Metro Cebu water transpo project wins best biz plan

CEBU, Philippines — A visionary Metro Cebu City water transportation project proposed by Nelson Mejia Jr., a former shipping operations specialist, bagged the best business plan award during the 2018 National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO)-Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines (ISP) Business Plan Competition.

“I really have this dream of putting up a business that has a great impact on the community. Matagal ko nang plano ang ganitong negosyo para maibsan ang traffic sa Cebu,” said Mejia, who received the grand prize of P500,000 for his 'Metro Cebu Express' business proposal.

The primary aim of his proposal is to provide an alternative mode of transportation via sea while creating new job opportunities for the Cebuanos, most especially the seafarers and their families.

Using water vessels, he envisions to ferry passengers from Pier 3, Cebu City to South Poblacion, San Fernando, Cebu and vice-versa.

The other finalists were from other provinces and cities in the country.

Dubbed “From Seafarers to Entrepreneurs: The 2018 NRCO-ISP Business Plan Competition (Harnessing Seafarers Capacities for Business Enterprises Development),” the competition aims to encourage returning sea-based OFW to pursue their dream businesses and provide a sustainable livelihood for their families and communities. The project is a joint undertaking between the NRCO, an attached agency of the labor department, and the ISP.

To support the productive reintegration of seafarers, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III urged them to start their own business by joining the competition next year. (FREEMAN)