CEBU—Buoyed by the massive infrastructure developments, not only in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, but also in the Visayas and Mindanao (VisMin) area, the just-concluded Construction Show Cebu (CebuCon) marked its 25th anniversary in a more responsive way to strong demand from the build environment by featuring new technologies, innovations and product solutions.
Given the vibrant construction and building activities in the region, LA Ducut & Co. Inc. Managing Director Lilibeth Ducut-Abais encouraged potential investors to locate here because it remains to be the hub for trade and industry.
Among the infrastructure projects that make Cebu conducive for them are the P27.9-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, the P50-billion Metro Cebu Expressway, the P9.2-billion New Cebu International Container Port, the P98-billion and 25-kilometer Cebu rail project and the P420-million Metro Cebu flood-control projects.
Other areas, like Bohol and Siquijor, also saw rapid infrastructure developments since the first semester of last year.
“With all the current developments going on here in Cebu and the [rest of] the Visayas, there are more reasons we should do business in Cebu in the Southern Philippines, because this is still the trading center and very vital to business growth,” she said during the opening ceremonies for the four-day event that took place from June 2 to 5 at the Sky Hall and Mountain Wing Atrium of SM Seaside City Cebu.
Such strong growth of the construction industry in Cebu and other parts of Central Visayas over the last few years is seen to continue and be on a par with other markets globally in the near future.
“We have seen during the past five years how the landscape of Cebu has changed dramatically. And for the next five years, Cebu is projected to be the top 10 world’s fastest-growing construction industry,” said Albert H. Go, incoming president of Hardwares Consolidated Inc. (HCI). “I believe CebuCon has answered that need and they will continue to answer the need of Cebu by linking the different sectors of the construction industry.”
A popular industry event of choice to launch products, the 25th edition of CebuCon once again became the springboard for the latest trends and innovations in the construction and building industry.
“In this new millennium, we have witnessed the construction industry in full swing. With the ever-increasing market competitions, construction exhibits such as this is a great way to put together and help industry partners showcase their latest product innovations and technologies,” said Kendel Esperas, national vice president for Area C of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP).
For UAP District C-1 Director Gus Lee, the CebuCon 2017 was a milestone showcase of the best brands and services in the construction and building sector.
“CebuCon continues to be part of the psyche of the Cebuanos—a testament of the enduring vision of LA Ducut & Co. in giving due importance to this vibrant metropolis as the hub of Southern Philippines,” Lee noted.
Among the debutants during the regional event was the ProgeCAD Professional 2018—a revolutionary design tool exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Architechnologies Inc. for design professionals and practitioners in the country. Newluxe International Inc. displayed its complete packages of outdoor and indoor playground facilities and equipment to offer to property developers.
Carron Group of Cos., another new exhibitor, showcased its expertise covering project design, planning, operations management; as well as manufacturing, supply and installation of facilities and equipment for these tourism establishments. Offering turn-key projects, this company is geared on tapping the growing number of property developers who see the great business potential on water parks and entertainment centers.
MAS Paints exhibited its eco-friendly coatings for interiors and exteriors decorative textured paints and wood paints. With the shift in environmental friendly activities, Vertical Difficult Access Solutions promoted rope access services for industries requiring inspection, maintenance or repair and accessibility in hard to reach points.
Themed “25 Years of Building Business Networks in the Construction Industry in the Southern Philippines”, CebuCon welcomed, among its trade visitors, representatives of various hardware associations in the country from the Philippine Hardware Foundation Inc. in Manila to its counterparts from Davao Hardware Association, Bacolod Hardware Merchants, and those from other provinces in VisMin, like Iloilo, Bohol, Dumaguete and General Santos City.
The UAP District C-1 had its special participation by presenting design concepts on Maritima building via its local chapters. Built in 1910, the Compania Maritima was once known as the Fernandez Building. Its internal structure and roof were destroyed during the liberation of Cebu City in 1945. After the liberation, the crumbling building was repaired and became the main office of Compania Maritima, one of the biggest shipping lines in Cebu City serving many key cities in the Philippines. But the company filed for bankruptcy in the late 1980s and the building has been abandoned ever since.
“With their exhibit, it shows the design professionals are now being more conscious in terms of how they can contribute or make a positive impact in the local community,” Abais said.
CebuCon was organized and managed by LA Ducut and Co., in a tieup with the HCI. Conceived and first organized in 1993, it is aligned with the vision of Cebu’s becoming a major gateway of trade and tourism in the region.