Mandaue pushes 'Bai Mandaue' brand to stress its industrial edge

While Cebu is working to create a "brand" in the tourism side, its neighbor Mandaue City is also is on its way to establish a strong "Bai Mandaue" brand, to stress its name as the industrial center in the province.

Both the private sector and the Mandaue City government are poised to develop the "Bai Mandaue" brand campaign, in which all products, including food, furniture, among others, made in Mandaue will soon be written in all products before it comes out to the market.

This project initiated by the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and in cooperation with the Mandaue City government is expected to help reinforce Mandaue's role as the premier manufacturing and processing hub in Southern Philippines, and as a veritable convergence zone for other business enterprises and investments from nearby cities, said MCCI president Eric Mendoza.

"MCCI's battlecry, 'Bai Mandaue' is positioned to be a brand name in itself, to encourage recall and recognition, most especially when one thinks of furniture, fashion accessories, gifts-toys-and-housewares, food, and garments," Mendoza said.

It also seeks to bring together key players from various industry sectors to promote a diverse range of products and services that is proudly Mandauehanon.

By putting a distinct brand to every Mandaue-made product, may it be export-bound or locally distributed- brand recall for Mandaue will then be established, he said.

"Bai, the Cebuano word, has the same sound as that of the English word-Buy, which means to purchase. With this striking audio semblance, 'bai' as used in the brand, may imply that one should 'buy' into Mandaue, trustingly invest in the City by setting up a business or company in Mandaue," Mendoza stressed.

He pointed out that this move will not compete with Cebu's effort to create a "Cebu brand" in both local and foreign market, as the "Bai Mandaue" brand campaign will largely promote the products made from the City (Mandaue), and that quality is assured.

Soon, a joint effort by the MCCI and Mandaue City government will be pursued to adopt quality control measures especially to products are not marketed abroad like the famous "Bibingka sa Mandaue", and other delicacies, also souvenir items, so that "Bai Mandaue" will have its credibility of quality.

Majority of processing and manufacturing companies are located in Mandaue City. About 80 percent of the furniture exporters are maintaining their manufacturing plants in the City.

This month, MCCI is holding its Mandaue Business Month (MBM) in conjunction with Mandaue City's 36th Charter Day Anniversary.