Biz leaders rally behind Cebu's rebuilding efforts

Cebu's top business group is calling on private firms to take a frontline role in rebuilding the province after a powerful earthquake and the devastation left by typhoon Tino, warning that delays in recovery could undercut investor confidence already rattled by governance concerns.

- Ehda M. Dagooc, Staff Member

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has mounted a coordinated rebuilding initiative and urged companies—particularly those in construction, logistics, utilities, and building materials—to “step in fast and step in strong” as thousands of households and enterprises struggle to restore damaged properties.

“We have seen a one-two-three punch in Cebu—the earthquake, the flooding, and now corruption issues shaking investor sentiment,” CCCI president Jay Yuvallos said. “When governance is questioned, confidence drops. That's where the private sector must come in. Our role is to help people get back up and rebuild.”

Yuvallos said the chamber has formed a dedicated task force to identify strategic areas where businesses can support government-led recovery efforts.

He emphasized that rebuilding cannot be left to public agencies alone, adding that the chamber has already submitted a set of policy recommendations to the Regional Development Council’s infrastructure unit, including calls for master planning, process transparency, and long-term flood mitigation.

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