ILOILO CITY – Over 200 leaders from more than 60 organizations across Western Visayas came together on June 24, 2025, for Future Forward: The Western Visayas Impact Leadership Summit 2025, held at the University of the Philippines Visayas Iloilo City Campus. The summit was organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Iloilo Chapter under its flagship Impact Initiative Program, and co-presented by the Iloilo Provincial Government and More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power).
Carrying the theme “Empowering Communities, Sustaining the Environments, and Strengthening Partnerships for a One Western Visayas,” the summit provided a platform to co-create SDG-aligned policy proposals, which PCCI Iloilo commits to formally lobby to relevant institutions. Participants were grouped into five Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) clusters—People, Planet, Peace, Prosperity, and Partnerships—to ensure targeted, grassroots-driven solutions.
“We’re not just here to talk. We’re here to build policies, strengthen partnerships, and push for change where it matters,” said Engr. Fulbert C. Woo, President of PCCI Iloilo, during his opening address.
Key Speakers and Guests
The event featured prominent leaders and experts in governance, sustainability, business, and development:
- Gov. Arthur R. Defensor, Jr., Governor of the Province of Iloilo
- Dr. Clement C. Camposano, Chancellor, UP Visayas (Closing Plenary Keynote)
- Atty. Chel Diokno, Representative-elect, Akbayan Partylist (Closing Keynote on Policy Lobbying and Open Governance)
- Mr. Jose Mari Lazo, Assistant Vice-President for Finance, Metro Pacific Water
- Mr. Aljo Quintans, SDG Specialist, UNDP Philippines
- Engr. Arecio A. Casing, Jr., Regional Director, Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDEV) Region VI
- Mr. Jay de Quiros, Senior Director for Development Programs, Ayala Foundation
- Engr. Joe-Mel Zaporteza, Chief Operations Officer, MORE Electric and Power Corporation
- Dr. Johannes Magpusao, Dean, UPV School of Technology
- Mr. John Glenn Lee, 2022 National President, JCI Philippines and President of the Albay Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Hon. Jason Rivera Gonzales, Board Member, 3rd District, Province of Iloilo
Participants spent the afternoon in breakout sessions drafting policy proposals per SDG cluster, which will undergo review and refinement for formal lobbying by PCCI Iloilo.
“This summit is a launchpad,” said Ms. Aileen Grace Tan-Lim, Co-Chair of the PCCI Iloilo Impact Initiative. “What we produced today will echo beyond this space as we continue advocating for inclusive and sustainable policies.”
Future Forward 2025 is the second regional summit under the PCCI Iloilo Impact Initiative, following the success of the Impact Summit 2024 held in partnership with One Network and led by Judge Cyril Regalado.
The event was also supported by program partners including UP Visayas, UNDP Philippines, Ayala Foundation, DepDEV Region VI, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Institute of Contemporary Economics, and Innovate Iloilo.