Cebu as a retirement hub still far-fetched

CEBU, Philippines - Despite efforts by multi-sectoral groups to market the province as preferred “retirement hub”, Cebu still has to build the appropriate facilities to attract this potential dollar-earning market. 

Department of Trade and Industry Cebu Provincial Office (DTI-CPO) director Nelia F. Navarro said a lot of facilities should be established first, such as integrated villages that will offer services suitable as a retirement village.

Navarro also said proper coordination between the government and the private sectors in Cebu should be strengthened to maximize the attractiveness of the province to the retirees from all over the world.

“We do not have nursing homes where retirees needing constant attention can live, or a group of private retirement homes where active retirees can rent a room and share facilities such as laundry kitchen bathroom and common living areas with other residents,” Navarro told The Freeman yesterday.

Navarro said although there are condominiums in Cebu City that are accredited by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), still a flagship integrated retirement village should be built to serve as the main product.

Foreign diplomats, who have been to Cebu, have been encouraging private industry players as well as government units to maximize Cebu’s tropical and resort-living potential by building world-class retirement home facilities.

Navarro said if Cebu can provide these basic facilities, then it will be easier to lure foreign retirees, including the Global Pinoy retirees.

On the other hand, while Cebu is still struggling to take off as a preferred retirement destination in the Philippines, some sectors are now working on promoting Cebu as a second-home destination considering the handful of upcoming condominium projects, soon to rise, in Cebu.

According to Cebu Investments and Promotions Center (CIPC) managing director Joel Mari S. Yu, pushing Cebu as the second-home destination for foreigners is a first step forward in pursuing the bid to become a preferred retirement destination for foreigners.

PRA also earlier announced that Cebu is identified as one of the target areas to be promoted as second-home destination to different continents all over the world.

“Cebu is one of the areas identified. Immediate action will be taken so to better integrate all the products and support services. A long staying tourist or potential retiree will need to make these areas more attractive,” said PRA chairman Joseph Ace Durano.

“Since PRA is now an attached agency of DOT, I have been working with the various foreign chambers, like the European Chamber, Japanese Chamber, and American Chamber of Commerce to better package specific areas of the country for long stay and retirement,” Durano said.