The Cebu International Investment Summit (CIS) 2026 opened its doors on Monday, January 12, with a bold declaration: Cebu is ready to be the Philippines' premier destination for global capital. The four-day summit, running until January 15 at the Capitol Social Hall, serves as a platform to connect investors with projects that promise job creation, enhanced healthcare, and a stronger economic future for the province.
The "Revitalized Cebu" Vision and Competitive Edge
In her opening address, Governor Pamela Baricuatro presented a vision of a "revitalized Cebu," built on a foundation of transparent governance, predictable regulatory systems, and the renowned resilience of the local workforce. She emphasized the provincial government's role as a partner to investors, committed to streamlining processes to match the competitiveness of Cebuanos.
Global strategist Bryan To underscored Cebu's unique capacity to drive its own growth, even amid national economic headwinds like a weakening peso. He pointed to the "Cebuano advantage"—a tech-savvy, multilingual, and highly adaptable workforce skilled in design and technology. Tahanan Partylist Representative Nathaniel Oducado echoed this, noting Cebu's evolution from a historic hub for quality furniture into a modern, high-performance economic engine.
Infrastructure as the Engine for Growth
Officials detailed massive infrastructure upgrades that form the backbone of Cebu's investment pitch. Key developments include:
- The expansion of airport capacity from 4.5 million to 12.5 million passengers annually.
- The Port of Cebu's global ranking (43rd by the World Bank) and its P2 billion-plus economic contribution.
- A reliable power supply exceeding 1,000 megawatts and stable water services.
Oducado likened Cebu to a high-performance vehicle, where infrastructure is the engine, the workforce is the pit crew, and governance provides the track.
The "Fiscal Shield" and Geopolitical Positioning
A central pillar of the summit is the "Fiscal Shield," anchored on the full implementation of the CREATE MORE Act (RA 12066). Ruben Licera, Provincial Head for Special Projects, explained this allows a 100% additional deduction on power expenses, slashing industrial power costs to between $0.08 and $0.09 per kilowatt-hour. This places Cebu competitively alongside Vietnam and Thailand.
Licera also highlighted "Fortress Visayas," positioning Cebu's geography and defense status as an economic asset. With $82 million in allied-funded upgrades at the Mactan EDCA site, Cebu is marketed as a secure logistics and humanitarian hub, capable of handling high-value exports via its parallel runway to bypass Manila congestion.
Shifting Focus: From Call Centers to Clinical Excellence
Cebu is strategically pivoting from traditional outsourcing to "clinical excellence." The province produces over 12,000 medical professionals yearly, offering U.S.-registered nurses and medical coders at roughly 15% of U.S. labor costs. This, coupled with recent P1.3 billion in hospital upgrades and advanced medical procedures, frames healthcare as vital economic infrastructure.
In response to past disasters like Typhoon Tino, the summit promoted "privatizing survival," urging investors to locate in integrated townships with independent desalination plants and 30-megawatt battery storage systems.
Challenges and the Path Forward
While optimistic, Bryan To identified areas for improvement, including tourism performance lagging behind ASEAN peers and infrastructure gaps like delays in the Bus Rapid Transit system. He called for consistent enforcement against corruption and urged the private sector to invest locally in talent development.
The CIS 2026 features focused forums on manufacturing, AI, tourism, and healthcare, with business-matching sessions. The Provincial Government plans to hold the summit twice yearly and will monitor commitments to ensure pledges turn into measurable growth and job generation for Cebu.
