Cebu City is known to many for its booming tourism and bustling business. It is being named as the 3rd Best City in Asia in 2013 based on a survey by Conde Nast Traveller’s Magazine. With its strategic location, its port has become the busiest in the Philippines, while its airport is second to Manila, making it a major commercial district.
Cebu’s commercial lots are very accessible with heavy foot traffic, making businesses more lucrative. Some of the prime commercial lots in Cebu include the Cebu Business Park, the Cebu I.T. Park, Fuente Osmena and Gen Maxilom Avenue, Area and the Downtown Area.
Cebu Business Park
The Cebu Business Park is a 50-hectare development in uptown Cebu, which houses high-rise residential, shopping, recreational, as well as locally and internationally-owned business facilities. It is owned, developed, and operated by Cebu Holdings, Inc., which is an affiliate of the Ayala Land, Inc. The Cebu Business Park is 15 kilometers away from the Mactan International Airport and is accessible by both private and public utility vehicles. In fact, a Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) terminal is found here at the Cebu Business Park.
Major establishments found in Cebu Business Park include Ayala Center Cebu, which is a major shopping, entertainment, and dining spot in Cebu; Marriott Hotel Cebu; Cebu City Sports Club; condominiums, including Park Tower I, Park Tower II, 1016 Residences, Sedona Park, and Solinea; Keppel Center; Lexmark; and different banks, including Citibank, Metrobank, BDO, Unionbank, RCBC, Asia United, Chinatrust Bank, and Security Bank.
Apart from accommodating high-rise buildings, the Cebu Business Park also values the nature with its green and landscaped spaces.
Cebu I.T. Park
The Cebu I.T. park, otherwise known as Asiatown I.T. Park located not very from the Cebu Business Park is a home to many I.T. companies, as well as Business Process Outsourcing(BPO) companies, different major banking institutions, and dining and entertainment facilities. It also houses some high-rise residential buildings, including Avida Towers I and II, as well as The Calyx.
The Cebu IT part is a 27-hectare property, situated across the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug. It is about 20 minutes away from the Mactan International Airport and 10 minutes away from the Cebu International Port.
Due to the nature of the businesses found in Cebu I.T. Park, particularly the BPO companies, many fast food chains, coffee shops, and convenience stores are open 24 hours.
Fuente Osmena and Gen Maxilom Avenue Area
Another prime commercial area in Cebu covers the area from the Fuente Osmena Circle spreading towards Osmena Boulevard and Gen. Maxilom Avenue. Before the Cebu Business Park and I.T. Park existed, this is the only prime commercial area in uptown Cebu that accommodate different restaurants and fast food chains, churches, schools, supermarkets, hotels , banks, and entertainment centers. Businesses in this area range from small to large scale.
Even with the existence of the newer Cebu Business Park and IT Park, this commercial area continue to be prime location for businesses with its accessibility, existing establishments, and very lively nightlife. Among the major establishments in this area include the Robinson’s Supermarket, Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu Midtown Hotel, different restaurants, and major banks, including Bank of the Philippine Islands,BDO, Metrobank, Unionbank, Philippine National Bank, and RCBC.
The Downtown Area
The oldest commercial district in Cebu is the Downtown area. Until now, it is home to many businesses, such as malls and supermarkets, as well as various small to medium businesses. Particularly advantaged with heavy foot traffic and accessibility, business still remains strong in the downtown area, where some churches and popular historical sites are also found. Major public markets, including the Carbon Market, Taboan Market, and the Pasil Fish Market are located in the downtown area, just within the vicinity of the Cebu International Port.
Sources:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/the-visayas/cebu
http://www.cebubusinesspark.com/
http://www.cebuholdings.com/project/cebu-it-park
http://www.gosur.com/en/philippines/visayan-islands/cebu-city-map/?gclid=CN2plvma1r0CFY2CvQoduTkAvg