I have been to Cagayan de Oro only twice in my life. The first time was in 2014, when I and my colleagues from the SCMAP board—former president Arnel Gamboa and former director Max Yap—flew over to mount our first ever event in the city.
In 2014, Cagayan de Oro was already a bustling city. The Laguindingan Airport had just opened, increasing passenger capacity and relieving the overburdened Lumbia Airport in the city center. Judging from the retail barometer—“how many malls are in this city?”—CDO was doing well: apart from old stalwarts such as Limketkai and Gaisano, there was Robinson’s and SM, and Ayala just entered the fray with its Centrio development.
Of course, the city had long been an economic hub, being home to several multinational companies—Nestlé operates in the city, with Del Monte and Dole based in neighboring Bukidnon. It has an active port serving as a connection from Manila and Cebu to the rest of Mindanao. But fragile peace elsewhere in the island, as well as low investment from both the public and private sectors, has limited its prospects.
In recent years, however, things have become optimistic for Cagayan de Oro. The stability brought by the Aquino administration, plus its efforts to spread around its spending to outside Metro Manila, has meant the city—and its neighboring regions—can finally realize its potential. It certainly was the mood among the sixty or so who attended our first General Membership Meeting there in 2014.
Last week I returned to Cagayan de Oro, for yet another SCMAP event-our recently concluded Mindanao Supply Chain Conference. In two years, things have changed. As with other major cities in the country, major developers have entered or doubled down on CDO: SM is building a new mall in the downtown district, while Vista Land is planning a high-rise condominium complex.
The city is also a rising tourist destination, with its whitewater rafting being a must-do for adventurous types. Its shopping and nightlife is also gaining a reputation. Of course, before flying back tourists just have to pick up boxes of Vjandep Pastel and packs of Cheding’s Peanuts for loved ones and friends.
Now, with a native Mindanaoan set to assume the highest position in the land, Cagayan de Oro is primed for even better things… well, as long as nobody drops the ball.
In his overview of the country’s economic prospects during the Mindanao Supply Chain Conference, REID Foundation’s Ronilo Balbieran reminded us that our economy is on steady footing, thanks to high consumption, buoyed in part by OFW remittances and a booming BPO industry. With increased investment, he said, the country can take advantage of its stability and grow its economy in a way that will benefit everyone.
Later in the event, the president of SCMAP’s Visayas chapter, Gilbert Cabataña, asserted that Cagayan de Oro is in a prime position to power growth for Mindanao, thanks to its logistics infrastructure and its attractiveness to both businesses and tourists alike. Alongside Davao and General Santos, CDO can lead the way for a resurgence in the country’s long embattled south. Already we have examples: one of our speakers was Vjandep Pastel’s Viel P. Jose MD, who illustrated how a local delicacy can gain national prominence.
After the conference, I had breakfast with a friend from college who’s long been a native of Cagayan de Oro. Yes, she said, things are looking up in the city, and it will continue to do so. Already she’s seen heavy traffic jams—this, in a city so compact you can walk from one mall to another in no time; this, in a city so small everybody seems to know everyone.
I guess it’s a good problem for the city’s government. It’s not yet too late to invest in supporting and sustaining this growth. If left unchecked, like in Manila, Cagayan de Oro’s growth might prove to be its own bottleneck. That would be a wasted opportunity, not just for the city, but for the entire region. If we’re to fully realize CDO’s potential—if we’re to fully ensure its growth will benefit everybody, not just marginally—we have to get it right this time. I’m not calling it the City of Golden Opportunity for nothing.
Henrik Batallones is the marketing and communications executive of SCMAP. A former board director, he is also editor-in-chief of the organization’s official publication, Supply Chain Philippines.
