Cebu to make it easy for investors

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Province is positioning itself as a predictable and investment-ready destination through a structured pipeline of projects, clear policies, and strengthened public-private partnerships, according to Paulo Uy, head of the Cebu Province Investment and Promotions.

Uy said during the opening of the three-day Cebu Investment Forum the other day said that the provincial government understands that for investors, the key question isn’t only what opportunities are available, but how government processes work, how issues are resolved, and how commitments are sustained over time.

To address this, the province established the Cebu Investment Information System (CIIS), a platform designed to make investment engagement clear, transparent, and predictable. At the core of CIIS is the Cebu Investment Pipeline Priorities and Provincial Properties, which focuses on sectors where Cebu already has strong momentum and institutional readiness.

These priority sectors include infrastructure and transport public-private partnerships (TPPs), manufacturing and logistics, tourism and lifestyle developments, talent-driven and digital industries, and sustainable urban growth.

Uy explained that the province is presenting a structured investment pipeline, categorizing projects that are already investment-ready, those currently under structuring, and opportunities open for co-development.

He said this approach allows investors to engage at the stage that best fits their role whether as developers, operators, financiers, or strategic partners.

A key component of the pipeline is the province’s portfolio of properties, which Uy described as strategic assets rather than idle land.

These properties are intended for joint ventures, TPPs, or private-sector-led development, guided by clear policies, disciplined valuation, and safeguards to ensure alignment with public interest.

Uy emphasized that TPPs are treated as long-term partnerships rather than one-off transactions, following structured processes from project identification and feasibility studies to risk allocation and approvals.

Supporting investment coordination is the Economic Enterprise Council, which brings together government and private sector representatives to ensure alignment, coherence, and responsiveness.

Uy also highlighted the proposed Investment and Economic Code, which aims to codify incentives, facilitation mechanisms, and institutional roles. Once enacted, the code is expected to simplify investor engagement by consolidating policies into a single framework, reducing ambiguity, minimizing duplication, and clarifying mandates.

The initiative was spearheaded by Board Members Neneth Reluya and Malcolm Sanchez, whom Uy thanked for their leadership.

Economic zones were also underscored as central to Cebu’s growth strategy, serving as execution platforms for manufacturing, logistics, technology, and services while supporting job creation and balanced regional development.

Uy cited several key areas, including the proposed Argao Export and Economic Zone, which aims to expand economic activity beyond Metro Cebu. Planned as a sustainable and multi-sectoral ecosystem, the Argao zone is designed to decongest urban centers while bringing jobs closer to communities. Its strategic location and access to the ports of Talon will enable connectivity to Bohol, Negros, Siquijor, and Mindanao, bypassing congested ports.

The Argao zone will focus on innovation and digital services, sustainable manufacturing, and high-value agri-processing, with safeguards for environmental protection and social integration.

In Naga City, Uy acknowledged its role as the industrial backbone of southern Cebu, with existing manufacturing and heavy industries supporting regional supply chains. The province plans to modernize and expand these areas and link them with next-generation economic zones further south.

Meanwhile, Danao City continues to anchor Cebu’s manufacturing base, with established export zones such as Mitsumi demonstrating the strength of mature industrial ecosystems.

Uy said CIIS marks the beginning of more focused engagement rather than the end of discussions. Business-matching sessions and follow-through mechanisms are set to identify concrete next steps, culminating on January 15.

He said the province has already received at least four letters of intent involving provincial property development and a waste-to-energy initiative, signaling growing private sector interest.

Uy also cited ongoing digitalization efforts, particularly for tourism, noting the passage of the Digital Services Act by the Provincial Board to enable digital transactions for licenses, permits, and payments, improving efficiency, visibility, and data-driven planning.

He invited investors and partners to engage openly and explore areas where their objectives align with Cebu’s priorities, stressing that the province is offering not a leap of faith, but a structured pathway to partnership grounded in governance, clarity, and execution. — (FREEMAN)