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==WEF to hold summit in Cebu==
*Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2014/03/31/wef-hold-summit-cebu-335885
*Monday, March 31, 2014
:By Katlene O. Cacho [(PNA), CTB/EB/]
THE World Economic Forum (WEF) community in the Philippines yesterday announced they will be hosting a three-day summit in Cebu next month called the Open Collaboration with East Asia New Champions (Ocean), an extension of the WEF East Asia Regional Summit 2014 in Manila.
Ocean 2014 Summit chairman Winston Damarillo said the event aims to engage global and local Filipino “change-makers” to come up with significant contribution to social and economic progress through networking and dialogue.
“We will be bringing in the important conversation of the WEF and share it directly to the community,” said Damarillo.
The Ocean 2014 Summit will be held at Movenpick Resort and Spa in Mactan, Cebu on May 23 to 25. More than 200 leaders from the government, business, academe, arts and culture will share strategies and solutions on pressing issues to attain a collaborative action on a national level.
Damarillo, who is a Young Global Leader (YGL) and active participant of the WEF said this is the first time the event is held in the region and the first time the WEF community reached out to the local government unit and local business chambers in holding the summit.
More than the talk on specific issues, Damarillo said the focus of the summit is to “get something done” as the discussions might involve the creation of new laws or change of policies.
:Innovation focus
The area of focus is innovation. He said the Ocean summit aims to develop a framework for creating Innovation Zones that would promote a new class of businesses.
“As the country becomes more prosperous it is so important that wealth is distributed to as many people as possible and the best way to do that is through entrepreneurship and the best way to help is design innovation zones,” he said.
Damarillo described Innovations Zones as similar to Peza that gives special treatment to small businesses to make them globally competitive. He said these zones will build on best practices and will encourage innovation since these are designed for start-ups and entrepreneurs working on high-risk and high-reward ventures.
There will be series of hackathons in various areas such as in performing arts, social media and technology, Damarillo said. Representatives from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Georgetown University along with the country’s top universities have also committed to participate in the sessions at the summit.
Karen Davila, Ocean 2014 Summit co-chair and YGL said they picked Cebu as the host destination to help highlight the province’s potential as a tourism and investment destination.
“Cebu should be showcased to the world. We believe that it should be part in the WEF Summit,” said Davila, an ABS-CBN broadcast journalist. She said there will be sessions that will highlight the strength of Cebu, not only its beaches but also its abundance of young entrepreneurs and talent pool who are well-versed in IT and outsourcing.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said he is pleased that the organizers have picked Cebu as this will put the province in the investor radar in Asia and in the world.
For the first time, the WEF East Asia Regional Summit will be held in Manila, Philippines from May 21 to 23. WEF is a Geneva-based non-profit organization established in 1971 that is widely known of its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
:PH growth
The WEF will showcase the Philippines’ growth story, being an emerging economy and one of the best performing economies in the region. The International Monetary Fund projected the country to grow by 6.5 percent while Standard and Poor’s raised its growth projection to 6.6 percent this year.
The upcoming summit will also discuss issues related to the Asean 2015 integration, which will allow easier movement of people, investments, goods and services within the region.
On top of the summit, the WEF community is also establishing a Global Shapers Hub in Cebu, which will be launched by the middle of April.
According to the organization’s website the Global Shapers Community is a network of hubs developed and led by young people who are exceptional in their potential, their achievements and their drive to make a contribution to their communities.
Founding curator of Global Shapers Cebu Hub and president of The Islands Group Jonathan Jay Aldeguer said at least nine young Cebuano leaders aged 20 to 30 years old will make up the core group of the Cebu hub.
==Metro Cebu saves 1.9 megawatts in Saturday’s Earth Hour==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=630818
*Sunday, March 30, 2014
:By Eddie O. Barrita [(PNA), CTB/EB/]
CEBU CITY, March 30 (PNA) -- Metro Cebu saved some 1.9 megawatts during the one-hour power switch off Saturday night as Cebuanos joined the worldwide Earth Hour, in a bid to raise awareness on the need to save the environment.
Theresa Sedriosa, corporate communications manager of the Visayan Electric Company (Veco), said this is much lower than the 11 megawatts of power saved in last year’s event.
Cebu City government officials led the ceremonial switch off by unplugging a large-scale model electric plug from a socket on stage at SM City Cebu’s Northwing at the city’s north reclamation area.
At 8:30 p.m., the mall shut off 50 percent of its lights.
Children held up neon light sticks as the only illumination in the hall aside from plastic cups with lighted wicks that formed the “60+” symbol of Earth Hour on the floor.
Two fire dancers performed to the beat of drums by the percussion group Lupon Anduyo.
“Earth Hour is a positive step for sustainable development,” said Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgar Labella in his remarks during the program.
“Turning off the lights should not just be symbolic but must go beyond symbolism to understanding how to help in lifting the next generation,” Labella said.
==ICT sector readies for integration==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2014/03/29/1306472/ict-sector-readies-integration
*Saturday, March 29, 2014 12:00 am
:By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - The Information, Communication and Technology sector in Cebu is gearing up for the inevitable implementation of the ASEAN integration next year.
Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology  executive director Wilfredo Sa-a Jr., said the sector has already identified the challenges that industry players are most likely to encounter in a unified market, saying preparing the educational system and understanding the changing market requirements are now being started.
Sa-a also added that local players are now also bracing themselves for a tougher environment and identifying the challenges that they may be facing.
However, Sa-a said although there are certain major concerns and challenges, the ICT sector also anticipates opportunities that will be brought in by the integration.
"The integration has already started happening in 2010 with tariff of some products already reduced. This integration allows for free movement of goods and services as well as capital and with it is some 600 million captive market for our products, however, we should know how we can tap that huge market and compete," he said.
Sa-a said the country’s leverage in ICT and outsourcing is its advantage in the ASEAN region.   
In fact, he said there is a big possibility that the Philippine outsourcing sector may become the top choice for offshore operations among ASEAN member countries.
Meanwhile, National Computer Center head for the Visayas operations Frederick Amores said that for the Philippines to fully capitalize on the strength of the outsourcing and ICT sectors, infrastructure needs to be improved.
"We have not established complete network coverage in all parts of the country. Our bandwidth here is also more expensive than the bandwidth in Japan. There must be something that should be done about that if we want to compete," said Amores.
With the entry of the ASEAN economic community Amores mentioned that there is also a need for the local capitalists to grab the opportunity in putting their money in ICT and BPO investments, before foreign investors can fully enjoy Filipinos' diversed talents.
At present, Amores said most ICT and outsourcing investments are foreign owned, although this is not bad, but it would be good if local investors will also be able to take this golden chance.
For Cebu, Sa-a said the province has already saw this need and is actively doing events that will encourage more local investments for outsourcing and ICT.
"One example is the startup weekend which CEDFIT is also an active partner. We are planning another one in June with a bootcamp to set the level higher," Sa-a said.
Aside from fixing the support infrastructure, Sa-a said the academe sector should also be strengthened to synchronize their standards with the international system.
"We will be doing more trainings in other areas soon as a spin-off from the success here. In May we'll be in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and in Bacolod after for more round of trainings," added Sa-a.
Understanding the need of the market Sa-a emphasized is important so that local ICT stakeholders will be able to brace themselves in the free-flow competition.
==To hire 1,500: BPO firm to open facility in Mactan==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2014/03/28/1306085/hire-1500-bpo-firm-open-facility-mactan
*Friday, March 28, 2014 12:00 am
:By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Philippine Star)
CEBU, Philippines - Manulife Group's outsourcing arm Manulife Business Processing Services (MBPS) is opening an 800-seat global shared service facility in Cebu at the Mactan Newtown and is expected to hire a total of 1,500 starting this year.
In a press conference yesterday MBPS vice president and general manager Gigi Mantaring announced the company's entry to Cebu, owing to the dynamic outsourcing industry in the province.
MBPS will occupy the entire Two World Center building or soon to be called Manulife Building, currently being constructed and set to be completed by June this year.
The Canada-based Manulife, one of the oldest life insurance firms in the country, operates its global shared service facility operations in the Philippines and China.
"The people are key to our success, and Cebuanos are very talented," said Mantaring adding that the Cebu facility opening is also meant to mitigate concentration risks due to natural resources.
MBPS started its operation in 2006 in Quezon City in Manila, and later expanded to Chengdu, China with 3,300 employees to date.
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MBPS handles broad range of services for Manulife's global clients such as financial, investment, information technology, among others.
Mantaring said the company will hire professionals with financial degree backgrounds, or even fresh graduates. The facility is set to start operations in the third quarter of this year.
Megaworld first vice president Jericho P. Go said MBPS is the third BPO company to open at the 28.8-hectare township development launched last year.
"We now have three BPO locators in the township and all of them are first time locators in Cebu. This is a clear indication that several BPO companies are eyeing Mactan as their next hub, and that a Megaworld township remains to be their top choice," said Go.
By second half of this year, the offices of the 8 Newtown Boulevard will also start operations, offering an additional 35,000 square-meters of office space inventory. Once fully occupied, the tower will generate an additonal 10,000 employees in the township.
"This year, The Mactan Newtown will become a bustling cyberpark of Central Visayas, much like its predecessors, Eastwood City and McKinley Hills," Go added.
The Mactan Newtown has been declared a "Special Economic Zone" by President Benigno S. Aquino III under presidential proclamation number 407. This places the township development under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), which allows businesses inside to enjoy various privileges such as tax incentives and holidays.
Megaworld has earmarked P20 billion for the development of The Mactan Newtown in the next five years.
==Megaworld’s Cebu township project seen to create 45,000 jobs==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=629921
*Thursday, March 27, 2014
:(PNA), FPV/LDV
MANILA, March 27 (PNA) -- Megaworld Corp., the country’s top business process outsourcing (BPO) developer and landlord, is fast-tracking the construction of office towers in its township project in Cebu that aim to create 45,000 jobs in the next five to seven years.
The 28.8-hectare The Mactan Newtown township’s first office tower, One World Center, is now fully leased out by two international BPO-information technology (IT) companies – United States-based Enfra USA and Results Manila. Both companies employ more than 2,000 employees today.
The six-storey second office tower, Two World Center, was recently topped off and is expected to open for operations this June.
The corporate building with over 7,000 square meters of spaces will be able to accommodate around 1,200 employees.
Canada-based Manulife, one of the oldest life insurance firms in the country, has leased out the entire building for its operations in Cebu.
“We now have three BPO locators in the township and all of them are first time locators in Cebu. This is a clear indication that several BPO companies are eyeing on Mactan as their next hub, and that a Megaworld township remains to be their top choice,” said Megaworld first vice president Jericho Go.
By second half of this year, the offices at the 8 Newtown Boulevard will also start operations, offering an additional 35,000 square meters of office space inventory.
Once fully occupied, the tower will generate an additional 10,000 employees in the township.
Go also bared that the company is constructing at least five to 10 more office towers in the township by 2021 to reach the target of 150,000 square meters of office space inventory.
“Due to an overwhelming demand of office spaces and significant growth of the BPO industry in Cebu, we are doing a massive infrastructure push in The Mactan Newtown. We have received inquiries left and right from top BPO companies that are interested to set up operations in our township,” he said.
The strong interest among BPO companies was further propelled by the recent announcement that the township will have its own beach.
Megaworld has earmarked Php 20 billion for the development of The Mactan Newtown in the next five to seven years.
==DOH-7 signs pact vs tuberculosis==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/03/26/1305299/doh-7-signs-pact-vs-tuberculosis
*Wednesday, March 26, 2014 12:00 am
:By Jessa J. Agua/FPL (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - As international health agencies celebrate World TB Day, the Department of Health Central Visayas yesterday signed an agreement with various stakeholders for treatment facility enhancement to ensure case detection and cure in the region.
Recipients of the P4.4 million in total Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (TB DOTS) facilities rehabilitation were 16 local government units in Bohol and three others from northern Cebu.
In Bohol, recipients of the P200,000 financial assistance for rehabilitation of TB DOTS centers included the municipalities of Antequera, Baclayon, Calape, Catigbian, Loon, Sikatuna, Tubigon, Inabanga, Anda, Candijay, Sevilla, Corella, Lila, Loboc, and Carmen.
Northern Cebu beneficiaries of the grant from DOH National TB Control Program are Bantayan and Madridejos both in Bantayan Island and the municipality of Medellin.
"The main factor in choosing the recipients is that they are mostly disaster hit area to be able to also help in the rehabilitation of the health facilities in these areas," said Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi, DOH Central Visayas assistant director.
Bohol was jolted by a powerful earthquake in October while northern Cebu was devastated by super typhoon Yolanda.
National TB Control Program has spent P20 million since 2012 and this year, DOH has allotted P8 million for Central Visayas, Legaspi added.
Regional TB Control Program Coordinator Jocelyn "Joy" Tabotabo urged all sectors to help the government in aiming for the missed 3 million TB patients worldwide.
"We are encouraging for a collaborative effort in addressing TB as well as erasing stigma that this gives to our patients as this is curable and for free. The government cannot do it alone. We need assistance from our private health care providers, and the public," Tabotabo said.
As part of the TB In Jail program of the DOH, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-7 also got P200,000 for  its TB program while the city and district jails of Tagbilaran, Danao, Guihulngan, Dumaguete and Bayawan also received the same financial assistance.
Tabotabo emphasized that the health agency is augmenting the BJMP in the construction of isolation cells for inmates with TB because the disease is contagious. A total of 106 cases were recorded for the year 2013 from the 8,100 total inmates in Central Visayas, said BJMP- 7 director, Chief Superientendent Deogracias Tapayan.
Signifying their strong commitment to help the national government implement the National TB Control Program, private and public health institutions also signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
These included Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Sacred Heart Hospital, Eversly Child Sanitarium, Perpetual Soccour Hospital, Silliman University Medical Center Inc., Borja Family Hospital, Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, Tagbilaran Community Hospital, Don Emilio del Valle Memorial Hospital, Visayas Community Medical Center, Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu Doctors' University Hospital Inc., Cebu North General Hospital, Vicente Gullas Memorial Hospital, Mandaue City Hospital, Amosup Seamen's Hospital, St. Vincent General Hospital, Adventist Hospital Cebu, St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital, Cebu City Medical Center, Camp Lapu-Lapu Army Station Hospital (AFP Hospital), Lapu-Lapu City Hospital, Mactan Doctors' Hospital, Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, Siquijor Provincial Hospital, Ramiro Community Hospital, Cebu Provincial Hospital Balamban, Juan B. Dosado Memorial Hospital, Mariano Jesus Cuenco Memorial Hospital, Badian District Hospital, Bantayan District Hospital, Cebu Provincial Hospital Bogo City, Cebu Provincial Hospital Carcar City, Cebu Provincial Hospital Danao City, Daanbantayan District Hospital, Dr. Jose Ma. V. Borromeo Memorial Hospital, Isidro C. Kintanar Memorial Hospital, Minglanilla District Hospital, Oslob District Hospital, Ricardo Maningo Memorial Hospital, Tuburan District Hospital.
In 2013, Central Visayas recorded 76 percent in case detection with 89 percent cure rate and 92 percent treatment and success rate.
It fell short on its 85 percent target for case detection, but was able to surpass its cure rate target of 85 percent and treatment and success rate of 90 percent. DOH-7 data revealed that about 13,783 were infected with TB last year.
Moreover, the celebration of  World TB Day also recognized top implementing health facilities in the region as well as media partners including The Freeman, SunStar Cebu, Cebu Daily News, Manila Bulletin, TV5 Cebu, and GMA Cebu.
==DPWH 7 says Cebu to get P6.2B infra projects in 2015==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=629049
*Tuesday, March 25, 2014
:(PNA), FFC/EB
CEBU CITY, March 25 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 said Cebu will get at least P6.2 billion worth of infrastructure projects in 2015.
Engr. Nonie Paylado, DPWH 7 planning and design chief, said this is part of the agency’s P20.2 billion proposed budget for Central Visayas next year
Under the proposal, Cebu’s fourth district will get some P785.624 million worth of infrastructure project.
This includes P251.835 million for national arterial roads, P284.789 million for national secondary roads, P55 million for national bridges, P60 million for flood control and drainage, P34 million for public buildings, among others.
Cebu’s first district will get P890 million that includes P500 million for the completion of the road from Linao, Minglanilla to Cantabacao, Toledo City; P290 million for flood control structures parallel to national roads and P100 million for drainage protection of critical sections along national roads.
Cebu’s third district will get P1.319-billion that includes P827.929 million for national arterial and secondary roads and bridges, P130 million for the acquisition of road right-of-way, P105 million for preventive maintenance of roads and P167.5 million for flood control and drainage system.
The budget for the second district was unspecified, but includes preventive road maintenance and rehabilitation of damaged paved national roads, bridges and box culverts, flood control and seawall.
The fifth district will get P1.148 billion that includes P674 million for national arterial and secondary roads and bridges, P474 million for rehabilitation and reconstruction of national highways in Danao City and the municipalities of Compostela, Carmen, Catmon, Borbon and Sogod.
DPWH 7 and Rep. Ace Durano (Cebu, 5th district) also allocated P50 million for the reconstruction of the Consolacion-Tayud-Liloan Road which has become a bottleneck for motorists coming from Mandaue City passing through Cansaga Bridge to Consolacion.
Some P20 million is allocated for guardrails and P10 million for Chevron signs and directional signs for the national road in Sogod town in northern Cebu.
There are also allocations of P20 million each for Danao City, Compostela and Liloan for the construction of flood control and drainage facilities.
Cebu’s sixth district will get P2.058 billion that includes P1.3 billion for national arterial and secondary roads and bridges, P618 million for widening of roads to decongest traffic and P140 million to strengthen existing bridges.
==DTI to hold more SME trainings==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2014/03/24/1304513/dti-hold-more-sme-trainings
*Monday, March 24, 2014 12:00 am
:By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) announced it will intensify its campaign on promoting the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by conducting more SME Roving Academy in the region.
DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte said that a series of entrepreneurship briefing and sessions will be held in the four provinces in the region—Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
Briefings and sessions are geared toward enterprise creation and imparting more knowledge and information necessary in starting and running a business.
She said the SME Roving Academy, or the MSME Caravan in Central Visayas is part of the nationwide activity to improve access of micro-small and medium business players to government services particularly in areas where the provision of business development services may be limited.
Caberte said the agency will commission resource speakers who are experts in their respective fields.
In Negros Oriental for instance, DTI plans to conduct training and counseling sessions to promote entrepreneurship, improve access to markets, access to finance, and increase MSME productivity and efficiency.
The activity also aims to increase the awareness of MSMEs on various business development services provided by the government and private sectors.
MSMEs represent 99.6 percent of all registered businesses in the country and can thus be considered as the backbone of the Philippine economy.
The SME Roving Academy is a continuous learning program for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises to become competitive in the domestic and international (global) markets.
It integrates the business development services for SMEs at the national and local level, establishes the Provincial, Regional, and National Entrepreneurship Development Networks and manages an inclusive promotion program.
The program partners with Business Development Services (BDS) Providers;  Local Government Units (LGUs); Training Institutions; Chamber; Academe; Financial Institutions; Trade and Industry Associations; Other government and non-government organizations.
The SME Roving Academy project aims to develop SME business development services both locally and internationally.
The program consists of seven stages, together with the Export Pathways Program—“start-up and capability building, market awareness, market and export readiness, export market entity, export sustainability and export expansion”—which are mostly focused on increasing product and/or service quality for export.
==Sewing grads hired at Lapu export zone==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2014/03/23/1304196/sewing-grads-hired-lapu-export-zone
*Sunday, March 23, 2014 12:00 am
:By Jose P. Sollano (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - A total of 68 residents from Barangay Pajo who have undergone training on high-speed sewing are now employed at Mactan Export Zone in Lapu-Lapu City, barangay captain Junard "Ahong" Chan  said in an announcement yesterday.
According to Chan, the batch of trainees graduated the other day.
Chan said more than 100 residents in Barangay Pajo underwent training, in cooperation with Sports City International.
"Nalipay kaayo kita nga 100 percent gayud nga nakasulod og trabaho ang atong mga kaigsoonan sa Barangay Pajo pinaagi sa atong mga paningkamot," said Chan.
He said that the training will continue and those trainees will be accommodated at the different companies inside MEZ.
Earlier, Barangay Pajo, represented by Chan, signed a memorandum of agreement with Sports City International which runs Metro Wear and Global Wear Apparels operating inside MEZ.
Kim Francisco, manager of Sports City International, said they agreed to partner with Barangay Pajo because of Chan's dedication to serve his constituents.
==Hundreds join int’l shooting tilt in Lapu==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2014/03/22/1303821/hundreds-join-intl-shooting-tilt-lapu
*Saturday, March 22, 2014 12:00 am
:By Jose P. Sollano (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - About 570 shooters, 54 of them coming from other countries, are participating in the three-day Asia-Pacific Glock Invitational International Shooting Competition that formally opened yesterday at the Cebu Pistol and Rifle Association Firing Range in Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City.
The three-day competition is the qualifying event for the World Shoot XVII which will be held in Florida, USA.
The qualifieriers will automatically form part of the Philippine National Shooting Team which will be competing in the world championships this coming October.
KC Eusebio and Tori Nonaka, both from Team USA served as glock clinic instructors of the three day-event organized by Cebu Pistol and Rifle Association headed by its president Albert "Bing" Y. Lim.
Cebu Pistol and Rifle Association is the biggest and oldest gun club in the country based in Lapu-Lapu City.
The activity was also attended by Sven De Souter, marketing director of Glock Asia-Pacific, and Joy Gutierrez-Jose, director for sales and operations of Trust Trade.
Waterfront Police Station Chief  Insp. Wildemar Tiu, who also serves as range officer, said these international events bring honor to CPRA and Cebu in general, citing a number of visitors attending the competition.
The awarding ceremony was scheduled on March 23, 2014 at Tambuli Beach Club in Barangay Buyong, Lapu-Lapu City.
Glock Asia Pacific Limited and Trust Trade is the main sponsor of the three-day competition.
==UN, logistics firm to train MCIA staff==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2014/03/21/1303448/un-logistics-firm-train-mcia-staff
*Friday, March 21, 2014 12:00 am
:By Jose P. Sollano (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - The United Nations Development Program and international logistics company DHL will assist Mactan-Cebu International Airport personnel, as well as employees in different national government and offices, to become more effective in responding disaster and calamities.
MCIA general manager Nigel Paul Villarete said that the said training and seminar was supposedly scheduled in the middle of last year before earthquake and typhoon Yolanda hit Cebu, Bohol and Leyte.
Villarete admitted that they encountered problem after super typhoon Yolanda, citing that the airport was used as center of all relief goods coming from other countries.
According to Villarete, Mactan airport received 100 tons of goods per day during regular days, but after the super typhoon, they received more than 800 tons per day.
Although the airport of Mactan encountered problems after typhoon, but they were able to look solutions to the problems, Villarete said.
He also cited the importance of coordination in addressing the problems they encountered after the typhoon. With the incoming seminar and training, Villarete said their experienced after typhoon Yolanda will guide them.
He further said that there are other national offices and law enforcement agencies also operating inside the airport.
Beside the airport, the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base was also used in transporting relief goods to other provinces.
Meanwhile, the Lapu-Lapu City Police wants to improve in responding crimes by intensifying a special team called Motorcycle Police Crime Response.
Members of the special team are members of the Special Weapons and Tactics who have undergone proper training in responding crimes.
The said team was created during the time of former Lapu-Lapu City Police Chief Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas.
City Mayor Paz Radaza supported the creation of the special police team by giving motorcycles assigned to them.
Lawas, in a previous interview, said that he believes the need for a special team to conduct immediate response after a crime happens in the city.
Acting Lapu-Lapu City Police Chief Sr. Supt. Armando Radoc said he will work to make the special team more effective.
==BFAR turns over P33M to Cebu Capitol for north Cebu seaweed, aqua farm rehab==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=627552
*Thursday, March 20, 2014
:By Eddie O. Barrita [(PNA), CTB/EB/]
CEBU CITY, March 20 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has turned over P33 million to the Cebu Provincial Government as financial assistance for the rehabilitation of seaweed and aqua farms in northern Cebu towns that were damaged by super typhoon Yolanda last year.
BFAR 7 director Andres Bojos handed over the check Wednesday to Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale at the Cebu Capitol.
The amount would be used to purchase seaweed seedlings.
Bojos said that they would have to source the seaweed seedlings from Zamboanga since there is not enough supply in the region.
The Cebu Provincial Government and the BFAR signed an agreement in December last year to assist the local government units in the rehabilitation of the aquaculture industry and enhance the livelihood of fish farmers.
Of the P33 million, P15 million is for seaweeds rehabilitation, P12 million for fish cage and fishpens and fingerlings, P6 million for fishing gears and “payaw.”
Under the agreement, the provincial government will provide a 20 percent counterpart fund to cover administrative operations and other incidental expenses, in cash or in kind.
Bojos said BFAR has already identified 2,500 beneficiaries of the fishing materials.
There are also more than 200 new boats that are set to be distributed in northern Cebu.
At least 250 fishing boats were initially distributed to the fisherfolk in Bantayan Island during the recent visit of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
==Danao set to host Cebu leg of NAGT Series==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-sports/2014/03/19/1302615/danao-set-host-cebu-leg-nagt-series
*Wednesday, March 19, 2014 12:00 am
:By Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines -  Cebuano triathletes take another shot to be part of the national team with the staging of the third leg of the National Age-Group Triathlon (NAGT) Series on April 6 in Danao City's Boardwalk.
It's the first time in five years that Danao hosted an NAGT leg, said Danao City Administrator and sports commisison chairman Oscar "Boying" Rodriguez, Jr. in a press conference yesterday at Irie Gastropubliko.
The race features an adult and kids category plus a duathlon for those who don't know how to swim or opt not to swim.
Adult triathletes will deal with a one-kilometer swim, 30km bike and 7.5km run.
There will also be a relay competition.
For the supertrikids, the age groups to be contested are the under-7, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-15.
The duathlon, on the other hand, has been included upon the prodding of the locals led by no less than Danao Mayor Ramon "Nito" Durano III.
Aside from medals, cash prizes will also be given away to the top three overall finishers in the men's and women's open.
Non-winners will  have something to look forward as exciting items such as Rudy Project watches, sungglasses and bags will be raffled off.
Registration fee is pegged at P1,000 for the triathlon and P500 for the supertrikids and duathlon.
Entry forms are available at Rudy Project in Ayala and SM and The Brick Tri Shop.
==BFP 7 eyes more fire stations in Central Visayas==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=626552
*Tuesday, March 18, 2014
: (PNA), FFC/EB
CEBU CITY, March 18 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 7 is planning to establish more fire stations in Central Visayas, an official said.
Senior Supt. Ma. Luisa Hadjula, BFP 7 regional director, said she has recently conducted a survey of local government units (LGUs) in the region that have yet to establish their own fire stations.
“I was ordered by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas and our national director to conduct this survey. I was given the list of municipalities which are the target of this program,” Hadjula said.
Under the plan, the DILG will finance P2 million for the construction of the fire station as well as providing one fire truck of 1,000 gallon capacity.
Hadjula said the LGUs will have to donate at least 400 square meters of lot where the fire station will be built and a fire truck with a capacity of 2,500 gallons as their counterpart.
Hadjula said the LGUs can buy the fire truck using their calamity fund.
She said the municipalities of Alcoy and Samboan in Cebu have signified strong interest in this program.
“Most of the mayors I talked to over the phone were positive and said they are willing to donate the lot for the fire stations. Some said they will consult the Sangguniang Bayan to get the consensus before finally agreeing to take part in this program of the national government,” she said.
Of the total six component cities and 44 municipalities in Cebu, data from BFP 7 showed that 13 towns have yet to establish their own fire stations.
These include Ronda, Alcantara, Alegria, Badian, Santander, Samboan, Alcoy, Asturias, Tabogon, Borbon, Pilar in Camotes Island, Sta. Fe and Madridejos in Bantayan Island.
Cebu has a total of 37 fire stations and 73 fire trucks, of which 58 are serviceable, three are for repair and two are beyond economical repair condition.
==Megawide, GMR press DOTC on P17.5-B Cebu airport project==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/business/2014/03/17/1301711/megawide-gmr-press-dotc-p17.5-b-cebu-airport-project
*Monday, March 17, 2014 12:00 am
:By Lawrence Agcaoili (The Philippine Star)
MANILA, Philippines - The tandem of Filipino-owned Megawide Construction Corp. and Bangalore-based GMR Airports has asked the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to resolve the issues delaying the award of the P17.5-billion contract for the expansion of the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
In a statement, Megawide chief marketing officer Louie Ferrer said the DOTC should proceed with the awarding of the project that was auctioned by the government through the public private partnership (PPP) program last Dec. 12.
Ferrer reiterated that the accusations hurdled by the Filinvest Group of taipan Andrew Gotianun are baseless.
“The DOTC should proceed with the awarding because there is no ground for anyone, particularly Filinvest, to question GMR’s financial capability as we are confident that this is a non-issue with respect to the results of this bid,” he said.
The Megawide-GMR Group submitted the highest bid of P14.404 billion for the project last Dec. 12 followed by the Filinvest – CAI Consortium with P13.999 billion, and Premier Airport Group of SM Group of retail magnate Henry Sy with P12.5 billion.
The MPIC-JGS Airport consortium led by infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and JG Summit Holdings submitted a bid of P11.23 billion while AAA Airport Partners led by the conglomerate Ayala Group and Cebu-based Aboitiz Land forwarded a bid of P11.088 billion.
The San Miguel Corp.-Incheon Airport consortium submitted a bid of P9.05 billion while the Lopez groups’ First Philippine Airports submitted the lowest bid of P4.7 billion.
However, the awarding of the project has been delayed due to the allegations made by the Filinvest Group on the alleged conflict of interest committed by the Megawide-GMR Group in violation of the bidding rules.
During a Senate hearing last week, the Megawide-GMR Group informed Sen. Serge Osmeña about the group’s unequivocal commitment to the project for 25 years and in building a world-class airport that all Filipinos will be proud of, and Cebuanos can call their own.
The group informed the Osmeña committee that the company maintains that it is in a financially healthy position and that the company makes operational and cash profits as it has done for the past six years.
The GMR-Megawide consortium also denied GMR’s finances took a hit after the Maldives project fell through. It cited GMR’s latest audited financial statements as of September 2013 that showed it has consolidated net worth of $1.68 billion and gross assets of $10 billion.
“The events in the Maldives do not have a material impact on GMR... Presently, GMR enjoys the following credit ratings: Long Term Bank Facilities – BBB+, Short Term Bank Facilities – A2,” Ferrer said.
On the issue of GMR’s “questionable” long-term commitment for the development of the Cebu airport, the consortium emphasized the Indian company’s track record in developing airports all over the world, including in New Delhi, Hyderabad and Istanbul.
==Funds ready for DOJ building in Cebu==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/03/16/1301496/funds-ready-doj-building-cebu
*Sunday, March 16, 2014 12:00 am
:By Mylen P. Manto, FPL (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Justice now has available funds for the construction of its own building, says Cebu provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba.
Petralba said the availability of the funds was relayed to her by prosecutor general Claro Arellano.
Petralba said they are set to meet with Governor Hilario Davide III next week to ask for a lot where the DOJ building will be constructed. The DOJ offices in Cebu shared with the courts at the Marcelo B. Fernan Hall of Justice.
However, the building was declared unsafe by the Office of the Building Officials following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Cebu and its neighboring provinces in Central Visayas last year.
The Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and the Regional State Prosecutor’s Office were forced to rent a building at the Taft Commercial Center along Osmeña Boulevard. The City Prosecutor’s Office continues to occupy the left wing of the ground floor of  the Palace of Justice despite the recommendation to abandon the building.
The provincial prosecutor’s office also continue to hold inquest proceedings at the  Integrated Bar of the Philippines building at the Capitol compound.
“Inquest and filing of cases here at IBP building but pwede sad if regular filing pwede i-file sa Taft Commercial Center nga office,” Petralba said.
Petralba said they hope to finish the construction of the DOJ building within 10 months if  there is already lot available.
The new building will house the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor, Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office, Parole and Probation and the Public Attorney’s Office.
Petralba admitted that the situation has affected the disposal of cases.
“Daghang pending  naglisud ta’g plastar sa mga records, most especially sa city,” Petralba added.
==New ambassadors acknowledge Cebu’s vibrant economy==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/03/15/1301100/new-ambassadors-acknowledge-cebus-vibrant-economy
*Saturday, March 15, 2014 12:00 am
:By Michael H. Braga and Kristine B. Quintas /JMO (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Newly appointed Philippine Ambassadors and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs were in Cebu to cap their two-week Economic Diplomacy Strategic Planning Workshop.
The workshop was started in Manila.
“Kining mga bag-ong appointed nga ambassador, nag-training mig duha ka semana sa lainlain nga aspeto. Kining Cebu mao ra ni among out of town trip. Gipili ang Cebu kay naglihok man gud ang economy diri (The newly-appointed ambassadors trained in different aspects. The visit to Cebu is our only out-of-town trip. Cebu was chosen because of its vibrant economy),” said Ambassador Victoriano Lecaros, spokesperson of the delegation.
The newly-appointed diplomats include Ambassador to Iraq (Baghdad) Edsel Barba; Ambassador to China (Beijing) Antonio Morales; Ambassador to Bangladesh (Dhaka) Vicente Vivencio Bandillo with concurrent jurisdiction over Sri Lanka and Maldives; Ambassador to the United Mexican States (Mexico) Catalino Dilem Jr. with concurrent jurisdiction over Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Cuba; Ambassador to Oman (Muscat) Narciso Castaneda; Ambassador to the Czech Republic (Prague) Victoriano Lecaros; Ambassador to Iran (Tehran) Eduardo Martin Menez; and Ambassador to the Netherlands (The Hague) Jaime Victor Ledda.
Lecaros said it is a thrust of the new ambassadors to encourage investors to consider establishing businesses here. This way, Filipinos would no longer need to seek employment abroad.
“Aron ang mga trabaho anhi na diri. Di na kinahanglan molangyaw ang mga Pilipino aron mangita og kabuhian (So that there will be jobs here. Filipinos would no longer need to leave the country to seek employment),” he said.
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They are also helping in rehabilitation efforts for typhoon-stricken areas in northern Cebu. Assistant Secretary Melita Sta. Maria – Thomeczek has reportedly asked for the status of the province’s rehabilitation efforts.
“We are willing to help,” Lecaros said.
Governor Hilario Davide III, for his part, said at least P10 billion more is needed to rebuild homes. “There are already private organizations helping us. But we still need funds. Homes and buildings were destroyed,” he said.
As part of their visit here, the new ambassadors paid courtesy calls to Davide, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes. They also visited local landmarks.
At the Cebu City Hall, Rama said he asked the ambassadors to help promote the city. He also gave them a piece of advice: “I reminded them the importance of practicing human relations considering that an embassy is an extension of your country. They should always smile,” Rama, known for his charismatic ways, said.
==Phl envoys visit export oriented sites in Cebu==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2014/03/14/1300739/phl-envoys-visit-export-oriented-sites-cebu
*Friday, March 14, 2014 12:00 am
:By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Twenty-seven prospective Philippine Ambassadors visited different export oriented sites in Cebu yesterday to get a glimpse of the economic vibrancy of the province.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA-7) regional director Nikka Fernandez said that Cebu was chosen as the only location outside of Manila for this special program to equip Philippine diplomats with strategic and tactical information useful for conducting economic diplomacy overseas.
Fernandez said these newly deployed and currently trained Philippine diplomats are assigned to countries like Czech Republic, Singapore, South Africa, Hong Kong, Milan, and Middle East, among others.
The Economic Diplomacy Strategic Management Workshop includes a planned trip to Cebu visiting the "TindahangPinoy", economic zones, and other manufacturing and export enterprises in Cebu, said Fernandez.
The Philippine envoys visited the OTOP (One-Town-One-Product) store called "TindahangPinoy" located in Mandaue City yesterday to see the different world-class, Filipino-made products that have huge potential to sell in their respective country of assignments.
The "TindahangPinoy", which is a 500-square-meter space where OTOP products are displayed and sold, is one of the most successful OTOP stores nationwide.
It is a depot that showcases the world-class, export quality products in Cebu. It is managed by the Cebu-GTH (Gifts, Toys and Housewares Exporters Foundation), in cooperation with the DTI.
The OTOP store was originally conceptualized as a mechanism to help exporters and traders tap the influx of tourists so they can find products in an accessible venue.
As part of the economic diplomacy subject, newly assigned diplomats will be able to promote Philippine products, and export potential to their countries of assignment, Fernandez said.
Around 70 percent of products sold in the facility are sourced from Central Visayas region, while 30 percent comes from other regions in the country.
Products under OTOP program of the DTI are also being made available to buyers.
The establishment of the facility is considered as one of the exporters' saviors, while the sector is still suffering from slack demand from the overseas market.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) regional director Asteria Caberte said that this move is good for Cebu and the export sector, as these Philippine Ambassadors can help promote Philippine productsand "their endorsements is a good and effective sales blitz."
==Capitol donates lot to Crime Lab-7 ==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/03/13/1300337/capitol-donates-lot-crime-lab-7
*Thursday, March 13, 2014 12:00 am
:By Gregg M. Rubio/FPL (The Philippine Star)
CEBU, Philippines - The province of Cebu and the Philippine National Police Regional Crime Laboratory-7 have signed a Deed of Donation for a 1,000-square meter property in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City that the Capitol is donating to the police.
The signing was led by Governor Hilario Davide III and PNP Crime Lab-7 director, Senior Supt. Nestor Sator.
The donation is subject to a condition that if the PNP Crime Lab fails to construct the facility within one year from the execution of the instrument, the provincial government shall take possession of the property.
In the event the PNP Crime Lab abandons the portion or shall no longer use the donated lot for the purpose intended, the same shall be reverted to the province of Cebu without need of legal proceedings.
Sator said that the deed of donation is needed to process the release of fund amounting to around P25 million.
“It’s a great privilege for us nga gisuportahan mi ni Gov for the creation of the new building,” Sator said.
Earlier, the Provincial Board has authorized Davide to enter into and sign a Deed of Donation with the PNP Crime Lab-7 following the latter’s request for a 1,000-square meter lot near the Cebu Provincial Police Office.
The Police Regional Office-7 is reportedly among the recipients of financial support from Camp Crame for a modern crime laboratory in Cebu.
Once established, the new facility will not only benefit Cebu but the entire Central Visayas.
Sator earlier said that certain requirements pertaining to space and ownership of the property need to be resolved in order for the support to push through.
The current crime laboratory is located inside the Cebu City Police Office compound along Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City. The present location is reportedly not enough to meet the needs of a modern crime laboratory.
The crime laboratory is tasked to provide scientific investigation services and other technical support to the PNP offices and other agencies through fieldwork, scene of the crime operations, forensic laboratory service, criminalistics training and research.
==Hundreds get rights to city housing plan==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2014/03/12/1299868/hundreds-get-rights-city-housing-plan
*Wednesday, March 12, 2014 12:00 am
:By Flor Z. Perolina (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines -  More than 300 beneficiaries in Barangays Guizo, Mantuyong and Tipolo in Mandaue City received their certificates of validation and qualified for the socialized housing project in a 9.2-hectare lot of the city government.
Their certificates were personally handed to them by Mayor Jonas Cortes in a simple ceremony yesterday in Barangay Guizo.
Cortes yesterday said that he was looking forward to the fast completion of the validation process undertaken by the four-man committee composed of representatives from the Philippine Commission on Urban Poor, National Housing Association, HUDO and City Social Welfare Services Office so the city government can eventually start their urban poor subdivision in the said area next year.
The mayor cited the success of the Lower Tipolo Homeowners Association wherein the beneficiaries have left their permanent home in the slums and moved in an urban poor subdivision built through "sweat equity" through the help of the beneficiaries.
"Ang pagpanag-iya og shelter di lang katungdanan kun dili katungod sab sa mga less fortunate," Cortes said.
During yesterday's ceremony, the mayor also urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate government's efforts through cooperating and setting aside personal interests.
Yesterday's activity was witnessed by PCUP area head Clemens Quiros, Grace Solis of NHA, Guizo Barangay Captain Jesus Neri , Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and the rest of  the city council.
==RDC 7 endorses P20.2-B projects for Central Visayas in 2015==
*Source:http://http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=2&rid=624404
*Tuesday, March  11, 2014
:(PNA), JBP/EB
CEBU CITY, March 11 (PNA) -- The Infrastructure Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (IDC-RDC) 7 has endorsed the proposed P20.2 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Central Visayas in 2015.
Engr. Nonie Paylado, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 planning and design chief, said the proposed projects will form part of the agency’s budget for next year and the national budget for 2015.
Paylado said the proposed projects still needs the approval of the RDC Full Council.
Paylado said the IDC-RDC 7 endorsement will only be submitted to the RDC Full Council if DPWH 7 submits the endorsements from different local development councils all over the region, as mandated by law.
The RDC Full Council will meet on March 20.
He said the amount covers 602 projects all over Central Visayas.
But Paylado said only Bohol local government units (LGUs) have submitted endorsements for their projects.
He said they are waiting for endorsements from Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
The DPWH 7 must submit all endorsements by March 17.
==Carcar City seeks Cebuanos’ support for advocacy video, photo==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=623989
*Monday, March 10, 2014
:(PNA), FFC/EB
CEBU CITY, March 10 (PNA) -- The Carcar City Government is seeking the support of the Cebuanos after their entry for advocacy video and photo was chosen as a candidate for the third Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) by a national award-giving body.
"We need everyone's support for the online voting," Carcar City information officer Candice Acuña said.
Acuña said the city government was one of the first cities in Cebu to adopt CBMS.
The CBMS is a collaboration by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) and the Department of Interior and Local Government with the Carcar City Government.
It is aimed at institutionalizing a community-based monitoring system to generate poverty baseline data for poverty diagnosis and planning and target monitoring.
In order to vote online, one must join the Facebook account of CBMS International Network Group, then like the entries of LGU Carcar City for Best CBMS Advocacy Video and Best CBMS Photo.
The online voting period is from February 25 until March 25 at 10 p.m.
There are three entries for the Best CBMS Advocacy Video by LGUs and 22 entries for the Best CBMS Advocacy Photo.
CBMS is one of the tools developed in the early 1990s to provide policymakers and program implementers with a good information base for tracking the impact of macroeconomic reforms and various policy shocks.
It is an organized way of collecting information at the local level for use of local government units, national government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society and development partner agencies for planning, program implementation and monitoring.
==Cebu developer pioneers in solar-powered homes==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=13&rid=623519
*Sunday, March 9, 2014
:By Eddie O. Barrita [(PNA), CTB/EB/]
CEBU CITY, March 9 (PNA) -- Cebu-based real estate developer AboitizLand Inc. is pioneering the development of solar-powered homes, an official said.
Audi G. Villa, AboitizLand assistant vice president for sales, said the system will be implemented for the first time at Almiya, one of its residential projects in Cebu.
Villa said the company has partnered with leading solar panel developer Enfinity to install solar panels in its Almiya community in Canduman, Mandaue City.
Almiya, dubbed as a “complete community of the north,” offers 150 houses for its Phase 2.
Villa said 30 percent has been sold.
Almiya’s Phase 1 was reportedly sold out four months after it was launched in June 2013.
Villa said two solar panels that can provide 250 watts each will be installed per residential unit.
Enfinity business development manager Marcus Andre C. Ong said 500 watts of solar power will translate into savings of as much as P600 per month in the homeowner’s electricity bill.
“With the rising price of electricity, having a solar panel will also increase the homeowner’s savings,” Ong said.
Ong said the system is synchronized with the Visayan Electric Co.’s (Veco) line, with the incorporation of a metering system.
Homeowners will only pay for the electricity consumed from Veco’s regular power line.
In cases where the electricity generated by the solar panel exceeds the homeowner’s consumption, the homeowners can opt to sell excess electricity to Veco.
Villa said the implementation of solar panels in Almiya will have “no additional cost” during the promo period.
Former buyers of Almiya, however, will have to purchase the solar panel.
A one-kilowatt (kW) solar panel will cost around P150,000.
==Cebu Province to buy P1.96M satphones for 51 LGUs==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=13&rid=623519
*Saturday, March 8, 2014
:(PNA), CTB/EB/
CEBU CITY, March 8 (PNA) -- Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said the provincial government will buy some P1.96 million worth of satellite phones and distribute them to Cebu’s 51 towns and cities for easy reach during disasters.
Davide said telecommunications provider Smart Communications is offering a SmartSAT package at P38,500 each.
Davide said the province will subscribe to the SmartSAT package which is inclusive of a special satellite SIM with an initial airtime credit load of USD225 or around P10,000, valid for one year.
He cited the importance of communication, recalling that a day after typhoon Yolanda hit northern Cebu on Nov. 8 last year, he inspected Bantayan Island and other northern towns.
Davide thanked Smart public affairs manager Jane Paredes for lending him a Smart satellite phone at that time.
He said the satellite phones allowed him to contact town officials even when communication lines were down.
Davide said he is having second thoughts about including the cities of Talisay and Mandaue in the distribution of satellite phones, because these cities are close enough to reach even if telecommunication lines fail.
Both cities are adjacent to Cebu City, the seat of the provincial capitol.
==Mactan airport body open to improvement of Bantayan, Camotes airports==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=622915
*Friday, March 7, 2014
:By Eddie O. Barrita [(PNA), CTB/EB/]
CEBU CITY, March 6 (PNA) -- An official of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) has expressed willingness to discuss the improvement of the airports in Sta. Fe town in Bantayan Island and San Francisco town in Camotes Island.
MCIAA General manager Nigel Paul Villarete said the airports are owned by the provincial government and were operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) under a memorandum of agreement.
However, he said, CAAP stopped operating the two airports after the MOA expired last January 2013.
The airport in Sta. Fe accommodates small private airplanes for chartered flights while the airport in San Francisco is unused.
President Benigno S. Aquino III, who visited Bantayan Island recently, pledged to help the development of the airport in Bantayan Island to make it a tourism center.
Sta. Fe Mayor Jose Esgana said he told President Aquino that the Sta. Fe airport was a legacy of the president’s mother, the late president Corazon Aquino and former Sta. Fe mayor Rizalino Esgana Sr., Mayor Esgana’s father.
Esgana has been hoping that the one-kilometer runway of the Sta. Fe airport will be fully developed.
He said only 400 meters of the runway is cemented.
Earlier, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said he wants the airports of the two islands developed.
”If the Province will decide to pursue it, then we will certainly entertain that and we will discuss that,” Villarete said.
Villarete said there has to be a discussion on the ownership, operation and control of these airports.
He said the navigation and air traffic will still be controlled by CAAP regardless of who operates the airport.
“As far as the law is concerned, we are supposed to operate all the airports of the Province of Cebu, but that does not discount the fact that anybody, any private sector or even the Province of Cebu may opt to operate an airport, but with our consent,” he said.
Villarete said a public-private partnership might be a good idea.
==PDRRM to have new chief==
*Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2014/03/06/pdrrm-have-new-chief-331625
*Thursday, March 6, 2014
:By Flornisa M. Gitgano
CEBU Gov. Hilario Davide III announced he will appoint Task Force Paglig-on Chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. as head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) office starting May.
He said PDRRM Officer Neil Angelo Sanchez’s contract will end in May.
“Tribunalo’s forte is disaster preparedness,” Davide said.
Meanwhile, the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) gave the Provincial Government P1 million as financial assistance to typhoon Yolanda survivors in northern Cebu.
Davide said he wants the Task Force Paglig-on to be merged with PDRRM.
The multi-sectoral task force servers as coordinating body for post-Yolanda rehabilitation and recovery activities in northern Cebu.
:No complaints
The governor said he has no complaints against Sanchez’s performance, but he did not tell reporters if he has other plans for the incumbent PDRRM officer.
Davide said Tribunalo ran for Balamban municipal councilor in 2013 and lost so he cannot be appointed to a government position. But this ban, he said, will be lifted in May.
Sanchez said in a separate interview that Davide informed him about Tribunalo’s future appointment last Monday yet.
“I respect his plan, his decision... (His) move is for the betterment of the Province,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said he is willing to work under Tribunalo, become a consultant on peace and order or be assigned to the Provincial Health Office. He added that if he would be appointed in a department where he feels ineffective, he would resign.
Tribunalo said he is willing to work with Sanchez.
Before joining the Capitol, Tribunalo was advisor on disaster risk management and climate change adaptation program of the nongovernment organization Plan International.
Yesterday, MCIAA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete turned over a check for P1 million to Davide. He said MCIAA extended the same assistance to Leyte.
Davide said the financial assistance given will be used to buy more construction materials so survivors can rebuild and improve their houses.
==Mandaue, Tudela ink sisterhood ties==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2014/03/05/1297299/mandaue-tudela-ink-sisterhood-ties
*Wednesday, March 5, 2014 12:00 am
:By Flor Z. Perolina (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government and the municipality of Tudela in Camotes Island yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding for a sisterhood relationship.
Tudela Mayor Erwin Yu, Vice Mayor Greman Solante and their municipal councilors were in Mandaue City yesterday afternoon for the MOU signing with Mayor Jonas Cortes in the session hall of the City Hall.
The idea of a sisterhood pact came from Solante after the Mandaue City officials visited Camotes last Jan. 28  to extend financial assistance to the four towns of the said island which were totally devastated by last year's super typhoon.
Solante informed Cortes that most of their constituents are presently working in Mandaue City.
After both government units agreed for the forging of the sisterhood pact, the municipal council of  Tudela then took the initiative and passed a resolution expressing their intention to establish sisterhood relationship with Mandaue City.
In return, the Mandaue City Council approved last Feb. 24 a resolution authored by City Councilor Diosdado Suico expressing the pleasure and acceptance in good faith  the intention of the town of Tudela to establish the sisterhood.
The areas where both government units will be closely working on include economics, tourism and education.
Earlier, the town of  Tudela received a P300,000 financial aid from the Mandaue City government.  Officials from the town said they will use the amount to tend their one-hectare cacao nursery. They said as a manufacturing city, Mandaue can benefit from the products of this cacao nursery.
Other towns in Camotes which received financial aid from the city were Poro, P300,000; Pilar, P300,000; and San Francisco, P400,000.
==Cebu attracts another oil exploration firm==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=622061
*Tuesday, March 4, 2014
:By Eddie O. Barrita [(PNA), CTB/EB/]
CEBU CITY, March 4 (PNA) -- Cebu has attracted another oil firm, China International Mining Petroleum Company Ltd. (CIMPCL), which will start drilling for oil in the southwestern town of Alegria, Cebu next month.
Vladimir Gerchikov, CIMPCL manager in the Philippines, said they are working with Polyard Petroleum Company Ltd.
He said they already have a contractor willing to conduct the drilling in the mountain barangay of Montpeller, Alegria, some 120 kilometers south of Cebu City.
Gerchikov said the local government supports the oil exploration activity.
“Our project is one of the major projects for Cebu and the people of Cebu will highly benefit in case we will have commercial quantity of oil,” he said.
Earlier, Australian firm Gas2Grid announced plans to conduct oil flow tests in the southern town of Aloguinsan in the next few months.
Dennis Morton, Gas2Grid managing director, said if there’s a commercial quantity of oil, the firm will file an application with the DOE to operate and develop the field for 25 years.
Gas2Grid had announced that the DOE approved its application to declare Malolos 1 an oil discovery.
Department of Energy (DOE) Visayas Director Antonio Labios said the test flow will determine the commercial viability of the discovered oil.
==City to mark day for health workers==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2014/03/02/1296248/city-mark-day-health-workers
*Monday, March 3, 2014 12:00 am
:By Garry B. Lao (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City government has adopted Republic Act 10069 or an Act Declaring May 7 of each year as Health Workers' Day.
To better celebrate the occasion, the city council approved a resolution asking the Cebu provincial government for financial assistance in the amount of P225,000.
City Councilor Francis Richard Aznar, chairman of the committee on health, said the community health workers are dedicated individuals "who function along a continuum ranging from individual and communal development to service delivery promoting community improvement and social justice."
"They link people to health care information and services," Aznar said.
"In upholding the legacy of service, community health workers as basic health service providers to the grassroots level will be recognized for their immense accomplishments," read the resolution approved recently by the council.
Aznar said the one-day celebration is the city government's initiative to give recognition to health workers' "utmost care and dedication" to Talisaynons in providing basic health services.
Specifically, the city government is asking for financial assistance from Governor Hilario Davide III in the amount of P75,000 and P50,000 each from Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Provincial District Board Members Raul Alcoseba and Julian "Teban" Daan for the celebration.
Last 2010, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed R.A. 100691 that declares May 7 of each year as Health Workers' Day.
The act enjoins all the heads of government health facilities, offices and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled hospitals and local government health units, and employers in the private sector to give employees sufficient time to celebrate Health Workers' Day.
The law refers to health workers as persons engaged in health and health-related work regardless of their employment status, including medical, allied health professional, administrative and support services personnel, and those employed in hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, health centers, rural health units, barangay health stations and clinics and such other health-related establishments owned and operated by the government or its political subdivisions with original charters or by the private sector.
==Nearly 3.3 million tourists visited Central Visayas last year despite quake, ‘Yolanda’==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=620969
*Sunday, March 2, 2014
:(PNA)
CEBU CITY—A total of 3,292,606 foreign and domestic tourists visited Central Visayas last year, despite the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Bohol and Cebu provinces last October 15 and Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) that devastated Eastern Visayas last November 8, according to a Department of Tourism in Region 7 (DOT 7) report.
The figure represents a 12.45-percent increase from the 2.9 million visitors recorded in 2012 and surpassed the original target of 3.03 million tourists for 2013.
DOT 7 Regional Director Rowena Montecillo said domestic tourism fueled the growth in arrivals, specifically in the fourth quarter, when the temblor and super typhoon hit the region.
Total domestic-tourist arrivals in Central Visayas grew by 13.13 percent to 1,980,155 in 2013 from 1,750,385 the year before, while foreign-tourist arrivals increased by 12.28 percent to 1,304,233 last year from the 2012 figure.
Cebu had the biggest number of tourist arrivals with 2,462,794, followed by Bohol (338,763), Negros Oriental province (457,618) and Siquijor (33,431).
Arrivals from South Korea, still the region’s top tourist market, grew by 17.13 percent from 449,856 in 2012 to 526,920 last year, while arrivals from the United States grew by 10.46 percent to 115,093 last year from the 2012 figure.
Arrivals from China slightly grew by 0.96 percent to 54,421, while arrivals from Australia rose by 19.69 percent to 40,692.
Arrivals from Taiwan grew by 27.57 percent to 25,734, while arrivals from Canada grew by 55.63 percent from 16,535 in 2012 to 25,734 in 2013.
Germany logged 25,435 arrivals; the United Kingdom, 25,021; and France, 20,462.
Arrivals from Russia, considered an “opportunity market,” grew by 25.48 percent to 15,227.
Montecillo said the growth of these top markets stemmed from the aggressive tourism campaigns both in the local and international travel markets.
DOT 7 is targeting 3.6 million arrivals this year, 4.4 million for 2015 and 5.8 million for 2016.
==US envoy turns over 1,500MT of rice to DSWD-7, WFP==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=620969
*Saturday, March 1, 2014
:(PNA), LAP/EB/
CEBU CITY, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- United States Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg turned over 1,500 metric tons of rice to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Region 7 and the World Food Programme (WFP) Thursday.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, in his visit to typhoon-devastated Tacloban City last December, announced that the US Government would deliver 5,000 metric tons of rice for survivors of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which pummeled central Philippines last November 8.
Another 3,500 metric tons are expected to arrive in March.
The donation can feed 500,000 people for a month, according to a press release of the US Embassy in Manila.
“This assistance signifies once again the commitment of the American people to be a partner in rebuilding the lives of so many affected by Typhoon Yolanda,” Goldberg said.
When the rest of the rice assistance arrives, the US Government will have donated a total of 8,400 tons of high-quality rice to typhoon survivors.
“We are hopeful that this contribution will help put food on the table, and help prevent acute malnutrition especially among children,” said Gloria Steele, mission director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
DSWD 7 Director Mercedita Jabagat and WFP Deputy Country Director Asaka Nyangara were present during the turnover ceremony at the J. King Warehouse Complex on A.C. Cortes Ave., Mandaue City.
Jabagat said the DSWD has so far spent P2 billion for the food packs distributed to typhoon survivors.
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