The Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Incorporated, forty years of service as the Voice of Business in Northern Mindanao. In December 1982, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Regional Governor Dante P. Sarraga called a meeting convened by a group representing 25 firms to organize the Chamber of Commerce here in Cagayan de Oro. On that day, Virgilio Neri, Sr. was elected as the Charter president.
The following year, the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Incorporated organized and hosted the first conference on cottage, small and medium industries at the VIP Hotel. Later that year, the passing of President Virgilio Neri, Sr. left a void in the leadership of this fledging organization. In October 1984, a new Board of Directors was elected Aldrico T. Mañus as president. In July 10, 1985, the Board of Directors filed the organizations to the Securities and Exchange Commission Registry, and on October 29 of the same year, Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Incorporated was listed with registry certificate number 12944.
On February 18, 1986, the Oro Chamber signed a partnership with Handwerkskammer Kassel in Germany and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce for its inclusion to the Philippine-German Chamber Cooperation Program. This program provides a training, advisory, equipment and financial subsidy to both Chambers. The Oro Chamber that we know today is a crowning achievement of the Philippine-German Chamber Cooperation Program or PGCCP.
In November 1991, the Chamber saw the realization of yet another bigger dream in 1996, the completion of the masterplan for the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor. Oro Chamber hosted five Mindanao Business Conferences. The first ever Mindanao Business Conference was in 1992, next in 1994, 2003, 2010, 2017. The Chamber will again be hosting the 2026 MBC with the full support of the Cagayan de Oro LGU. with the full support of the LGU of Cagayan de Oro.
The succeeding years marked the unfathomed growth of the Oro Chamber as it improved its services to include the organization of business conferences, trade missions, management seminars and the conduct of market research studies. For two consecutive years in 1993 and 1994 garnered the distinguished award as the Most Outstanding Chamber in the Philippines. Oro Chamber is the Philippine’s First Hall of Fame Awardee of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Incorporated.
In 1996, Oro Chamber received the Chambers partnership with Handwerkskammer Kassel for the implementation of the Regional Chamber Development Program. Beneficiaries of this project were the Chambers of Iligan, Butuan, Bukidnon and Ozamiz.
On June 7, 2006, the ground breaking for the Oro Chamber building was undertaken with Pueblo de Oro Chair Guillermo D. Luchangco and Oro Chamber Ruben Vegafria, with notable personalities in attendance including PCCI President Donald G. Dee, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano, Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno, Cagayan de Oro Representative Constantino G. Jaraula, PCCI VP for Mindanao & MinBC Chair Romeo J. Serra, PCCI Regional Governor for Northern Mindanao and chairman of the Mindanao Business Council.
Launched in 2007 ORO BEST EXPO which stands for Cagayan de Oro Business Enterprises, Services and Trade Exposition is a flagship event of the Oro Chamber aimed to address the concerns of the regions Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises on Networking, Market Development, Policy Advocacy for Entrepreneurship and most importantly the growth and sustainability of the Chamber member companies.
On July 11, 2019, Oro Chamber launched an offshoot project to OROBEST EXPO known as OROBEST Innovation Program which stands for Optimizing Regional Opportunities for Business Excellence through Science, Technology, and Innovation. The first chamber-led innovation hub in the country. This program is a convergence of Oro Chamber, Department of Science and Technology Regional Office 10, Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office 10, the USAID STRIDE Program and the academia in building on solid ground to develop technology packages that would increase the productivity and competitiveness of participating business groups from our brightest and creative talents from pool of local resources in the academe. The ultimate objective is for member-chamber’s first step to innovation through the adoption and commercialization of scientifically developed technology. This program came at the most opportune time during the global pandemic which spared no one. From 2021 to 2023, the program was able to spinoffs 2 significant projects: OROBEST BRIDGE Program, providing assessment of business operations and innovation business plans to more than 100 MSMEs and OROBEST SPEED Program, a platform to pilot 15 MSMEs to penetrate the global marketplace like Amazon. To this day, the OROBEST Innovation Program has marked an indelible ink not only in the regional but also the national innovation ecosystem.
The 2022 Mindanao Food Congress, hosted by the Oro Chamber, was a significant event celebrating the vibrant food industry of Mindanao. Held in Cagayan de Oro City, the congress showcased the region’s rich agricultural produce, innovative food technologies, and emerging food businesses. The event aimed to foster collaborations among local producers, entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders to promote sustainable growth and food security in Mindanao. A notable highlight was the partnership with the Embassy of India in Manila, which served as the Host Country Partner. This collaboration facilitated cultural exchanges and introduced Indian culinary traditions and food innovations to the local food scene, enriching the congress experience. The event also featured forums, trade exhibits, and networking sessions, providing a platform for knowledge sharing and business opportunities. Co-hosted by the LGU of Cagayan de Oro City and the Mindanao Development Authority. Overall, the 2022 Mindanao Food Congress successfully underscored Mindanao’s potential as a food innovation hub and strengthened ties between local industries and international partners, paving the way for a more resilient and vibrant food sector in the region.
2022 Milestone The 2022 Mindanao Food Congress, hosted by the Oro Chamber, was a
In 2023, Oro Chamber brings Cagayan de Oro to Manila centerstage as it hosted the Cagayan de Oro Investment Forum and the ORO BEST EXPO in Shangrila, Manila.
In 2024, Oro Chamber paved way to two notable events by hosting the “1st Housing and Construction Congress and Expo,” aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program – the government’s flagship housing project provides affordably-priced homes and lower monthly amortization costs through various subsidies for Filipino workers and the “OROBEST EXPO Goes HALAL” which is also aligned with President Marcos Jr.’s 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda, the comprehensive Halal strategic plan which aims to tap into the economic potential of the Halal industry that is poised to double domestic and international output by 2028.
In December 2024, Oro Chamber and DTI Misamis Oriental launched the OROBEST Creatives and Mindspace Center. A 7.2 million grant from DTI that will provide packaging and labelling services, and other product prototyping for the MSMEs in the region.
Through the years, we forged sister chamber agreements between West Java Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Indonesia, Fujian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, Gwangyang Chamber of Commerce and Industry of South Korea, Australia Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., Tainan Chamber of Commerce of Taiwan and Filipino Chamber Commerce of Hawaii, American-Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, Mandaluyong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. This year 2025 marks a significant milestone of the Oro Chamber as it celebrates its 40th founding anniversary. There were more projects and partnerships that grew with the Oro Chamber and continued to work for more. To date, Oro Chamber has twenty-eight dedicated presidents. To our presidents, trustees, entrepreneurs, partners, stakeholders, and management, the legacy will live on and for more years to come.
