𝐆𝐎𝐕. 𝐏𝐀𝐌 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐈𝐙 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒: ‘𝐘𝐎𝐔’𝐑𝐄 𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔’𝐒 𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄’
In what was billed as a defining moment for Cebu’s economic trajectory, Gov. Pamela Baricuatro officially reset the relationship between the provincial government and the private sector on Monday evening, declaring an end to fragmented policymaking and positioning business as a co-author of Cebu’s economic playbook.
Speaking before a united front of Cebu’s business chambers, the governor declared that the top-down approach, where the government dictates and business complies, is a thing of the past.
“This is not government calling business to follow,” Gov. Baricuatro said before the presidents and industry leaders of Cebu’s business chambers. “This is the Provincial Government recognizing business as an equal partner in building the future of Cebu.”
For the first time in recent memory, Cebu’s business chambers sat together not as separate groups but as co-architects of a shared provincial blueprint.
“When Cebu’s business leaders stand together and when government stands with them—not above them, not behind them, but beside them—we become unstoppable,” she said.
𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭
The governor’s remark was as much a listening exercise as it was a declaration of intent.
Gov. Baricuatro said that business leaders would not merely be invited to events or treated as passive observers. They would be genuine partners, she vowed, “shaping plans, influencing strategies, and helping define where Cebu goes next.”
Acknowledging the gap that often separates the Capitol from the boardroom, she sought to build a bridge of confidence, assuring the private sector that their voice would be heard.
“Leadership is not about standing alone at the front,” Gov. Baricuatro said. “Leadership is about bringing people together, creating trust, and giving everyone a reason to believe that the future is bigger than the past.”
The governor acknowledged the business community’s contribution to Cebu’s resiliency, especially during natural disasters, tourism decline, and market instability.
“You carried Cebu through some of its most difficult years—through the pandemic, through economic setbacks, through moments when the future felt uncertain,” she told the business community.
“And yet you stayed. You rebuilt. You adapted. You led.”
𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡
Gov. Baricuatro firmly rejected the traditional mindset that government and business had to operate separately and sometimes even in opposition. This division, she warned, is a recipe for mediocrity.
“And I refuse to let Cebu move divided,” she declared, describing the old way as a direct path to “slower growth, missed opportunities, and a Cebu that does not fully realize its potential.”
She pointed to recent collaborative efforts as proof that the machinery of government could mesh with the dynamism of business, calling it a powerful testament to what unity can achieve.
𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
Unveiling what her office described as an ambitious roadmap, the governor laid out key milestones aimed at positioning Cebu not just as a pretty postcard, but as a major economic force in Asia. These include:
· The Cebu Provincial Economic Forum 4.0 this May, which she promised would facilitate real business matching, not just ceremonial photo opportunities.
· The Cebu International Investment Bootcamp this September, designed to prepare local enterprises for the global stage.
· The Cebu International Investment Summit in 2027, where the province will be presented to the world “not just as a destination, but as a powerful economic force.”
‘𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬’
In a pointed statement aimed at dispelling reservations, the governor assured business leaders that the provincial government is “open, supportive, and ready to work with anyone willing to build a better Cebu,” regardless of political color.
“Politics has no place in progress,” she stressed. “What matters is partnership, trust, and shared direction.”
The governor capped her message with a vision that sought for unity and shared purpose.
“Let this day be remembered as the moment Cebu chose unity—not because it was easy, but because it was necessary,” she said. “The moment government and business decided to build one direction, one vision, and one future. And that future starts now.”
During the meeting, the governor was joined by key leaders from various business chambers across Cebu, representing a broad cross-section of the region’s economic sectors.
Those present included Melanie Ng, Vice President for MSME of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Visayas; Felix Taguiam, PCCI Region 7 Governor; and Mark Ynoc, Immediate Past President of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Also in attendance were Anthony Noel, President of the Lapu-Lapu Chamber of Commerce; Carl Cabusas, President of the Talisay Chamber of Commerce; Nelson Mejia, President of the Minglanilla Chamber of Commerce; Regan Rex King, Vice President for Cebu Business Mobilization of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Leslie Lim, President of the Federation of Ecozone Service Providers (FESP) Visayas and representative from the Customs Industry Consultative and Advisory Council. photos/FE
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