225 companies to convene at Philconstruct Visayas 2013

CEBU, Philippines - To bring into the limelight the industry’s expansion, organizers of the Visayas leg of Philconstruct 2013 series will converge 225 companies to introduce over 1,000 new products in the upbeat-growing construction sector on June 6-8 at the Waterfront Cebu City.

Event chairman Bernard Vonn Sia assured industry associations and stakeholders during yesterday’s launching that they will make a conscious effort to add new facets to the show, claiming no other show comes close to Philconstruct Visayas 2013 being a total industry event.

The three-day affair, which forms part of the month-long celebration of Cebu Business Month, also gained support from the Department of Trade and Industry – Cebu Provincial Office (DTI-CPO).

According to DTI-CPO director Nelia Navarro, the uptrend growth of the industry is mainly driven by the need for office space and the requirement from the business process outsourcing industry as well as the call for more residential condominium units as pumped in by remittances from overseas Filipino workers.

She went on to express her support to the show, saying that she recognizes the role of the construction sector as a major economic driver for Cebu.

Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc. (CFIF) will also debut its presence in the exhibit as a primary support organization in the furniture and furnishing industry.

With its trade showcase called “Tubod”, CFIF will open its doors to the domestic market for the first time, giving Cebuanos the opportunity to get a hold of world-class pieces from some of the country’s top furniture manufacturers and designers.

This is seen as a good opportunity for the furniture industry in the light of the financial crunch experienced in the United States and Europe which greatly affected the global demand for furniture.

CFIF President Angela Paulin expressed her optimism for local industry players to finally gain ground in the domestic scene, which is now being tagged as the silver lining for local furniture makers.

Sia, on his part said that for this year, they want to emphasize that the domestic market is booming. In fact, in furniture and furnishings alone, the demand is valued at $647 million.

“We have to start looking in to find opportunities,” he said.

Sia further noted that another must-see facet this year is Tablescapes, a competition staged by the Cebu Chapter of the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) featuring five universities vying for best designs.

Similarly, the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) also renews its support to the event with their Architects Pavilion, a collaborative effort between several chapters highlighting their upcoming mega projects, as well as residential homes and office buildings.

As a trade show, Philconstruct Visayas is going to bring into focus the sustained growth of the construction industry mainly comprised of the suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and providers of top brands in heavy equipment, hardware products, paints, cement, air conditioning, power tools, safety and security systems and water treatment facilities, among others.

Apart from the scheduled exhibits, seven techno-forums described by organizers as “honest-to-goodness” will also be conducted.

Additionally, the Office of the Building Official (OBO) will also have a booth at the exhibit for the first time, allowing practically anyone who intends to build to ask building-related questions. OBO may even receive application requirements at the venue.

Organizers are calling on contractors, architects, engineers, interior designers, property developers, specifiers, consultants and end-users to witness this exhibition which is held in collaboration with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Show hours will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (FREEMAN)