𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐛𝐮 𝐈𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐈𝐈𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

January 12, 2026

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐛𝐮 𝐈𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐈𝐈𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The Cebu International Investment Summit (CIIS) 2026 officially opened at the Cebu Capitol Social Hall, marking the start of what many are calling Cebu’s most ambitious economic initiative in over a decade. With local and international investors, industry leaders, and key government agencies in attendance, Day 1 set a clear and confident tone—presenting Cebu not just as an emerging destination, but as a province ready to lead in industry, technology, and advanced manufacturing.

Gov Pam Baricuatro at the CIIS Governor's Night.

Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro formally welcomed the participants, emphasizing the province’s vision of inclusive and sustainable growth. Her message underscored Cebu’s readiness to engage global partners and build long-term collaborations that go beyond traditional sectors. This was followed by Cong. Nathaniel M. Oducado, who delivered a compelling presentation on why investing in Cebu is both timely and strategic. He highlighted the province’s strong and diverse workforce, significant infrastructure improvements, growing ease of doing business, and a firm commitment to transparency and good governance.

Further strengthening the investment narrative, Paulo Uy, Head of Provincial Investment and Economic Development, outlined the Summit’s vision and Cebu’s investment roadmap. His presentation focused on the province’s investment pipeline, key growth sectors, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and the proposed Investment and Economic Code—initiatives aimed at streamlining processes, ensuring predictability, and creating a more investor-friendly environment.

Paulo Uy

One of the most anticipated moments of Day 1 was the global economic situational analysis delivered by Dr. Brian To. His presentation provided a broader perspective on the global and regional economy while clearly positioning Cebu as a province that must lead. Dr. To highlighted Cebu’s adaptive and multilingual workforce, culture that supports productivity and quality, strong government backing, and readiness for innovation—setting a strategic foundation for the discussions in the days ahead.

Dr. Brian To, OBE

Closing the day’s formal sessions, Ruben Licera, Head of Provincial Special Projects, introduced “The Cebu Arbitrage,” offering a nuanced look at why Cebu presents a high-reward opportunity for global investors. He cited competitive fiscal incentives, geopolitical advantages, resilient private-sector capacity, and strategic infrastructure as key factors that make Cebu a smart and timely investment destination.

Ruben Licera

With strong participation from investors across Asia, the Middle East, and key Philippine government agencies, Day 1 of CIIS 2026 successfully laid the groundwork for deeper conversations, partnerships, and opportunities. The message was clear: Cebu is not just open for business—it is positioning itself to compete confidently on the global stage. More insights, discussions, and developments are set to unfold in the days ahead.

Here are some photos during the networking session: