𝐆𝐎𝐕. 𝐏𝐀𝐌: 𝐌𝐄𝐆𝐀 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐇𝐔𝐁 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐀; 𝐌𝐄𝐆𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐔𝐌 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐁𝐎𝐆𝐎
The Cebu Provincial Government is recalibrating the locations of two major infrastructure projects under its long-term development agenda, a move expected to boost job creation, strengthen food security, and support future investments in agriculture development and sports tourism.
While the province’s Mega Food Hub is expected to remain in the City of Naga, the Capitol’s planned 20,000-seat sports stadium will most likely be built in northern Cebu, said Gov. Pam Baricuatro.
The original plan was to construct both facilities, along with other major projects, on the Capitol-owned Balili Property in the City of Naga. However, the city government requested that portions of the property be allocated for the establishment of an economic zone instead.
“Nihangyo si Mayor Val [Chiong] to use that area in Balili for economic zone which can generate at least 4,000 jobs,” Gov. Baricuatro said during a press briefing at the Capitol on June 10.
‘NOT MY STYLE TO IMPOSE’
She said that in every policy decision, she gives significant weight to the recommendations of local officials as part of her administration’s participatory governance approach.
“That’s not my style nga mo-impose on them. If it’s good for the City of Naga to put an economic zone there, then I’m agreeable to it,” she said.
Despite the proposed changes, the Mega Food Hub will remain in Naga, as agreed by the Capitol and city officials, because of its proximity to Dalaguete, one of Cebu’s primary agricultural production areas.
The facility will feature cold storage and post-harvest infrastructure designed to address food losses, particularly in light of Cebu’s limited cold storage capacity, which currently consists of only four refrigerated units.
Once operational, the food hub will feature cold storage and post-harvest infrastructure designed to address food losses, making it a centralized hub for post-harvest handling, trading, and distribution of agricultural products, helping address longstanding gaps in the province’s food supply chain.
CEBU’S MEGA STADIUM
The proposed sports stadium, meanwhile, is likely to be relocated to Bogo City because the Capitol’s partner, MTD Philippines Inc., prefers a site with access to an airport.
The planned relocation aligns with ongoing efforts to establish an international airport in Medellin, a neighboring municipality of Bogo City.
Recently, Fourth District Rep. Sun Shimura, with the support of the Capitol, has been lobbying for the development of the airport project in Medellin, with talks being done with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for possible inclusion in future funding programs.
“Gusto sa MTD nga naay airport nearby. So most likely if we’re going to develop an airport in Medellin, then kaning atong Mega Sports Hub should be somewhere in Bogo,” the governor said. /𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶, 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑭𝑬
Check this also: Capitol Develops Online Booking Portal Linking Tourists to Accredited Operators in Cebu
