Empowering MSMEs pushed as CBM 2025 gets underway

Local

A RENEWED push to boost Cebu’s homegrown enterprises and empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) took center stage at the opening of Cebu Business Month (CBM) 2025 on Friday, May 30, at Ayala Malls Activity Center, led by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

Now on its 29th year with the theme “Padayon Cebu,” CBM 2025 aims to position Cebu as a globally competitive hub by fostering innovation, investment, and collaboration.

CCCI President Jay Yuvallos said this year’s celebration goes beyond showcasing local products and services, and instead provides a strategic platform to build a “world-class business community” rooted in resilience and adaptability.

Amid new global economic pressures, particularly new U.S. tariffs on Philippine exports, Yuvallos encouraged businesses to “go back to basics” in order to withstand the “shocks” of an evolving market.

The chamber also embraced the message of clean governance following the presence of newly elected officials at the CBM kickoff.

Governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro, who vowed to stop corruption in her administration, was welcomed by Yuvallos and CBM 2025 Overall Chairman Consul Anton Mari Perdices.

“Corruption is one of the main ills of this country. I cannot overstress that statement,” Yuvallos said in an interview with the media after the event.

“If there is one problem that was the root cause of so many problems we have, it is corruption… zero tolerance for corruption, zero corruption,” he added.

Cebu City mayor-elect Nestor Archival also attended the opening event, signaling support for the business sector’s call for clean and development-focused governance.

Perdices said CBM 2025 continues the Chamber’s long-standing goal to help MSMEs grow and thrive through capacity-building, innovation, and synergy across sectors.

The CBM calendar spans three months and includes events tailored to equip local entrepreneurs for global markets.

The “Good Design, Good Business” Summit, slated for June 5 at Oakridge Studio in Oakridge Business Park, will focus on how design, branding, and operations drive enterprise performance. The event will also tackle challenges such as Manila’s condominium oversupply.

On June 20, the Technology and Innovation Forum at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu will bring together technologists and innovators to explore emerging technologies and collaborative solutions.

The Tourism Forum and Experiential Tour on June 26 at SM Seaside SkyHall and Mactan Newtown Beach will highlight Cebu’s tourism sector and its MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) potential, featuring a Hard Hat Tour of key infrastructure.

On July 8, the Business Investment Forum at Fili Hotel – Nustar Resort will promote Cebu as a top-tier investment destination under the banner “Invest in Cebu, Prosper in Paradise.”

To expose entrepreneurs to industry best practices, the MSME Educational Tour on July 11 will feature site visits focused on productivity and innovation.

From July 17 to 19, the BaiCon Fest, the country’s largest gathering of content creators, will be held at Plaza Independencia and Fort San Pedro, while the “Cebu in a Bite” Food Festival will spotlight Cebu’s vibrant street food culture and support local food MSMEs.

In August, a Hackathon at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (date to be announced) will invite innovators to develop tech-based solutions for airport operations and passenger experience.

The celebration will close with the Creative Entertainment Business Forum on August 28 to 30 at Fili Hotel – Nustar, designed to cultivate growth in Cebu’s entertainment and digital creative industries.

Yuvallos also noted the Chamber’s growing collaboration with the academe, saying Cebu produces over 40,000 graduates each year. He considers them as a a talent pool that, if nurtured properly, could help build an inclusive and sustainable economy.

While acknowledging the divisive nature of the recent elections, he said it is now time to move forward.

“The day after is where challenges and opportunities intersect with courage and hope. We are hopeful. We need to be courageous. We need to take bold steps,” he said.(MyTVCebu)