Cebu Province News April 2012

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Province of Cebu - Archived News

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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion. But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened . Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions. Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE? Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace? WHY?? There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance: The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Aerial View of Metro Cebu

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs. Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Ecce Homo image now in Basilica

• Source:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/185031/ecce-homo-image-now-in-basilica
• Monday, April 30, 2012 9:31 am

By Ador Vincent S. Mayol (Reporter, Cebu Daily News)

People in Cebu will now have the chance to have an up-close-and-personal encounter with the historic wooden bust of the suffering Jesus Christ given as baptismal gift by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan to Cebu’s Rajah Humabon.

The original image of the Ecce Homo was enthroned in a niche located at the right side of the centuries-old Basilica del Sto. Nino in downtown Cebu City last Saturday afternoon.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma blessed the image which is enshrined in glass adorned with a variety of flowers.

On top of the altar is a painting of the discovery of the Ecce Homo in a human remain believed to be that of Rajah Humabon on Aug. 20, 1572.

Present during the ceremony were priests from the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) who supervise the basilica.

In August last year, the Ecce Homo was brought back to Cebu City from the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila which has custody of the image for 46 years.

Rev. Fr. Tito Soquiño, OSA, executive director of the Santo Niño de Cebu Augustinian Social Development Foundation Inc., said they are hoping to propagate the devotion to the Ecce Homo after it was transferred to its new altar.

“The Ecce Homo isn’t known to people. We constructed its shrine so hopefully people will venerate the image,” Soquiño told Cebu Daily News.

He said the Ecce Homo would remind the faithful about the passion of Jesus Christ in order to save people from eternal damnation.

“The image is connected to the sufferings of Jesus; that sufferings have a redeeming value,” he said.

Soquiño said the Ecce Homo is one of the religious icons which has a significant historal value.

The ivory sculpture of the Ecce Homo was believed to be the one given by Magellan to Cebu’s Rajah Humabon in the 16th century.

The image was found on the chest of a Rajah Carli’s.

According to a 1921 writing of Fray Manuel D. Aguado, OSA, the burial belongs to Humabon.

Humabon was baptized Carlos to which Carli sounds close.

Augustinian friars brought the Ecce Homo to San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila during the Fourth Centennial Celebration of the Christianization of the Philippines in 1965.

Since then, only a replica of the image was found in Cebu.

The Cebu Archdiocese through Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal worked for the return of the valuable image to Cebu.

Ecce Homo is Latin for “Behold the man,” Pontius Pilate’s words when he presented Jesus to the crowd after having him scourged.

The face and head of the original Ecce Homo is made of ivory.

Its body, however, had to be changed to wood after it was destroyed.

Rev. Fr. Eusebio Berdon, OSA, Prior Provincial of the Santo Niño de Cebu Province, said the image is “very delicate.”

When its body was restored, Berdon said they had to use wood from Spain and sought the assistance of an expert museum curator.

The Ecce Homo was placed in a glass urn in the main altar of the basilica since it was brought back to Cebu City on August 20, 2011.

Rev. Fr. Rodolfo Bugna, OSA, rector of the Basilica del Sto. Nino, declared

Aug. 20 as the feast day of the Ecce Homo.

In history accounts, the Ecce Homo was presented to Cebu’s chieftain King Humabon who was known as “Carlos” after his baptism.

The ivory bust was found in Cebu on Aug. 20, 1572, the same day that Miguel Lopez de Legaspi died in Manila. It was found on the chest of a rajah believed to be Humabon.

Augustinians brought the image to the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila in 1965.

Soquino said the Ecce Homo is “the least known” icon brought by Magellan in 1521.

Magellan gave the image of the Sto. Niño to Cebu’s Queen Juana during her baptism.

He gave the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Cebuano natives who were baptized into the Catholic faith.

Magellan presented the Ecce Homo to Cebu’s chieftain, King Humabon.

Cebu’s first archeological heritage park

• Source:http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/cebus-first-archeological-heritage-park/#.T50BiHqrjQp
• Sunday, April 29, 2012

By Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.

SAN REMEGIO, Cebu – For the first time in the Philippines, the country will have a public beach declared as an archeological heritage park after the Provincial Government approved a proposal to declare this town’s public beach as such.

Capitol consultant Jojo Bersales, chairman of the committee on sites, relics and structures of the Cebu Provincial Tourism Heritage Council, is proposing that San Remegio’s `Lapyahan’ or public beach will be declared as the first archeological heritage park and public beach in the whole Philippines.

Bersales said Governor Gwendolyn Garcia already approved his proposal and the Provincial Government will officially declare it this August during the 443rd founding anniversary of the Province of Cebu.

The Municipal Government of San Remegio will make the first declaration at their level.

Motorcade to kick off Mandaue fiesta activities

• Source:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=801514
• Saturday, April 28, 2012 12:00 AM

By Flor Z. Perolina (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The opening salvo of the Mandaue City fiesta, which is celebrated in honor of St. Joseph the Worker, will kick off today.

Six major thoroughfares in Mandaue City will be closed to traffic starting at 11:30 a.m. today in view of the motorcade organized by the city government.

According to the advisory from the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue the following routes will be closed: S.B. Cabahug corner A.C. Cortes Ave.; A. del Rosario St. corner B. Ceniza St.; Gomez St. corner B. Ceniza St.; S.B. Cabahug St., corner Plaridel St.; C. Ouano St., corner P. Burgos St.

In view of this, traffic will be rerouted. All vehicles coming from the north going to the Centro area shall take S.B. Cabahug St., turn right to A.C. Cortes Ave. to destination.

All vehicles from Cebu City going to Centro shall take A. del Rosario St., right turn to B. Ceniza St., right turn to A. Soriano Ave. to destination.

All vehicles from Looc going to Centro shall take C. Ouano St., left turn to Plaridel St., right turn to A. Soriano Ave. to destination.

All vehicles from the new public market shall take P. Burgos St., left turn to M. Sanchez St., right turn to S.B. Cabahug St. to destination.

Editha Cortes of the fiesta committee said after the motorcade at about 4 p.m., city officials led by Mayor Jonas Cortes will formally open the trade exhibit located at the city hall plaza.

April 28 (Friday) – band showdown, city plaza; April 29 – cooperative night, plaza; April 30 (Labor Day), DepEd night, 8 p.m., city plaza; May 1- traffic day, plaza; senior citizens night, plaza; May 2, “Palengke” king and queen, plaza; May 3 -way tech games, plaza; May 4 Mandaue’s Got Talent/ABC, 8 p.m., plaza; May 5, 8 p.m. - Comedy Dance Showdown, plaza; May 5 – Prince, Princess, and Queen, 8 p.m., plaza; May 5, 7 p.m., Ala Boxing Presents, plaza; May 6 Ms. Mandaue Pageant, 8 p.m., J Centre Mall; May 6, Market Olympics, 8 .p.m, New Public Market.

May 7, Mandaue City Children’s Choir, 8 p.m. at plaza, May 8, FIESTA -Fireworks display at new public market, 8 p.m.; May 9, Kaabag night, 9 p.m., plaza; May 10, Raffle draw, 8 p.m., plaza; May 11, appreciation night for sponsors, 7 p.m., plaza; May 12 – recognition night for committees, 7 p.m., plaza.

The Mandaue fiesta is celebrated every 8th of May in honor of the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, patron saint of the city, will be launched today with a motorcade at 1 p.m. along the city’s major thoroughfares.

The motorcade, to be participated by the city government’s various departments and the private sector including the 12 finalists for the Ms. Mandaue 2012, will start at city hall grounds and will end at the same area.

After the motorcade, the formal opening of the trade fair located at the city hall plaza will follow.

Cebu town boosts skills training program

• Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1981335439373
• Friday, April 27, 2012

(rmn/AS/PIA-CEBU)

CEBU CITY April 27 (PIA) --- The town of Dalaguete in the southern part of Cebu is intensifying its Skills Training and Resource (STAR) program designed for the town's out-of-school youths and unemployed residents.

The municipal government recently established a three-storey building that will serve as the STAR center where trainings will be conducted for around 300 trainees every semester.

The center, located near the municipal hall, is expected to be functional before the year ends.

The STAR program of the town was established in 2002 with the concept of entertaining the skills needs of the out-of school youths, unemployed college graduates, college dropouts, and unemployed residents in the town and neighboring areas in the province.

However, there was no permanent venue to host the various training sessions.

Trainings were usually conducted at the public market, municipal hall, vacant public school rooms, and other vacant government structures.

Executive Director of STAR Dalaguete, Pat Gamboa, said the program still produced quality graduates who were immediately employed with the support of other government agencies, despite the lack of a permanent training center.

“We tapped other agencies to help our graduates acquire jobs. Our partner agencies are increasing every year because it is really proven that our graduates showed excellent performance in their field of work,” Gamboa said.

Gamboa is thankful that the municipal government has addressed their need for a training center.

“With the establishment of our STAR center, we can now cater to more enrollees,” Gamboa said.

STAR trainees undergo five months of training sessions before they can graduate.

Afterwards, they have to pass an assessment examination conducted by TESDA before they will be granted a certificate of completion.

Skills trainings offered under STAR are dressmaking, commercial cooking, electronic servicing, metal arts and welding, electrical installation and maintenance, automotive servicing, refrigeration and airconditioning, among others.

Cebu’s new cities on the rise

• Source:http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/358087/cebu-s-new-cities-rise
• Thursday, April 26, 2012, 3:53pm

(Manila Bulletin Article)

Cebu City—When Cebu City earned the moniker “Ceboom” in the 1990s because of its economic and tourism boom, progress began spreading into the neighboring towns, thus, giving birth to new urban centers. Ceboom did not only refer to the Queen City of the South, but to the whole province of Cebu.

Among the towns to ride the unprecedented wave of development are Bogo, Naga and Carcar which were declared cities in 2007, and whose cityhood statuses were affirmed by the Supreme Court last year.

Bogo: The Place to Go

Located in the province’s northern portion is Bogo, the hub for trade and commerce, agri-business, education, fishery and aquaculture, and transportation of 10 towns in Cebu’s fourth congressional district.

The growing trade and industry led to Bogo’s expansion, says Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. The public market was moved to a bigger area, portions of the shoreline had to be reclaimed and a new business center had to be created.

Just like the proverbial northern star, this new city has been a beacon of progress for its neighboring towns.

Due to its ideal location, Bogo has been chosen to be Cebu’s northern gateway through the Polambato Roll-on-Roll-off Port, which is undergoing a long-range expansion program to make it capable of accommodating more and bigger ships to declog the ports in Cebu City.

The port connects to the provinces of Leyte and Masbate, and all the way to Manila through the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

The city boasts of the biggest livestock market in the province, thanks to the city’s ports.

Adjacent to the Polambato port is a 40-hectare land envisioned to form part of the planned Special Economic Zone for light and medium industries.

Due to its rapid urbanization, Bogo has put up a new sprawling city center in Bgy. Cayang along the provincial highway to house the new government and business district. Seeing the potential of the new CBD, retail giant Robinson’s Mall has reportedly acquired 10 hectares which will be northern Cebu’s commercial and recreational hub.

Tourism-wise, the city is getting known for its inland resorts, religious sites and the rock-of-ages islet of Capitancillo, formerly a lighthouse, which is now a protected marine sanctuary.

It is also a vital transit point to the resort islands of Bantayan and Malapascua, as well as Kalanggaman in Palompon, Leyte which are all noted for their fine sand beaches and dive sites.

Moreover, Bogo is being eyed as a retirement haven.

Naga: Industrial Hub south of Cebu

Situated 21 kilometers from Cebu City is the City of Naga, dubbed as the “Industrial hub south of Cebu” because of the presence of vital industries.

Even before its elevation into a city, Naga has been an industrial town with the 147-MW Salcon Power Corp. coal-fired plant and Apo Cement Corp. which produces 4,000 metric tons of cement daily. The latter also has the distinction of being the country’s biggest factory and supplied cement to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Bolstering Naga’s industrial status was the opening last year of the KEPCO Philippines Corp. (KEPHILCO) 290-MW Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) thermal plant.

A government-to-government economic cooperation between Korea and the Philippines, the project is under a new scheme of a merchant power plant, characterized by power sales contracts (PSC) with distribution utilities and electric cooperatives.

The city’s other major industries include Kyocera Crystal Device, Kinseki Philippines Inc., Rikio Southeast Asia, Pryce Gases, FSP Oxy & Acet Inc. and MRC Allied Industries. These are supported by livestock and poultry farms and agro-industries such as Bounty Agro Ventures, Daily Fresh Foods and Cebu Sherilin Agro-Industrial Corp.

According to Mayor Valdemar Chiong, the city’s exponential growth has improved the delivery of basic social services such as health care, education, public safety and sanitation under his Vision and Leadership 20/20.

Naga’s income has surpassed the P 100 million annual income mark, making it at par with some of the country’s medium-size cities.

The city now boasts of a modern city hall complex, a new sports coliseum, a picturesque Baywalk Park and a material recovery facility which recycles the solid wastes of Naga and neighboring towns.

Moreover, it also has the bragging right of having a sports complex being bought by a local retail giant to be converted into a supermarket, perhaps the only one of its kind in the country.

Carcar: Heritage City of Cebu

Carcar is an eclectic city which combines old world charm and the potentials of a new urban center.

Acknowledged as the Heritage City of Cebu, Carcar is famous for its picture perfect structures which have withstood the ravages of time. There is the Greek-Orthodox style inspired Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria, its rows of colonial Spanish and American period houses; the art deco Carcar City Museum, the city plaza and the Carcar rotunda.

As beautiful as these heritage sites are, the city refuses to be stuck in the past with its strides to modernity, its light steel industries, agribusiness ventures, commercial and retail establishments of known brands such as Jollibee, Mercury Drug, Gaisano, LBC and M Lhuillier.

Its local economy is propelled by its noted shoe making industry, wood craft, as well as native delicacies like the famous chicharon (pork crackling), ampao (sweetened rice crispies) and bucarillo (colored coconut strips) which have found their way into the international market.

Mayor Nicepuro Apura said that Carcar City hopes to cash in on the influx of tourists brought about by its proclamation as a Heritage City and its award-winning Kabkad Festival which won honors in the province-wide Pasigarbo Festival.

Recognizing the importance of higher education in an emerging metropolis, Carcar has put up the City College which offers polytechnic courses which can provide immediate employment for graduates.

Because of its location as a convergence point in southern Cebu, Carcar is constructing a diversion road which will bypass the busy city center. Apura added that once completed, the road project will further spur economic activities in the barangays outside the poblacion.

Mandaue begins ambitious rehab, beautification project

• Source:http://new.philstar.com/freeman/metro-cebu/798879/mandaue-begins-ambitious-rehab-beautification-project
• Wednesday, April 25, 2012 12:00 AM

By Flor Z. Perolina (Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The city’s sidewalk beautification program will finally be enforced now that ambulant vendors are gone from sidewalks near city hall.

Architect Delia Rodrigo, head of the City Planning and Development Office, yesterday said the P14-million budget intended for the rehabilitation of the drainage along B. Ceniza Street and the P8 million budget intended for the beautification of sidewalks around city hall is now available.

First to be given a facelift are sidewalks along B. Ceniza Street, Burgos Street, and Zamora Street.

But Rodrigo said work will be in full swing at the end of May yet, as bidding is still underway, the winner of which will undertake the project.

Rodrigo also said that two weeks ago the Taga Mandaue Inc., the NGO tasked by Mayor Jonas Cortes to be the implementor of the project has already started painting sidewalks in front of city hall after having donated P13,000 worth of cans of paint and “almagre.”

The Taga Mandaue Inc. has one year to complete the project.

Rodrigo said the beautification project will spread to other barangays once the group is done with barangay Centro where city hall is located.

She also said vendors that sell native delicacies will group together on April 30, the day the “Pasalubong Center” will mark its soft opening.

The center will sit on a vacant lot owned by the Sanchez family at the corner of Suson Street and A. O. del Rosario Street.

Aside from native delicacies, the city’s own products will also be displayed at center.

Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines will donate the stalls and tents.

Religious antiques promote Cebu town as a historical tourist destination

• Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1981335248768
• Tuesday, April 24, 2012

By Amorganda A. Saludar (FCR/AS-PIA 7, Cebu)

CEBU CITY, April 24 (PIA) -- The municipality of Argao may soon become Cebu’s historical tourist destination as the town’s oldest church features religious antiques, some dating back to the 15th century.

The Museu de la Parroquia de San Miguel in Argao, in Southern Cebu, houses antique statues made of gold, silver, and ivory as well as other religious symbols like wooden altar and tabernacle.

Also stored in the museum is a silver “carrosa” used during religious processions in the ancient times which is unlike any other “carrosa” today because an ancient carrosa is circular in shape and specially carved with silver and ivory.

Another historic antique on display is the first “bangko” or chair used by the parishioners during mass. The bangko is made of a unique class of “tabla” or slab of wood of exceptional quality as even to this day after many decades, the bangko still remains sturdy.

The museum is located inside the town’s oldest church which is the Parroquia de San Miguel (St. Michael de Archangel Church), which in itself is part of the town’s history built sometime in the 15th century.

Engracia Birondo, the municipal public information officer of Argao, said many students from the different universities in Cebu and outside the province come to visit the museum for educational and historical references.

“It is with great pride that we conduct educational tours to students that also reflect the local history of the province and particularly of Argao,” Birondo claimed.

The museum is open every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 -11:30 in the morning and 2:00 – 4:30 in the afternoon while the museum also caters to visitors by appointment on weekdays said Birondo.

Birondo said the museum also generates income for the municipality since visitors who would like to visit the museum pay P20 as entrance fee although students are given special rates.

“For college and high school students, they only pay P10 while elementary pupils and pre-schoolers only pay P5,” bared Birondo. Nicolasita Pangan, one of the museum caretakers said they really devote much time in maintaining and securing the museum since some of the historical treasures are only found in Argao.

“Amo gyud ni siya nga bantayan diri, usa gyud ni sa among angay nga ikapasigarbo diri, dugay na gyud kaayo ni sila, nagpasalamat mi hangtod karon naa gihapon,”(We really take care of this (museum), for this is one that is worth to be proud of. The antiques existed many years ago and we are very thankful that we still have them today) Pangan said.

Pangan said the municipal government also helped in maintaining the museum by training caretakers on proper management of historic relics and how to accommodate and brief visitors on the significance of the religious antiques.

12 coastal areas in C.Visayas up for mangrove propagules planting

• Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1091334912755
• Monday, April 23, 2012

(rmn/PIA-7/HFG/DENR-7)

CEBU CITY, April 23 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 is set to plant more than 20,000 mangrove propagules during a simultaneous mangrove planting and coastal clean-up on April 26 in 12 identified coastal areas in Central Visayas.

This is in line with Proclamation No. 1482 issued on April 10, 2008 declaring the month of April as the Philippines’ Earth Month and identified the DENR as the main convenor of the celebration.

DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Maximo O. Dichoso said the mangroves provide nursery grounds for fish, prawns, and crabs, and support fisheries production in coastal waters so it is important to sustain our mangrove planting efforts.

Mangrove is a type of forest growing along tidal mudflats and along shallow water coastal areas extending inland along rivers, streams, and tributaries where water is generally brackish.

Said activity will be conducted in partnership with the local government units, non-government organizations, academe, and other stakeholders in the provinces of Cebu, Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Siquijor.

Among the coastal areas to be planted with mangroves are Guibuangan, Barili, and Catarman, Cordova, all in Cebu; and Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental.

“It must be emphasized that DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje wants to see our coastal areas carpeted with mangroves as it is supportive to the national greening program,” he added.

Aside from mangrove planting and coastal clean-up, a soil potting activity will also be conducted on April 20 in all community environment and natural resources offices (CENROs).

According to DENR 1995 statistics, the conversion to fishponds, prawn farms, salt ponds, reclamation and other forms of industrial development has reduced the mangrove area to 117,700 hectares.

On the other hand, mangroves protect the environment by protecting coastal areas and communities from storm surges, waves, tidal currents and typhoons; and produce organic biomass (carbon) and reduce organic pollution in nearshore areas by trapping or absorption.

For Talisay's top 3 students Bigger cash rewards eyed

• Source:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=799585
• Sunday, April 22, 2012 12:00 AM

By Liv G. Campo (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City will give the top three public school students bigger rewards this year.

This after Councilor Dennis Basillote proposed to double their incentives.

“I am going to propose a resolution increasing the reward to at least twice their current amount. Para pud mapun-an ang madawat sa atong mga top 3 honor students,” said Basillote in an interview.

Basillote, who is chairman on council committee on Education, said he will propose that from the current P1,500 for the valedictorian, he will propose to make it P3,000, P2,000 for the salutatorian from the present P1,000, and P1,000 each from P500 to all first honorable mention graduates.

Basillote said the present amount was passed sometime in 2002, and he sees it is high time to give an increase “so that these students will have something to use on their next level of education.”

The present amount was approved by the council sometime in 2002.

The purpose of this program, which is open to the city’s 24 public elementary schools and 18 national high schools, is “to encourage students to work harder to be in the top 3,” said Basillote, adding that this would also make them aim for the highest honors in order to get the highest rewards from the city.

Quick exit for Aquino’s first Cebu visit

• Source:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/180311/quick-exit-for-aquino%E2%80%99s-first-cebu-visit
• Saturday, April 21, 2012 8:41 am

By Jessa Chrisna Marie J. Agua (Cebu Daily News)

PRESIDENT Aquino assured major players in the country’s electronics industry of the government’s support. Then he flew back to Manila, foregoing a scheduled press conference.

He spoke before delegates of the 17th World Electronics Forum in the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

The Philippines is known as a major producer of integrated circuits, capacitors, resistors, connectors and inductors.

It was a quick visit and Aquino’s first to Cebu this year. After the speech, Aquino had a brief question-and-answer with delegates then left. A press conference was quickly cancelled.

Reporters and camera men who milled outside the hall were earlier told the President would answer only two questions — one about the fate of the Malacañang sa Sugbo and fugitive congressman Ruben Ecleo. They remained unanswered.

In his speech, the President said 530,000 jobs were created by the electronics industry last year. The year before, about 178 information technology-related companies opened with an investment of over P2 billion.

“We are, however, building on initiatives that will allow the Philippines to compete more strongly in the global markets. As you know, we are already offering competitive incentives to electronic firms registered with investment promotion agencies,” Aquino said.

Delegates called for the expansion of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) to allow expanded trade of electronic and IT products from countries like the Philippines into other markets.

“The global supply chain requires a multilateral agreement and the ITA expansion would benefit all countries,” said Shoichie Inoue, general manager of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA).

Sage Chandler, International Trade Consumer Electronics Association senior director, said information communication technology (ICT) products account for 51 percent of Philippine exports.

“Expansion of duty or tariff-free treatment of products under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) ITA would affect millions in the Philippines’ ICT exports,” Chandler said./With an Inquirer, Marian Codilla report

Aquino in Cebu today for electronics forum

• Source:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/179705/aquino-in-cebu-today-for-electronics-forum
• Friday, April 20, 2012 7:30 am

By Jessa Chrisna Marie J. Agua (Correspondent, Cebu Daily News)

PRESIDENT Benigno Simeon Aquino III will be in Mactan, Cebu, today to speak before the 17th World Electronics Forum (WEF) and the 108th General Membership Meeting of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI).

Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will accompany him.

WEF is a gathering of CEOs and directors of electronics companies and industry associations worldwide.

It is hosted by SEIPI, an organization of local and multinational electronics companies in the country.

The two events are scheduled in the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa.

The four-day WEF event ran from April 18-21, while the SEIPI event is scheduled from April 19 to 21.

The two events will converge when the president addresses them at a luncheon today.

DA 7 establishes farmer field schools in Cebu to help mango growers boost production

• Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1061334810689
• Thursday, April 19, 2012

By Fayette C. Riñen (FCR/ Clara Jane Ayson/CNU-Intern, PIA 7, Cebu)

CEBU CITY, April 19 (PIA) -- In order to revitalize the mango industry in Cebu, the Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 has established five farmer field schools to train and educate mango growers on the proper agricultural practice to boost mango production.

Wilberto Castillo, the chief of the Regional Coordinator Crop Protection of DA-7 said the farmer field schools (FFS) are established in the cities of Toledo, Danao, and Mandaue of which the latter have two farmer schools located in Paril and Subangdaku and in the town of Compostela.

“The farmer field school is an extension tool of the DA-7 where lectures to farmers are given such as on integrated pest management and appropriate agricultural practices on mango growing,” bared Castillo.

Mango growers also undergo practicum in the field schools where they do hands-on training on cleaning, fertilizing, and flowering until the harvest stage. It is a season-long training to really assist mango farmers yield productive harvest, disclosed Castillo during the recent Kapihan sa PIA on the region’s mango industry.

"The farmer field schools have regular classes once a week that covers four months or 16 to 18 weeks," Castillo said. According to Castillo, the facilitators of the field schools are from the DA-7 with counterparts from the local government units particularly their Municipal or City Agricultural Officers.

Site of the schools are in the backyards or plantations of mango growers.

Castillo said there is a huge demand for export of fresh and dried mangoes as Cebu is currently exporting fresh mangoes to Japan, Hongkong, and Australia.

For dried mangoes, there are a number of Cebu companies such as Profoods and 7Ds that are largely exporting processed mangoes mostly in the US and Canada markets, revealed Castillo.

There is so much potential for the mango industry but the production cannot keep up with the demand because of poor agricultural practices by farmers. Castillo expressed optimism that the field schools can improve behaviors in agricultural practices to boost mango production in Cebu.

Cebu meanwhile, accounts for the largest production of mangoes in Central Visayas with 60 percent, said Castillo.

In 2010, the total production in Central Visayas was 71,000 metric tons based on the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics under the DA 7, Castillo disclosed.

Castillo said the data for the 2011 total mango production in the region is still being finalized.

Promoting tourism evolution mulled

• Source:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=798179
• Wednesday, April 18, 2012 12:00 am

(The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Acknowledging the “real” heroes of tourism and promoting tourism education should be included in the strategic plan of strengthening the tourism industry of the country.

National Independent Travel and Tours (NAITAS) chairman emeritus and Founder of 888 News Forum Consul General Bobby Joseph said that in the booming progress of Philippine tourism, it is also appropriate to know its history and recognize the people behind it.

He added that it is the private initiative why tourism in the country is growing and those people who believe in the capacity of Cebu are to be considered as heroes of tourism, saying “everything started in Cebu and will always be Cebu.”

“Ano nga ba ang history ng tourism sa Cebu? What do you think? Tourism is a chicken joy? C’mon!” Joseph said laughingly.

Amid the naughtiness and corruption of government officials, he further noted that investors are the real stakeholders and not those pseudo actors claiming to be one.

He also said that former Department of Tourism secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano is one of the best things that happened in the tourism industry who took time to listen to the stakeholders.

While, Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary Ed Nuque said tourism history is very important since it could bring out closer cooperation and integration.

To promote awareness on the tourism evolution of Visayas among current practitioners and students, he said that they are now planning to organize roundtable discussions with the personalities involved in Cebu tourism development.

Starting very soon, he said that everyone would be fully fascinated in the tourism history of the country, making them more appreciative of the present tourism situation.

Meanwhile, along with other officials, Joseph and Nuque are dedicated to their advocacy towards tourism education by merging actual experience and theory in the academe.

Nuque said that most graduates in tourism and hospitality management lack interaction with tourism professionals which motivated them to make those people available in the academe to harness the students’ talents.

He clarified that there is still an advantage of learning in the four corners of the classroom. However, with just theories presented, aspiring practitioners can just frame the situation. With actual interaction of industry practitioners, they would be equipped with the right attitude and the right morals in the real situation.

Even without a doctorate or masters’ degree, a tourism-related practitioner with ample familiarity and skills can share his expertise and be part of the academe.

For instance, he noted that there is a highly-experienced Filipino professional in the field of tourism and hospitality management who is based internationally but cannot teach or share his firsthand experiences in the university since he has not finished a degree.

Nuque said that Cebu will be a very good platform to launch such advocacy since the province is considered to be a major gateway of development by its own right.

Exporters urged: Tap services of Philexport’s China help desk

• Source:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/178089/exporters-urged-tap-services-of-philexport%E2%80%99s-china-help-desk
• Tuesday, April 17, 2012 8:21 am

By Aileen Garcia-Yap (Cebu Daily News)

Cebu exporters can get assistance in tapping the Chinese market from the Philexport-Cebu China Help Desk, when it opens at the end of the month.

“We are in the finalization period of our talks. and we expect to have the desk set up by the end of April, “ said Fred Escalona, Philexport-Cebu executive director, yesterday.

This is a partnership with Business One Global Trade Center (B1GTC) for at least two years, he said.

Two Chinese-speaking marketing personnel will be hired and trained in China for the help desk.

“After we set up the desk by end of this month, we will start screening applicants for the two people we will be hiring for this project,” he said.

They will be sent to China to learn about the local business landscape and other information that will be helpful for Cebue exporters.

B1GTC is a part of the Global Trade Center Holdings network, which provides integrated one-stop trading services for international manufacturers entering the Chinese market. Services include exhibition, logistics, order solicitation, trade financing, tax, accounting and legal consulting.

The help desk will occupy the space left by Cebu Gifts, Toys, Housewares Manufacturers and Exporters Association Inc. (Cebu GTH) desk at Philexport-Cebu’s office at Legaspi Street, Cebu City.

Cebu GTH has transferred to the Ang Tindahang Pinoy shop at the Bridges Town Center in Mandaue City.

In February this year, B1GTC executives held a forum for Cebu exporters about the potential of the $1.4 billion China market.

B1GTC chief executive officer Henry Hwang encouraged the small and medium enterprise sector saying the middle market in China is fast expanding.

He said the Chinese are not brand conscious and generally see imported products as being of high quality.

With the Chinese government’s move to reduce import taxes, Hwang said this reduces the barrier to trade and makes favorable for imported products to enter.

Products such as furniture, home décor, fashion accessories, fresh and processed food products and seafood are in demand in China, while retail in China is one of the most attractive segments to tap, he said.

The top five Philippine products exported to China include electrical products, copper cathodes and sections of cathodes, nickel ore and concentrates, coal and copper ores and concentrates.

Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said metal exports decreased in the next two years with non-metal high-value products replacing them as the country’s top export products.

Escalona said with Cebuano exporters having many products to offer the Chinese market, setting up the Philexport China Help Desk would be their entrance to one of today’s biggest and most dynamic market in Asia.

According to 2011 data of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in China, the total retail sales value of consumer goods in China’s domestic market amounted to 18.1226 trillion yuan RMB, an increase of 17 percent compared to the same period last year.

Sales value of furniture went up by 9.9 percent, building and decorating materials also increased by 9 percent while, hardware and electronic materials increased by 9.7 percent and an increase of 3 percent for the automobiles.

Sales of foodstuff and clothing showed a rapid increase in 2011 of 3,000 key retailers monitored by the Ministry of Commerce Peoples Republic of China (MOFCOM)increased by 17.9 percent and 18.5 percent respectively.

Based on 2011 data, the top five export markets for the Philippines are Japan, the United States of America, China, Singapore and Hongkong. Japan recently took the top spot from the United States of America in the list.

Total export trade volume of Japan last year amounted to US $8.8 million which is an increase of 13.07 percent from the previous year.

Trading volume in the Unites States of America decreased by 6.17 percent with only $7.09 million in 2011.

Trade in China increased by 6.6 percent from only $5.7 million in 2010 to $6.1 million last year. Singapore closed with $4.3 million last year which is an increase of 41.55 percent while HongKong decreased by 14.69 percent to only $3.7 last year.

Bike Lanes In Cebu Urged

• Source:http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/357095/bike-lanes-in-cebu-urged
• Monday, April 16, 2012 1:23am

By Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr. and Phoebe Jen Indino

CEBU — The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has issued a resolution urging towns and component cities here to study the possibility of providing motorcycle and bicycle lanes in major roads under their areas of responsibilities.

However, said resolution, authored by PB member Arleigh Jay Sitoy, is being frowned upon by Cebu’s League of Municipalities (LMP).

Sitoy’s resolution points out that the number of incidents involving motorcycles in Cebu is increasing.

Cebu LMP head, Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia, who is the brother of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, frowns on said resolution saying that while the idea is “good,” it is “not applicable” in most towns where the roads are too narrow to accommodate space for a bicycle lane. Besides, he said, “towns cannot afford” having such lanes as well.

Sitoy’s resolution is based on Section 16 of the Local Government Code requiring local governments to ensure the public’s health and safety. Last January, 2012, Sitoy also sponsored an ordinance passed by the PB urging the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and all traffic enforcement agencies in Region 7 to apprehend motorcycle drivers carrying small children as passengers.

Meanwhile, multi-sectoral citizenry group 350.org Pilipinas, which is comprised of various environment advocacy organizations and private individuals is pushing for the creation of bike lanes in Cebu City.

A manifesto recently issued by the group proposes putting up bicycle lanes in city roads to promote the safety of bikers, cyclists, skateboarders and pedestrians.

Gwen to make Larsian ‘eco-friendly’

• Source:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/177085/gwen-to-make-larsian-%E2%80%98eco-friendly%E2%80%99
• Sunday, April 15, 2012 9:28 am

by Carmel Loise Matus (Correspondent, Cebu Daily News)

Changes are ahead for barbecue vendors in Larsian near Fuente Osmeña, where the site will be made more eco-friendly and attractive for visitors.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said she wants the area to be known as a healthy, environmentally-sound place to eat in the city.

The first step is to change the name from New Larsian to Eco-Larsian, she said.

Larsian, a cluster of barbecue stalls near the Fuente Osmena rotunda, is a popular local hangout known for its affordable grilled meat and fish dishes served with puso or hanging rice.

It used to occupy a prime spot across the landmark Fuente Osmeña fountain until it was moved to a Capitol-owned lot beside Chong Hua Hospital.

Garcia said she wants Eco-Larsian vendors to use smokeless charcoal made in Tabogon town.

“It’s really more healthy and safer to use… eco-friendly and customer friendly,” said Garcia about the charcoal made by the Tabogon Ecological Management Association, Inc.

Last Friday, Garcia met with Mac Azarcon, president of the Larsian stall owner’s association, and Astrohel Ybanez, president of the Tabogon Ecological Management Association, Inc., for a new charcoal use agreement.

Charcoal briquettes from Tabogon are made of forest twigs and carbonized coconut shells. They can grill faster and longer compared to ordinary charcoal.

Garcia said she will meet later with Larsian vendors to discuss changes she plans to introduce.

She said stall owners can’t openly display raw and half cooked food and stall attendants have to wear uniforms and hair nets so they look neat and presentable to customers.

Garcia said she would also introduce standardization in food portions of chicken and pork to be sold there.

She said she would also like a single grill area for Larsian vendors.

She said the new Larsian would also be occupied by 52 stalls with 32 stalls for barbecue vendors, and the others for fruits and souvenir items.

Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu enroll poor residents in PhilHealth

• Source:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=796908
• Saturday, April 14, 2012 12:00 AM

By Jose P. Sollano and Flor Z. Perolina (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City government and the Mandaue City government signed memorandums of agreement with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for the enrolment of poor residents in Philhealth for free health insurance coverage.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and PhilHealth area vice president for the Visayas and Region-7 William Chavez yesterday signed the agreement. To be enrolled are 17,000 indigent residents.

The signing was witnessed by PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Eduardo Banzon.

Banzon, in his speech, lauded the city government of Lapu-Lapu for prioritizing the health needs of poor families in the city.

He also said PhilHealth now has more than 6,000 nurses assigned to PhilHealth-accredited hospitals.

Radaza, on the other hand, said the signing of the MOA is a pivotal one for it exemplifies what inter-government agency cooperation can achieve to address one of the basic necessities of the people-health care services and its development as guaranteed by no less than the 1987 Constitution.

“Indeed this development is a great help to the people in Lapu-Lapu City especially those who have difficulty in availing of financial support in order to access health care services,” Radaza said.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Dr. Eduardo Banzon, Philhealth national president and CEO yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement for the enrollment of 15,000 indigent residents.

Mandaue will also pay for the insurance coverage of tricycle drivers, Clean and Green employees, and job order employees.

The city will pay P2,400 for each beneficiary, which is good for a two year coverage since an annual fee is P1,200.

Business group sponsors anti-crime stickers

• Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1061334222066
• Friday, April 13, 2012

(PIA Cebu)

CEBU CITY, April 13 (PIA) -- The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has sponsored the production of thousands of anti-crime stickers and posters to help the city police maintain peace and order.

In bold text written with ‘Get involved. Report and help stop crime,’ the stickers are posted on public utility jeepneys plying Mandaue City while the posters are pasted on commercial establishments throughout the city.

PSupt. James Goforth, deputy city director for operations of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) said the battle against crimes is not the responsibility of the police alone but of every sector and every peace-loving citizen.

“We are very grateful to the support of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry for sponsoring the thousands of anti-crime stickers and posters. We hope that though this strategy, we can spur the public to do their share in helping fight crime by immediately reporting any suspicious activities in their neighborhood,” said Goforth.

Goforth said that with active citizen involvement, maintaining peace and order is much easier which translates to a more conducive business environment and faster economic growth for Mandaue City dubbed as Cebu province’s industrial premiere.

The sticker and poster bore the different cell phone and landline numbers of the MCPO and its three offices namely investigation, intelligence and the city tactical open center.

A hotline number open 24 hours and seven days a week can also be accessed by the public. Likewise, the city police’s website is also disclosed for the public’s consumption.

Goforth said the positive relations between the MCPO and the MCCI is a good example that public-private partnership is an effective strategy to promote and maintain peace and order in the community.

BIR: Cebuanos are good taxpayers

• Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1981334214673
• Thursday, April 12, 2012

By Amorganda A. Saludar (FCR/AS/PIA-Cebu)

CEBU CITY April 12 (PIA) -- Majority of Cebuanos are good taxpayers as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue District Office 13 based in Cebu City have consistently exceeded its tax collection target for the past three years.

“I am very thankful because we did not encounter much of a problem in dealing with taxpayers in Cebu because Cebuano people are compliant in terms of payments and filing of income tax return on time,” said BIR-13 Regional Director Rodita Galanto during the recent PIA Kapihan that tackled on the tax information drive.

Galanto said the agency has shown consistent positive performance for the past three years as she attributed this to the cooperation and support shown by the Cebuanos.

In 2009, the BIR-13 collected more than the tax collection goal of P9.5 billion while the following year, the agency posted 12.33 percent growth in collection performance with P12.7 billion compared to its goal of only P11.4 billion. Last year, total tax remittances amounted to P12.456 billion compared to its goal of P12.421 billion posting a one percent growth.

Though Galanto lauded the efforts of the five district offices under BIR-13 for strengthening their tax information drive but she largely credited the Cebuano taxpayers for their good collection performance.

BIR-13 covers the provinces of Cebu and Bohol while four out of the five district offices are based in Cebu.

“With the cooperation and support shown by Cebuano taxpayers, we are optimistic that we can be able to achieve our collection goal for 2012 of P14.3 billion,” said Galanto.

For the first quarter this year, the agency has a target goal of P3. 22 billion but so far, the collection performance posted a tentative total of only P3.06 billion with a slight deficit of P152 million or 4.72 percent.

The figures however, were only tentative as all the data from the different regional district offices are still being collated and finalized.

“By next week, we will be able to finalize all tax collections from the period January to March. Here we will know whether we have surpassed our tax collection performance,” bared Zenaida Pancito, chief of the Collection Division of BIR-13.

Pancito echoed Galanto’s optimism that the agency will be able to exceed its target goal for the first quarter this year as some remittances from the municipalities and other rural areas have yet to be tabulated.

Every year, the agency’s tax collection goal is increasing as Pancito said this remains a challenge to them especially as they have shown consistent positive performance for the past three years.

“Every year we expect an increase in collection goal as our objective is really to increase tax collections. Tax is the lifeblood of the nation and the money will be spent by the government on basic public services among other priorities,” Pancito said.

Meanwhile, BIR 13 Chief Legal Division Atty. Asuncion Bernades in the same forum disclosed that they have endorsed to their national office one company in Mandaue City for investigation of possible tax fraud.

Bernades withheld the name of the company as it is subject for investigation. There are around 100 cases that have been elevated to the special investigation unit of their Central Office for possible tax evasion and fraud.

Competition for tech people launched in Cebu

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2012/04/11/competition-tech-people-launched-cebu-215734
• Wednesday, April 11, 2012

By Tashuana Alemania (Sunnex)

CEBU CITY -- An event where technology enthusiasts come together to launch startup businesses was launched Wednesday in Lahug, Cebu City.

Startup Weekend, which will be held at the University of the Philippines-Cebu campus on May 11 to 13, is a 54-hour competition where developers, designers, marketers, technopreneurs, and venture capitalists come together, form teams, build products, and launch startup businesses.

This hands-on experience happens over the course of one weekend starting from Friday at 6 p.m. and will end on Sunday night with the launching of the startup businesses.

Volunteer event organizer Dave Overton of sym.ph said the event aims to have an environment where people can come out with their ideas.

"What's Startup Weekend all about is getting the right people in the right room with the right idea," he said.

Overton said this is a great opportunity and "people should come at the event, pitch their ideas, form a team and do something about it."

The concept, which started in the United States, is now a global movement taking digital startup business from ideas through intensive mentoring from industry experts.

Event lead organizer Mark Abella of TechTalks said participants in the event will pitch startup concepts they are passionate about and will be taught to develop their ideas into a business and how to get investors and money from it.

Mark Buenconsejo of CareSharing Inc., for his part, said, "The idea of the event is that like an entrepreneurship workshop where people get to work with other people and work on the idea."

Albert Padin of SpellDial, one of the mentors, said the event is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to build their dream team and build their network.

At the end of the event, judges with different expertise will choose one team as the winner.

Those who are interested in the event can register via http://cebu.stratupweekend.org until May 11 or while slots are available.

Overton said they can only accommodate 100 to 150 participants in the event.

Aside from the Philippines, Startup Weekends this year will also be held in France, Singapore, Argentina, Canada, USA, Norway, UK, Denmark, Mexico, Italy, Palestine, Senegal, Taiwan, Hungary, Australia, Lithuania, Algeria, Ireland, Switzerland, Martinique, Tunisia, Spain, China, India, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Belarus, Poland, Turkey, Uganda, Kosovo, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Germany, Peru, Moldova, Croatia, Cambodia, Egypt, Bolivia and the Netherlands.

Riverbasin plan to cost P13M

• Source:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/174331/riverbasin-plan-to-cost-p13m
• Tuesday, April 10, 2012 7:38 am

By Candeze R. Mongaya (Reporter,Cebu Daily News)

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR) 7 endorsed the P13-million budget of the Central Cebu River Basins Management Council (CCRBMC) to the Regional Development Council (RDC).

DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Maximo Dischoso said that the component of the master plan includes watershed management, environmental conservation, institutional and policy, water resources management, flood control and hazard mitigation, wetlands and river, gender, and information, education, and communication.

The Central Cebu river basins covers four major watershed areas namely, Mananga, Lusaran-Combado, Kotkot and the coastal river basins which includes Guinsaga, Butuanon, Mahiga, Guadalalupe, Lahug, Linao and Bulacao.

It covers a total area of 68,133 hectares and also covers the cities of Cebu, Toledo, Danao, Mandaue, and Talisay; and municipalities of Asturias, Minglanilla, Lilo-an, Consolacion, Compostela, and Balamban.

IT Firm Opens Cebu Operations

• Source:http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/356598/it-firm-opens-cebu-operations
• Monday, April 9, 2012, 4:38pm

By MALOU M. MAZO

CEBU CITY, Cebu – Owing to the bullishness of Cebu’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, an information technology (IT) company, specializing in non-voice services, opened its first Cebu hub recently.

Talleco, with some 100 workstations at the Cebu IT Tower within the Cebu Business Park, is an information technology company offering non-voice account on software development, data entry and other IT-related works and processes.

“Manila is already saturated with BPO companies and we see Cebu as an opportunity to grow our business because of Cebu’s big pool of qualified human resources,” said Talleco managing director Kurt Andrada.

He sees the Cebu Business Park as a strategic location for the company because the Park, according to Andrada “offers a healthy lifestyle which is less congested with no bars and away from stiff competition with other BPOs.”

Andrada said Talleco initially opened in March this year, with an initial 75 employees working on a three-shift operation serving North American clients.

“We’re aiming for a progressive development in our Cebu hub, targeting to add two or more clients by the end of this year or early 2013,” he said.

Talleco, according to Andrada, is set to increase its workforce to 200 people by year-end. Such workforce will consist of software developers, network engineers, data entry professionals, and project managers.

2,000 visitors in Oslob; ‘more solemn’ Holy Week in Bantayan

• Source:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/173357/2000-visitors-in-oslob-%E2%80%98more-solemn%E2%80%99-holy-week-in-bantayan
• Sunday, April 8, 2012 6:53 am

by Carmel Loise Matus (Correspondent,Cebu Daily News)

ABOUT 2,000 visitors went to Oslob town in south Cebu on Black Saturday to watch whale sharks.

Yesterday’s crowd was double the size of visitors on Holy Thursday, said PO2 Nelson Mendaros of the Oslob Police Station.

There were no whale shark watching guides on Good Friday.

He said most of the visitors were local tourists with a few foreigners. The crowd peaked at 9 a.m. and thinned out towards the 1 p.m. cut-off.

Oslob Mayor Ronald Guaren also dropped by the coastal barangay, which is a distance from the town’s poblacion to check on the visitors.

Meanwhile, in Bantayan Island in northern Cebu, there were a few cases of drunken conduct but police said it was “more solemn” this year for Holy Week.

Mayor Ian Christopher Escario said restaurant and bar owners helped by heeding his request not to play loud music starting Holy Wednesday.

No bikini shows were held in line with a strict Capitol policy against it.

The mayor said despite the ban, it didn’t affect the tourism industry and that resorts and pension houses in the island were fully booked despite charging double room rates for the peak season.

He said at least 10 class reunions were held this week, with on batch organizing an Easter Fun Run today.

Bike lanes in Cebu City

• Source:http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/bike-lanes-in-cebu-city/#.T3_7mHqrjQo
• Friday, April 7, 2012

by Phoebe Jen Indino

Cebu City, Philippines – A multi-sectoral citizenry composed of different environment advocacy organizations and private individuals, who want to make a significant change, is campaigning for the creation of bike lanes here.

“This hip campaign allows the people to reclaim their rights in creating public spaces for a healthful and sustainable society, and put back our sense of community“, said Vince Aureflor Cinches of 350.org Pilipinas, whose group is also supporting the same cause.

In a manifesto released recently, the group proposes to put up bicycle lanes in Cebu City roads for the safety of bikers, cyclists, skateboarders, and pedestrians. Further, the group believed that the bikers, skateboarders, pedestrians and cyclists also deserve respect and equal rights to share the road with other vehicle drivers.

It also cited that space on the road should be allocated by number of passengers, not just size of vehicles: one person riding a bike should be given the same amount of space as one person riding an SUV.

Good Friday devotees nailed to crosses

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2012/04/06/good-friday-devotees-nailed-crosses-215044
• Friday, April 6, 2012

(AP/Tashuana Alemania/Daryl Anunciado/Sunnex)

CEBU CITY -- Thousands of people gathered in Philippine villages to watch devotees being nailed to crosses as they marked Good Friday by re-enacting Jesus Christ's suffering.

In Cebu City, a man in Barangay Guadalupe had himself suffered from carrying the cross to show his acts of penitence.

He was placed between two other men who also portrayed as the criminals who were crucified next to Jesus Christ.

In Pampanga, nine men wearing crowns of twigs on their heads were crucified for a few minutes by villagers dressed as Roman centurions in San Pedro Cutud village. At least eight other people were nailed to crosses in neighboring villages.

Prior to the crucifixions, dozens of male penitents walked several kilometers (miles) through village streets, beating their bare backs with sharp bamboo sticks and pieces of wood. Some of the penitents had their backs inflicted with cuts to keep them bloody.

The spectacle reflects a unique brand of Catholicism that merges church traditions with Philippine folk superstitions.

Many of the mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for the sick or a better life, or give thanks for what they believe were God-given miracles.

Dubbed as “Siete Palabras” (The Seven Last Words), the reenactment depicted the sufferings of Jesus Christ from when Pontius Pilate sentenced and condemned him to the hands of the Roman soldiers, up to his way to his crucifixion, and later, his death.

The yearly rite continues even as church leaders discourage the practice.

"We do not judge and condemn, but we discourage it," Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said of the crucifixions.

Rev. Melvin Castro, also of the CBCP, said "the church's position is there's no need to go through this physical and literal pain on the body because Christ already did that for us."

He said what the church asks is for people to "enter into the passion and death of Christ by internal sacrifices," including going to confession and giving alms.

Meanwhile, Most Reverend Julito Cortes said Friday that the cross where Jesus was nailed dead symbolizes the infinite love of God.

"Ang krus nagpahinumdum kanato dili sa kamatayon ug pag-antos kung dili sa gugma ug kalooy sa Ginoo (The cross reminds us not of death and suffering but of God's love and mercy),” Cortes said in his homily after the Siete Palabras in Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Friday afternoon.

Cortes took over Cebu Archbishop Palma, who is on an emergency leave due to a medical operation, in celebrating the Holy Mass on Good Friday.

He reminded the Catholic faithful to also remember that the cross was the means by which Christ would draw them unto Him and the salvation He offers.

"Gidupa ni Jesus iyang mga kamot aron maabli ang ganghaan sa langit para sa mga tawo (Jesus outstretched His hands to open the door of Heaven for the people),” he said.

Budget for Cebu rivers rehab approved

• Source:http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1091333507739
• Thursday, April 5, 2012

By Hazel F. Gloria (MBCN/HFG-PIA7/DENR-7)

CEBU CITY, April 5 (PIA) -- The Central Cebu River Basins Management Council (CCRBMC) has approved an estimated P13-million budget to rehabilitate and protect the rivers in the region.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) regional executive director Maximo Dichoso said that the Council issued resolution no. 2012-01 endorsing the integrated river basin management and development master plan.

Dichoso added the components of the master plan includes watershed management, environmental conservation, institutional and policy, water resources management, flood control and hazard mitigation, wetlands and river, gender, and information, education, and communication.

Meanwhile, the said council resolution dated March 7, which was attested by Dichoso and approved by Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma as chairperson of the council, was forwarded to the Regional Development Council (RDC-7) on April 2 for adoption, acceptance, and support.

“The CCRBMC subscribes to the integrated approaches to development using the river basin as a planning and management unit,” he said.

The project has two phases: the first phase reviewed the water policy and development strategy for the river basins, and the second phase involved the formulation of a 15-year master plan, with specific projects for water resources, watershed management, flood control, environment, and institutional arrangement considering current problems and issues.

The Central Cebu river basins has a total area of 68,133 hectares which covers four major watershed areas such as Mananga with 8,716 hectares; Lusaran-Combado, 26,257; Coastal, 24,849; and Kotkot with 8,311 hectares.

Coastal river basins include Guinsaga, Butuanon, Mahiga, Guadalalupe, Lahug, Linao, and Bulacao.

This covers cities of Cebu, Toledo, Danao, Mandaue, and Talisay; and municipalities of Asturias, Minglanilla, Lilo-an, Consolacion, Compostela, and Balamban.

CCRBMC is a multi-stakeholder organization that will use the integrated water resources management principles and adapt the integrated watershed or river basins and ecosystems management approach as an overarching strategy to environment and natural resources management.

Cops Reinforced For Holy Week

• Source:http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/356286/cops-reinforced-for-holy-week
• Wednesday, April 4, 2012, 4:43pm

By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.

CEBU CITY, Cebu — The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) has fielded 150 policemen starting Wednesday as part of its security and order measures for Holy Week.

Some 42 police personnel are going to Bantayan Island, a known hotspot during the Holy Week, while 44 officers are being tasked to provide security in Minglanilla and neighboring towns. Another 51 police officers will stay in the headquarters and 14 police personnel will be on standby.

The CPPO has also established at least 100 public assistance centers starting Wednesday to provide help to the public and ensure safety and order during the observance of Holy Thursday and Good friday.

The public assistance centers are in strategic areas such as piers, 85 churches in the province, and tourism spots, among others, said CPPO Director Patrocinio Comendador.

There are about 243 beaches in Cebu province, although only 22 of these beaches are considered “busy,” Commendador said. He said the CPPO has divided Cebu in eight areas to be supervised by CPPO officials.

Cebu signs support for PWDs’ right to suffrage

• Source:http://verafiles.org/cebu-signs-support-for-pwds-right-to-suffrage/
• Tuesday, April 3, 2012

by KARLON N. RAMA (with Erika Lagunzad)

CEBU CITY – The provincial government of Cebu pledged to encourage more persons with disability to take part in the 2013 elections when it signed a commitment to support the Fully Abled Nation campaign that upholds PWDs’ right to suffrage.

Provincial board member Arleigh Sitoy, who some years back survived a stroke that has left him with a limp, signed in behalf of the provincial government.

Sitoy and other PWDs took center stage at the launching of the campaign in Cebu on March 28. Cebu is the 20th province with the most numbers of PWDs, according to the February 2011 data from the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The records of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as of July 2011 rank Cebu as the 11th province with the most number of registered PWDs.

Retired navy captain Oscar Taleon, who is blind and is the president and co-founder of the Alyansa ng may Kapansanang Pinoy (AKAP-Pinoy), also signed his commitment to the campaign. AKAP-Pinoy has 56 chapters nationwide and 450 disabled persons organizations (DPOs) as affiliates.

The Fully Abled Nation campaign is aimed at insuring that PWDs’ right to vote is observed in the midterm elections next year.

The event was attended by representatives of DPOs, other local government officials and support groups such as VSO Bahaginan and the Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme (GVSP), which led the launching of the campaign.

In his speech, Sitoy said it was time PWDs “live like everybody else.” He is known as a PWD rights advocate in Cebu having earlier proposed an ordinance giving tax incentives to business establishments in the province that have “barrier-free environments” and those that cater to tourism for PWDs.

“This is an important event,” Taleon said, as a troupe of hearing impaired dancers took over the stage and performed the Sinulog to hand gestures a teacher from the local First Integrated School for the Hearing Impaired synced to the drum beat.

A PWD dancer performs the Sinulog, a dance that honors the Sto. Nino (infant Jesus) after the signing of commitment. (Photo by KARLON RAMA)

A recent Social Weather Stations survey noted a decline in the number PWDs taking part in the electoral process. From 60 percent in 2007, only 54 percent of the 1,200 PWDs surveyed were able to vote in the 2010. Among those who voted in 2010, the ortophedically impaired showed the highest percentage of participation at 56 percent, followed by the visually impaired at 51 percent, then the hearing/speech impaired at 48 percent.

While the Comelec has registered more than 700,000 voters as of January, the figure is small given how, said Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento in a previous speech, the actual number of PWDs in the country is about 15 percent of the total 101 million population.

Though the Omnibus Election Code does not discriminate against PWDs and observes their right to suffrage, Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano admits that many are unable to take part because the process of registering and voting is largely not barrier-free.

“Many of our offices are in the upper floors of buildings, many of which don’t have elevators,” Castillano said of the hindrances faced by PWDs during regular voter registration.

The problem of access is as pronounced when voting time comes, he said, as precincts are normally found in upper rooms of public school buildings.

“Comelec does not have any control over that. We can’t choose which buildings local government units place us. If we build our own or rent a place, it gets disallowed in audit. In Mandaue City, they placed us on the third floor. And we have no say in the design of schools,” Castillano added.

The Comelec has nonetheless conducted a special registration for PWDs in the Visayas for the entire month of March.

In May last year, the Comelec national office issued Resolution 9220 which prescribes guidelines for the nationwide registration of PWDs.

“We went off-site. We took our data capturing machines outside our third floor location and placed it in more accessible places in the barangays. We informed the barangays days ahead that they will be coming so they could disseminate the information to the communities,” Castillano revealed of the Cebu special registration that began March 1.

The only requirement for registration is a valid ID card or a birth certificate proving that the registrant is of legal age.

Resolution 9220 does not only mandate better access for the PWD registrants, it also revises the registration form to gather supplementary data like type of disabilities and the form of assistance needed come election day.

“I am thankful that the Comelec has conducted special registrations for people with disabilities, daghan man ma discourage og register og vote sa una kay samok, unya hasol pud labi na namo nga mga naka-wheelchair (a lot get discouraged to register and vote because of the hassle, particularly on us who are on wheelchairs),” said Shiela Padilla who has polio.

She now expects to vote in May 2013.

And there are added perks. ”Sa karon, nag-enjoy man pud mi sa special nga discounts nga gihatag sa mga disabled og sa mga senior citizen sa taga palitunon namo, dako gyud siya og matabang (we enjoy special discounts on whatever we buy, just like senior citizens. It helps),” said Jose Revel who also has polio and gets around with the help of crutches.

The Cebu City government allocates P16.8 million annually for PWDs and P12 million of that is spent for cash assistance. The remaining P4.8 million is allocated for the operation of the city’s Persons with Disability Affairs Office.

Holy Week meaningless unless we make changes

• Source:www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=793496
• Monday, April 2, 2012 12:00 AM

By Mylen P. Manto/BRP (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - "Repent and enter into a new way of life with renewed faith in God."

This was how Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma emphasized the true meaning of the observance of Holy Week during his homily yesterday at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

He reiterated the important thing to do is to take part in all activities of the Church. He stressed celebrating Holy Week every year will not have much sense and purpose "if we don't impose a change within for the betterment of ourselves."

In order to change, Palma made a special mention of confession.

"It's a time to repent and believe in the goodness of God. We have to repent and change ourselves. We can do that through confession."

"We are called to repent, to live in the good news and to change ourselves through confession," he stressed.

Palma added the love of God is the reason for change.

"We changed to a happy people, a people of faith and a people who express his faith in many signs of solidarities."

In the observance of the most important week of a year, Palma highlighted the significance of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday.

"The pass-over of our lives is a time to depart from our old selves and embrace the new you," he said.

He added the celebration of Easter Sunday when Christ is risen gives "us new life and new beginning."

"At the end of the Holy Week we enter into a new life of faith and of grace and of service to God our maker," he said.

Passion Sunday

Palm Sunday is the celebration of the Christians of the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem a week before His death and His resurrection.

Palma said Palm Sunday is also called Passion Sunday which marks the beginning of Holy Week.

"It's the week when we enter more deeply into the mysteries of faith that meant or intended to truly make us holy to be able to appreciate the love of God and therefore to open our heart to God and share in God's life in God's holiness," he said.

He, however, said although many people think Holy Week is a time for vacation, he is thankful for the Cebuanos' different way of thinking.

"Thank you Cebu. Thank you because of our greater Christian civilization. We believe that Holy Week is not simply a week for vacation but a week when we enter more deeply into our faith. The best way to celebrate and spend the Holy Week is to participate in the main activities of the church and we started it with Palm Sunday," he said.

Palma said 2012 is more special and meaningful because it has been declared by Pope Benedict XVI as the "Year of Faith."

Outside the church many vendors said they earned well, selling palm fronds shaped into crosses and other designs at P10 to P20 depending on the design.

Cebu International Airport Expansion Set

• Source:http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/356009/cebu-international-airport-expansion-set
• Sunday, April 1, 2012, 3:28am

By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.

MACTAN, Cebu – The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) Board said the expansion for the existing arport facility is now being programmed after making a decision to expand, rather than transfer the airport to another location.

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) turned over last year its final report on the Feasibility Study for the New Passenger Terminal and Master Plan of the MCIA.

After its board meeting Friday last week, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia who sits in the board said "there is now a particular schedule in the procurement process for the building of this (new) terminal."

Garcia, however, did not divulge to media the exact schedule except that the construction of said new terminal will be on a Build-Operate-Transfer scheme under the government’s public-private partnership (PPP) policy.

She asked the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for a more compressed time schedule within which to implement the study.

The MCIA, when constructed in the 1990s, was designed to accommodate 4.5 million passengers; last year, the airport terminal has already hit some 6.2 million passengers.

For the first two months of this year alone, the MCIA accommodated 296,474 passengers, or 25 percent higher than the 237,946 passengers that arrived in the terminal for the same period in 2011.

Garcia said Cebu "is becoming more interesting and people like to come here as it gives a lot of opportunities for employment and businesses."

With this growth in passengers, Garcia said it is "a challenge" for the Cebu government to see to it that the infrastructure can keep up with this development. "We have an expansion in the existing terminal but we really need a new terminal that should be built not just to serve 6.2 million passengers but for 20 to 30 million in the next 20 years," Garcia said.