Cebu can be transformed into country's logistics hub —Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo said Sunday that the province of Cebu can be a logistics hub of the country because of its ideal location for ship building, investments, and it has the needed infrastructure.

"Ang Cebu, puwede talaga siya maging logistics hub. Ang daming mga opportunities dito. Halimbawa, iyong ship building. Although may mga malalaking ship builders dito, pero parang kulang ng suporta sa pamahalaan. Opportunity siya not just for Cebu but for the country," said Robredo in a radio interview, when asked about her plans for the province if she gets elected as the next Philippine president.

(Cebu can be a logistics hub. It has a lot of opportunities. There are big ship builders here but it lacks support from the government. It can be an opportunity not just for Cebu but for the country.)

Robredo also underscored the investment opportunities in Cebu, citing the province's infrastructures.

"So iyong sa akin,  iyong Cebu kasi kapag pumasok iyong investments sa Pilipinas, it is a very natural choice ... kasi iyong infrastructures nandito. Iyong malaking airport, mayroon tayong international airport dito," said Robredo.

(For me, Cebu is a natural choice for investors because the infrastructure is there, it has an international airport.)

But for investments to thrive in the country, Robredo said, the government needs to fix some problems, including high electricity cost, and unstable political climate.

"Number one, ang taas ng kuryente, ‘di ba? Compared sa ibang mga bansa, sobrang taas ng kuryente natin. Dapat solusyunan natin iyon. Kasi hanggang hindi natin nasosolusyunan, lalo na kung manufacturing, pipiliin maglagay sa labas hindi sa atin kasi magiging lugi sila sa atin," said Robredo.

(First, is high power rates, right? Compared to other countries, electricity rates are high. We need to solve that because when it comes to manufacturing, businesses will choose to manufacture outside the country to get a good profit.)

"Pangalawa, iyong stability ng political climate. Kapag hindi stable iyong political climate, ang negosyante, hindi siya bubuwelo sa pag-invest kasi hindi niya alam ano mangyayari after a few years," she added.

(Second, is the stability of political climate. If the political environment isn't steady, businessmen will not invest because they are uncertain about what would happen, say,  after a few years.)

Further, Robredo said the issue on government corruption must also be fixed as it would drive away investors.

"Pangatlo, iyong corruption. 'Pag hindi natin naayos iyong ito, aayaw sa atin iyong mga investor" (Third, is corruption. If we can't fix it, investors would not come into the country to invest)," said Robredo. —LBG, GMA News