Business group to create Cebu economic database

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu Business Club (CBC) will soon create a Center for Strategic Research to provide Cebu with sound and credible database on economic performance and its challenges that need immediate solutions.

CBC president Dondi Joseph announced that the organization will set up this facility soon and will be led by local economist Perry Fajardo, who also currently sits as CBC executive director.

The Strategic Research Center will collate “distinct” Cebuano information and data that will also measure the competitiveness of the province, Joseph said.

Two of the very important concerns for Cebu is the true state of water and power supply in the province, said business executive Jess Alcordo.

He said Cebu should have effective programs that will address the water supply situation in the province, as well as power.

The Center for Strategic Research will also pool other local economist in Cebu to provide their expertise and contribute their own insights and suggestions based on the information and data that will be gathered by the Center.

Already, CBC has successfully created the Cebu Leads Foundation (CLF), which will focus on adopting principles of public governance system for project design and implementation.

It will immediately form a coalition of business, government and civil society to achieve its purpose, Joseph said.

CBC, a newly revived business group, is expected to provide some recommendations how Cebu could become a “bench mark” province for the Philippines, in competitiveness, and economic development, through CLF.

On June 11, CBC will hold its first nationwide business conference that will be attended by different business clubs in the Philippines with three of the country’s presidentiables as guests.

According to Joseph, this is the start of CBC in partnership with Makati Business Club (MBC) stance to make a stronger voice in helping the country to be more competitive.

Getting insights from the future leaders in the country, will help the business sector to create its own agenda for development that will be recommended to the next leader of the country, after the 2010 Presidential elections.

Joseph believes that the private sector should act aggressively in helping the government shape the future of the country, otherwise competitiveness issue will continue to deteriorate and wasting the potential of the Philippines.

Earlier, Joseph expressed disappointment of the unresolved corruption issues in the Philippines, of which the group initially given focus to, saying “there are 47 unresolved corruption cases in the Philippines, and nothing happens, no matter how we make noise and implement brave actions against it.”

Joseph, however said that the group will not put off its hands totally in its anti-corruption advocacy, but a magnified focus will be put in other campaigns, other than corruption.

CBC, will start working seriously with non government organizations such as DILAAB Foundation, to put in place effective measures in promoting electoral reforms system in the Philippines, specifically Cebu.

He said together with other NGO groups, CBC will start tapping the young professional, and the younger generation voters to let them understand “true color” of politics in the Philippines, and that convincing them to elect the “deserving candidates” will start a change in political fabric in the country.

As everybody know, Joseph said people go to politics in the Philippines for business, and it is the fastest way to build a “family dynasty.”

CBC and DILAAB Foundation, along with other groups with the same advocacy will be working together soon to introduce programs and campaigns, educating the young voters to start the change.