35 Cebu biz achievers showcase local products for Sugbo Negosyo Season 2 Expo at SM Seaside

CEBU CITY -- Out of 10,000 beneficiaries of the Sugbo Negosyo program (Season 2) of the Cebu Provincial Government, 35 business achievers made it to the “Top Performing Beneficiaries” and were given opportunities to showcase their businesses, products and services at the Atrium at SM-Seaside from September 8-10, as they compete to make it to the Top 5 list where they are given all the necessary mentoring and assistance  by the Provincial Government of Cebu and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).

The Sugbo Negosyo Season 2 Expo displayed various products from local delicacies, processed foods, furniture, souvenirs, hand-made crafts, others.  This event is proudly organized by the Province of Cebu in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).

“I am impressed with the quality of products and the entrepreneurial spirit of these 35 business achievers that are mostly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).  Gov. Gwen found the Sugbo Negosyo to be a very good program for the infusion of funds and now she gave more to uplift the MSMEs and showcase what the province of Cebu products/ star-ups can offer,” MCCI president Kellie Ko said.

Ko added that these MSMEs could be part of the local food tourism map of Cebu and program like this boost confidence among the MSMEs.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, in her speech recalled how Sugbo Negosyo started during the pandemic where she helped struggling MSMEs recover from the doldrums caused by COVID. 

“Since its launch in 2020, Sugbo Negosto has already assisted more than 18,000 MSMEs through capital infusion and mentoring assistance.  The success stories of Season 1 winners are solid evidence of how the program changed the lives of many ordinary Cebuanos,” Garcia said.

Garcia added that Sugbo Negosyo has gone a long way to give some push and challenge the Cebuano MSMEs to make top quality products and assist them to make their lives better.

According to the organizers, after the three-day expo, the Top 10 Season 2 finalists are chosen based on certain criteria and the ranking will then be reduced to Top 5.  Winners are to receive monetary prizes on QR-coded cards from the Provincial government.

Bez Acre Farm Products owned by Nicola Enriquez, Toledo City, District 3

At the booth of Bez Acre owned by Nicola Libre Enriquez of Toledo City now at #SugboNegosyo Expo at SM Seaside, Governor Gwen Garcia stopped by for a pre-taste of Nicola’s farm products.  Nicola also has a stall/booth at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu Market every Saturday.

This is Bez Acre’s story: “It started with a rest house in Toledo, in the south of Cebu. It was where we spent our family vacations, a place where we could pause. Whenever we visited, we devoted our time into taking care of the land that surrounded our home, bearing in mind our roles as stewards of the earth.”

“We found how it strengthened our bond as a family to plant and harvest what we sowed in the soil together. Our father, the one who wears The Farmer's Hat, would frequent the farm bringing Bezalel, our youngest.”

“Bez then learned to love life in the fields as much as our father did, an inspiration to naming the farm Bez Acre.  Before long, Bez Acre flourished into a bounty of fruit-bearing trees and healthy vegetables that became the source for *the food on our table*. Our personal chef, who we call "Mama", began preserving the farm's produce by making pickles and jam.”

“These we shared to our friends as gifts. They have grown fond of our food and began sharing to their own communities.” (Photos: MBCNewman)

 

 

DTI-7 launches 1st “FiestaKucha Cebu” to promote local creatives, expects 100K artists, visitors

CEBU CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Central Visayas launched on September 8 the 1^st “FiestaKutcha Cebu” as a regional initiative to celebrate the Philippine Creative Industries Month (PCIM) and promote local creatives in Cebu and other provinces in Central Visayas as well as in the various regions in the country.

“Fiesta + Kucha” is a blend of the Filipino tradition of 'fiestas' and the Japanese storytelling style known as 'pecha kucha’ and the launched marked the beginning of various events and activities showcasing creativity, artistic expression, and innovation. DTI-7 regional director Elena Arbon said, in her opening message at the event held at Waterfront Hotel Cebu.

“I am proud of the local creatives and artists here and we want them to feel that they have found a home here.  ‘FiestaKucha Cebu’ aims to benefit local creatives and artists, contributing to both economic and cultural development,” Arbon said.

She added that the event encompasses conferences, learning sessions, exhibitions, ‘makeathons’, and competitions, demonstrating DTI's commitment to nurturing the region's creative industries in collaboration with creative communities, groups, leaders, and champions.

According to DTI-7 that “FiestaKucha Cebu” marks the first event of DTI Philippines for the PCIM celebration, to be followed by events in Davao City and Baguio City.  The PCIM is an annual celebration declared under RA 11904, also known as the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA).

The month-long “FiestaKutcha” celebration focuses on cultural exchange, collaboration and support for emerging artists and creatives, creative entrepreneurship, and community engagement. DTI-7 expects about 100,000 to 200,000 artists, visitors, viewers, and enthusiasts to attend the diverse events and activities during the “FiestaKutcha Cebu” hosted at multiple locations throughout the festival.

Fireside chat, Pechacucha presentations and lineup of events for September

The project launch featured a fireside chat on “Growing a Creative Industry Ecosystem in the Region," with 2023 PCIM National Director and DTI Competitiveness Bureau Asst. Dir. Jo-Dann Darong with representatives from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), including board of trustees Pedro Delantar Jr. and Mario Panganiban with John Paul Chiongbian, Chair of the 2023 Cebu Business Months.

Darong encouraged local creatives to 'trust the process' and highlighted DTI's efforts to promote the country as the primary 'creative hub' in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) while the rest of the panelists commended this initiative as a huge first step to the development of the creatives in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

DTI-7 provincial directors of Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor told this writer that each province is currently mapping the local creatives, artists and competitive advantage narratives of each for the development of its local creative industry sector.

Dumaguete has the creative visual arts and most artists are now out as Apps developer on the business side of creative sector while Bohol is rich in culture and the performing arts but not so much on digital arts.

Siquijor is focusing on support of the tourism, development of its local film making and hopefully to come up with its digital film festival and to develop local writers that capture the authentic Siquijor narratives.

During the 'PechaKucha' segment, local creative champions showcased their activities and initiatives, presenting three slides with three minutes of commentary each.

Activities announced under the FiestaKucha Cebu lineup include the Cebu Art Book Fair, Tubô Cebu Art Fair, Cebu Game Dev by the Beach, Writer Series, September Fever Music Talks, 48-Hour Film Marathon, Prelude Philippines Dance Competition, Creative Islands Fair by Cebu Literary Festival, Sketcha Kucha, and the FiestaKucha Conference.

DTI 7 also aligned its programs under the FiestaKucha celebration with the launch of a One Town, One Product (OTOP Philippines) Hub in Ayala Center Cebu and a fabrication laboratory (Fablab) under its Shared Service Facilities (SSF) program in partnership with TESDA, both on September 26.

The FiestaKucha Cebu events and activities are orchestrated in collaboration with diverse communities, groups, leaders, and champions within the creative industries sector, each contributing their unique perspectives and expertise.

It is a September month-long celebration heralding the Creative Industries Month with events and activities that are an eclectic mix of conferences, immersive learning sessions, captivating exhibitions, mesmerizing performances, and spirited competitions.

Each of these engaging endeavors is meticulously designed to resonate with the multifaceted dimensions of creativity and innovation, amplifying the allure of the Creative Industries Month's resplendent festivities. (Photos: DTI7/MBCNewman)

 

 

Roro Ramp at Port of Maya to spur maritime growth in small Islands in Visayas regions

CEBU CITY – The opening of the newly-completed reinforced concrete deck with Roro Ramp at the Port of Maya in Daanbantayan, Cebu is seen to spur maritime growth, increase vessel traffic within the smaller islands in Cebu and open new routes from Cebu to Leyte, Sorsogon, Masbate, Batangas and other popular tourist destinations in the Visayas regions.

Key officials of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) with the local government and other stakeholders in Daanbantayan, Cebu inaugurated on August 25 the New R.C. Deck with Roro Ramp at the Port of Maya with a project cost of P119,977,443.80 for the 1,937-sqm area.  

“The newly completed port project provides additional roro and wider cargo back-up area at the Port of Maya in Northern Cebu that is seen to increase vessel traffic, improve cargo handling efficiency and ultimately promote commercial growth in the area being one of the major gateways to Malapascua Island in Cebu, Kalanggaman Island in Leyte, Matnog, Sorsogon in Luzon, and other popular tourist destinations,” CPA general manager, Kit Commendador bared.

With the various development plans that are underway for Northern Cebu, such as the construction of the new airport and the North Cebu Economic Zone in Medellin, CPA is also making sure that the ports are ready to meet and complement the logistical needs and execute effective and efficient port services for port users and stakeholders,” Comendador added.

DOTr Assistant Secretary for Maritime Julius Yano congratulated the local officials of Daanbantayan led by mayor Sun Shimura and all those who collaborated to complete the improvements of Port of Maya, adding that inter-agency collaboration should serve as a benchmark for similar transport projects in other regions of the country.

“You have not only promoted connectivity but also boosted the development of communities that rely on the sea. This initiative should signal a new chapter in Daanbantayan’s march to progress,” Yano said.

CPA said that the new port development project is seen to increase trade and competitiveness of the local economy as it is expected to attract more investments and increase in the vessel and passenger traffic in the area creating direct and indirect employment opportunities for trade, production, and tourism for the local communities.

The project is also one of the key infrastructure initiatives that is locally funded and implemented by CPA to address the needs of its users as the Port of Cebu serves as one of the primary maritime gateways for commerce, trade, and tourism in the country.

Comendador bared that the Port of Maya in Northern Cebu is currently the major gateway to Malapascua Island in Cebu, Kalanggaman Island in Leyte, Matnog Sorsogon and City of Calbayog in Samar Province. (Photos: CPA/Google Images)