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MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/10 September) — Local officials and a provincial business group said their dream of hosting the Mindanao Business Conference or Minbizcon to help boost business and tourism in Bukidnon may have to wait, that is, until the local hotels upgrade their services.
Roderico Bioco, of the Bukidnon Kaamulan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BKCCI) told Vice Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. in a recent meeting they intend to bid to host the 2014 Minbizcon.
Zubiri agreed to file a resolution supporting the chamber’s bid before the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Bioco said they are planning to offer a different way of running the conference. Instead of the usual plenary sessions, it will be a mix of presentations and site tours, he explained. But Bioco admitted that at present hotel accommodations in the province could not cope with the task of hosting major gatherings.
Zubiri agreed with Bioco’s observation. “There are not enough livable hotel rooms to offer to businessmen, investors,” he said, adding the quality of accommodations in local hotels “is not enough.”
He asked the chamber to include in their next meeting the local hotel sector so the problem could be discussed.
The PCCI is yet to act on BKCCI’s application for membership.
The business chambers of General Santos City and Sarangani have formally tendered their bid to jointly host Minbizcon 2014.
Minbizcon, the biggest annual gathering of business leaders in Mindanao, will be hosted by Ozamiz City next year. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)