Tholons exec says Cebu needs more cyberparks

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu should step up in developing its infrastructure support as well as build up an innovation ecosystem if it wants to improve its ranking as one of the top 10 Super Cities in the world.

This according to Tholons Inc., chairman and managing partner Avinash Vashistha during yesterday's "2018 Transformation Summit" held at the Bai Hotel in Mandaue City organized by the Cebu IT BPM. Organization (CIB.O).

In its latest Super Cities survey, Tholons, a global strategic advisory firm, ranked Cebu City in the 12th, way deeper from the 7th place it garnered in the last few years.

The report however, did not explain the cause of Cebu City’s exit from the top 10 but what was clear was that the particular survey looked more into innovation, startup ecosystem, and digital transformation as key components to define the Services Globalization Country Index.

In an interview yesterday, Vashistha highlighted Cebu's lack of infrastructure support such as cyber parks, as well as strong and unified ecosystem that could hatch a good innovation culture.

The London-based Tholons executive singled out the 300-hectare South Road Properties (SRP), saying Cebu needs to build more of similar facilities or IT Parks.

"Other countries in the top 20 are wrapping up faster. Cebu should look at these countries [for benchmarking]," said Vashistha.

While the rules and the requirements of the worldwide ranking have changed, Cebu should catch up quickly in order not to fall down further.

Vashistha specified for Cebu to build more "A-class" infrastructure to reclaim its position as among the top 10 Super Cities in the world.

Helping the start-up community develop and grow is also important for Cebu to earn a prestigious position in the city competition game.

By country, the Philippines dropped to third in the 2017 survey, after China rose on the ranking, occupying second place, next to India.

"Philippines has been the undisputed leader in customer service, BPM and is home to major multinational corporations and GICs. English fluency among the youth, cultural affinity to US/UK and the growing influence of MNC operations on the country’s economy is significant,” Tholons said in the latest Super Cities survey. (FREEMAN)