Franchise Negosyo returns to Cagayan de Oro after the pandemic

The Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) brought Franchise Negosyo back to Cagayan de Oro for its first event in the city since the pandemic. Scheduled for 11–12 September 2026 at the Atrium of SM CDO Downtown, the event combined brand showcases with guidance on starting and running a franchise business.

First event at SM CDO Downtown

According to a PFA announcement also published by Asian Journal on 10 September, this was the first time Franchise Negosyo had used SM CDO Downtown as its venue. The stop in Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, formed part of the association’s regional exhibition series, designed to bring franchise opportunities closer to interested entrepreneurs.

The published programme listed opening hours of 10 am to 7 pm for the two-day exhibition. Admission was free and open to the public, including people looking to start their first business, investors seeking additional opportunities and business owners interested in learning about franchising.

A subsequent PFA report confirmed that the association and invited guests led the opening ceremony. However, these sources provided neither a total attendance figure nor the value of any deals concluded. What they clearly documented was the event’s return and the breadth of its planned programme.

More than 40 exhibitors and over 200 brands

The PFA announced that more than 40 exhibitors would showcase over 200 franchise brands. These are distinct figures: the first refers to participants in the exhibition, while the second refers to the brands they represented.

The event also included suppliers and related service providers supporting business start-ups. A Homes.ph report dated 18 September identified food, retail and services among the sectors featured. Visitors were therefore introduced to options spanning more than one type of outlet.

The format was intended to connect prospective investors with franchisors. Rather than simply displaying brand names and images, the event offered an opportunity for direct conversations about franchise packages and start-up requirements.

The reports did not, however, provide a complete list of brands or individual package prices. The exhibitor count should therefore not be taken as evidence that there was a franchise for every budget, or as any guarantee of an investor’s future earnings.

Separate seminars for two different needs

Alongside the exhibition, a free seminar covered how to choose a suitable franchise. It featured Dana Cuneta of Francorp Philippines, whose role involves consulting and strategic planning. The programme also included presentations on various franchise investment opportunities.

The first session was scheduled at the Atrium of SM CDO Downtown on 11 September, from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm. The second was scheduled for 12 September, from 1 pm to 3 pm. These sessions were aimed at people looking to own a business operating under an existing brand’s franchise.

A separate paid seminar was intended for local business owners seeking to expand their own brands through franchising. It was scheduled at Limketkai Luxe on 12 September, from 2 pm to 5 pm. The reports provided did not state the attendance fee.

This distinction matters: admission to the exhibition was free, but not every associated session was free of charge. The two types of seminar also took place at different venues and addressed different business needs.

Bringing franchise knowledge closer to Mindanao entrepreneurs

According to PFA Chairman Emeritus Samie Lim, the return to Cagayan de Oro aimed to open up more opportunities for people in Mindanao who wanted to start their own businesses. The programme reflected two routes into franchising: investing in an established concept and preparing an existing business brand for others to operate.

The practical takeaway is to use events like this as a starting point for due diligence, not as sufficient reason to invest immediately. Compare offers, request written details of costs and support, and clarify your obligations before signing.