Iloilo City poised to host 2020 PMAP conference

By: Francis Allan L. Angelo

ILOILO City has a big chance to host the 2020 gathering of human resource and people management practitioners in the country.

Ms. Carmen Sionco, president of the rejuvenated People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP)-Iloilo chapter, said Iloilo City is “heavily considered to host next year’s PMAP convention.”

“I attended the recent convention in Cebu in July 2019 and with the revival of the Iloilo Chapter, there is a big chance that we could host next year’s conference,” Sionco told Daily Guardian in an interview on Aug 7.

PMAP has more or less 5,000 members and the recent conference in Cebu was attended by 1,400 delegates.

Sionco, who is also the human resource manager of Courtyard by Marriott-Iloilo, said they are confident in exceeding this year’s attendance “because a lot of people will be interested in going to Iloilo.”

“Iloilo is an emerging business hub and a lot of the members will certainly be interested in going. Iloilo will be a refreshing venue outside Metro Manila and Cebu where the conferences are usually held,” she added.

Sionco said she and the Department of Tourism and Iloilo City government partnered in pitching the city’s capabilities in hosting the national conference.

Meanwhile, new members and trustees of PMAP-Iloilo were sworn in by PMAP national secretary Leo S. Gellor, an Ilonggo himself, Thursday afternoon at the Molo function room of Courtyard by Marriott-Iloilo.

Gellor also delivered lecture-cum-training on Alternative Dispute Resolution in labor issues.

Sionco said their dream is to professionalize the human resource practice in Iloilo through trainings, talks, webinars, and conferences.

“Human resource is very vital for a bustling business hub like Iloilo City. PMAP-Iloilo and our national chapter are willing to help match the needs of investors with the available labor pool. The revival and wonderful growth of PMAP-Iloilo inspires us to put Iloilo in the business and PMAP map,” she added.