Cebu City, Cebu — March 7, 2025 — A delegation from the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), composed of Board Trustees and Secretariat members, conducted a benchmarking visit to the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) to explore effective strategies for sustaining chamber services. The visit focused particularly on CCCI’s successful implementation of its food safety training program, which BCCI seeks to adapt and institutionalize under the FISH Visayas Project.

The learning visit aimed to strengthen BCCI’s capacity to deliver ongoing training programs, especially in food safety—an area now formally embedded in BCCI’s service portfolio through support from the FISH Visayas Project.

Key Insights on Sustaining Chamber-Led Training Programs
One of the main takeaways from the exchange was the importance of maintaining a qualified pool of trainers to ensure the continuity and credibility of training programs. At CCCI, the food safety training program thrives through constant coordination with the Cebu Food Consultancy Group (CFCG) and collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). These partnerships play a pivotal role in trainer accreditation, curriculum updates, and program delivery.

Clear planning and well-defined roles between CCCI and DOST have further ensured the program’s smooth rollout. Regular communication and aligned expectations helped institutionalize the food safety training as a core chamber service.
The success of this initiative reflects CCCI’s commitment to raising food safety standards in the region while demonstrating the vital role chambers of commerce can play in advancing public welfare and business resilience.

Delegation and Host Chamber Representation
The BCCI delegation included Board Members Helena Antonieta Veloso, Steven Lim, Albert Uy, and John Albert Uy, along with Secretariat members Rolaine Uy, John Gabriel Ramos, Jorammy Cadalin, and Chell Ann Lingo.

The CCCI warmly welcomed the delegation with the presence of Melanie Ng, Area Vice President for the Visayas of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); Joy Lorena Segismar, CCCI Executive Director; Karen Joy Autor, Officer-in-Charge for Business Development; and Jovito Bocado, Executive Secretary.

The group was joined by members of the AFOS Foundation’s FISH Visayas Project management team, who facilitated the visit as part of the Project’s knowledge-sharing and capacity-building efforts.

Next Steps for BCCI
Moving forward, BCCI is set to implement a series of food safety training programs for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Bohol. These trainings aim to promote public health, ensure consumer protection, and support local enterprise development.

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The initiative contributes directly to Result Area 1: Training for Fisherfolk and MSMEs of the FISH Visayas Project.