Cebu Province News March 2015

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

---

Province of Cebu - Archived News

---

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.

Cebu to highlight creative sector

• Source: http://sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/03/31/cebu-highlight-creative-sector-400523
• Tuesday, March 31, 2015

By Mia A. Aznar

BY HOSTING the fourth Southeast Asian Creative Cities Network (SEACCN) forum this June, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu Director Nelia Navarro hopes Cebu can boost its position as one of Asean’s cultural cities.

As part of Cebu Business Month this June, the forum aims to increase the public’s awareness of the value of creativity, culture and innovation as drivers of economic development and economic growth.

“I want us to be proud and excited to be part of this community,” Navarro said, adding that the community is committed to nurturing creativity, something Cebu has an abundance of.

Cebu is one of 10 cities in Southeast Asia that forms the SEACCN and is represented by the Creative Council of Cebu.

According to the Creative Cebu Concept Paper prepared by the Creative Council Cebu, the forum will promote the understanding of the city’s role as a hub for ideas, innovation and new services. It also aims to intensify education and appreciation of market opportunities for Cebu’s creative goods and services to encourage more creative enterprises. Organizers also hope to support tourism in the Philippines and Cebu as a provider of creative goods and services to foreign and local markets.

This year, they are targeting 200 participants who are members of the council, organizations allied with the creative sector, small businesses, sector associations, national and local government officials, development institutions and the academe.

Navarro said they have invited speakers from Taiwan, Singapore and the United Kingdom to show that creative industries are not limited to the arts.

The forum will be held on June 25 at the City Sports Club. The morning session will be about making a creative city while the afternoon session will discuss design identity. Each city in the network will present their strengths and a discussion on deficiencies for cross collaboration will be conducted.

With the integration of the Asean economy, Navarro said creative industries need a network with neighboring countries for knowledge exchange, events and joint projects among creative clusters and cities in the region.

ECCP allocates P2 million for innovation center

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2015/03/30/1439092/eccp-allocates-p2-million-innovation-center
• Monday, March 30, 2015 12:00 am

By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines- The creative sector has been one of Cebu’s economic drivers and that entrepreneurs engaged in this industry must be supported to achieve their potential growth, a business group said.

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines believes that Cebu can further spur the development of its design sector, saying it has many talented and creative producers.

With the help of some government agencies, the ECCP has created the Materials Innovation Centre (Matic) in Cebu to showcase the indigenous products of Cebu producers in hope to promote sustainability and eco-friendly products.

ECCP Cebu business development officer Katrina Fernando said that Matic also aims to link native product makers with local suppliers of raw materials.

Fernando said interested suppliers can come to the Matic which opened last Friday, located in the S&T Complex of the Department of Science and Technology of Central Visayas in Banilad.

Currently, the products being displayed there come from local producers namely the Anthill Fabrics Gallery, Tubigon loom weavers in Bohol, Avatar Accessories, Cebu Interlace Weavers Corp and Earthworks. For the second quarter, Matic has a fabric-inspired display. In the next quarter, bamboo-made products will also be displayed.

The centre, she said, is under the chamber’s Materials R+D (research and development) Program that aims to establish linkage between materials suppliers and design experts and access to technology suppliers.

ECCP said there is a need to shore up the small and medium enterprises engaged in producing furniture and fashion accessories.

It said that promoting the creativity and competitiveness of design industries can be done through innovation of indigenous materials, manipulation of new materials, use of efficient technology and reinvention of designs.

In the Philippines creative industries may include crafts, design, culinary arts, heritage activities, performing arts, architecture, music, film, among others.

In an interview, DOST-7 Director Edilberto Paradela said that in order for Cebu to compete globally, it has to develop its own niche especially in the creative sector which it has been known for.

The available local materials used for the production of native products also support the export industry, he said.

He revealed the agency initially gave P2 million for the Matic's development. He said ECCP is asking another round of funding to cost about P1 million for the expansion of the project which the trade department also supports.

Camella to launch new Mactan project

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/03/29/camella-launch-new-mactan-project-400180
• Sunday, March 29, 2015

(PR)

IN anticipation of a rise in demand for homes in Lapu Lapu City, Camella is set to launch its newest community development in Mactan Island - the La Brisa.

Spanning 24 hectares in within Barangay Suba-Basbas, Lapu-Lapu City, La Brisa is eyed to meet the demand for more quality yet affordable homes as Mactan Island braces itself for faster growth.

Several economic indicators are seen to boost the island’s economy. These include the entry of more foreign locators within the island’s export processing zones, the expansion of the Mactan Cebu International Airport and the building of the third bridge. The 7-kilometer bridge will connect Barangay Pilipog, Cordova and the South Road Properties in Cebu City.

Upon completion of the third Mactan Bridge in 2019, Camella La Brisa will be just 25 minutes away from Cebu City. Camella La Brisa will introduce a Spanish-inspired townhome series – the Nina and Olivia and an even bigger home series, the Fatima at 142 square meters and Gavina at 166 square meters.

Camella La Brisa is the company’s eighth project within Mactan Island, Cebu and the 27th project in Cebu Province. Camella will begin by developing seven hectares for the first phase of the project.

Camella’s other residential community projects in Cebu include The Riverscapes, a 70-hectare development atop Talamban, Cebu City. It has the Riverfront enclave, ideal for starting families, which offers the classic Camella series.

Camella also has the biggest community development in Talisay City, the 100-hectare Camella Azienda, where the Starmall Azienda is located. Further increasing its reach within the Province of Cebu, Camella Carcar also now stands to cater to residents in the south.

One can get a Camella unit starting at P9,000 monthly amortization. Camella is the strongest brand of Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc.

Archdiocese celebrates Calungsod feast today

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2015/03/28/1438404/archdiocese-celebrates-calungsod-feast-today
• Saturday, March 28, 2015 12:00 am

By Jessa J. Agua / RHM (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Although San Pedro Calungsod’s official feast day is on April 2, the Archdiocese of Cebu is celebrating it today as it falls within the Holy Week.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will lead a concelebrated Pontifical Mass at the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Pedro Calungsod inside the Archbishop’s Palace at 10 a.m. today.

It will be followed by another mass at 5 p.m. that Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal will lead after the solemn procession.

Today also happens to be the opening of the two-day Local World Youth Day at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation.

Young Catholics from different parishes of the archdiocese will gather in prayer and reflect on issues facing the youth of today as they lead a Christian life.

Palma will also hold a dialogue with the participants the evening and will preside the Palm Sunday mass at dawn tomorrow.

March 28 is likewise the 500th birth anniversary of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

A 9 a.m. Holy Mass will be celebrated inside the Carmelite Monastery in Mabolo, Cebu City as the saint is a Carmelite nun.

Free Wi-Fi initiative seen to bridge “digital divide”

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2015/03/27/1438092/free-wi-fi-initiative-seen-bridge-digital-divide
• Friday, March 27, 2015 12:00 am

By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The government’s plan to provide free Wi-Fi Internet access in select public places across the Philippines will hopefully address the country’s digital divide issue, an official said.

Engineer Edilberto Paradela, director of the Department of Science and Technology in Central Visayas, said the country is currently experiencing a digital divide wherein not all people have access to the internet because of some reasons.

“Maybe not so aware what the technology is and the costs also,” Paradela said of the factors that cause such social issue. “And this [hopefully] is going to address the digital divide.”

“In addressing this, we can also incorporate the program of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) for development,” the director said in an interview with The Freeman.

The DOST’s ICT Office is allotting P1.408 billion, as approved in the 2015 General Appropriations Act, for the Internet connectivity to be available in social places across the nation. That amount is higher than the originally proposed P339 million in the National Expenditure Program.

The project entitled “Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places” will start to be implemented by July this year in all metropolitan areas. Its completion is set to be done by November 2015. It will be done in three phases.

According to DOST, enhancing Internet accessibility will step up the economic, social and educational opportunities for Filipinos.

If this will be fully realized, information and knowledge access especially in rural towns will eventually be made easy.

Paradela said the class 4, 5 and 6 municipalities are the priority for the free Wi-Fi.

The public free Wi-Fi will be accessible in public places such as public schools, government hospitals, rural health centers, libraries and others.

Because of the budget increase, DOST-ICTO said class 3 municipalities and lower will also be included.

“Sites in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, as well as other cities that will serve as distribution points or Points of Presence shall also be included,” it said.

Once fully deployed, ICTO said the project will serve around 105,000 concurrent users with 256 kbps each, which is the lowest prevailing speed requirement for broadband service. More details about the project can be accessed on the agency’s website (icto.dost.gov.ph).

With this initiative, the Philippines has to address its slow internet connection problem.

According to cloud services provider Akamai in its State of the Internet 2014 Q2 report, the Philippines has one of the slowest internet speeds in Asia Pacific. It ranked 103rd, having only an average Internet speed of 2.5 Megabits per second.

Lenten promotions

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/03/26/lenten-promotions-399693
• Thursday, March 26, 2015

By Katlene O. Cacho

CITY hotels are now offering discounted “stay-cation” packages, as they expect low occupancy during the Holy Week.

Resorts, meanwhile, are bracing for the influx of local and foreign guests who will stay at their facilities for the long holiday.

“As usual Holy Week is low season for the city hotels, that’s why we do promos during this time,” said Cenelyn Manguilimotan, general manager of Cebu Parklane International Hotel.

Local tourists are expected to head to the countryside or travel abroad during the long break. Holy Week starts on March 29 (Palm Sunday) and ends on April (Easter Sunday).

But amid the projected low occupancy next week, city hotels are anticipating some pick-up.

“We are still on 40 percent during the Holy Week based on forecast and we are still optimistic to get some pick-up to increase occupancy,” said Manguilimotan.

To lure locals, city hotels are offering room discounts coupled with activities for adults and children during the Holy Week.

Activities

Aside from the usual Easter egg hunt,, Parklane will have a “A Trip Down Memory Lane at the Parklane on Holy Week” at P10,300 for three days and two nights with breakfast for two, airport transfers, tour of Cebu’s historical landmarks, Visita Iglesia night tour and free entrance to the Easter egg hunting activity, said Manguilimotan.

Five-star city hotel, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, which currently has 60 percent occupancy, is also anticipating some pick-up as the Holy Week approaches.

The hotel, according to Manna Alcaraz, the hotel’s assistant communication manager is offering about “10 percent off its best available room rate.”

“Our room offers start at P5,500 net for a deluxe mountain view room,” the hotel said in its press release.

Guided tours

From April 2 to 5, Marco Polo will be mounting the Piccolo Kids Club Activity Zone, where kids can experience balloon twisters, film showing, kite making and other arts and crafts activities. There will also be game booths, popcorn booths and other surprises. On Easter Sunday, the hotel will have an Easter egg hunt and face painting.

In observance of Holy Week, the hotel will offer guided tour with shuttle service. On April 2, hotel guests can join the Visita Iglesia to seven churches in Cebu while on April 3, guests can participate in the Way of The Cross at Celestial Gardens. On Easter Sunday, the hotel will hold an Easter mass. Although, they expect a less busy week, Cebu City Marriott Hotel is offering food and beverage promotions. The hotel, media communications manager Charlene Go said, is extending its local weekend promotion of P5,299 net from April 2 to 5.

For the locals

Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu is also offering a stay-cation package for its superior rooms with buffet breakfast at P4,800 for local guests. Princes Anderle, the hotel’s director of marketing and communications, said the hotel will also feature activities for kids like Easter egg hunting and cupcake decorating. The hotel is also offering food and beverage promotions.

Quest Hotel and Conference Center, on the other hand, is expecting an average 70 percent occupancy.

But like other city hotels, the hotel hopes to reach 85 percent occupancy closer to the holiday dates with their ongoing deluxe room rate promo of P2,900 with breakfast starting today until April 5, said Mia Sy, the hotel’s public relations and marketing and communications manager.

Peak season

While the Holy Week is considered a low season for city hotels, resorts, on the other hand, enjoy high to full occupancy during the long break.

“Holy Week is always peak (period) for resorts,” said Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort general manager Rhyz Buac. He expects the resort’s occupancy to reach at least 85 percent, mostly for foreign guests.

Sy, who is also the public relations and marketing and communications manager for Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan said the resort should have an average of 80 percent and higher by the weekend.

“We have different activities at the beach for families, adults and children, including fun races, Easter crafts, egg hunt, picnics and nightly outdoor buffets,” she said.

Summer crowd

Average occupancy of Plantation Bay Resorts and Spa starting April 1 until April 5 is expected to be around 90 percent. Johanna Patalinjug-Lood, the resort’s marketing and communications officer, said they expect the occupancy to increase as the weekend approaches.

“We are expecting an increase, not only because it’s Holy Week but because summer has just started and lots of Filipinos check-in for summer,” said Lood.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 earlier said they are expecting an empty city during the Holy Week, as most will head to the provinces for the long break.

In Cebu, DOT 7 Director Rowena Montecillo said they expect locals to head to the southern part of Cebu because of the rich cultural heritage such as old churches and natural attractions like caves, waterfalls and beaches.

Others, on the other hand, will head to Bantayan Island, which has been called the Lenten Capital of the Visayas.

Cebu’s fastest to be honored in SAC awards

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/sports/2015/03/25/cebu-s-fastest-be-honored-sac-awards-399489
• Wednesday, March 25, 2015

(Pooled report)

CEBU's fastest athletes who made waves in the international and local scenes will be honored for their achievements in the 2014 Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC)-San Miguel Brewery (SMB) Sports Awards on March 31 at the Ayala Activity Center.

Leading the prolific cast is the current fastest female marathoner in the country, Mary Joy Tabal. The pride of Talamban, Cebu had a remarkable running year, raking in numerous medals from here and abroad. Tabal, a two-time national Milo Marathon champion, made the country proud after finishing 17th out of thousands of runners in the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris in Paris, France.

She then made a killing in the 2014 Seoul Race in South Korea when she not only clinched the women’s title but also improved her personal best time in the half marathon, beforetopping the Kyoho No Oka Marathon in Japan.

Local races were also part of Tabal's decorated year, which includes the 2014 National Milo Marathon Finals, where she was heralded as the Milo queen for the second straight year.

Triathlon

Triathletes had a fair share of international exposures as well. Cebu-based off road triathlete Joseph Miller made history after becoming the only Filipino to compete in the pro class of Xterra. Miller, 35, had an inaugural pro race in Xterra Asia-Pacific Champioship in Australia, and led the Filipino racers in the 2014 Xterra World Championships in Maui, Hawaii. His best finish as a pro was seventh place in the Xterra Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.

Triathletes John Philip Dueñas, the 2nd placer of Filipino elite class in the 2014 Ironman 70.3 Philippines; Kristiane Lim, the 2014 Ironman 70.3 Philippines Filipino elite 3rd placer; Justian Liam Chiogbian, national team member for triathlon and a participant to the Youth Olympic Games qualifier in Kazakhstan; and Lorhiz Echavez-Lopez, champion in the women's Filipino elite division in the Safeguard 5150 Triathlon in Bohol, all shone in this sport.

In cycling, Niño Surban tops the list of awardees after having clinched a slot to the UCI World XCM Championships in Italy, after making it to 11th place in the qualifier, the UCI MTB Marathon Series in Langkawi, Malaysia. The 28-year-old MTB elite rider also nabbed the gold medal in the Philippine National Games (PNG) and placed second in the men's elite class of the 2014 Asean MTB, won in the Tampines Mountainbike Cross-Country Race in Singapore.Joining Surban is national team rider John Mier, who won a silver medal in the PNG, and champion in the 2014 Asean MTB open division.

Young guns

Youngsters showed that the future of triathlon, cycling and athletics are in good hands. Leading the awardees are Yuan Chiongbian, 14, of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC), who powered the Cebu City Niños with four gold medals and a silver in the Batang Pinoy finals. Sacred Heart Schoo-Hijas de Jesus' Aaliyah Ricci Mataragnon, 15, will also be awarded along with Ana Patricia Maximo.

In athletics, Mike Lopez of Abellana National School will be awarded for being the Batang Pinoy Finals’ fastest man.

Niñolito Justiniane of Beatriz Durano Memorial High School and Ivan Miguel Santos of University of San Carlos Basic Education will also be awarded for the performances in the 2014 Milo Little Olympic Finals.

Noel Tillor, Marites Bitbit, and Brian Guillen, will also be awarded.

In extreme games, elite long board rider Dandoy Tongco, rock climbers Joshua and Jan Joseph Suson; Stand Up Paddle expert Buzzy Budlong; wakeboarder Rafael Trinidad, will also receive citations for their impressive 2014 in ther respective sports.

CPPO preps for Holy Week events in Bantayan Island

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2015/03/24/1437022/cppo-preps-holy-week-events-bantayan-island
• Tuesday, March 24, 2015 12:00 am

By Ma. Fatima R. Secuya / ATO (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines- Due to the influx of local and foreign tourists in Bantayan Island, the Cebu Provincial Police Office will deploy at least 120 police personnel in the area during the Holy week.

Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said they want to ensure the security of Bantayan Island because of the number of tourists there during Holy week.

Gillamac also said they are also bracing for traffic problems, especially during the Lenten season when many workers in the city go home to their provinces.

He said that they already raised the concern to the Minglanilla Police Station and asked police to resolve the heavy traffic congestion in the area.

Gillamac explained that traffic concerns are also brought about by some other towns having activities along the highway during the Holy Week.

“We discourage activities that are done along the highway kay makapasamot sa traffic,” said Gillamac.

He assured that there will only be solemn religious activities in Bantayan for the Lenten season as bikini shows are no longer allowed.

“Sports activities, maybe. But if sayaw-sayaw, wala,” said Gillamac.

“Last year, we had a peaceful Lenten season. Hopefully, this year, peaceful pud,” he added.

SMEs paired with potential buyers in DTI’s speed matching event

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/03/23/smes-paired-potential-buyers-dti-s-speed-matching-event-399101
• Monday, March 23, 2015

By Katlene O. Cacho

NINE small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from food and non-food sectors were recently matched with EchoStore Cebu through the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) speed matching activity.

On top of helping small entrepreneurs improve their products, Elias Tecson, chief trade and industry specialist for business development of the DTI Cebu Provincial Office, said the agency is aggressively looking for potential markets to help SMEs here expand their customer base.

“We in DTI never stop looking for markets for our SMEs. We see to it that we don’t just depend on one buyer to ensure continued purchase order,” said Tecson.

“The speed matching activity we conducted was a way to help them link or network and pitch their products to new retail establishments here that supports local entrepreneurship.”

In the speed matching event, suppliers and buyers are introduced to each other to establish a connection or business relationship. The event aims to upgrade the supply chain of both the supplier and the buyer.

Cebu SMEs were linked with Manila-based EchoStore, which recently opened a branch in Cebu in Paseo Saturnino, Ma. Luisa Road. The store also features the EchoCafe and EchoMarket.

Positioned as “market connectors”, innovators and co-producers, the Echo- Store serves as a home to Filipino products that represent ideals of heath, fair trade and care for the environment. It highlights community products that support local cultural traditions, artistry and ingenuity of Filipinos.

Among the SMEs linked were suppliers of fashion accessories, organic fertilizers, organic rice and honey, dried boneless danggit, tableya and sukarap, turmeric powder, farm products, and bottled seafood.

Tecson also pledged to link DTI’s Shared Service Facility (SSF) program beneficiaries with EchoStore. He said that aside from the foreign markets, there is also a big domestic market to consider and that SMEs here shouldn’t just focus alone in global opportunities.

“Although we are increasing our participation in the global trade, we should not forget that we also have an expanding middle class with young consumers who have high purchasing power willing to spend for the products we produce,” Tecson stressed.

To address supply chain gaps and improve productivity and competitiveness, the DTI continues to encourage SMEs to innovate, diversify, and upgrade through advancements in technology, skills, and research and development.

Organizers launch Cebu Business Month

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/03/22/organizers-launch-cebu-business-month-398854
• Sunday, March 22, 2015 12:00 am

(Sun.Star Cebu)

TO MAKE sure the activities of this year’s Cebu Business Month in June are well-attended, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is engaging in an intensive information campaign. Officially launched last Friday, overall chairperson Francis Dy said the activities they have lined up are expected to benefit Cebu’s economy and most businesses and not just those of their members.

He thought of the theme “Glocalized Cebu” with the small and medium enterprises in mind, saying he hopes to encourage this sector to take advantage of opportunities presented to them by the Asean Economic Community.

Best practices

Dy said being glocal means taking the best practices worldwide to address local opportunities, or thinking global and acting local.

Their activities, he said, mean to integrate the best of what the world has to offer with the local talent. He said that as CCCI’s aim is to become the engine of Cebu’s growth towards global competitiveness, the organization is proposing a glocalization strategy.

He said businesses today need to network with Asean neighbors and create alliances and joint ventures. “The world is now characterized by open borders. We need to focus on making a competitive advantage as a city and as a region for long-term sustainability.”

CCCI president Ma. Teresa Chan said she is confident that Cebu businesses will succeed in establishing local and global linkages within the Asean region and those beyond its borders through the CBM. “It is one of the most successful business activities in Cebu, being an institutionalized, month-long celebration,” she said during Friday’s launch.

Dy said preparations began as early as September last year. During the launch, he introduced the different members of the organizing committee and gave a preview of the list of activities for the whole month, all of which are aimed at promoting four major thrusts--information and communications technology and business process management (ICt-BPM), tourism, entreprneurship and creative industries.

Highlights

Some of the highlights include the ICT and BPM Conference and Expo, the launching of the Cebu International Film Festival and International Documentary Film Festival, Entrepreneurship Conference, Technology and Innovation Expo, Cebu International Travel Fiesta, Glocalized Tourism Forum, the Southeast Asian Creative Cities Network Forum, Visayan Pop Song Writing Competition, Cebu Blogging Summit, New Media Awards and the Technotour Amazing Adventure Challenge.

Tourism chairperson Cenelyn Manguilimotan said the Technotour Amazing Adventure Challenge is one of the “most aggressive” activities they came up with. It combines the reality TV show The Amazing Race with the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo. Manguilimotan explained that the activity makes tourists experience Cebu’s countryside through technology. If this first activity succeeds, they hope to make it an annual event.

For her part, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu Provincial Director Nelia Navarro, who is the also the chairperson for creative industries, said the Creative Council of Cebu is taking the lead in this year’s Southeast Asian Creative Cities Network (SEACCN) Forum.

Cebu represents the Philippines in the network, along with other secondary cities of Chiang Mai; Penang, Malaysia; and Bandung, Indonesia.

Community

“I want us to be excited and proud to be part of this community,” Navarro said, adding that this year’s theme is an appropriate platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices among Southeast Asian countries.

As for the ICT-BPM activities, vice chair Anthony Noel said they are expecting top speakers from the field to be present during their two-day conference. Aside from top companies, they will also be tackling home-based outsourcing operations, the rise of e-commerce and digital security.

Dy hopes that they are able to offer an avenue for local, national and global players to promote trade and tourism products, services and technology and a platform to establish networks of local interactions and global connections.

DOLE allocates P76M for summer job program

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2015/03/21/1435949/dole-allocates-p76m-summer-job-program
• Saturday, March 21, 2015 12:00 am

By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment 7 has allocated about P76 million for its Special Program for Employment of Students this year, urging students to take advantage of the program this summer.

In Central Visayas, DOLE has around 25,000 target beneficiaries who are identified mostly as poor but deserving people.

DOLE-7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga advised potential beneficiaries to go to their respective public employment service offices (PESO), which handle the agency’s placement of its program.

He said PESOs are the ones that receive the credentials from applicants and deploy them to potential employers.

“This is for deserving students who want to work especially this summer,” Sarcauga told The FREEMAN at the sidelines of the full council meeting of the Regional Development Council 7 yesterday, attended by department directors, government officials and representatives from the private sector in Region 7.

The labor agency works with local governments, academe and the private sector in providing decent job opportunities for the working students who can work for 20 to maximum of 52 working days. And they earn a minimum wage.

Sarcauga explained the budget will be used to subsidize 40% of the workers’ minimum wage including insurance coverage which is shouldered by DOLE. The remaining 60% is financed by the employer.

He explained the students can actually work any time of the year but they are normally encouraged to enroll during summer.

The labor official also noted that he has signed several applications for job fairs this summer and that he urged fresh graduates and those looking for jobs to take advantage of these opportunities.

DTI: Cebu to get over P19M for 18 shared service facilities

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2015/03/20/1435633/dti-cebu-get-over-p19m-18-shared-service-facilities
• Friday, March 20, 2015 12:00 am

By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu is getting over P19 million this year for 18 shared service facilities from the trade agency to be given to poor communities in the province to drive up the productivity of small entrepreneurs.

Seven of the proposed SSFs have already been approved amounting to P4.4 million while the other 11 are still up for approval, Department of Trade and Industry Cebu said. The proposals for approval could amount to P14.7 million.

DTI Cebu business development chief Elias Tecson said these facilities will start to be implemented by third quarter as they are yet in the procurement process, bidding, among others.

Tecson claimed the government process is relatively long.

Data from the department also suggested that some of these proposed SSFs still need business plan from the proponents, revision of proposals and are up for endorsement.

"For the 11 proposals [for approval], they are for further deliberation in the regional and national level. Others especially those projects reaching P5 million will be approved at the national level," he told The FREEMAN in an interview.

He said the agency is yet to formally launch six SSF projects funded by the 2014 budget this year but explained these machines have already been given to the project partners -- mostly cooperatives of small producers.

Yesterday, DTI Cebu turned over a P498,000-worth of SSF to the 200-member Mag-uumang Nagkahiusa sa Sam-ang ug Magdugo in Toledo City for technology upgrading of the agri-based products of its farmer members.

The farmer association is involved in the production of coconut products.

The SSF which started in 2013 is a big part of micro, small and medium enterprise development program of the trade department to provide small players with machinery and knowledge under a shared system.

VECO to put up energy conservation infographics

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2015/03/19/1435235/veco-put-energy-conservation-infographics
• Thursday, March 19, 2015 12:00 am

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon / FPL (The Freeman) | Updated March 1

CEBU, Philippines - The country’s second largest power distributor, Visayan Electric Company, will be tapping shopping malls and companies to put up infographics on how to save electricity.

VECO spokesperson Theresa Sederiosa said that the infographics will be posted in strategic areas at the mall especially on empty walls.

Sederiosa, who is also the company’s reputation management manager, said that these infographics will also contain data on appliances wattage and the equivalent amount.

“For example, among ibutang sa infographics kung pila ka wattage ang magamit sa kani nga appliance ug pila ang mabayran,” Sederiosa explained.

Aside from letting the public know how to conserve electricity, they should also be educated on how much electricity they are wasting.

“Dapat the public should know also how much electricity they are wasting which we will also put in our infographics,” Sederiosa added.

Sederiosa said electricity consumption is expected to rise this summer.

“Electricity rate is expected to increase by P0.30 to P0.35 per kilowatt hour by May and it will be reflected in the June billing cycle,” Sederiosa said.

She said even if electricity rate will increase by that month, power consumers still have an option to conserve energy and eliminate, if not minimize, its wastage.

“Bisan pa mosaka ang presyo sa kuryente, kung gamay ra ang imong kunsumo, gamay ra gihapon ang imong bayranan,” she said.

DOT 7 exec says opening of Korean consulate in Cebu to boost tourism

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=6&rid=745459
• Wednesday, March 18, 2015

(PNA), FFC/EB

CEBU CITY, March 18 (PNA) -– An official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 said the opening of the Korean Consulate in Cebu on Tuesday will further strengthen the tourism exchange between Cebu and Korea.

DOT 7 Director Rowena Montecillo said she believes the Korean consulate’s presence in Cebu signifies serious commitment in terms of boosting trade and tourism relationship between two countries.

Korea is the country’s and Cebu’s top source tourism market.

Last year, it kept its position as leading source market with 1.17 million visitors, up by 0.83 percent from its arrivals of 1.16 million in 2013.

In Region 7, Korea logged 600,904 arrivals, which is 12.08 percent higher than 536,155 arrivals in 2013.

Tourism arrivals in Central Visayas reached four million up by 15.51 percent from 3.49 million in 2013.

There are more than 30,000 Koreans residing in Cebu.

The consular office of Korea will cover the entire Visayas, including tourism areas of Cebu, Iloilo, Bohol and Boracay.

The consular office in Cebu will also be issuing visas for Korea, so those from the Visayas and Mindanao need not go to Manila to get a visa.

DSWD 7 allots PHP9M for skills training of 450 4Ps beneficiaries

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=745167
• Tuesday, March 17, 2015

(PNA), FPV/EB

CEBU CITY, March 17 (PNA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 has allocated PHP9 million for the skills training of an initial 450 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), an official said.

DSWD 7 Director Mercedita Jabagat said the agency has forged a partnership with the Global Powerskills Development and Assessment Center Inc. (GPS) for the program.

The skills training falls under the agency;s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), she said.

The 450 4Ps beneficiaries from the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu and Cordova town will undergo skills training on housekeeping, bar-tending and food and beverage services at the GPS in Mandaue City.

The training costs PHP20,000 each or PHP9 million for the 450 individuals.

It covers the amount equivalent to the training cost per program per beneficiary, including training kits, basic employment requirements and allowances on food, uniform and transportation during the duration of the training.

The GPS has started conducting briefing and orientation for the first batch of 50 enrollees and other capability building activities.

Training would last up to two months.

Cebu Capitol gives farmers plastic drums to prepare for El Nino

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/03/15/carcar-loan-p600m-build-city-center-397710
• Monday, March 16, 2015

(PNA), FPV/EB

CEBU CITY, March 16 (PNA) -- The Cebu Provincial Government is giving farmers plastic drums and encouraging them to install their own water catchment as the El Niño phenomenon starts.

Cebu Provincial Agriculturist Roldan Saragena said the plastic drums were distributed through the local government units (LGU) under the department’s “Go Organic” program to store water.

Among the recipients are the City of Naga, Moalboal, Consolacion and Moalboal.

Saragena advised farmers to have a water catchment pond especially those in the mountain barangays so that whenever it rains, water will be stored and will be used later in case the drought will worsen.

Earlier, Engr. Oscar Tabada of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in Mactan said the province is now experiencing a weak or mild El Niño.

Saragena said the farmers in the province are used to the summer heat.

He said the Cebu Capitol’s Farmer Scientist Training Program taught farmers “climate resilient trials” by introducing crop varieties, aside from corn, that they can plant during the dry season, including sweet potato, peanuts and monggo.

“If corn will be affected by El Niño, at least, there are other crops that farmers can harvest,” Saragena said.

He also said the Cebu Capitol allocated P10 million for the premium insurance for crop damage, including accident insurance for the farmers and fishermen under the province’s Agri-Fisheries Insurance Program.

The Capitol tapped the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. for the insurance program.

At least 31,000 farmers and fishermen are insured under the program as of Dec. 22 last year.

Carcar to loan P600M to build city center

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/03/15/carcar-loan-p600m-build-city-center-397710
• Sunday, March 15, 2015

(Sun.Star Cebu)

THE Carcar City Government wants to borrow P600 million from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to build the Carcar City Center’s phase one in Barangay Poblacion III.

A new city hall, public transport terminal and public market will rise at the site once the construction of the first phase is done.

City Ordinance 4-15, which confirms the loan application of Carcar City, is pending at the Provincial Board (PB) for review.

PB Member Grecilda Sanchez, chair of committee on budget and appropriations, said they will determine if the City has the capacity to pay for the loan before approving the ordinance for loan application.

Sanchez told Sun.Star Cebu that they will have to check what the City pledged as collateral.

Policy

Section 56 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines states that “three days after approval, the secretary to the Sanggunian Panlungsod or Sangguniang bayan shall forward to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for review, copies of approved ordinances and the resolutions approving the local development plans and public investment programs formulated by the local development councils.”

According to the ordinance, which is scheduled for the PB regular session today, Carcar can loan P600 million, or depending on the “borrowing capacity per Bureau of Local Government Finance certification or winning bid price, whichever is lower and for the purpose of ratifying the loan agreement” entered into by the City, from the DBP.

In an interview, Carcar Mayor Nicepuro Apura explained that Carcar can apply for a loan from DBP of up to P600 million.

But if ever the winning bidder offers a lower amount for the project, then that would be the amount released by the bank.

The loan is payable in 15 years with a three-year grace period.

Cost

Apura said building the city hall will cost P350 million, while the terminal and market will be P90 million and P160 million, respectively.

“The City has acquired 8 to 10 has. land in Poblacion III to start the City Center’s first phase in the amount of P50 million,” Apura said in Cebuano.

He said the ideal lot for the City Center is 30 hectares.

During his state of the city address on July 7, 2014, Apura said he and his fellow city officials had a groundbreaking for a New City Hall inside the proposed City Center a day before his speech.

The City Center, which will cost around P2 billion, will also have a sports complex, livestock auction market and spaces for commercial establishments.

Apura said after the PB reviews the ordinance, the signing of the loan agreement will follow.

Disaster text blast system

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/03/14/disaster-text-blast-system-397549
• Saturday, March 14, 2015

By Rolando C. Balondo Jr. (NSU AB Comm Intern)

THE Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) 7 partnered with a telecommunications firm to improve the spread of information during disasters.

OCD 7 and Smart Communications Inc. launched the Smart Infoboard as an “advanced and efficient way” of exchanging information for disaster risk reduction and management.

Smart describes the Infoboard as “a web-based solution that offers various short messaging service facilities with different functions and capabilities catering to the needs of a particular community.”

It is essentially a text blast system that OCD 7 may use in relaying weather updates, earthquake bulletins, precautionary measures and other disaster-related messages to local disaster councils and other registered Smart clients.

OCD 7 Director Olivia Luces said that the Infoboard is also useful in circulating the office's programs, services and advocacy on disaster preparedness.

"With the Smart Infoboard, we will be able to give reliable information at the right time, right place and to the right community because a well-informed community is a safer community," said Luces.

She said that teaming up with Smart is in line with Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

Priority

Disaster management has become a priority in the country following the Nov. 8, 2013 super typhoon Yolanda, where more than 7,000 people perished and at least a million homes were lost.

Central Visayas, particularly the provinces of Cebu and Bohol also experienced a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Oct. 15 of the same year.

The text blast system was launched last March 3 at the OCD 7 in Paradela Building, N. Bacalso Ave., Cebu City with Luces and Smart senior manager for community partnerships Nova Concepcion.

The Infoboard was originally used to announce the suspension of classes with Smart's partners in the academe.

OCD 7 decided to partner with the communications firm to address disaster threats in the region.

The agency's name will appear as sender of a text message to guarantee authenticity.

This is a special feature of the Infoboard, which registers names of partner offices and agencies.

OCD 7 encourages local disaster councils and the public to interact through the Infoboard by providing updates in the community level in cases of calamity. Smart, Talk 'N Text and Sun Cellular subscribers may register to get updates from the Infoboard.

OCD 7 pays Smart P10,000 a month for the Infoboard system.

Smart turned over the same service to the Cebu Archdiocese last year as the latter prepares for the International Eucharistic Congress next year.

South Korea visa applications accepted in Cebu starting March 18

• Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/451849/pinoyabroad/news/south-korea-visa-applications-accepted-in-cebu-starting-march-18
• Friday, March 13, 2015 4:08 pm

By Joel Locsin / LBG (GMA News)

Starting next Wednesday, March 18, Cebuanos who want to go to Korea need not go to Manila to obtain a visa.

Consul General Lee Ki Seog said this as South Korea established a consulate in Cebu, GMA Cebu's Alan Domingo reported.

The new facility will provide consular services to people in the Visayas, the report said.

Lee also said the consulate will attend to the needs of Korean nationals in the Visayas, noting many of them visit Cebu.

"You have good (resorts) in Mactan area, Bohol and Boracay and you have very good natural resources," he said.

Over 21,000 jobs up for grabs in Cebu Capitol job fair on March 15

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=743945
• Thursday, March 12, 2015

(PNA), FPV/EB

CEBU CITY, March 12 (PNA) -- A total of 21,653 jobs are up for grabs in the Cebu provincial government’s job fair on Sunday, at the Cebu Capitol social hall.

The job fair was initiated by the Cebu Capitol’s Public Employment Service Office (Peso) to help graduating students land a job.

The job fair will be held in coordination with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) 7 and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7.

Julius Chua, Labor and Employment Officer III of Peso, said 28 licensed agencies are joining the job fair.

Chua said overseas hiring includes household service workers, skilled and technical manpower, hoteliers, construction workers, service crew, maintenance technicians, information technology (I.T.) personnel, nurses and medical and hospital staffs.

He said the countries in need of workers are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A,), Taiwan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Burma, Bahrain, United Kingdom (UK), Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Australia, Singapore, Brunei, China, Japan, Congo, Macau, Mozambique, Suriname, Maldives and Oman.

Chua said they now have over 700 registered applicants since their opening in January this year.

“As of now, the unemployment rate here in Cebu has already minimized compared to last year’s,” says Chua.

He said they continuously disseminate information through advertisements and through their official social media accounts such as Facebook.

Tech-voc on the upswing in Cebu

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=1&rid=743348
• Wednesday, March 11, 2015

(PNA), FPV/PR/EBP

MANILA, March 11 (PNA) -- In a city regarded as the country's alternate metropolis with a continuously booming economy, Cebu's youth could be sitting in a sweet spot.

Industries are growing and tourism is up, which could translate to job and entrepreneurial opportunities, according to Director General Joel Villanueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

There is a missing element though for the youth to have a crack at employment — skills.

A series of activities in Cebu City and the nearby Mandaue City that included skills demonstration, fun run and link-up with the private sector showed that TESDA was going full blast in making technical vocational (tech-voc) education accessible and available to the future workforce, Villanueva said.

"For 2015, Cebu gets a funding of Php75.78 million for the education of 7,375 scholars. This represents 51 percent of the total budget of Php149.12 million for the entire region targeting close to 15,000 scholars," Villanueva said.

The scholarships are lodged in four programs of TESDA — Training for Work Scholarship Program, Private Education Student Financial Assistance, the Bottom-up Budgeting, ​and Special Training for Employment Program, ​he said.

"Education underpins all economic development. It's the tool of the most ambitious governments in these technological times," Villanueva added.

The TESDA chief noted the feat achieved by two Cebuanos — Ingrid Ponce and Myrna Pitaluna — after they graduated from their respective courses.

For lack of money, Ponce could not go to college and thus, enrolled in a tech-voc course that few women engage in - shielded metal arc welding and gas metal arc welding. Finding her niche in this trade, Ponce landed in a job in Japan, which changed the life of her family.

Pitaluna of Toledo City also finished shielded metal arc welding and added heavy equipment operation to her skills. She took additional training to be a certified assessor and trainer. She was awarded as Idol ng TESDA in 2013.

The March 5 event in Cebu was carried out through the Training Trabaho Program, which intensified its tech-voc education campaign to bring in more people to avail of the programs of TESDA.

The event kicked off with a series of media guesting by Villanueva, who explained the various programs of TESDA and how the public can access them.

This was followed by the showcase of the skills of the trainees in cookery, food and beverage servicing, household services and barista. Villanueva, a holder of National Certificate, also joined the skills showdown with his skills in coffee making.

The TESDA chief shared the boodle fight lunch with the trainees.

TESDA also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Metro Wear Inc. for the training of its workers and with ABS-CBN to help promote tech-voc through various media activities.

On March 7 at the Cebu Business Park, Villanueva joined the fun run organized by the Cebu Association of Private Technical-Vocational Institution aimed to raise funds for the transportation and food allowance of scholars.

Villanueva said that TESDA would continue being active in organizing tech-voc-related events in the city with the help of the local government unit and the private sector.

The Skills Demonstration activity was organized with the assistance of the University of Cebu led by the its president, lawyer Augusto Go, its chancellor, Candice Gotianuy, and administrators of technical vocational institutions (TVIs) and TESDA technology institutes (TTIs) who took part in the demo.

The Fun Run was organized by the TVIs and TTIs and various national government agencies — Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment, Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police-Regional Training Center VII, Naval Forces and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources office.

DOT backs eco-tourism zone for Ga-as, Balamban

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/03/10/dot-backs-eco-tourism-zone-ga-balamban-396808
• Tuesday, March 10, 2015

By Katlene O. Cacho

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has backed the development of an eco-tourism zone in Barangay Ga-as, Balamban, one of the lead proponents of the project has said.

According to Edwin Ortiz, one of the trustees of DOT’s Tourism Promotions Board, DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. has instructed him to write a letter to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary Ramon Paje requesting his office to speed-up the classification status and identification of protected sites in the Brgy. Ga-as for the project to immediately take-off.

Ortiz, who is also one of the prime movers of the Ga-as-Manunggal Eco-Tourism Group, said that Jimenez is interested in promoting the historical Mt. Manunggal, the site where former president Ramon Magsaysay’s private plane crashed in 1957.

“There are a lot of things we want to do there. But, we cannot start unless the DENR-Protected Area Management Board will identify which part is protected,” said Ortiz.

If declared an eco-tourism zone, Ortiz said that part of Balamban will become another tourist attraction for Cebu and will bring in more tourism development and opportunities for the town.

Part of the group’s plan is to offer a tourism destination that capitalizes on eco-tourism including activities like flower plantation picking and fresh vegetable shopping, as well as the establishment of pasalubong and antique shop stores.

This Cebu Eco-Tourism Zone concept was presented by the group some five years ago to the Cebu Provincial Government. Although it earned favorable interest from the province, Ortiz said the approval will depend on DENR’s move to identify the questionable and protected areas.

The Regional Eco-tourism Council of Cebu, spearheaded by the DOT and the DENR, have identified at least 20 eco-tourism sites in the region.

The region’s top 10 eco-tourism sites include Camotes Island, Bantayan Island and wildlife area, Central Cebu protected area, the Guadalupe Mainit-Mabugnaw Spring in Carcar, Chocolate Hills, Rajah Sikatuna protective landscape in Bohol, Twin Lakes Balinsasayao in Negros Oriental, Apo Island, Lobok-Mabini-Anda corridor in Bohol, and Olango Island sanctuary.

500 families in island to join tsunami drill

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/03/09/500-families-island-join-tsunami-drill-396583
• Monday, March 9, 2015

By Rebelander S. Basilan

SIGNS can be seen around Olango Island telling residents where to go to protect themselves from a tsunami caused by a strong earthquake.

About 500 families living on the island were also expected to participate in a tsunami drill today.

Andy Berame, deputy action officer of the City Disaster Management Office, said they will hold the exercise in Barangay Tingo, the area most vulnerable to tsunami based on the records of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvocs). The activity will start at 9 a.m. and end before noon.

“This is to develop the capacity of people to respond to earthquake and tsunami,” Berame said in a press conference last Friday.

The City Government is organizing the drill with the help of the Philvocs, Department of Education, Office of Civil Defense and Department of Interior and Local Government.

The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office and Bureau of Fire Protection will also send personnel to participate.

Some 100 teachers in Olango were also trained yesterday morning to teach their students how to protect themselves from earthquake and tsunami.

Bells

The Mini Hoops Dome in Barangay Talima, located two kms. from Barangay Tingo, has been designated as an evacuation center. Bells in chapels will be used to alert residents.

Berame said the Philvocs recorded an earthquake off Camotes Island in 1920s. Barangay Tingo, one of the 11 barangays in Olango, is facing Camotes.

City disaster responders were recently trained by experts from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on search-and-rescue skills in water and collapsed buildings.

Mayor Paz Radaza earlier said disaster preparedness is one of her priority programs this year. She said she wants the City to have more equipment for disaster response and create a more systematic way of evacuating residents.

Pag-ibig sets P5.22 B as Visayas loan target

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/03/08/pag-ibig-sets-p522-b-visayas-loan-target-396402
• Sunday, March 8, 2015

By Jeandie O. Galolo

STATE-OWNED Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-ibig Fund) is setting this year’s housing loan target for Visayas at P5.22 billion, which is equivalent to 8,126 housing units.

Of the amount, P2.3 billion will be for Cebu at 3,022 units; P1.25 billion for Tacloban at 2,761; P865 million for Iloilo at 1,262 units; and P790 million for Bacolod at 1,081 units.

Interest rate

Pag-ibig Visayas business development manager Rio Teves said the interest rate for regular housing loan is 6.985 percent, similar to last year’s rate.

In 2014, Pagibig Visayas set a target of P3.187 billion for housing loans in the region. However, this was exceeded by more than a hundred percent when in November last year, it registered a 114 percent increase, totalling P3.633 billion.

In 2013, however, Pagibig Visayas failed to meet its housing loan target of P4.109 billion. Instead, it only recorded P2.72 billion loans in the first ten months of that year.

Real estate industry players and officials attributed the current growth of the sector to “financial availability,” with Pagibig Fund becoming competitive with the rates offered by banks.

It was also last year when Pagibig decreased its interest rate to 6.985 percent from the 7.3 percent in 2013 and as high as 11.5 percent in the previous years. This was credited as a major factor in the increase in the number of housing loan borrowers in 2014, said Teves in previous interview.

Growth factors

Other factors for the growth, according to the official, are the newly-instituted reforms in Pagibig. These include, among others, a fixed loan to value ratio of 100 percent for loans less than P450,000, provided that the property is a socialized housing unit, 90 percent for loans up to P1.25 million, and 85 percent for loans over P1.25 million.

Pag-ibig also allowed three borrowers under a single loan. Co-borrowers, he said, need not be related to the principal borrower.

Housing portfolio

In Visayas, Pag-Ibig vice president for home lending operations Fermin Sta. Teresa Jr. said last December that its housing portfolio is at 56,731 housing units to existing borrowers for a total amount of P27.4 billion.

Sta. Teresa said Pag-Ibig has a total of 12 million members and P340 billion in assets.

Meanwhile, Teves, in an email, also reminded Pagibig members that it will be implementing new housing loan fees starting April 1 this year.

Processing fees will be at P3,000 (P1,000 up front and P2,000 to be deducted from the takeout proceeds). Appraisal fees will be P2,000 for retail and P1,000 for developer-assisted loans. Refilling fees will be at P1,000 and service fee for splitting of checks will be at P2,000 per additional check.

Supplier pours in P270M for port expansion to hike Cebu cement firm’s capacity

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=742236
• Saturday, March 7, 2015

(PNA), LAM/EB/

CEBU CITY, March 7 (PNA) -- A raw materials supplier invested around P270 million to expand the port facility it operates in South Poblacion, San Fernando town in southern Cebu to help increase the cement delivery capacity of Japanese cement maker Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc. (TCPI), in the same barangay.

In a statement, Solid Earth Development Corp. (SEDC) president lawyer Dennis Tenefrancia said the port could now accommodate five more vessels, increasing its capability to dispatch TCPI’s cement bags to offshore traders by 100 percent.

The port now has 10 berthing spaces, doubling the cement firm’s delivery of its cement products to dealers in Visayas and parts of southern Luzon.

“The port we operate could now accommodate five more vessels, double the number before the expansion,” he said.

In 2013, TCPI launched a USD10 million two-year expansion project to increase the plant’s capacity to at least two million tons a year.

Rolando Buhisan, engineering head of TCPI, said loading of cement bags into the ships could now be faster.

He said the pier which is regulated by Cebu Ports Authority is already secured from big waves.

SEDC Director Takehito Oga noted that effective port services promote regional commerce.

San Fernando Vice Mayor Miguel Antonio Canoy is confident the expanded port will boost the economy of his municipality, believing that there will be more jobs to be created in the locality.

SEDC, which supplies raw materials for TCPI’s cement production, has a limestone mining quarry in Barangay South Poblacion, San Fernando.

Cebu town gets Php15-M for farm-to-market road

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=742149
• Friday, March 6, 2015

(PNA), LGI/EB

CEBU CITY, March 6 (PNA) -- The Cebu provincial government has given Php15 million to the northwestern town of Tuburan for the concreting of a farm-to-market road.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III turned over the P15-million check Thursday for a farm-to-market road concreting project in Tuburan town.

Tuburuan Mayor Democrito Diamante, who received the check in a ceremony led by Davide, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and Provincial Board Members Alex Binghay and Grecilda Sanchez, said the fund will be used for the concreting project of the two-kilometer portion of the Alegria-Kabangkalan road, which gets dusty during summer or muddy and slippery on rainy days.

Diamante thanked the provincial government for its assistance.

He said the road concreting, particularly on the steep portion of the area, will make it easy for the farmers, who are members of a 40-farmer association, to transport their products to the market.

Their products include coffee, cacao, coconut and vegetables.

At least 18 mountain barangays will benefit from the project, said Danilo Cangmaong, president of the Farmers Federation of Tuburan.

Davide said his wish is to have all barangay roads in Cebu concreted.

He assured that before the end of the first half of this year the Cebu Capitol will be acquiring brand new heavy equipment for road construction and maintenance.

He said farmers who bring their harvest to the market and students who walk to school will benefit from the road development project.

5 regional design centers put up

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/03/05/5-regional-design-centers-put-395863
• Thursday, March 5, 2015

By Katlene O. Cacho

FIVE regional design centers have been established by the government to institutionalize and promote design and culture across the country.

According to the Philexport’s news portal, the design centers will be in Davao, Cebu, Bacolod, Legazpi and Pampanga.

This public-private partnership (PPP) project is expected to benefit designers, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), industry associations, and design faculty members and students.

The regional design centers will provide training, seminars, workshops, materials research and development and other design capability improvement activities. The centers also share online design trends subscription and other reference materials.

“These design promotion programs aim to improve skills, knowledge and capabilities of regional designers at par with global standards; and increase product quality and market-competitiveness of SMEs,” the report said.

Republic Act No. 10557, also known as the “Philippine Design Competitiveness Act of 2013”, mandates the Design Center of the Philippines to establish more public creative zones and environment in Metro Manila and other central hubs in different regions across the country.

Although they haven’t received formal communication from their head office yet, Esperanza Melgar, division chief, Industry Development and Investment Promotion of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) -Cebu Provincial Office (CPO), said in a statement on Tuesday: “the DTI supports the idea of establishing a Design Center in the regions as this will greatly benefit our SMEs in improving their over-all competitiveness.”

DTI-CPO has been actively supporting the creative sectors in Cebu as it recognizes its potential contribution to the city’s economic and cultural progress.

Cebu’s creative sector is led by the Creative Cebu Council, a non-profit group composed of artists and creative entrepreneurs who have bonded together to promote, develop and champion the creative industries sector.

The Creative Cebu Council covers visual arts, furniture, fashion, architecture, print, interactive, music, performing arts, motion pictures, and culinary arts.

The European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines previously said that if Cebu will be able to position itself as the creative capital of the country, it would open doors to overseas Filipino artists to come home and create here, which will benefit the economy.

CBM to highlight global-local play

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/03/04/cbm-highlight-global-local-play-395557
• Wednesday, March 4, 2015 12:00 am

By Mia A. Aznar (The Freeman)

RECONCILING the global mindset with the local culture is what this year’s Cebu Business Month will be focused on, overall organizing chairman Francis Dy said.

Dy made a presentation to members of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry during their general membership meeting last week of activities that they will be holding for June. They are set to launch the CBM later this month.

Dy said they want to introduce modern and effective business practices and infuse these with the local culture and society. He believes that strengthening local and global connections will facilitate cross border entrepreneurship better, as Cebu becomes part of a larger market due to the Asean economic integration. In an earlier interview, Dy told Sun.Star Cebu that he felt this was a natural topic to pursue, following the previous year’s focus on the Asean integration.

As with previous years, the CBM will be highlighting four industries–information and communications technology and business process management (ICTBPM), tourism, entrepreneurship and creative industries.

The highlight for ICTBPM is a new wave of outsourcing and the possibility of locals being able to provide solutions for the industry. This will be part of the discussions during the Cebu ICT-BPM Conference, which will be held on June 3 and 4 at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

As for tourism, Dy said it will continue to propel Cebu’s economy. There are three events scheduled for this sector. The Techno Tour Amazing challenge from June 16 to 18 will be an experiential tourism activity in Southern Cebu while the Cebu International Travel Fiesta from June 19 to 21 will launch new Cebu destinations and packages. They are targeting 100 exhibitors for the fair. The annual Tourism Night will also be held on June 20.

DOST partnership

The CCCI has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology for the Regional Invention and Contest Exhibit to complement the entrepreneurship activities. Dy said that the event is regularly held in October, but the DOST has agreed to move the event to June to coincide with the CBM. The Entrepreneurship Conference will be held on June 18 and 19 while the Grand Expo will be from June 18 to 20.

For creative industries, they will continue with the Cebu International Documentary Film Festival and the fourth Asian Creative Cities Network Forum on June 25. The whole month will also have sports activities and will be culminated by the Grand Chamber Awards and Fellowship Night.

Talisaynons urged to join Earth Hour

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2015/03/03/1429559/talisaynons-urged-join-earth-hour
• Tuesday, March 3, 2015 12:00 am

(The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City Councilor Antonio D. Bacaltos Jr. is asking for the support of the Talisaynons to join the world in celebrating Earth Hour by doing a ceremonial switching off of lights on March 28 from 8:30 to 9:30 in the evening.

In a proposed resolution No. 2015-10-14, Bacaltos, who is the chairman of the committee on environment, request all the 22 Barangay Captains to encourage all households, establishments and all other institutions in their respective barangays to fully and actively participate in the worldwide celebration of Earth Hour.

"This campaign is a worldwide initiative how individuals, communities, businesses and government can address the eminent threat of global warning. As a symbolic gesture to fight the threat of global warming every household, establishment and all institutions are requested to switch off their lights for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 in the evening," Bacaltos said.

"Aside from the symbolic switching off of the lights, all barangays of the City of Talisay can also be the climate champions by promoting renewed ways and practices of initiating change which can include simple environmental project like planting of trees, cleaning of the immediate environment and taking care of all our rivers and water sheds," he added.

The Earth Hour is an annual celebration and a global campaign to see hundreds of millions of people from different races, religion and culture on what can be done all over the world to combat climate change.

P4B project to rise in Lapu-Lapu City

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/03/02/p4b-project-rise-lapu-lapu-city-395227
• Monday, March 2, 2015

By Jeandie O. Galolo

THE Filinvest Group continues to expand its presence in Cebu as its subsidiary, Filinvest Alabang Inc (FAI), recently marked its first regional expansion in Cebu with the launching of the P4-billion Serulyan Seascapes in Lapu-Lapu City.

The development, which will have six towers, will nestle in a two-hectare property near Crimson Resort and Spa, which is also a Filinvest project. FAI Serulyan Seascapes project head Don-Don Mari S. Ubaldo said the development is part of the Filinvest Premiere home brand category and will offer to the market 581 high-end condominium units.

The first tower, which will have 65 units, will be positioned as service apartments instead of purely residential ones and is targeted to investors. Ubaldo said Tower 1 will be managed by FilArchipelago Hospitality Inc, the same group behind Crimson.

“I’m very optimistic that Cebuanos will embrace this project,” Ubaldo said at the sidelines of the project’s launching, noting the vibrant tourism in Lapu-Lapu City.

FAI’s biggest project is Filinvest City, a 244-hectare development in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza said Filinvest’s additional investment in the city is a welcome development. She said Serulyan Seascapes will boost the upbeat tourism industry of Mactan Island.

The city’s income, the mayor said, increased by 15 percent in 2014. Although she did not cite figures, she said the income is primarily driven by the residential and tourism projects in the city.

Construction of the first tower in Serulyan Seascapes will start in the second quarter of this year, according to Ubaldo. It is scheduled to be completed and become operational in 2018.

Aside from Serulyan Seascapes, Ubaldo said FAI will be launching within the year a Filinvest exclusive collection brand within City de Mare in South Road Properties.

Travel industry group eyes ‘enchanted farm’ project in Cebu

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=740141
• Sunday, March 1, 2015

(PNA), CTB/EB/

CEBU CITY, March 1 (PNA) -- The Network of Independent Travel Agencies (NITAs) is eyeing a six-hectare property in Cebu as location for its planned enchanted farm project.

NITAs chairman Bobby Lim Joseph said his group is currently working with Gawad Kalinga to set up a total of 28 enchanted farm facilities across the country with Cebu as one of the priority locations.

Joseph said NITAs and Gawad Kalinga will be coordinating closely with the Cebu Provincial Government through Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale to pursue this project.

The province may either donate the land or enter into a partnership deal with Gawad Kalinga.

The establishment of an enchanted farm throughout the Philippines is expected to boost the promotion of social tourism, wherein a community will be trained to capitalize on tourism and becoming entrepreneurs.

Enchanted farms serve as incubation facility for farmers to create and market their own product, and eventually become part of social entrepreneurism.

Gawad Kalinga has already one such farm operating in Angat, Bulacan.

The GK Enchanted Farm is Gawad Kalinga’s platform to raise social entrepreneurs, help local farmers and create wealth in the countryside.

The farm accepts walk-in or stay-in visitors. While in the farm, visitors can have a walking tour, attend social enterprise demos and hands-on trial, or engage in farming activities.

The farm enchants visitors with stories not only of successful enterprise but also of concrete acts of caring and sharing.

Joseph and the rest of the membership of NITAs have decided to join hands with GK in establishing more enchanted farms and promote these to the international market.

Joseph’s other group, the SKAL International, will also help in promoting the enchanted farms.