Ayala mall to be expanded anew in 2010

By Debra Magallon-Estero

MALL developer Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI) will set off another expansion project for the Ayala Center Cebu (ACC) within the first half of 2010.

Although CHI president Francis Monera did not disclose the actual budget of the project, he said the development will cost more than what was allocated for The Terraces project.

For The Terraces, which opened last year, CHI spent close to P1 billion.

In a press conference last Wednesday, Monera said the expansion project will complete the full circle design of the mall.

“The design is to provide more international and local brands to the Cebuanos,” he said.

The area to be developed covers the stretch from the corner of the Cebu City Marriott Hotel, the parking area across the Rustan’s supermarket and the parking area for public utility vehicles.

But Monera assured the public that there will still be an area for jeepneys.

The whole project will take two years to complete.

Aside from this, the Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) will also start the development of its residential condominium project at the Cebu Business Park (CBP).

Meanwhile, CHI is also working on the conversion of the CBP into an economic zone to create the same investor-friendly environment that the Asiatown IT Park (AITP) has.

Two months ago, CHI submitted its application to the Philippine Export Zone Authority (Peza) and received a “favorable” endorsement from Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena.

Monera said the Cebu City Council is also coming up with a resolution to support Osmena’s endorsement.

At present, a number of information technology (IT) buildings in CBP are registered as Peza enterprises.

Monera clarified that the incentives of a Peza-registered entity, such as income tax holidays and duty free importations, will only apply to qualified locators.

Ayala mall to be expanded anew in 2010

By Debra Magallon-Estero

MALL developer Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI) will set off another expansion project for the Ayala Center Cebu (ACC) within the first half of 2010.

Although CHI president Francis Monera did not disclose the actual budget of the project, he said the development will cost more than what was allocated for The Terraces project.

For The Terraces, which opened last year, CHI spent close to P1 billion.

In a press conference last Wednesday, Monera said the expansion project will complete the full circle design of the mall.

“The design is to provide more international and local brands to the Cebuanos,” he said.

The area to be developed covers the stretch from the corner of the Cebu City Marriott Hotel, the parking area across the Rustan’s supermarket and the parking area for public utility vehicles.

But Monera assured the public that there will still be an area for jeepneys.

The whole project will take two years to complete.

Aside from this, the Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) will also start the development of its residential condominium project at the Cebu Business Park (CBP).

Meanwhile, CHI is also working on the conversion of the CBP into an economic zone to create the same investor-friendly environment that the Asiatown IT Park (AITP) has.

Two months ago, CHI submitted its application to the Philippine Export Zone Authority (Peza) and received a “favorable” endorsement from Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena.

Monera said the Cebu City Council is also coming up with a resolution to support Osmena’s endorsement.

At present, a number of information technology (IT) buildings in CBP are registered as Peza enterprises.

Monera clarified that the incentives of a Peza-registered entity, such as income tax holidays and duty free importations, will only apply to qualified locators.

Hotel opening postponed

By Debra Magallon-Estero

THE opening of the hotel property of SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) in Cebu will be delayed to the middle of 2010 after suppliers commissioned by the company failed to deliver items due to the effects of the typhoons that hit the Luzon areas in September and October.

Earlier, SMIC had announced that the Radisson Hotel would open next month.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. vice president for marketing Marissa Fernan told reporters last Thursday that some of the hotel’s suppliers, including those commissioned to provide the hotel with furniture, are based in Metro Manila.

Fernan also said the hotel would use the brand name Radisson Blu.

Radisson Blu is the brand name used by Radisson hotels located outside the United States. It would be the first Radisson Blu hotel in the country.

SMIC signed a contract with the Radisson Hotels and Resorts, a member of the US-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide, in September of 2008.

Prior to this, SMIC had entered into an agreement with Accor to operate the hotel under the Sofitel brand.

At its opening, the 20-story hotel will feature 400 rooms and five-star amenities that include conference rooms, a restaurant, and a well-refurbished lobby.

Hotel opening postponed

By Debra Magallon-Estero

THE opening of the hotel property of SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) in Cebu will be delayed to the middle of 2010 after suppliers commissioned by the company failed to deliver items due to the effects of the typhoons that hit the Luzon areas in September and October.

Earlier, SMIC had announced that the Radisson Hotel would open next month.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. vice president for marketing Marissa Fernan told reporters last Thursday that some of the hotel’s suppliers, including those commissioned to provide the hotel with furniture, are based in Metro Manila.

Fernan also said the hotel would use the brand name Radisson Blu.

Radisson Blu is the brand name used by Radisson hotels located outside the United States. It would be the first Radisson Blu hotel in the country.

SMIC signed a contract with the Radisson Hotels and Resorts, a member of the US-based Carlson Hotels Worldwide, in September of 2008.

Prior to this, SMIC had entered into an agreement with Accor to operate the hotel under the Sofitel brand.

At its opening, the 20-story hotel will feature 400 rooms and five-star amenities that include conference rooms, a restaurant, and a well-refurbished lobby.

Help for SMEs, biz groups

A GERMAN ministry has partnered with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in a project that aims to further strengthen the business chambers and the small and medium enterprise sector in the Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) funds the Working for Enhancement of the Chamber and Association Network in the Visayas and Caraga (We Can Visayas & Caraga) project through the Foundation for Economic Development and Vocational Training (SEQUA).

SEQUA has appointed the Federation of Catholic Entrepreneurs, whose project implementation arm is the AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation, to work in partnership with CCCI in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project.

Technical aid

“This project provides technical assistance, like training and consultancy, to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through partnerships with the business chambers they belong to,” said SEQUA project manager Simone Lehmann in a press conference yesterday.

AFOS resident representative Dr. Stephan Kunz said some of the training programs they will implement under the We Can Visayas and Caraga project are strategic planning, leadership and management training, and skills training in different fields, including handicraft, fashion accessories, food processing, aquaculture and tourism.

“The overall goal is to improve the business environment for SME development while the participating chambers and associations are in the position to maintain an improved service offer for the SMEs,” We Can steering committee chairman Jose Ng said.

The project will be implemented within three years, from August 2009 to July 2012, with possible extension of another three years if needed.

Since it started, AFOS and CCCI have already undertaken field assessments and data gathering, and consultative and planning workshops with participating chambers.

Coverage

Initially, the project will cover the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo and Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Western Visayas; Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Central Visayas; Samar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ormoc Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Eastern Visayas; and Bislig Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Butuan City Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Caraga.

Kunz said they will eventually extend their technical assistance to other regions even before the possible extension of the project after 2012.

“There is a need for (such) support in other regions whose economic climate is different from each other,” he said.

Complementary

He added that We Can will complement existing projects and private sector development and promotion programs of German development agencies like the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the German Development Service (DED) in the country.

Other members of the We Can project management are incoming area vice president for the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Visayas Francis Monera and CCCI executive director Teresa Pono.