CanCham supports call for Cebu port expansion

CEBU, Philippines – The Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines expressed interest to join the local business sector's latest advocacy on accelerating the international port expansion in Cebu.

In an interview with CanCham president Julian Payne, during the chamber's celebration of its 25th year as an organization and Canadian thanksgiving held at the Radisson Blu Hotel Monday night, he said CanCham Cebu chapter will coordinate with other business chambers like the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry for a joint advocacy on this concern.

"Good infrastructure is essential for good international trade and investments," Payne said adding that it does not make sense that some international shipments going to Cebu or from Cebu would go through other ports like Subic or Manila.

According to Payne, in the face of ASEAN integration and intense global competition, it is not enough just to reduce tariffs to zero, but what is important is to fix the primary infrastructure that supports trade and investments growth.

"Improvement of Cebu port is essential, not only for the province in particular, but also for the country in general," he said.

In an earlier interview with CCCI president Ma. Teresa B. Chan, she said that the chamber is going to intensify its advocacy to push both national and local government unit for infrastructure expansion especially projects that support to attract investments for manufacturing.

Payne said CanCham, through its Cebu chapter, is going to meet with CCCI officials to join the cause.

Chan said with the congestion of the existing ports in Cebu and Manila, there is a need to make a bold move in starting off the implementation of more projects that have been in the government's pipeline to trail blaze the heightening competition and lure the big manufacturing investors to the Philippines.

CCCI, she said is planning to coordinate with the Cebu Provincial government, as well as the concerned agencies in the national level for Cebu to realize the plan to have a big and global standard international port--in terms of size and facilities.

"If they want Cebu to be a trans-shipment hub for Asia Pacific, we certainly need a 'proper port' facility," Chan told The Freeman in an interview,

Although the Philippine's economy is no doubt on its good state now, due to the strong consumer demand, it has to keep its balance for sustainability--and re-enforcing the growth of manufacturing investments would make a stronger Philippines economy in the long term.

"CCCI is advocating for infrastructure [expansion] precisely attracting the manufacturing investments," Chan said adding that following the realization of Cebu’s new international airport, now the move is towards making a large new sea-port for Cebu.

She said the growth of the Philippine economy today is largely fueled by the strong consumption-base demand. It is high time to strengthen the other leg, which is the long term investment of manufacturing that will employ huge number of people across educational attainment and backgrounds.