Cebu City is gearing up to transform the South Road Properties (SRP) into its premier investment hub,
Cebu City Councilor Rey Gealon, chair of the South Road Properties (SRP) governing board, emphasized the bold vision set by Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia: to realize SRP’s full potential as Cebu’s leading investment hub.
Gealon highlighted the ambitious vision to unlock SRP’s full potential through a collaborative approach. Beyond infrastructure development, Gealon stressed the importance of partnerships between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations to drive economic growth and establish SRP as a thriving center of commerce and industry.
SRP, a 300-hectare reclaimed area along Cebu’s southern coast, is envisioned to be a thriving center of commerce and industry. According to Gealon, the key to making SRP successful lies in creating a balanced distribution of businesses. This can only be achieved through collaboration, coordination, and cooperation among various stakeholders, including long-time business players in the region.
“All of SRP’s members have been in business for a long time, and their collaboration is the ingredient for success,” Gealon said. The idea is to market SRP as the next big investment hub for Cebu City, an area where the city’s future unfolds.
Inclusive Growth and SME Participation
One of the major goals of the SRP initiative is inclusivity, particularly in ensuring that SMEs can engage and thrive alongside larger companies
“SRP is not just for big businesses; we need suppliers and we need employment,” Gealon explained. By creating a space where businesses of all sizes can coexist, SRP aims to drive economic progress from SMEs to large corporations, offering opportunities for everyone in between.
Mayor Garcia’s directive is clear: to address the concerns of locators and businesses that have invested in SRP, ensuring they can nurture and expand their operations.
“The mayor understands that the growth and development of businesses and the people employed there is the highest calling of leadership,” Gealon noted. Success at SRP translates to success for Cebu as a whole.
Simplified Bureaucracy and a Business-Friendly Environment
Gealon also revealed that the SRP governing board, through a recently passed ordinance, is actively working to streamline the operations within SRP.
One major development is the vision to make SRP a “special administrative zone,” which would free it from the traditional bureaucratic processes of City Hall. “Permits and licenses—building permits, business permits, renovation permits—would be issued by the SRP Governing Board, creating a one-stop-shop system,” he shared. This effort aims to create a business-friendly environment that encourages growth and investment.
SRP, as envisioned, would be a “city within a city,” where businesses can operate efficiently without the usual administrative hurdles. The ease of securing permits and licenses would make SRP more accessible and attractive to investors, enhancing its competitiveness as an economic zone.
Addressing Infrastructure and Discipline
Councilor Gealon acknowledged several ongoing concerns within SRP, including issues related to street lighting, flooding, drainage, garbage collection, and traffic management.
In response, the SRP governing board has passed a resolution to address traffic concerns by declaring SRP a “discipline zone.” This entails deploying at least 10 traffic enforcers equipped with speed guns along the coastal road to regulate traffic and ensure road safety.
By focusing on infrastructure improvements and enforcing discipline, the SRP aims to create an orderly environment conducive to business operations and a pleasant experience for employees, customers, and residents alike.
CCCI Supports the SRP Governing Board
Jay Yuvallos, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), affirmed the chamber’s commitment to actively support the South Road Properties (SRP) Governing Board, led by Gealon, in promoting business investments.
Yuvallos emphasized the importance of collaboration in realizing SRP’s full potential, aligning with the vision set by Cebu’s leaders.
The CCCI plans to contribute to SRP’s development through strategic input in planning and by working closely with the SRP board. Additionally, the chamber is partnering with the city on the establishment of Cebu Investment Development Concierge Center (CIDCC) and a special fund to create marketing materials to boost SRP’s promotion.
Yuvallos believes that, with the right leadership, SRP will reach its full potential as Cebu’s premier investment hub.
A Vision for the Future
Councilor Gealon highlights the ambitious plans Cebu City has for SRP. With a focus on collaboration, inclusivity, and streamlined processes, SRP is set to become the flagship investment hub for Cebu. It represents the city’s future, where businesses, both large and small, can flourish, and where economic progress is driven by cooperation among all stakeholders.
As Cebu City moves forward, the success of SRP will reflect the vision of its leaders as well as the collective effort of the businesses and people who invest in its growth. “The success of SRP,” Gealon emphasized, “will ultimately translate into the success of Cebu.”
