Vision
PCCI is the voice of Philippine business recognized by government and international institutions. As a proactive catalyst of development, PCCI promotes and supports the drive for globally competitive Philippine enterprises in partnership with government, local chambers, and other business organizations.
Mission
The main responsibility of PCCI is to provide focused advocacy for business growth and sustainable development by providing business services for the advancement of grassroots entrepreneurship, chamber development, international trade relations, business innovation and excellence, and operating efficiency. These will be achieved through a professional organization working in close cooperation with various stakeholders in public and private sectors.
History Of The Philippine Chamber Of Commerce & Industry
April 19, 1886 - Camara De Commercio De Filipinas
To promote business interests, a group of Spanish businessmen formed the Camara de Commercio de Filipinas on April 19, 1886. The three largest Spanish companies in Manila--- La Compania General de Tabacos de Filipinas, La Fabrica de Cerveza de San Miguel, and Elizalde y Cia – founded the Camara primarily to “settle petty disputes between merchants.” Not many accounts on the member companies of the Camara were available, except that their businesses range from manufacturing tobacco, sugar, liquor, and rope, among other ventures.
July 19, 1903 - Chamber Of Commerce Of The Philippines
During the turn of the century, the popularity of La Camara began to wane and a new organization the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (CCP) led by Filipino and Chinese mestizo businessmen was formed on July 19, 1903 which included: Don Ricardo Aguado, Don Tomas Arguelles, Don Ariston Bautista, Don Telesforo Chuidian, Don Manuel Cuyugan, Don Rafael del Pan, Don Pedro de Roxas, Don Vicente Fernandez, Don Bernardino Hernandez, Don Luis Hidalgo, Don Faustino Lichauco, Don Mariano Limjap, Don Francisco Reyes, Din Rafael Reyes, Don Juan Rodriguez, Don Rogaciano Rodriguez, Don Vicente Samoza, Don Ramon Soriano, Don Tomas Sunico, Don Ignacio Syyap, Don Miguel de Velasco, and Don Teodoro Yangco.
March 4, 1950 - Philippine Chamber Of Industries (PCI)
In 1948 Hilarion Henares, Sr., and 20 local industrialists and entrepreneurs estabished the Small Industries and Machine Shop Owners of the Philippines (SIMSOP). With Henares as SIMSOP president, which by then was composed of 200 members, held its first national convention on March 4, 1950, with the theme “Intensified Manufacturing and Solid Support for Basic Philippine Industries.” It was during this convention that Gonzalo Puyat, the “Dean of Filipino Industirlaists,” urged the SIMSOP to change its name to Camara de Industria de Filipinas or the Philippine Chamber of Industries (PCI). SIMSOP now became known as PCI. Advocated for Philippine- made products through educational campaigns aimed at altering the centuries-old colonial mentality, and eventually fostered the interest of Filipinos to become manufacturers and entrepreneurs ready to take risks by investing huge capital in new industries.
July 1, 1978 - Merger Of The CCP And PCI
As both the CCP and the PCI became strong forces in the business sector, and their functions and projects overlapped, top officials of both organizations began to entertain the idea of a merger. After the two groups approved of the unification, 15 charter members from the PCI and CCP were elected to formulate the constitution and by-laws of the newly established the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). From the PCI elected were Teofilo Reyes, Jr., Boncan, Jose Policarpio, Remedios Fournier, David SyCip, Mariano del Rosario, Ireneo Obligacion III, Victor Lim, Augusto Espiritu, Jose Marcelo Sr., Hilarion Henares Jr., Ricardo Guevarra, Edgardo Villavicencio, Cesar Sison, and Felix Maramba. From the side of the CCP, charter members Emilio Abello, Sixto Roxas, Roeto Benedicto, Ernest Khan, Ceferino Follosco, Vic Barrios, Roberto Ongpin, Manuel Lim, Sr., Jose Madrigal, Pio Pedrosa Sr., and Leonardo Ty.
On July 1, 1978, the PCCI was officially established. Its initial funding came from the individual contributions of Charter members, together with some funds from the defunct PCI matched by a counterpart contribution from the CCP.
When the PCCI was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, seven PCI directors and eight from the CCP were its incorporators. The PCI representatives were Petronilo Guevarra, Dante Santos, Rosalinda Antiporda, Raoul Inocentes, Francisco Floro, Mario Alinea, and Antonio Chuidian. The CCP, on the other hand, had Elizalde, Periquet Jr., Jose Barredo, Jose de Leon, Charito Planas, Jose Luis Yulo, Jr., Vicente Angliongto, and Eduardo Escobar.
December 7, 1978 - PCCI Designated As “Single Voice Of Business”
During the 4th Philippine Business Conference, the Palace issued Letter of Instruction No. 780 designating the PCCI as “single voice of Philippine business.”
Letter of Instruction No. 780
Recognition of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the Official Representative of the Private Business Sector in its Relationship with the Government.
WHEREAS, national policy dictates that Government and private sector should work hand-in-hand for the economic progress of the country;
WHEREAS, the fragmented state of the private business sector of the country tends to disunity and unhealthy rival among them to the prejudice not only of the private sector but of the national interest as well;
WHEREAS, organized business and industry are concentrated in Metropolitan Manila and a few urban centers while small business units in other parts of the country are left unorganized and unrepresented in the various national forums, both public and private, thereby resulting in an undesirable economic and social imbalance;
WHEREAS, in the international business forums such as the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry, it is imperative that the country’s private sector be represented by a cohesive single organization;
WHEREAS, there is a necessity for the establishment of a strong and united voice for the entire private business sector in the country;
WHEREAS, cognizant of this necessity, the two major national business and industrial organizations in the country, your Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and the Philippine Chamber of Industries, have unified and merged into a single chamber known as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
WHEREAS, in the pursuit of its lofty objective, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry deserves the encouragement, assistance and support of the Government;
NOW THEREFORE, in line with the foregoing aims and objectives, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry is hereby recognized as the sole official representative and voice of the entire private business community. As such, it shall serve as the liaison and channel of communication on matters and issues which are of common concern to the business community and government. It shall likewise be the recognized representative of the private sector in international business forums.
All Ministries and other government agencies and instrumentality concerned are therefore hereby directed to extend to your chamber all necessary cooperation and assistance, particularly on projects and matters which call for joint government-private sector participation in the attainment of national development goals.
Done in the City of Manila this 7th day of December, in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy eight.
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines