The Cebu Provincial Board has backed a plan to develop an economic zone in northern Cebu to draw manufacturing investments and spread growth beyond Metro Cebu, Cebu Daily News reported.
On Monday, October 12, the board approved a resolution filed by Fourth District Board Member Nelson Mondigo supporting the North Cebu Economic Zone (NCEZ) and the preparation of a comprehensive master plan. The initiative is being pushed by Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco.
Where Would It Be?
The proposed zone covers:
- Bogo City
- Medellin
- Daanbantayan
- San Remigio
- Parts of Tabogon (under Soco’s broader vision)
Soco estimated northern Cebu has about 2,800 hectares of flat, developable land.
What’s the Plan?
“We really envisioned this economic zone to be focused on high-value manufacturing,” Soco said at a news forum on Tuesday, October 13.
The broader proposal includes a freeport in the north that would be a separate customs territory, similar to the Freeport Area of Bataan. Cebu’s international airport and seaport could help businesses reach wider markets.
Soco said the idea came from trade missions, where investors asked whether Cebu had enough land for big projects. They usually look for at least 100 hectares, he said.
He also said the north has long relied on sugar, and new industries could help diversify local economies amid low world sugar prices.
The plan lines up with House Bill No. 6058, the Cebu Fourth District Special Economic Zone Act by Rep. Sun Shimura, which seeks a special economic zone in Medellin.
By the Numbers
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, as cited in the report:
- Cebu province’s GDP was P441.14 billion in 2024, sixth among provinces.
- Laguna, the top province, recorded P1.08 trillion.
- Cebu’s wider economy, including Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities, reached about P1.3 trillion.
“When you grow the economy, you provide more jobs, and you provide more opportunities to the Cebuano people,” Soco said.
What’s Next
The resolution does not create an economic zone by itself. It encourages the province to work with local governments, national agencies, and the private sector on feasibility studies, technical assessments ,and consultations.
The zone would need ports, roads, logistics facilities, reliable power and water, and digital infrastructure.
Soco said the north’s growth should complement, not replace, southern Cebu’s vegetable farming and tourism.
