CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA — Business leaders from across the Asia-Pacific gathered at Okada Manila on November 4–5, 2026, for the combined 40th Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry Conference and PCCI's 60th Founding Anniversary Celebration — and North Luzon was there to make its voice heard. Under the theme "CACCI at 60: Achieving Greater Regional Integration in the Next Decade," the two-day conference brought together policymakers, business leaders, and chamber representatives to deepen cross-border economic cooperation, strengthen partnerships, and evaluate regional supply chains. And for the North Luzon delegation, it was a chance to push local economic agendas—agriculture, industrial corridors, and trade facilitation—onto a regional stage.
The Leadership Behind the Conference
The event was chaired by Dr. Enunina V. Mangio, PCCI President Emeritus, who emphasized the conference's role in shaping a forward-looking agenda for the region. "This conference is more than a gathering of business leaders across Asia but a meaningful celebration of CACCI's six decades of fostering collaboration, driving positive change, and advancing inclusive and sustainable growth across the region," Mangio said . Ferdinand A. Ferrer, PCCI National President, led the national chamber in hosting the milestone event, which also featured Peter McMullin as CACCI President. The conference served as a platform for business leaders across the Asia-Pacific to discuss strategies for deepening economic cooperation, strengthening regional supply chains, and advancing inclusive growth across the region.
The North Luzon Delegation and Why This Matters
The regional delegation represented various provincial and city chambers, pushing for local priorities within the broader Asia-Pacific conversation, including Atty. Paul Yusi, President of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Ms. Leslie B. Bituin, Director of PamCham, alongside Mr. John Calugay and Engr. Imelda Rubiano of PCCI Bataan, Ms. Donna May Tamayo of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Markson Tan of PCCI Southern Isabela Chapter, and Marcos Aquino of Metro Dagupan Chamber of Commerce . PCCI's involvement in CACCI carries historical weight—the Philippine chamber was one of the confederation's founding members—and this year's conference came at a critical moment for regional economic integration. Recent PCCI advocacy has heavily emphasized integrated economic systems like the Luzon Economic Corridor and regional value-chain infrastructure, with the LEC, which connects Subic, Clark, Manila, and Batangas, being a key topic at the conference, with PEZA highlighting 200 ecozones ready to serve investors as the backbone of a complementary industry network . For North Luzon, the conference was an opportunity to ensure that regional priorities—agriculture, industrial corridors, and trade facilitation—are part of the broader Asia-Pacific conversation. To the North Luzon delegation: your presence at the 40th CACCI Conference signals that the region is ready to compete—and collaborate—on a regional stage.
