TO SUSTAIN ECONOMIC GROWTH Expert warns Cebu needs to solve infra, power woes

Cebu and the wider Central Visayas region are emerging as the Philippines' most dynamic growth hubs, but more needs to be done to capture the attention of international investors, a renowned economist said.

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Speaking at the “Business Summit 2025 “of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), part of the celebration of Mandaue Business Month 2025, Marco Miguel Javier, Vice President and Head of Economics & Market Research at BPI Global Markets outlined both the opportunities and the hurdles for the region’s economic ascent.

"Central Visayas has achieved two consecutive years as the fastest-growing region in the Philippines, driven primarily by services, tourism, and a recovering agricultural sector," Javier said. “But to sustain this momentum and draw global capital, infrastructure, energy stability, and investment efficiency must be urgently addressed.”

Javier noted that the Philippines, despite global trade tensions, remains among the least vulnerable economies in ASEAN due to its consumption-driven structure, with household spending accounting for 75 percent of GDP (gross domestic product).