05/10/2026
Talisay City taps business summit, trade expo to build Metro Cebu identity, grow MSMEs
The City of Talisay wants a stronger, more distinct identity in Metro Cebu, through the upcoming 2nd Talisay City Business Summit and Trade Expo 2026. It also wants its micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to grow and scale.
Those are the goals of the 2nd Talisay Summit and Trade Expo, scheduled October 26-28, 2026.
With the theme Beyond Our Borders: Bringing the Best of Talisay to the Metropolitan Stage, the event serves as a catalyst designed to propel local enterprises onto the broader regional map.
The City of Talisay Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Inc. president Carl Cabusas said the three-day event builds on the success of last year's inaugural summit.
“All of this is to support the MSMEs in Talisay,” Cabusas said at a press conference. “One day is no longer enough.”
The Talisay Chamber, the city government, and the City Council agreed to hold a second summit to keep promoting local MSMEs.
“Basically, we want to empower them by giving a platform for conversation through the summit,” Cabusas said.
The event also lets Talisay businesses introduce their products, services, and capabilities to a wider market. Cabusas said the Talisay Chamber wants to "showcase the best of Talisay" by taking the event to Metro Cebu.
Heritage and trade expo
The event opens on October 26 with a ribbon-cutting and opening program at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu Atrium. The Talisay Trade Expo will run there. The program will also include the induction of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMED) Council Region 7.
In the afternoon, the summit begins with Tourism and Investment Day at the Summit Galleria Hotel Cebu. Speakers will discuss Talisay's heritage and culinary identity. They will also look at the city's potential to become Cebu's premier historical and gastronomic hub.
Government agencies, business leaders, and other stakeholders will talk about what Talisay offers and what it needs to improve. The tourism forum will examine how the city can build on its history, heritage, and culinary assets to strengthen its tourism offering.
“Talisay cannot be like Cebu City,” said Talisay Chamber Board of Trustee Angel Caesar Farrarons. “We have our own identity, and we can be a catalyst.”
Farrarons noted that Talisay has potential for sports tourism. The city once played host to a Jetski Tour competition.
Heritage tourism could also be developed. At the Larawan Beach, seven life-size statues commemorate the landing of American forces on March 26, 1945.
Business and urban development
On the second day, the Business Summit centers on strategic development and urban planning, including Talisay's role in Metropolitan Cebu.
Urban planners, developers, and business leaders will discuss how the city should grow and define its identity as it develops.
The program will also look at ways to improve the investment climate and make it easier to do business in Talisay.
Organizers listed business permitting, zoning, sanitary and occupancy requirements, and fire safety regulations among the topics. An economic outlook will give the business community a view of the Philippine economy, including current challenges and opportunities.
Enabling MSMEs to scale
The final day, October 28, focuses on MSME Enablement and Business Scaling.
Organizers will connect entrepreneurs with government programs, services, including financing, digitalization, and market expansion. MSMEs, government agencies, financial institutions, digital commerce platforms and other business support groups will discuss practical ways for small businesses to grow.
For Cabusas, the MSME focus is central to the summit. The Talisay Chamber wants to give entrepreneurs a venue to promote their businesses, and a platform to discuss their challenges and find opportunities.
Bringing Talisay to Metro Cebu
The Talisay Chamber also wants more people outside Talisay to see what the city has to offer. Cabusas said holding the trade expo at Robinsons Galleria Cebu will draw visitors from Cebu City and other parts of Metro Cebu.
“They just have to visit Robinsons Galleria where all of this is going to happen and see what Talisay is doing best,” he said.
The Talisay Chamber has been working with business groups in Mandaue, Mactan, and Cebu City. It sees chances to share resources, skills, and expertise. It also sees sports tourism as a possible growth area for Talisay, given the city's water resources.
With tourism, investment, urban development, and MSME growth on the agenda, the summit aims to give Talisay a distinct identity and enable its businesses more room to grow.
The City of Talisay Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Inc. (Talisay Chamber) and the City of Talisay jointly present the event. The Cebu Provincial MSMED Council co-presented the event with Robinson Galleria Cebu as the venue partner, while Cebu Online N
