CCCI’s new exec director brings ‘green credentials’ to the job

By Mia A. Aznar

Saturday, September 21, 2013

A WOMAN who has spent considerable time championing environmental causes is the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (CCCI) new executive director.

May Elizabeth Segura-Ybañez, who joined the CCCI in August, replaced Salvador “Buddy” Villasis, who vacated the position in July.

For Ybañez, becoming executive director of an organization that aims to be Cebu’s engine of business growth toward global competitiveness is a challenge she welcomes.

The chamber’s programs impressed Ybañez and she felt being executive director was something she could participate in.

Ybañez considers team management her strength, having worked with people in the agriculture and fisheries sector, government and international development.

She has served 10 years as team leader of the Philippine Environmental Governance Project of the USAID in Central Visayas.

International consultancies

Before that, she was also executive director of the Philippine-Canadian Environment Economic Management and spent 10 years working for the World Bank’s Central Visayas project management office. She is also founding president of the Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation.

Ybañez has also held consultancies with international organizations.

Her background comes in handy, as one of CCCI’s objectives is to promote sustainability in all its programs and projects.

As executive director, Ybañez will be responsible for managing the daily operations of the CCCI, ensuring the policies, programs and projects are implemented according to the objectives and goals set by the CCCI board.

She also has to make sure the CCCI effectively serves its members and that they feel the value of being a member of the organization. Her job also requires her to look for opportunities to fulfill CCCI’s vision of being the engine of Cebu’s growth toward global competitiveness.

“I saw it as a challenge and I felt it was something I could help them with,” she told Sun.Star Cebu.

She is married to former Cebu Provincial Board member Roberto Ybañez.

One of her biggest duties will be to prepare CCCI members for the Asean integration and make sure the impact of the Asean Economic Community is not negative on Cebu’s businesses.