CEBU CITY -- Business leaders in Cebu asked President Benigno Aquino III to fund P4.404 billion in infrastructure projects and raised six other concerns with him during his first official visit Wednesday.
President Aquino, in turn, assured business leaders there is a renewed interest among foreign investors to do business in the country.
"Cebu has been chosen as a center for creative industries in the Philippines by the British Council... Because of all of these, I foresee an increase in Cebu's call centers, graphic arts, animation arts and other industries. I also foresee significant increases in the number of tourist arrivals, which will in turn provide the climate for more successful entrepreneurs to thrive," Aquino said.
Aquino, who gave a brief speech at the Regional Economic Managers' Briefing and Dialogue shortly after noon Wednesday, assured the local business community they can take advantage of the country's positive economy.
"With your creativity, dynamism, initiatives and confidence, you here in Cebu and the whole of Region 7 (Central Visayas) are well poised to take advantage of this business and economic climate," Aquino said.
In terms of development, he assured that the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will be one of the areas that will see improvements "in the near future."
Aside from the infrastructure projects, the business groups in Cebu raised to President Aquino the need to enhance tourism in Cebu and in Central Visayas, reduce fuel and power costs, modernize the MCIA, establish a mass transit system, realize the Panglao International Airport and build a bridge linking the provinces of Cebu and Bohol.
During a short press conference with reporters, the President said he will review most of the concerns raised but found the plan to build the bridge linking Cebu and Bohol quite "ambitious."
He said he wants to get a cost-benefit analysis first.
But for the P4.404 billion in infrastructure projects for Cebu, the President believes there will be many private entities who are interested to fund these projects.
"P4.4 billion is not an insurmountable figure," he said.
Asked if it can be included in next year's budget, he said he will have to check the figures first.
The amount for infrastructure covers drainage improvement; widening, concreting and rehabilitation of national roads; flyover constructions; and rehabilitation of the first Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.
As for tourism, the business sector asked the Aquino administration to promote the "value chain approach" to develop tourism with the close collaboration of the tourism and trade departments.
Businessmen also raised concern about Cebu's fuel pump prices being higher compared to other parts of the country.
Aquino said he still has to review this.
As for power, they asked the President to reduce the price of power to make it more investor-friendly and to provide stable and sustainable power at the least cost, from investors to consumers, from renewable sources.
Business leaders asked the government to expand and redesign the MCIA to make it a premier international aviation hub.
To this, Aquino announced the administration will begin expansion of the airport to accommodate more flights.
As for a mass transit system in Cebu, he admitted there were some who are against the idea, noting that much of the land in Cebu is occupied.
He did not say who was against the project.
Asked if a bus rapid transit (BRT), which is being pushed by Representative Tomas Osmeña, is more favorable, he said he is yet to get a consensus.
A concern for setting up a mass transit system, he said, is if it will affect cultural sites, which is a "major come-on for tourism."
"We want to look at it if it can be practicable for the province and not just in the city," he told reporters.
Aquino did not commit to the seven proposals of the business community, saying he wants to make a careful study first to see if any of these can be done.
While the President was optimistic about the economic outlook for Central Visayas, he admitted there is still much to do, such as addressing the power situation and considering the liberalization of air transport to make it easier for tourists to come to Cebu and other parts of the country.
He noted that many foreign tourists try to make arrangements online but find it very difficult to finalize plans when going to the Philippines.
Aquino noted that some neighboring countries have 26 million tourists a year, when the Philippines has tourist spots comparable to those in other countries but only has three million.
"Getting there should not be an ordeal for tourists," he said. He admitted, though, that improving tourism facilities will take time. (MEA of Sun.Star Cebu)
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