CIPO: Cebu remains attractive to investors

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu continues to be an excellent place for local and foreign investors, according to the Capitol.

Roy Soledad, investment and promotions officer of the provincial government, also believes that the latest Global Peace Index ranking the Philippines as having the second lowest peace index in East Asia and 138th among the 163 countries in the world will not affect the business investments here.

He said the people in the business sector will surely not agree on the result of the study without doing their own research.

“In Cebu so far, we have a growing number of investors since last year but we have more this year. Because last year, they waited for the policy of the government and process but today because of President Duterte’s strategy dali na nisud ang mga investors because they find good reasons to partner with the government,” Soledad said.

He said many investors are interested to invest in Cebu and have presented their concepts and plans to the provincial government and to the Cebu Investments and Promotions Office (CIPO). 

The province will decide whether the proposals are viable and can benefit the residents and the province as a whole.

Soledad said the Capitol’s priority is to bring the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) Industry to the countryside and not just focus on Metro Cebu.

“There are a lot of opportunities in Cebu. Sa municipalities, we have to prepare them. We continue to do activities nga maka-prepare ang province in terms of planned infrastructure, airports ug basic services. We also need improvements regarding Intel communications to make the places of Cebu and the local government units better,” Soledad said.

The 2017 Global Peace Index ranked the Philippines poorly because the country’s homicide rate, incarceration rate and number of deaths from internal conflict have all deteriorated. The extrajudicial killings of alleged criminals, drug mules and users have significantly increased security risks, even for ordinary citizens who could potentially get caught in the crossfire.

Soledad said the study was very general and only a few parts of the country are affected in the armed conflict. He said he will be in Fujian, China from June 13 to 21 to encourage possible investors to invest in the province. — Diana Rose H. Ompad and Dulcelyn T. Insong (FREEMAN)