Cebu, Philippines, 25 August 2022 – As trade and commerce continue to navigate new and exciting digital spaces and systems, it is still vital to preserve the human element of business and recognize its value. CRIF Philippines is chiefly concerned with striking this balance today and well into the future, not only for themselves, but also for all of their partners, clients, and potential new connections.
CRIF Philippines’ flagship product, Vendor Integrity Access (VIA), has facilitated over 64,000 unique business relationships between 100 of the country’s top conglomerates and the over 30,000 vendors enrolled in the system. To sustain and expand on this accomplishment, they held the all-day VIA Vendor Fair 2022 on August 25 at Harolds Evotel Cebu as well as online via Webex, conducting three separate sessions throughout the day featuring speakers from government and private bodies—all of whom are certified VIA Buyers.
“Cebu is a hub for business both locally and internationally, and has been growing in that direction for years now,” says Retchel Poliquit, VISMIN Leader for CRIF Philippines, of the choice for the event’s on-ground location. “The potential for further development is too great to ignore, with CRIF having a coverage of more than 100,000 active businesses in the Visayas-Mindanao regions. This Vendor Fair was meant to open those doors and we will continue on that path.”
Headliners included Ms. Maria Elena C. Arbon, Regional Director at the Department of Trade and Industry; Mr. Brian Connelly, President of the American Chamber of Commerce Philippines-Visayas; Mr. Cris John Garcia, VP of Membership Affairs at the Philippine Institute for Supply Management (PISM); Mr. Ira Jon S. Kiener, CEO of the Dealogikal Corporation; and Ms. Peachy G. Hapitan, President and COO of JE Hydro & Bio-Energy covering a vast range of business subfields and sectors.
“From our lineup alone, it’s not difficult to see how storied these connections can get,” says Danilo Cris Matunan, EVP and General Manager at CRIF Philippines. “We are committed to elevate businesses to the next level, and we take what that means very seriously. Yes, there is always an element of competition in business, but this event was about giving businesses big and small their best chance at success and endurance, especially since the terrain of commerce is always changing. VIA, apart from being our flagship product, is a reflection of our values—we make these connections happen, safely and efficiently, because it is vital to our economy that they do.”
Vendor Fair 2022 saw 500 onsite delegates, as well as 300 virtual delegates, ranging from students and mid-level management to C-suite executives.
Also at the event were booths from sponsors Sun Savings Bank, Innoland Development Corporation, DMMI Manufacturing, Organique Philippines, Concrete Solution Builders & Supply, Elijah Powerworks and Building Systems, Inc., Arthaland, and the Makati Development Corporation.
For more updates on business solutions from CRIF Philippines, reach out to contact.ph@crif.com.