Sustainability takes spotlight in Cebu’s business landscape

CEBU, Philippines —  Over 70 business and policy leaders gathered in Cebu recently to push for stronger adoption of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, highlighting a regional shift toward sustainability-driven growth.

The forum—co-presented by OLACON Events, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI)—was held under the Regional Development Conference Series at Asmara Urban Resort. It highlighted the Visayas’ ambitions to position itself as a hub for sustainable growth and investment.

With the theme “Collaborate with Purpose. Build with Sustainability. Prosper Together,” the gathering explored how ESG practices can evolve from compliance requirements into long-term business drivers. Topics ranged from water management and urban planning to green construction, smart manufacturing, and the role of ESG as a competitive advantage.

Speakers included Cebu City mayor Nestor Archival, Mandaue City councilor Joel Seno, ACEN senior vice-president Tony Valdez, and Securities and Exchange Commission director Rachel Esther Gumtang-Remalante.

They were joined by executives, industry specialists, and local government leaders who stressed the need for deeper collaboration between regulators, enterprises, and investors.

“The Chamber’s pivotal role is to build an economy where sustainability and prosperity go hand in hand,” said CCCI president Jay Yuvallos, adding that partnerships formed at the event are expected to shape Cebu’s business landscape “for years to come.”

The conference also drew strong international participation, with the German-Philippine, French, Spanish, and Dutch chambers of commerce engaging actively in discussions.

According to Yuvallos, these chambers’ involvement reflects rising European interest in Cebu and the wider Visayas as destinations for sustainable trade and investment.

Organizers said the event will feed into a roadmap of concrete actions, including accelerating ESG adoption among local enterprises, facilitating green finance and public-private partnerships, creating knowledge-sharing platforms with foreign chambers, and organizing targeted business missions.

The initiative comes as Philippine businesses face intensifying investor scrutiny on sustainability, particularly in energy, construction, and manufacturing sectors. For

Cebu, one of the country’s fastest-growing regional economies, embedding ESG principles into its development strategy is being cast not only as a resilience measure but also as a pathway to attract capital and strengthen global competitiveness.