The Cebu Provincial Government has upgraded its investment promotion office into a full-fledged department as it steps up efforts to attract businesses and develop new economic zones outside Metro Cebu.
The former Cebu Provincial Investment Promotions Division is now the Cebu Provincial Investment and Economic Office (CPIEO), which will handle the province’s investment promotion, facilitation, processing and monitoring functions.
CPIEO Investments Promotion Officer Paulo Uy said Friday, Nov. 13, that the new department is pursuing opportunities to establish agro-industrial and economic zones in Argao and Medellin to spread investments across the province and create jobs.
“We run the department like it is an enterprise,” Uy said, describing the office’s approach to investment promotion and revenue generation.
In southern Cebu, Argao is developing a proposed agro-industrial economic zone that could accommodate food processing, canning and related businesses.
The province also wants to establish a major food hub in the area where businesses can source fresh agricultural produce for processing. The development could eventually support sardine canning operations in the municipality.
Uy said a 10-hectare economic zone could generate at least 5,000 to 6,000 jobs and stimulate supporting industries such as packaging, logistics and food services.
In northern Cebu, Medellin has proposed an economic zone for light industries. The CPIEO has yet to receive the municipality’s final layout and development plan.
Uy said the local government would determine the appropriate land-use classification and pursue any necessary zoning changes to advance the proposal.
The province is also exploring yellow corn production in northern Cebu to supply raw materials for animal feeds, potentially reducing feed costs for livestock producers and hog raisers.
Uy said the provincial government would respect the development priorities and capabilities of individual local government units rather than impose a uniform approach to economic zone development.
“Because being an economic zone, you have your pros and cons. And I think we respect that LGUs have their own personalities,” he said.
He cited Balamban’s shipping industry and Toledo’s mining sector as examples of areas that have developed around established industries. Southern Cebu, meanwhile, remains more closely associated with tourism and needs additional industrial investments to diversify its economic base.
Alongside the creation of the CPIEO, the province is pursuing the proposed New Investment and Incentives Code of Cebu 2026 to strengthen its investment promotion framework.
The 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan discussed the proposed ordinance on first reading during its regular session on Nov. 9. First District Board Member Lakambini Reluya authored the measure, which was referred to the Committees on Laws and Ways and Means.
The proposed code seeks to establish procedures for registering qualified investments and granting, administering, monitoring, suspending and revoking provincial incentives.
It also proposes creating a Cebu Investment Board as the province’s investment review, deliberative and recommendatory body, while the CPIEO would retain its administrative, investment promotion, facilitation, processing and monitoring responsibilities.
Qualified registered investments could receive fiscal and non-fiscal incentives based on their nature, classification, scale, location and economic or developmental contributions, subject to the provincial government’s legal authority.
Uy credited Gov. Pamela Baricuatro for supporting the creation of the department and Reluya for championing the proposed investment ordinance.
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