South Road Properties the next prime investment hub in Cebu City

CEBU CITY—South Road Properties (SRP) governing board is gearing up to transform the 300-hectare reclaimed area along Cebu’s southern coast as the premier investment hub in Cebu City.

“The ambitious vision is to unlock SRP’s full potential through a collaborative approach. Beyond infrastructure development, we want to highlight the importance of partnerships between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations to drive economic growth and establish SRP as a thriving center of commerce and industry,” bared Rey Gealon, Cebu City Councilor and Chair of the SRP governing board during a dialog with the business sector on October 2 at the City Hall.

Gealon said that Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia set this bold vision to market SRP as the next big investment hub for Cebu City, an area where the city's future unfolds. The key to making SRP successful, lies in creating a balanced distribution of businesses. This can only be achieved through collaboration, coordination, and cooperation among various stakeholders, including long-time business players in the region, Gealon added.

One of the major goals of the SRP initiative is inclusivity, particularly in ensuring that SMEs can engage and thrive alongside larger companies. “SRP is not just for big businesses; we need suppliers and we need employment,” Gealon explained 

By creating a space where businesses of all sizes can coexist, SRP aims to drive economic progress from SMEs to large corporations, offering opportunities for everyone in between, according to Gealon that Mayor Garcia's directive is clear-- to address the concerns of locators and businesses that have invested in SRP and to ensure that they can nurture and expand their operations.

Gealon noted that the success at SRP means Cebu’s economic success and the mayor understands that the economic growth and development of SRP is the highest calling of leadership.

Simplified Bureaucracy and a Business-Friendly Environment

Gealon also revealed that the SRP governing board is actively working to streamline the operations within SRP through an ordinance passed by the Cebu City Council that also made SRP a special administrative zone, freeing it from the traditional bureaucratic processes of City Hall.

“Permits and licenses—building permits, business permits, renovation permits—are to be issued by the SRP Governing Board, creating a one-stop-shop system to create a business-friendly environment that encourages growth and investment,” Gealon said.

SRP is envisioned to be a city within a city, where businesses can operate efficiently without the usual administrative hurdles, Gealon shared that the ease of securing permits and licenses make SRP more accessible and attractive to investors, enhancing its competitiveness as an economic zone.

Councilor Gealon acknowledged several ongoing concerns within SRP including issues related to street lighting, flooding, drainage, garbage collection, and traffic management.  The governing board passed a resolution to address the traffic concerns by declaring SRP a “discipline zone.” 

This entails deploying at least 10 traffic enforcers equipped with speed guns along the coastal road to regulate traffic and ensure road safety. Focusing on infrastructure improvements and enforcing discipline, SRP aims to create an orderly environment conducive to business and a pleasant experience for employees, customers, and residents alike.

Meantime, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) supports the SRP Governing Board in promoting investments at the SRP with emphasis on the importance of collaboration and aligning with the vision set by Cebu’s leaders.

CCCI president, Jay Yuvallos bared that the Chamber plans to contribute to SRP’s development through strategic input in planning and by working closely with the SRP board.  The chamber also partners with the city on the establishment of the Cebu Investment Development Concierge Center (CIDCC) and a special fund to create marketing materials to boost SRP’s promotion.

Yuvallos believes that with the right leadership, SRP will reach its full potential and set to become the flagship investment hub for Cebu.  It represents the city’s future where businesses, both large and small can flourish and where economic progress is driven by cooperation among all stakeholders in the City. (Photos: Cebu City Hall)