Chambers of Commerce and Industries in the Southern Tagalog Region have elected a business and civic leader from San Pablo City, Laguna as the new regional governor. Elected was Romeo B. Race, President and CEO of Matrix Master Marketing, the biggest distributor of Universal Robina Corporation products in the region, who will serve a term of two years beginning January 2022.
Race, who will lead and monitor the activities of local chambers in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, said the local chambers are the voices of the business community in their respective provinces and cities. They mostly focus on supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), promoting entrepreneurship, generating investments for their localities, making local products and services competitive in the local and foreign markets, and adhering to business ethics.
Race served as President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in San Pablo City. Under his watch, the local chamber won Outstanding Chamber Awards in the South Luzon Area and the Asia-Pacific Region. He was an Outstanding Citizen Awardee of San Pablo City in the field of business.
Race is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of the Seven Lakes Foundation, Chairman of the Advisory Council of San Pablo City Police Station, Vice Chairman for Peace and Order of the Laguna Provincial Police Office, Member of the Board of Regents of the new Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng San Pablo, Vice President for Apostolate of the Cathedral of St. Paul The First Hermit, Member of the Board of Directors of the San Pablo City Red Cross, and a Past National President of the Association of Apex Clubs of the Philippines.
During his term, Race said he will focus on strengthening inter-Chamber cooperation, establishing new local Chambers, and uniting the local Chambers to give strong support to MSMEs through cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry, local governments, and other relevant national agencies.