The Cebu Provincial Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to reshape the island’s economic geography through strategic zoning and corridor-based industrial development, a move aimed at drawing new investments, accelerating regional industrialization, and ensuring economic gains extend beyond Metro Cebu.
In a keynote address during the ‘Cebu Industrial Summit 2025’ held yesterday, October 29, 2025, organized by Aboitiz Economic Estates at Oakridge Business Park, Governor Pamela Baricuatro outlined a long-term roadmap positioning Cebu as a national model for ‘sustainable, people-centered industrialization’ by 2035.
Anchored on the province’s updated Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP), the initiative envisions the creation of industrial corridors and secondary growth centers to decentralize development and strengthen local economies.
‘Cebu has always been a land of builders,’ Baricuatro told the summit’s audience which composed of business leaders, local and foreign investors.
‘We rise not because it is easy, but because it is in our nature to move forward, to rebuild stronger, and to dream bigger,’ the Governor added.
Decentralizing Growth Through Industrial Corridors
Under the province’s polycentric development strategy, Metro Cebu will remain the main economic engine, but growth will be deliberately spread across emerging industrial hubs.
The Metro Cebu Corridor, encompassing Talisay, Naga, and Danao, will anchor logistics and manufacturing expansion; The North Corridor – from Consolacion to Carmen and Bogo City – will drive renewable energy ventures, including a 114-megawatt solar farm in Toledo City; The West Corridor, covering Balamban and Pinamungahan, will focus on medium to heavy industries, while the Southeast Corridor, spanning Poro, Argao, and Palisay, is eyed for light manufacturing; The Southwest Corridor, including Barili and Toledo, will diversify tourism, capitalizing on Cebu’s natural landscapes and cultural heritage.
Infrastructure and Human Capital Investments
To support the zoning strategy, Cebu is advancing key infrastructure projects with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), including the Fourth Cebu-Mactan Bridge and Coastal Road, the Metro Cebu Expressway, and the Metro Cebu Sewerage System. These projects aim to improve mobility, expand access to new growth zones, and attract export-oriented industries.
Governor Baricuatro said more than 30 percent of the province’s 2026 budget will be dedicated to human development, with spending focused on healthcare, education, and workforce upskilling.
The goal, she noted, is to prepare Cebuanos for the demands of ‘industries of the future’ – including green energy, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and the creative economy.
‘What makes our approach different is that we measure progress by international standards,’ she said. ‘We focus not only on infrastructure but on human development and environmental stewardship.’
A Broader Vision for Sustainable Industry
The province’s zoning and investment push comes as Cebu seeks to solidify its standing as the Philippines’ second-largest economy outside Metro Manila. The integrated approach underscores a commitment to partnership-driven development, balancing industrial growth with environmental and social goals.
Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, President and CEO of Aboitiz Land Inc. and Head of Aboitiz Economic Estates, praised Cebu’s forward-looking strategy, noting that it aligns with private sector efforts to modernize industrial ecosystems.
‘We have deliberately evolved beyond the traditional industrial park model,’ de Mesa said. ‘We now see ourselves as builders of integrated economic systems – partners in enabling enterprise, advancing sustainability, and driving nation-building.’
He added that Cebu’s strategic location, robust infrastructure, and skilled workforce make it a prime destination for high-value industries capable of propelling inclusive growth across the Visayas and beyond.