The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has praised the inauguration of a major new commissary by Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) in Danao City, northern Cebu, calling it a strong signal of sustained investor trust in the Visayas region.
DTI Champions Regional Industrial Growth
DTI Secretary Christina Roque personally led the opening ceremony last week. She emphasized that the new facility aligns perfectly with the government's goal of spreading investments outside Metro Manila. The move aims to build more resilient domestic supply chains and promote inclusive economic growth across the Philippines. Roque stated that the project is a direct response to rising consumer demand in northern Cebu, fueled by expansion in manufacturing, increased port activity, and new residential developments.
A Major Hub for Visayas and Mindanao
The Danao commissary is a significant expansion for JFC. It is the company's 12th commissary nationwide and its largest in the Visayas. As the group's fourth commissary in the region, it is strategically designed to serve the growing needs of Jollibee stores across both the Visayas and Mindanao islands. The facility features higher automation and expanded production capacity to efficiently meet this rising demand.
"Every time a brand like Jollibee chooses to invest in a growing city like Danao, it validates what we see on the ground—more jobs, more income, and a stronger local economy," Secretary Roque remarked. She highlighted that such investments are central to the DTI's agenda for industrial development and inclusive growth, as they create quality employment and deepen local supply networks, particularly for food manufacturing outside Luzon.
Local Employment and Broader Economic Resilience
The commissary has already made a substantial impact on local employment. According to company and provincial officials, the facility currently employs 451 workers. In a significant boost for the community, approximately 63% of these employees were hired from Danao City itself, with the remainder coming from neighboring towns in northern Cebu.
Roque also noted that the opening underscores the resilience of domestic consumption, which continues to be a key driver of Philippine economic growth despite global uncertainties. She pointed out that expansions by fast-food and casual-dining chains like Jollibee often indicate that foot traffic and household spending have reached sustainable levels in provincial cities.
This project is part of the DTI's broader push for regional manufacturing, which is being advanced through key strategies and programs focused on industrialization, innovation, and enhancing global competitiveness. These efforts fall under the umbrella of the Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Strategy and the Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy (i3S).
JFC operates a network of commissaries across the country, including in Laguna, Bulacan, Bacolod, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Muntinlupa, and Pasig.
