For years, investors and entrepreneurs seeking to establish businesses in Cebu City have had to navigate multiple offices and lengthy processes.
City officials are now moving to streamline those transactions through the creation of a dedicated investment promotion office.
Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. has signed Executive Order No. 078, Series of 2026, formally establishing the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (LEDIPO), six years after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directed local government units to create similar offices nationwide.
Signed on June 10, the executive order has been transmitted to the Cebu City Council for the creation of the office’s organizational structure, staffing pattern, functions, and funding requirements.
The move aligns Cebu City with DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-167, which required provinces, cities, and municipalities to establish Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion offices or units aimed at strengthening local economies, sustaining development, and improving business competitiveness.
In the executive order, Archival cited provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991 that mandate local governments to promote economic prosperity, generate employment opportunities, and establish offices necessary to carry out development programs and priorities.
The order also referenced Cebu City Ordinance No. 2332 and the Cebu City Investment Code approved in 2014, which established policies on investment incentives, business development, and the promotion of key economic assets, including the South Road Properties.
Despite those frameworks, the city recognized the need for a dedicated office to consolidate investment promotion functions and align local efforts with national standards.
Under the order, the LEDIPO will serve as Cebu City’s primary office for investment promotion, investment facilitation, local enterprise development, and support services for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The office will be tasked with attracting investments, supporting business growth, promoting entrepreneurship, facilitating job creation, and identifying economic opportunities across the city.
Among its responsibilities are advising the city government on investment strategies, helping create a business friendly environment, recommending policies that support economic development, and identifying potential public private partnership projects.
The LEDIPO will also maintain a local economic database that prospective investors can use to access information on business opportunities and the city’s economic profile.
In addition, the office will assist MSMEs in securing permits and licenses, identifying business opportunities, and addressing operational concerns.
The executive order directs the office to coordinate with national government agencies and private sector stakeholders, including the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Board of Investments, Public Private Partnership Center, and Department of Science and Technology.
To carry out its mandate, the LEDIPO will operate through three divisions.
The Economic Enterprise Division will formulate plans for new economic ventures, coordinate public private partnership projects, and explore joint venture opportunities.
The Business Development Division will oversee trade and industry programs, coordinate with the SME Development Council, conduct product development research, and organize trade fairs and marketing initiatives.
Meanwhile, the Investment Services Division will process applications for local incentives, assist investors with registration and business matching activities, prepare promotional materials, and monitor registered enterprises.
The office will be headed by a Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Officer supported by at least two to three technical staff members designated by the mayor.
The executive order also sets qualification standards for personnel assigned to the office. The LEDIPO chief must possess a bachelor’s degree relevant to the position and at least two years of experience in business development, tourism, investment promotion, or related fields, along with competencies in business analysis, financial management, negotiations, and local economic planning.
Technical support personnel must likewise hold relevant degrees and demonstrate skills in communication, technical writing, computer operations, and related administrative functions.
City officials said the creation of the office is expected to strengthen investment promotion efforts and improve Cebu City’s competitiveness by providing a more organized and accessible system for investors and local businesses.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
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