Mayor Samsam Gullas wants to transform the Talisay City’s side of the South Road Properties (SRP) into a thriving commercial corridor lined with hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and other establishments to attract investors and generate jobs for residents.
Gullas outlined his vision during the second City of Talisay Business Summit and Trade Expo, calling on the private sector to work with the city government to identify investment opportunities and improve policies supporting commercial development along the SRP.
‘I have always envisioned SRP as more than a road connecting Cebu City, Talisay, and the southern of Cebu. I see SRP as an economic corridor,’ Gullas said.
He cited the commercial establishments in service areas along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Metro Manila as models for developing the Talisay side of the SRP.
‘When you stop at certain service areas, you do not see only gas stations. You see restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores, and other commercial establishments,’ he said.
‘And I have asked myself, why can’t we develop similar commercial opportunities along the Talisay side of the SRP?’ he questioned.
Gullas said the city’s comprehensive land use plan (CLUP) provides a long-term framework for land use, including commercial development along the SRP corridor.
He said the city had acted early to establish the plan, giving affected businesses a 10-year transition period, with 2030 set as the target for compliance with the designated land-use classifications.
‘We wanted to give businesses time to adjust while establishing a clear direction in the area,’ Gullas said.
He pointed to malls and a convention center on the Cebu City side of the SRP as examples of developments that attract visitors, events and commercial activity.
Talisay, he said, should complement these establishments rather than compete with them by providing accommodation and services for visitors seeking alternatives to five-star hotels.
‘Some need clean and affordable, comfortable places to stay. Budget hotels, mid-range hotels, pension houses,’ he said.
To attract investors, Gullas proposed working with the Talisay Chamber of Commerce to develop an investment code tailored to businesses along the corridor.
‘Let us work together on crafting an investment code that can encourage commercial development along the Talisay side of the SRP,’ he said.
‘Let us identify appropriate incentives, the businesses that we should attract, and the obstacles government can help address together with all of you.’
In an interview, Gullas clarified that Talisay already has an investment code but needs to review and amend it to better address the requirements of the SRP corridor and other parts of the city.
He said he would meet with the city administrator, city legal office and chamber representatives, including its board, to discuss how other local government units had developed their investment codes.
The city is also considering amendments to its public-private partnership (PPP) ordinance and joint venture arrangements to support development, he said.
Traffic congestion remains a challenge along the SRP corridor, and Gullas said the city would need to coordinate with relevant stakeholders as commercial activity expands.
He cited the City Development Committee, which brings together the city planning and legal offices, disaster management personnel, the traffic office and the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO).
The committee aims to streamline the process for businesses seeking to establish operations in Talisay by allowing them to address concerns and documentary requirements in one meeting rather than going from office to office.
Gullas said the city could not dictate what businesses investors should establish but could create conditions that would make Talisay more attractive to investors.
‘I can’t tell them what to do because we can’t tell businesses what to do. All we can do is create an environment and an atmosphere that they can be comfortable with investing in the city of Talisay,’ he said.
Talisay Chamber of Commerce president Macario Cabusas II said the summit aimed to translate discussions about the city’s economic potential into concrete opportunities for businesses and residents.
‘Talisay is growing. It cannot be denied. And the growth comes from both opportunities and challenges,’ Cabusas said.
He said cooperation between the government and private sector would be essential to ease doing business, attract more investments and ensure that economic growth translates into meaningful progress.
Gullas said the success of development efforts should be measured not only by the volume of investments entering Talisay but also by the opportunities they create for residents.
‘The success of our development should not be measured only by how much investment comes into Talisay, but how much opportunity that investment creates for our people,’ he said.