CCCI to consult stakeholders about Cebu-wide ecozone bid bid

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (CCCI) province-wide economic zone project will conduct a sectoral presentation with stakeholders to strengthen the probability of the project.

Cebu economic zone study chairman Gerry Sta. Ana said representatives from different sectors in the society will be consulted about their opinions of the project.

"We have to talk with stakeholders like the local government units [LGUs], civic groups, and others regarding the project," Sta. Ana said in an interview.

This coming June, the result of the Cebu Economic Zone project study is expected to be completed.

Sta. Ana, who is also a former president of the CCCI, said initial results of the study is inclined to recommend a private-sector led economic zone management, which will be independent from Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and Bureau of Investments (BOI).

Earlier, CCCI announced that after the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) extended its support to push the province-wide economic zone bid in Cebu, the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) has expressed interest for support.

The CCCI Board passed a Resolution No. 031-2006 on April this year to create a study group to evaluate the viability of proclaiming the entire Mega Cebu province as an Economic Zone.

The proclamation of Cebu as an EcoZone is envisioned to encourage the influx of more investments into the province by building up necessary capabilities to create an enabling environment and reducing the cost of doing business in the area.

Although, this has not been done in the Philippines, the Cebu private sector, through CCCI believes that this concept can be started in the Philippines, but a comprehensive and extensive study must be done first in order to back up this ambitious plan.

The German Technical Cooperation or GTZ extended its support with budget allocation of 10,000 to 20,000 Euro or roughly P600 thousand to P1.2 million for the study.

Also, CCCI is planning to expand its support coverage in pushing the proposal, inviting other business organizations such as the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry to join the bid.

CCCI will ask the help of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UAP) to accelerate the implementation of the proposal and gain support from the law makers, and other concern sectors.