PCCI to launch online shopping platform for local businesses

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s biggest business group, will launch an online shopping platform next month for products and services of local enterprises.

PCCI director for international trade affairs Francis Chua said the group has developed an online store  to serve as a platform for local businesses to sell their products.

Nina Mangio, the designated chairperson of the 46th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E), said the online platform – called Shop All – would be launched on Oct. 8, the second day of the expo.

“Initially, it will cater to all our local products produced by our members and then later on, when it’s already operating normally, we will gradually include international market suppliers,” she said.

She said Shop All would be operated and managed by PCCI. Payments for purchases can be made through credit card, Paymongo and other online payment systems.

“We don’t have any intention of competing with anybody,” Chua said, noting that the platform was developed to help members sell their products.

“If anybody would want to join, we would welcome it,” he added.

The PBC&E serves as the platform for business leaders to meet with government officials, diplomats, the academe and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to discuss issues and come up with policy recommendations to help improve the business environment.

With innovation as the theme for this year’s PBC&E, PCCI president Benedicto Yujuico said the group intends to work with government to allow innovation to thrive.

He said PCCI is pushing for innovation-oriented regulation.

Apart from promoting innovation, he said the PCCI would also want the government to address issues on red tape, lengthy licensing procedures and overregulation.

With the growing need for internet connectivity amid the pandemic, he said the PCCI is likewise continuing the push for the liberalization of access to satellite technology through the amendment of Executive Order 467 by removing the franchise requirement in the access of international satellite systems in unserved and underserved areas.

“We are now pursuing this by urging the signing of a new Executive Order on satellite access liberalization - to effect an immediate expanded internet coverage and to improve connectivity, and the enactment of the Open Access in Data Technology Act or the Better

Internet Act to enforce a simple expeditious administrative process for new market entrants, as well as fast-track and lower the cost of broadband network rollout,” Yujuico said.

On the part of PCCI, he said the group is setting up an Innovation Center to  serve as a source of information, advice, resource allocation, technical service and technical evaluation to enable entrepreneurs or innovators to commercialize technologies faster.

“The Innovation Center is nearing its opening but for MSMEs to be able to avail of the services we and other government and private sector services offer, MSMEs from all over the country should have easy access to a stable internet connection,” he said.