THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will organize chapters in Bogo and Toledo this year to help professionalize local business organizations.
CCCI president Ma. Teresa Chan said this move will be like a “Big Brother concept” as CCCI itself will reach out to these organizations.
“We will help these local business chapters become like CCCI so they could become drivers of growth in their own locality. Moreover, they will become local extension of the chamber,” said Chan.
CCCI currently has a local chapter in Bantayan Islands, created after super typhoon Yolanda hit the area and caused widespread damage to livelihood and industries, among others.
Partnerships
“We plan to have a presence in the northern and southern part of the province so these local business organizations can benefit and participate in the private-public partnership (PPP) that we are enjoying in Metro Cebu and achieve economic goals in their locality,” she said.
CCCI will be assisted by the NGO “WECan” in institutionalizing the formation of cluster business chambers in the countryside.
According to Chan, having a well-structured and professionally run business organization has an advantage especially in promoting events, industries, clusters, products and services. It would also add confidence to potential investors.
“We are going to help them become legitimate and advocacy-driven business groups and not just a mere social club,” said Chan.
Bogo and Toledo cities have huge potential to become economic drivers of Cebu province, she said.
Bogo, which is located 101 kilometers north of Cebu City, has the potential to become a local transshipment hub to other provinces.
Early last year, the Cebu Provincial Government and the Bogo City Government announced it will jointly develop the Polambato Wharf in northern Cebu where 40 hectares of flatlands have been declared a part of a special economic zone.
Locators’ interest
According to a Philippine News Agency report, Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. said locators have expressed interest to locate at the proposed industrial site and are looking for a port for the shipment of cargoes.
The area is said to be ideal for light to medium industries and sets an advantage because of its immediate access to the port of Polambato and the major road networks of the province.
Toledo City, on the other hand, has also proposed an industrial site, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. The city currently has investments in mining and quarrying; power and manufacturing.