CCCI urges government: Streamline business, strengthen relationships
Cebu Chamber Calls for Biz-Friendly Leadership Ahead of Elections
With the May 12 midterms around the corner, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is urging Cebu City's mayoral hopefuls to focus on business environment enhancements and fostering public-private collaboration.
During a Cebu City Mayoralty Forum, hosted by the chamber, Jay Yuvallos, its president, made his plea. Stressing Cebu City's economic importance, not just for Central Visayas, but the entire country, he called for candidates to share their visions for Cebu's business and investment landscape, a major concern for the chamber's over 800 members.
Friday's event, held at the Golden Prince Hotel and Suites, featured five mayoral contenders, including incumbent Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Councilor Nestor Archival, former mayor Mike Rama, and former Customs Commissioner Yogi Ruiz, and Julieto Co.
Post-forum, Yuvallos expressed his satisfaction with the first-time event, recalling the chamber hosting a Presidential Debate in 2016. Local leadership choices, he said, impact Cebu beyond the city. That's why the chamber expects the next administration to support its ongoing initiatives, such as building a start-up hub, an SME showroom, and an innovation space, aiming to boost entrepreneurship and student-investor connections.
The chamber also aims to turn Cebu City into a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) hub, stimulating economic progress. Yuvallos emphasized the need for collaboration and alignment between the city's leadership and the business community, acknowledging that the City Government plays a critical role in the business ecosystem, but can't improve the city's economic landscape alone. Instead, it requires support from the chamber and other stakeholders.
CCCI's expectations for the next mayor include easing the cost of doing business, strengthening public-private partnerships, ensuring accountability, and fostering transparency. Citing Cebu City's nearly P400 billion contribution to the national economy, Yuvallos urged voters to cast their ballots wisely for Cebu's future.
Each candidate had 15 minutes to present their economic programs, address public safety, infrastructure, and sustainability issues, before a Q&A session, except for Co, who cited health reasons for skipping the session. Questions centered around practical challenges impacting Cebu’s competitiveness and livability, like permit processing, traffic management, health and sanitation, and mobility. Despite the forum being non-partisan and impartial, Co decided not to participate.
The CCCI's forum is part of its mission to promote good governance and economic development in Cebu, focusing on business environment improvements, public-private collaboration, and sustainable development alignment. These principles reflect the chamber's active role in regional initiatives like the ASEAN Circular Economy Business Academy (ACEBA) and its emphasis on policy coherence and collective action.
- As the May 12 elections approach, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) encourages mayoral candidates to concentrate on improving the business environment and encouraging public-private collaboration.
- Jay Yuvallos, CCCI's president, reiterated the significance of Cebu City's economy, not just for Central Visayas, but for the entire nation, during a mayoral forum.
- In the upcoming elections, Yuvallos urges candidates to share their visions for Cebu's business and investment landscape, a key concern for the chamber's over 800 members.
- Environmental initiatives, such as the construction of a start-up hub, an SME showroom, and an innovation space, are among the ongoing projects the chamber hopes the next administration will support.
- The chamber also aims to transform Cebu City into a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) hub, for economic growth stimulation.
- For CCCI, collaboration and alignment between the city's leadership and the business community is vital, acknowledging the City Government's crucial role in the business ecosystem.
- In the 2025 elections, CCCI expects the next mayor to address factors such as reducing business costs, strengthening public-private partnerships, ensuring accountability, and promoting transparency.
- The CCCI's forum underlines its mission to foster good governance, economic development, and a sustainable business environment in Cebu, aligning with regional initiatives like the ASEAN Circular Economy Business Academy (ACEBA).
