CEBU CITY – Agriculture-based businesses topped other enterprises seen to have continuously led micro, small and medium (SMEs) ventures toward success in the new normal, Cebu trade leaders said on Thursday.
In a virtual coffee table discussion hosted by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), local businessmen shared their opinions and insights on how entrepreneurs can cope with and navigate through the pandemic and current trends.
The activity was part of the events lined up for Cebu Business Month (CBM) 2021.
Rey Calooy, founder and general manager of RNC Marketing Philippines, cited the resilience of agriculture and the food sector, seeing the potential for strong market value of all agriculture-based products and by-products.
“The most sustainable and resilient business is in agriculture. In many countries in the world, where agriculture is strong and developed, manufacturing industries, food and health products as well as cosmetics and many more are mostly agri-based,” he said.
Benny Que, president of Golden Prince and Suites, agreed with Calooy, citing his advocacy of providing funds to his employees who wished to go on backyard vegetable gardening or any agriculture undertaking.
Que was elated seeing the success of one of his employees who went into rice farming and backyard gardening amid the pandemic.
Calooy and Que agreed that Cebu, especially in areas where cacao, coffee and bamboo are in abundance, is good for agri-based industries in the new normal.
The duo eyed commercial-level cacao farming and production, seeing increasing market demand.
“We want to position Carcar town as the cacao/chocolate capital of Cebu, empower the cacao farmers and improve on the ‘tableya’ products. It is our dream,” Calooy said.
Shiela Ruiz, owner of Plant Momma, whose passion for plants carried her toward high-value, high-end ornamental plant production, said she did not expect her hobby to turn into an enterprise during the pandemic.
“I started expanding Plant Momma with PHP10,000 capital and I converted my passion into a high-end ornamental plant hub where rare and most expensive plants are sold. In this business, one has to find your customers and your niche market. Plant Momma targets the luxury market,” she noted.
On the other hand, Boy Tiukinhoy, president of Virginia Foods, said he has been a survivor of many adversities in his business.
He said the pandemic taught entrepreneurs hard work and to “act and make the toughest decisions, hire talented people and be a role model in your organization". (PNA)
