioritized by PCCI-QC
During the event, PCCI-QC highlighted its key priorities. These were also discussed during their appearance on Open For Business.
-
MSME Support: Creating a future-ready environment for micro, small, and medium enterprises.
-
Digital Transformation: Continuing the momentum of previous business conferences by promoting tech-driven governance and digital literacy.
-
Sustainability: Partnering with the city to support green and resilient business models.
Overall, a major takeaway from the event was the strong alignment between the Chamber and the Quezon City Government.
Mayor Joy Belmonte’s Keynote Message
During her keynote address, Mayor Joy Belmonte emphasized that Quezon City’s 2026 budget, recently approved at ₱43.3 billion, includes substantial allocations. These funds will support MSMEs and improve infrastructure, which directly benefits the local business community.
Recognition of City Departments
Furthermore, PCCI-QC officially recognized several Quezon City departments. These included Business Permits and Licensing and Small Business and Cooperatives. Their efforts helped make the city one of the “Most Business-Friendly” in the Philippines. This collaboration highlights local economic stability and effective public-private partnerships.
Immediate Priorities for 2026
Several initiatives were discussed during the induction and recent “Future-Proof MSME” expos.
-
Cybersecurity for MSMEs: Training small businesses in digital hygiene to protect them from scams as they transition to digital payments.
-
Single-Instance Audit Framework: Consulting with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to simplify tax audits. The goal is to allow only one electronic Letter of Authority (eLA) per year.
-
Sustainability and Green Cities: Promoting green and resilient practices, including solar power adoption and waste reduction.
Upcoming Major Milestones
Looking ahead, PCCI-QC outlined several key milestones.
-
6th Quezon City Business Conference (QCBC): Following the success of the 5th edition in late 2025, which gathered over 500 delegates, planning for the 2026 conference is underway. The event is expected to focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation for local enterprises.
-
ASEAN 2026: As the Philippines hosts ASEAN this year, PCCI-QC is preparing its members to join regional value chains and explore export diversification.
Strategic Focus Areas
The Economic Continuity angle highlights how the leadership transition from Atty. Arnel Mateo to Anne Marie Francisco ensures that long-term projects, such as digital transformation, remain on track.
Meanwhile, the Digital Fortress angle emphasizes the Chamber’s efforts to equip small businesses with protection against cyber threats in an increasingly digital economy.
