The Philippine Association of Paint Manufacturers (PAPM) is embarking on a new chapter in its mission to serve Filipino consumers by unifying manufacturing companies and raw material suppliers working in the industry. Coinciding with its 59th year celebration, PAPM will induct its new president Derrick Tan, CEO of Magna Prime Chemical Technologies, Inc. and inventor of Buildrite SmartBond Tile adhesive, an award-winning innovative product that solves common construction problems, on February 18, 2020.
“I am very excited to be serving an organization with nearly 60 years of history behind it. I have quite big shoes to fill, but I feel motivated by the achievements of past administrations, the selfless culture they have established, and their generosity in imparting their knowledge and expertise to members old and new,” Tan says of his new role.
For his two-year term, Tan aims to continue the association’s legacy of paving the way for the next generation of industry players by establishing a healthy business landscape for all. “My goal is to make PAPM S.T.R.O.N.G.–Strengthening The Roots Of the Next Generation,” he says. Tan plans to focus on retraining PAPM members–now counting 72–with the basics of paint manufacturing, particularly in ensuring compliance with related government policies. At the same time, Tan also wants to work more closely with the government to make paint and chemical regulations in the country more properly standardized and at par with international benchmarks.
Outgoing PAPM President Ely Kenneth Ong Sue of Century Chemical Corporation, who has served the association as president since 2018, expressed his confidence in Tan’s upcoming administration: “It thrills me to know that PAPM will be in good hands for the next two years. With Derrick at the helm, I am positive that we will be able to fulfill our purpose of ensuring the welfare of the local paint industry, its constituents, and consumers.”
During his term, Ong Sue launched projects that helped solidify the association’s membership. Through annual technical symposiums, corporate social responsibility projects, and extracurricular activities such as sports tournaments, members were able to see the many benefits of joining the organization.
Ong Sue also helped institutionalize some of the association’s long-term developmental projects like the annual Paint Technology Courses (PTC), which provides continuing education for industry professionals and nominees from related government agencies. The association also conducts training and seminars for its members on the Global Harmonization System of classifying and labeling chemical products.
The PAPM is also focused on standardizing Philippine-made paint products by organizing a technical working group to develop and implement the Philippine National Standard. This, or course, is in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), members of the academe, architecture and builder communities, and other relevant government agencies.
As Tan begins his administration this year, he will also be busy preparing for the 2021 “Asian Paint Industry Council” (APIC), which will be hosted by PAPM for the fourth time in the event’s 41-year history. The Philippines’ hosting of “Asian Paint Industry Council” in 2021 will also coincide with the 60th anniversary of PAPM.