The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has issued a strong call to the national government, urging immediate action on critical issues that threaten the country's economic stability and investor confidence.
Urgent Call for Structural Reforms
On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, MCCI president Mark Anthony Ynoc emphasized that while business groups share an optimistic outlook for the 2025 holiday season, this optimism cannot overshadow the pressing structural problems affecting the Philippine economy.
Ynoc specifically identified three key areas requiring government attention: confronting corruption, accelerating rehabilitation in disaster-hit communities, and providing clearer economic direction. He stressed that accountability among political leaders and implementing long-term, sustainable changes would be the most effective way to ignite the Christmas spirit across the nation.
Economic Consequences of Declining Confidence
The business leader issued a stark warning about the potential fallout from weakening investor confidence. Ynoc stated that such a decline has major consequences on employment, inflation, and the country's overall gross domestic product growth.
This sentiment was echoed by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), which called for resilience and responsible business leadership in response to recent earthquakes, flooding, and other hardships experienced across Cebu.
Community-Focused Holiday Season
In a significant shift from traditional corporate practices, CCCI urged companies to redirect their holiday budgets away from lavish celebrations and toward community-focused initiatives. The chamber encouraged member firms to participate in gift-giving programs, donation drives, and outreach efforts for affected communities.
CCCI stated that business success should also be measured by responsibility, compassion, and service rather than just financial metrics. The chamber expressed its readiness to coordinate with local governments, NGOs, and member companies to ensure organized and impactful relief-focused activities during the holiday period.
Despite these challenges, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) expressed confidence that 2025 Christmas spending will remain strong, maintaining its traditional role as a key driver of fourth-quarter revenues for retailers, restaurants, and service providers.
The group expects the holiday season to create significant growth opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises, which typically rely heavily on year-end consumer demand. However, PCCI acknowledged that recent typhoons causing widespread damage, political uncertainties, constraints in public spending, and global economic risks might prompt households to adjust their holiday budgets.
PCCI urged businesses to maximize digital tools, ensure operational stability, and maintain quality service to fully capture holiday-driven economic activity and sustain momentum heading into 2026.
