Key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors are set to unveil initiatives aimed at fostering inclusive growth and innovation in Western Visayas during the Iloilo Business Month 2025. The series of events, running from July to August, is anchored on the theme “Empowering Possibilities, Elevating Progress,” which seeks to position Iloilo as a rising hub for business leadership and transformation.
In an interview on Wednesday, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Iloilo chapter president Engineer Fulbert Woo emphasized that the business month will engage all sectors involved in the business ecosystem.
“We are hoping that the noise and programs can be seen by, probably, local government units and national government agencies, that the private sector is a potential partner in the development of the city and province. We don’t look at only the business side but also our human resources,” he stated.
Among the highlighted events are the “Iloilo Businessserye,” a series of videos showcasing the journeys of successful entrepreneurs and their impacts on their communities, which will be available through the PCCI social media platform starting July 16. Additionally, the Innovators Summit, supporting the startup program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is scheduled for July 31 to August 2.
“The Innovators Summit combines startups and businesses. We envision having an Angel Funder in Iloilo, where we recognize potential startups or innovative businesses that we can fund to be part of their growth,” Woo noted.
Other notable events include “What’s Up Western Visayas” on July 18, which will gather industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers to explore innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth, as well as a Coffee Festival from July 17 to 20.
Additional activities include an empowerment seminar on July 4 to help participants discover their leadership potential and adopt a more proactive mindset, an Artificial Intelligence Festival from August 11 to 13, industry business matching focused on coffee on August 9, Agrinnovate 2.0 centered on coconut from August 25 to 29, and a Tax Congress.
On Tuesday, PCCI co-presented the Western Visayas Business Conference and Expo 2025, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry in Western Visayas, in partnership with the Economic Development Committee of the Regional Development Council.
“This is a big help for us because this impacts various sectors and not just the business group,” Woo remarked, adding that the expo marked the soft launch of their series of events for the Iloilo Business Month 2025.
The expo convened key players from government, industry, and the business sector for strategic discussions, capacity-building sessions, and networking, coinciding with the observance of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Week.