Cebu is pitching its fast-growing, end-to-end logistics network as a competitive edge to win new investment, with LDL Group of Companies CEO Leslie D. Lim saying on Tuesday that the province’s increasingly integrated ports, airport, trucking and warehousing ecosystem is making it a “deliberate choice” for businesses expanding beyond Metro Manila.
Lim told the Cebu International Investments Summit that the province’s appeal goes beyond its role as a commercial and tourism hub, citing end-to-end logistics capabilities that help businesses move goods across the Visayas and Mindanao and into international markets.
“Logistics is no longer just a support function. It is a strategic advantage,” Lim said, adding that investors now prioritize locations with reliable supply chains, predictable regulations and modern infrastructure.
Cebu’s central location, extensive road network and inter-island connectivity position it as a natural distribution hub, she said, pointing to its major seaports, including Cebu International Port and Cebu South Harbor, as well as the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which handles both passenger and cargo traffic.
Lim said Cebu also benefits from a dense network of logistics service providers such as freight forwarders, customs brokers, bonded warehouses and more than a hundred registered trucking firms with thousands of vehicles supporting island-wide distribution. The ecosystem enables manufacturers and traders to shorten delivery times and reduce costs, she said.
Economic zones across the province further strengthen Cebu’s appeal by offering tax incentives and streamlined procedures for exporters and manufacturers, Lim added, with zones employing hundreds of thousands of workers across industries ranging from electronics and garments to shipbuilding and food processing.
She also highlighted improvements in trade facilitation and digitalisation, particularly in customs and regulatory processes, citing a shift toward electronic documentation and fewer manual procedures that has helped speed up cargo clearance and improve transparency.
Bureaucratic processes have improved in recent years, Lim said, adding that the current administration has intensified efforts to cut red tape. “For me, there’s no red tape, only red carpet service,” she said.
Cebu’s skilled workforce, strong English proficiency and supportive local governments have also underpinned investor confidence, Lim said.
“With the right mix of infrastructure, services and governance, Cebu is no longer just an option for investors,” she said. “It has become a deliberate choice.”
Business News Asia
