Cebu — Cebu’s growing role in shaping the Philippines’ manufacturing and industrial future took centre stage at the Cebu Industrial Summit 2025, hosted by Aboitiz Economic Estates under the theme “Cebu: Powering the Next Wave of Philippine Industry.”
The summit gathered leaders from government and business — Governor Pamela Baricuatro, Provincial Administrator Ace Durano, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Deputy Director General Maria Veronica Magsino, AboitizPower Chief Operating Officer for the Distribution Business Group Anton Perdices, and Aboitiz Land President and Aboitiz Economic Estates Head Rafael Fernandez de Mesa — to highlight Cebu’s strengths in driving industrial growth and to explore collaborative pathways that can position the region at the centre of the Philippines’ next industrial era.
A Convergence of Policy, Infrastructure, and Innovation
The summit underscored how supportive policies, reliable infrastructure, and a skilled, globally competitive workforce are converging to redefine Cebu’s industrial landscape — strengthened by long-term partnerships between government and private sector enablers like Aboitiz Economic Estates.
Governor Baricuatro reaffirmed the province’s commitment to building an ecosystem that empowers investors and communities alike, paving the way for inclusive and sustainable growth.
PEZA Deputy Director General for Policy and Planning Maria Veronica Magsino emphasised the continuing reforms under CREATE MORE, which strengthen policy stability and reinforce investor confidence in the country’s economic zones. “
From the private sector, Anton Perdices highlighted AboitizPower’s role in ensuring Cebu’s competitiveness through reliable and sustainable energy solutions — critical in powering both existing locators and new entrants in the manufacturing and logistics sectors.
Provincial Administrator Ace Durano likewise spoke about the local government’s focus on enabling infrastructure and business support systems that attract investors and create long-term employment opportunities.
At West Cebu Estate, home to Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu), Inc., Cebu continues to anchor the country’s shipbuilding leadership. Tsuneishi’s recent launch of the world’s first methanol-powered Kamsarmax bulk carrier marked a breakthrough for Filipino engineering and sustainability on the global stage.
Cebu’s reputation as a world-class manufacturing hub gained further momentum with Finnish-managed SAWO, a sauna and steam manufacturer, expanding its operations at Mactan Economic Zone 2 (MEZ2) Estate by an additional four hectares. This expansion makes SAWO the largest locator in the estate, with a total footprint of 5.5 hectares. Since establishing operations in Cebu in 2000, SAWO has grown into one of the world’s largest sauna heater and steam equipment manufacturers — proudly exporting Made in Cebu products to over 80 countries.
Complementing this growth, the Plastic Odyssey micro-factory at MEZ2, supported by Delfingen, transforms plastic waste into reusable materials — a circular economy initiative that showcases Cebu’s drive toward sustainable industrialisation.
The Cebu Industrial Summit 2025 reaffirmed that the province’s strength lies not only in its well-known service and tourism sectors but in its expanding, innovation-driven industrial base — one that continues to create meaningful employment and elevate the Philippines’ role in global manufacturing.
