Best Things About Living and Investing in Cebu
You have been dreaming of living and investing in Cebu. So, let’s explore more about the perks of doing business and leisure in the province.
And discover why the queen city of the South, also the oldest town in the country that possesses the most strategic domestic and international shipping port has become one of the most preferred hubs for IT/ BPO, industrial, tourism, and manufacturing companies today.
In this article, we’ll share some of the best things about living and investing in Cebu:
- Cebu has an increasingly diverse population
- Better access to education and skills training
- More affordable rental fees, cost of living, and closer to nature
- Improved public and private infrastructure in Cebu
- Riding public transportation is more comfortable
- Access to better health care and financial services
- Leading business in Cebu: IT/ BPO, industrial, and manufacturing
- The ease of doing business in Cebu
- Conclusion
Cebu has an increasingly diverse population
Dubbed as the country’s second-most densely populated, as of 2020, the province’s approximate population now almost reaches 3 million.
Major economic players composed of manufacturing, industrial, mining, tourism, and BPO (Business Process Outsourcing).
Neighboring islands and provinces are major contributors to the increase in population.
Expats and international students have also paved the way for making Cebu a multicultural pot in the Visayas.
Thus, setting up your business here, especially in major cities such as Cebu City, Mandaue, and or Lapu-Lapu, will surely amass many target customers in no time!
Top business solutions that will offer quick returns are the food and real estate industries.
With an increasingly diverse population in Cebu, this means your business will have access to top local talents.
Hence the massive arrival of BPO companies setting up in Cebu. Top locations are in the IT Park, Ayala Center Cebu, and Gagfa Tower in Kasambagan, Cebu City.
Also, you have Oakridge and JDN Square It Center in Mandaue City to leverage the affordability and flexibility of the younger and more diverse working population.
The province led the countryside (after Manila) in economic growth and development in recent years.
Better access to education, skills training, and development
Countless students from the province and neighboring islands choose to study in Cebu City.
Because the city’s private and public universities offer ample opportunities for scholarships and top options for skills training and development.
University of the Philippines (UP-Cebu Campus), Cebu Normal University, Cebu Technological University, San Carlos University, University of the Visayas, and the University of Cebu, are just a few of the leading private and state schools in the province.
Also, these reputable universities are the winner and topnotchers for international competitions and national licensure exams for teachers, lawyers, accountants, engineers, and nurses, among others.
The province of Cebu partners in foreign countries as well to better improve democratic relations through education and study-abroad programs.
Hence, the increasing number of arrivals of local and foreign students who are enticed to take nursing, maritime, and or English- learning courses.
International students, you’ll often see roaming in Cebu are some Nigerians, Indians, Europeans.
As well as some Koreans, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, and some from Thailand, Malaysia, and Viet Nam.
Aside from TESDA, several specific training programs offered by private and public are available.
Most of them offer training for call center agents and working abroad opportunities.
More affordable rental fees, cost of living, and closer to nature
Most locals, especially foreigners, find living in Cebu province more attractive than in the Manila or Makati district.
Because of its affordable cost in food and office/ residential rental spaces, a more relaxed lifestyle, and less traffic congestion in some areas.
Yet this is only a second advantage.
The ability for the locals to engage in English makes it easier to travel and engage in business and leisure in the province.
World-class, white-sandy beaches and natural wonders are sprawling in the province and the whole Visayas region.
Fly to Bohol in just an hour and see the world’s famous Chocolate Hills.
And or dive with sea turtles in Apo Island in Dumaguete for only 3-4 hours of land and sea adventure.
Cebu City alone offers a myriad of leisure and holiday getaways through its world-class hotels, dining experience, and golf courses.
So as historical museums, famous landmarks, pubs, cafes, other leisure facilities, and nature tripping activities in Busay or Danao for just an hour’s travel.
And the most recent attraction of the zoo in the province is Cebu Safari and the adventure park in Carmen, in the north of Cebu. Approximately two (2) hours away from the Mactan Airport.
Our source reveals that there are over 100 species of wild animals wandering safely around these huge 170 hectares of land owned by Michel Lhuillier Philippines.
The cannoneering in Kawasan Falls in Badian, the southern part of the province should not be missed when you come to Cebu.
Getting close to nature at competitive living and touring costs and making your trip anywhere in Cebu worthwhile!
Improved public and private infrastructure in Cebu
Several public and private real estate developments, and various leasing firms, are in the works to help better serve the common populace and private business sectors.
The Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), considered one of the longest and tallest bridges in the Philippines is now due for completion in 2021-2023.
This will ease the heavy traffic coming from Mandaue and Cebu City.
And projected to generate more job opportunities and provide convenience for transporting various agricultural products and commercial commodities.
And the brand new Mactan- Cebu International Airport, a major getaway to the Philippines and also the country’s second busiest airport, now attracts more and more tourists from all over the world.
Waterfront Hotel & Casino hosted local and international events such as big weddings, parties, concerts, and even boxing.
Mandani Bay now offers living and office spaces, promising to transform the province into a world-class lifestyle destination in Asia.
Major road repairs and maintenance have been observed in various streets of Cebu and Mandaue cities.
Commercial and low-cost housing options are available in different locations in the nearby cities and provinces to address the need of finding your office and living spaces.
Ayala Land, SM, Cebu Holdings, among other private entities have been constructing and renovating various commercial establishments following PEZA accreditation and guidelines.
As the goal is to make Cebu the most preferred destination for doing local and international business and pleasure outside Metro Manila.
SM Seaside, the expanded Ayala Center Cebu, and Robinsons’s Galleria are just a few newly opened shopping and business destinations in Cebu City.
Landers Super Store and SM Hypermarket are also here in the city.
Post-pandemic business activities have triggered the local government and private sectors to collaborate in creating more sustainable, productive, and efficient solutions, especially in the commercial and tourism sectors.
This includes but is not limited to improve internet connectivity, transportation accessibility, upskill tech training, and digital innovation.
In the 2020 Tholons survey, Cebu City ranks 15th for the top 100 Super Cities. Previously ranked 12th in 2019.
Not too bad after all, when a pandemic hit even the world’s wealthiest economies.
Riding public transportation is more comfortable
Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, air-conditioned buses and smaller enclosed jeepneys have been roaming the streets of Cebu and Mandaue and to its neighboring municipalities.
Providing extra comfort to commuters at a minimal cost. Ride from J Center Mall, Mandaue to Cebu City IT Park or Ayala Center Cebu at a minimum fare of Php 11.00- 15.00 only as of this writing.
And bigger buses such as Ceres Bus Liner now transport employees from IT Park Cebu to Danao in the north and Carcar in the south.
Its fare ranges from Php. 50.00 – 70.00 only as of March 2021.
Private cars for hire, Grab, taxis, and single motorcycles for hire (habal-habal) are also available to help in providing transportation and communication access to the public.
Habal-habal riders are now a more organized group and safer to ride, just like your own.
Although their rates and charges depend on your destination, you can always haggle.
Access to better living, health care, and financial services
Cebu City and Mandaue are home to major hospitals providing various health care services in the province and the entire Visayas and Mindanao regions.
Chung Hua Hospital, Cebu Doctors, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Velez Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital, and other private institutions ensure public access to quality, more affordable, and better healthcare systems.
Leading HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) and financial providers such as Maxicare, Medicard, Axa, Insular Life, Sunlife, Manulife have established their affiliates and kiosk offices in Cebu City.
Local and universal banks have thrived in major cities in Cebu to support business and employed financial transactions.
Leading business in Cebu: IT/ BPO, industrial, and manufacturing
The province of Cebu is now one of the top-rank destinations of leading international outsourcing companies for IT and BPO.
The IT Park Park, Ayala Center Cebu (ACC), and Mactan Newtown are top locations with competing skylines and skyscrapers in the works that add more value propositions to each investor.
In one source, there are over 300 registered BPO companies operating in Cebu City since 2018.
Various call center solutions include customer service in telecommunications, e-commerce, healthcare, software development, IT, graphic design, anime, content and web development, ESL (English as a Second Language), etc.
Some of the call center/ contact centers operating in Cebu City: Amazon, QQ English, Native Camp, Author’s Solution, Teleperformance Philippines, Eperfomax Contact Center.
Also here are Qualfon, Concentrix, Stellar, and TDCX, JP Morgan & Chase Co., Accenture, and Sykes Asia, Inc.
The increasing workforce in the province further assimilated major manufacturing companies such as Nestle, Unilever, and Monde Nissin.
Also Coca Cola, Mondelez International, Taiyu Yuden, Tupperware, Panasonic, Toyota Motor Corporation, Saranya Electronics, San Miguel Corporation, and Wyeth Philippines to name a few.
Most of these factories are set up in neighboring cities in Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Danao.
Cebu lead the massive industrial activities of various companies producing local and export products such as shipbuilding in Balamban, cement, handicraft, shell craft, among others.
The ease of doing business in Cebu
RA 11032 of 2018 or Ease of Doing Business (EODB) and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, reinforces the city and provincial units to create a mandate that will provide harmonious and disciplined transactions in all business dealings.
And improvement of systematic procedures and government reforms through a concerted effort from taxpayers to report officials and transacting employees who may manipulate financial transactions or showing unfair treatment from others.
Hence, a crucial step to take for every governmental unit in a city or province is to create a conducive environment for attracting local and foreign business.
With recent massive developments in various sectors of commercial activity in Cebu, public and private efforts to curb government misconduct are now being implemented and we hope they will succeed and prosper in the long term.
Locals have confirmed some benefits of living and investing in Cebu
- “We have the new and modernized airport…”
- “ International flights in and out mostly of the countries of the world..”
- “Center airport for domestic flights to famous tourist destination in Visayas and Mindanao…”
- “Traffic is better than Manila.”
- “30 minutes away from amazing white beaches.”
- “Infrastructure for transportation like our bridges for easy access for people and businesses.”
- “ Peaceful and safer in terms of rebels or NPA insurgency.”
- “San Miguel Beèr company supplies one of the largest selling beers in the world, expanded its operations in Cebu.”
Rachel Avendula, former Vice Mayor, St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, NY Toastmaster President, (raised in Cebu)
- “Rich in seafood options and beautiful beaches.”
Genevive hails from Cagayan de Oro, a former Concentrix employee
- “The best thing about living in Cebu is that you can experience both city and nature. Studying, it’s best here because you can relax from a stressful week on the beach at the weekend.”
Arielle, ESL licensed teacher, local resident
- “For me, living in Cebu gives me the chance to be independent and to learn new things that I never encountered before. When I arrived here in Cebu I found out how nice and peaceful Cebu is even though the heavy traffic. But they still managed to give way to each other.”
Honey, hails from Dumaguete, now works as Content Moderator at Alorica
- “In general, Cebu is favorable when doing a business due to its location. It is the hub not only in the Visayas Region but the Philippines as well.
- Furthermore, the presence of an international airport gives an additional advantage from a global perspective.
- Meanwhile, if you are speaking its vernacular language, this will maximize your communication skills giving you the edge over your non-Cebuano speaking competitor.”
Adelle, businesswoman, and AXA financial advisor
- “The city is quite advanced so your business has a lot of potentials to gain and be better known in a faster time.
- And you’ll also have access to a vast pool of talent for human resources. “
Andrew/ CEO/ Accountant ATC accounting firm in Mandaue
Locals remain steadfast in their immovable Christian faiths despite enormous diversity and incredible recent developments now in the works. This province will continue to inspire people from all places.
Hence, living and investing in Cebu is the best of both worlds.
What about you? What is the best thing about Cebu you can share with us?
Conclusion
Best Things About Living and Investing in Cebu
The entire province of Cebu certainly captures the hearts of millions of people all over the world, including nearby cities and islands.
Access to direct transportation inland and sea travel makes it even more appealing for most travelers.
Major airline companies such as PAL, Zest Air, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Cebu Pacific now fly directly from Cebu to Australia, Los Angeles, California, Dubai, Incheon, South Korea, Singapore, and China.
Commercial businesses have also leveraged the strategic position on the island going to and from Luzon and or Mindanao.
And if you’re planning to invest in Cebu, make sure you’ve got an expert local to help you.
BPOSeats.com helps offshore companies to quickly expand their BPO solutions in Cebu and Pampanga.
Whether it is office space requirements, staffing, payroll, legal help, and IT support.
You’ve got all you need to expand your BPO business when you come to Cebu.
Let’s continue to thrive amid the pandemic. Because you have business and leisure support from Cebu province.
So investing and living in Cebu is all worth it!
Ready to live and invest in Cebu today? Get expert tips from BPOSeats.com!
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