Gwen visits Taiwan Presidential Palace

CEBU - TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia opened the door for several business opportunities when visited the Presidential Palace in the Zhongzheng District in Taipei City upon the invitation of Taiwanese Vice President Vincent Siew’s wife Susan Chu.

With Garcia were the Provincial Board members Victor Maambong, Victoria Corominas, Peter John Calderon, Wilfredo Caminero and Ian Zambo; business sector representatives Jose Ng, Eric Ng-Mendoza and Joseph Gaisano.

Siew told Garcia that while he has not gone to Cebu yet he has already heard of many good developments here. Siew said that Cebu, compared to Manila, can offer a better environment for Taiwanese businessmen who want to invest.

Ng, who is the president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, asked Siew if they could invite Taiwanese businessmen to visit Cebu and invest in the province and offered them any assistance they would ask for.

“I welcome your business sector to continue to contact your counterpart here,” Siew said.

Prior to the visit, Garcia and the delegates went to the Manila Economic and Cultural Affairs Office at the Chung Shan District for a roundtable meeting with potential Taiwanese investors and travel tour agencies for Cebu’s tourism infrastructure.

Garcia showcased the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo to the Taiwanese group and the famous shoe industry in Carcar City.

Director for Marketing and Communication of Howard Hotel, Resort and Suites Shiny Chen said he was impressed by the Suroy-Suory Sugbo and the progress Cebu Province has made since he was here five years ago.

He asked the Office of the Cebu Provincial Government to give them information about the Suroy-Suroy so he can include it in their cultural shows.

By November, the provincial government will once again host another Suroy-Suroy in the south.

Chen also told Garcia that the Howard Company is planning to expand their business outside Taiwan. The Howard Company operates 11 five-star hotels in Taiwan.

Another group of Taiwanese businessmen are looking to expand their footwear industry. The businessmen said they have been to Marikina City but they are not yet certain if they will put up a shoe factory there.

Garcia invited them to visit Carcar and to discover for themselves the “huge potential” of the town. 

Four companies —the Aboitiz Power Corporation, Formosa Heavy Industries Corp., Global Business Power Corporation and Vivant Power Corporation will be investing in a multi-million 246-megawatt coal-fired power plant in barangay Sangi, Toledo City, to address a looming power crisis in Cebu.

The consortium officials had assured that the power plant will use clean coal technology that is reportedly safe to the environment, thus Garcia personally visited Taiwan to see this for herself. —Garry B. Lao/BRP (THE FREEMAN)