CEBU’s top business groups and industry leaders are voicing unified support for the province’s newly elected officials, while calling for bold, collaborative action on key economic priorities — from entrepreneurship and healthcare to power sustainability and inclusive development.
The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) extended congratulations to newly elected leaders in Cebu City, Mandaue City and the Province of Cebu, pledging to work closely with local governments in shaping a competitive, future-ready Cebu.
By June 30, 2025, Cebu City will have its new mayor, Nestor Archival; Mandaue City will have Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano; and Cebu Province will have its new governor, Pamela Baricuatro.
Unity
CCCI president Jay Yuvallos emphasized the importance of unity among government, business and civil society in turning bold visions into tangible impact.
“The Cebu Chamber stands ready to work with all our leaders and stakeholders to turn bold visions into lasting impact,” said Yuvallos.
He pointed to infrastructure, ease of doing business, innovation and social equity as priority areas for joint public-private action.
Echoing Yuvallos, MCCI president Mark Ynoc expressed optimism for the new leadership of Mandaue City, while thanking outgoing officials — Cortes and Garcia — for their partnership.
Ynoc reaffirmed MCCI’s commitment to programs that uplift small businesses and promote inclusive growth.
“We hope to continue being their partner in promoting sustainable change and making the lives of Cebuanos better,” he said.
MCCI’s advocacy agenda include improvements in healthcare, education, tourism, food security and development of micro, small and medium enterprises. These are all seen as key pillars for raising living standards and attracting investment.
“Limitless possibilities”
Melanie Ng, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry area vice president for Visayas, added that the private sector is confident in the “limitless economic possibilities” that come with strong public-private collaboration.
“We are eager and committed to work together with our newly elected officials to support programs that will promote innovative inclusivity, competitiveness and drive economic growth,” she said.
Meanwhile, Filipino Homes founder and A Better Real Estate Philippines founder Anthony Gerard Leuterio urged newly elected officials to deliver on campaign promises and immediately address lingering issues from previous administrations.
“People are expecting results — now is the time to prove they made the right decision,” Leuterio said.
He stressed the need to prioritize free healthcare, phase out “ayuda” or short-term financial aid and create a new entrepreneurship committee to support aspiring business owners with access to training and capital.
Leuterio also advocated for a proactive dialogue between government and business stakeholders, saying, “Businesses create jobs. Local leaders should ask how they can help and give the private sector access to support growth.”
He also called for greater alignment between Cebu City and the Province to ensure unified development and endorsed the P20 rice program as a continued national priority to address food affordability.
Power cost, traffic congestion
In the energy sector, Cebu Electricity Rights Advocates (Cera) also urged new officials to focus on reforms in power distribution. Cera highlighted Cebu’s increasing vulnerability to energy shortages and the need for sustainable, locally produced power.
“Cebu City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to renewable energy,” Cera said, citing his previous work in promoting solar use and electrical safety.
Governor-elect Baricuatro, on the other hand, who ran on a platform focused on food security and poverty alleviation, expressed support for improving power reliability in rural and underserved communities.
The group urged action to resolve Cebu’s “yellow alert” grid status, warning of potential escalation to a “red alert” if new energy infrastructure is not prioritized.
Cera convenor Nathaniel Chua called for the creation of more local power plants and a thorough review of outdated energy ordinances. He emphasized that energy reliability is essential to economic growth, particularly in rural areas.
Ynoc echoed Cera’s sentiments, noting that one of the most pressing concerns is Cebu’s rapidly growing power demand, which, according to him, is increasing by 120 megawatts annually without a matching rise in supply.
He also pointed out that the high cost of electricity continues to be a significant barrier to attracting new investors.
“Commercial leasing is down. We are having a hard time attracting investors to come to Cebu because there are a lot of factors. One of them is the power cost,” he said.
Traffic congestion, Ynoc added, is another significant concern, as it not only delays mobility but also increases supply chain costs, contributing to inflation.
“Although traffic can be seen as a sign of progress, it also causes delays that raise operational costs,” he said. / KOC, CAV