Cebu business groups, DTI develop livelihood projects

CEBU, Philippines - While the Department of Tourism (DOT) aims to revive the tourism industry of Bohol, the Cebu business community is geared towards promoting economic empowerment by providing livelihood opportunities to Boholanos.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) expressed its intention to help the affected families to get back on their feet by developing business opportunities in the island province.

CCCI president Lito Maderazo said that they will coordinate with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to identify how they could strategize on extending economic assistance to the Boholanos.

He added that they will also network with industry associations in Bohol to find out what are the possible livelihood opportunities to be promoted to fuel their economy.

Maderazo further noted that the economic empowerment could be considered as a long-term sustainable program to help revive Bohol.

“We could empower them by giving them livelihood opportunities and eventually, their normal living will be restored and they could recover from what has happened after the quake,” he said.

He cited that the economies in Bohol and Cebu are alike since they share common industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, handicrafts, fisheries, semi-processed goods, and fashion accessories.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Philip Tan supported Maderazo’s statement saying that Cebu has a symbiotic relationship with Bohol particularly in terms of the economic platform.

“If Bohol economy will improve, it will affect Cebu. There is always a spillover,” he said.

He also pointed out that the government has to focus on the rehabilitation of infrastructure such as roads and bridges to contribute to facilitate the economic activities that may soon arise in the province. 

Key business organizations in Cebu, civic groups, non-government organizations and other institutions gathered to be part of the #Bangon SugBohol Movement that aims to pool resources to raise funds and life-giving supplies for the earthquake victims.

It was the Islands Group, headed by its president Jay Aldeguer, that started the advocacy campaign dubbed #Bangon SugBohol. As of November 4, the civic movement has raised a total of  P2,125,606.10 cash donations from individual donors, private companies and the two benefit concerts they conducted.

Maderazo said that they will still decide on how to make use of the amount as seed money to fund the rehabilitation projects they would initiate in the province as the second phase of the movement’s assistance to Bohol following the success of the relief operations it conducted last month./JOB  (FREEMAN)