Cebu Province News April 2014

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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:
  1. 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.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
Cebu metro.jpg
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.

Bayani Challenge launched in Bantayan Island

(PIA Cebu)

CEBU CITY, April 10 (PIA) --- This year’s volunteerism event, Bayani Challenge, kicked off in Cebu province at the three storm-hit towns in Bantayan Island.

Launching ceremonies were held yesterday starting at the town of Sta. Fe, then Madridejos, and Bantayan.

According to Patrick Doromal of Gawad Kalinga (GK) Cebu, the first batch of the targeted 200 houses will be built in Bantayan and Madridejos towns.

Under the Bayani Challenge, Bantayan and Madridejos will benefit from the house build projects while in Sta. Fe, volunteers will work on repairing and repainting the schools.

Madridejos Mayor Sally de la Fuente said the 100 houses in their town will be built in Brgy. Tugas.

There are around 600 volunteers from Madridejos joining the Bayani Challenge this year, the mayor said.

For Bantayan town, around 1,000 volunteers have signed up for the challenge, according to Bantayan Public Information Officer Ricky Derecho.

Derecho said the volunteers are from 25 villages and six private organizations in Bantayan.

Simultaneous with the house build in Sitio Combado, Brgy. Ticad in Bantayan town is the coastal clean-up in 13 villages and Paraisong Pambata activity in Brgy. Mamacayao.

Volunteers will also refurbish the classrooms for school children aged 5 to 7 years old in Brgy. Liparan and Brgy. Doong, he added.

Spearheaded by Gawad Kalinga, the Bayani Challenge started in 2006 with the goal of “building relationships, bringing out the hero in everyone and raising resources and results for the poor that can only be achieved by working together.”

This year’s Bayani Challenge runs from April 9 to June 12 and aims to gather one million volunteers in 12 provinces nationwide to help in the rebuilding efforts for calamity-hit communities.

Doromal said they continue to invite Cebuanos to join the volunteerism event in the next few weeks in the identified local government units in Cebu province.

“Continuing ang registration until the very last week,” he said.

Disaster-prone areas go through seminars

By Juffer Denn Bornales and Lara Praz Mayol, CNU Comm Interns (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management headed the supervision of seminars among some barangays which were identified as flood and landslide prone areas.

The barangays of Camp 4, Candulawan, Jaclupan, Lagtang, Lawaan III, Manipis and Tapul are recognized as the areas vulnerable to landslides while Biasong, Candulawan, Dumlog, Lawaan II and III, Linao, San Isidro, Tanke, San Roque, Lagtang, Pooc and Tapul are susceptible to floods.

So far, they have conducted seminars in the barangays of San Isidro, Cansojong and Manipis since the city’s program has just started. Other barangays are expected to follow suit in the next days.

Vencie Monterde, disaster and risk reduction management officer, warned the residents of these barangays to be vigilant to disasters.

Monterde said the seminar aims to raise awareness about the disaster reduction system for the public to be prepared for the upcoming natural calamities.

Meanwhile, the City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management had already acquired relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in preparation for the Typhoon Domeng.

Schools, covered courts and barangay halls, which are possible evacuation sites, have already been made ready.

City of Naga launches development program

By Garry B. Lao (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - City of Naga, known to be the industrial hub in southern Cebu because of its vital industries, will be launching its newest program in pursuit of making the young industrial city an ideal place to live, work and do business with.

Garry Cabotaje, the city information officer, said the new program dubbed as Naga Akong Garbo (NAGa) will be launched this morning at Enan Chiong Activity Center.

Cabotaje said the NAGa program is a sub-project of the Our Cebu Program, formerly known as the expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures of the Cebu Provincial Government, which inked a partnership with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.

As an integrated and holistic program of the city government, it provides a blueprint for effective and efficient implementation of its long-term goals for sustainable development, officials said in a statement.

Cabotaje also said the primary objective is to continue and improve the delivery of basic services to its constituents through the implementation of effective socio-economic and infrastructure projects; proper management of its natural and man-made resources; maintenance peace and order and strengthening ties with various government agencies and private sectors.

Among the highlights of the activity is the audio-video presentation of the NAGa Program to give the visiting guests led by Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III a glimpse of what the project is all about and its impact to the community.

A commitment building will follow wherein all the stakeholders headed by Mayor Valdemar Chiong will place their bare hands with water-based paint against the wall as a sign of their pledge to support the program.

Winning bidder in P17.5B Mactan airport expansion taps world-renowned Cebuano designer

(PNA), JBP/EB

CEBU CITY, April 7 (PNA) -- Megawide-GMR consortium, winner of the P17.5-billion Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) expansion project, has tapped world-renowned Cebuano designer Kenneth Cobonpue to design the airport’s new terminal.

Cobonpue said he had been approached by representatives of Filipino-owned Megawide Construction Corp. and Bangalore-based GMR Airports and made initial discussions on the new terminal.

Conbonpue said he was aware of the delays in the bidding for the project.

“I told them (GMR-Megawide officials) to come back to me after the project has been awarded to them,” Cobonpue said.

Megawide-GMR consortium won Friday the Mactan airport deal after posting the highest bid of P14.4 billion.

Cobonpue, along with designer Budji Layug and architect Royal Pineda, designed a rehabilitation plan for the more than 30-year-old Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 for free.

Their offer, however, was turned down by government officials.

The three made the offer after the NAIA Terminal 1 topped the list of a travel website’s world’s lousiest airports to sleep in 2012.

The airport also appeared in similar lists in 2013.

Louie Ferrer, Megawide chief marketing officer, earlier said they aim to start construction in the early part of 2015, as the terms of reference set that the new terminal should be delivered within 36 months.

But even before the consortium was awarded the project, its officials said they have been meeting with private stakeholders to make the MCIA expansion project a collaborative effort with inputs from Cebuanos.

Cebu business leaders happy with airport deal

By Aileen Garcia-Yap

BUSINESS leaders in Cebu were pleased with the announcement of the awarding of the contract for the Mactan-Cebu International Airport expansion project to the Megawide-GMR consortium.

“We’re happy that they finally made a decision. Finally, we can move forward and reap the benefits sooner,” said Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Philip N. Tan.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry past president Prudencio Gesta said this was a welcome development since the company has complied with all requirements of the bidding committee and submitted the best offer fair and square.

“With this development, GMR can immediately start the project which has been delayed for months. We are optimistic that the completion of this project will improve the volume of tourist arrivals to Cebu and the whole country in general, not to mention many investment opportunities that can be derived for having a world class airport,” said Gesta.

Cebu Business Club president Gordon Alan Joseph said this development will boost the country’s credibility before international investors.

“It had to be resolved otherwise it would send the wrong signals to investors about the Philippine investment climate. I do hope too that the winning consortium lives up to everyone’s expectations,” said Joseph.

“This is long overdue and really good news! This will also send a positive signal to our future investors that our country honors private and public partnership. Now we are really moving on,” said MCCI board member Carmel de Pio Salvador.

CCCI past president Lito Maderazo said he hopes DOTC will stand by its decision and move forward with the project as soon as possible. European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines board member Sabino Dapat agred.

“There is a process that is followed with all transparency and it is upheld. I think it is a good example that we, in Cebu, are fair and can be trusted by Foreign Direct Investors.”

Jay Aldeguer , president and CEO of the Islands Group of Companies expressed relief.

“Everyone was a bit jittery especially with a lot of the PPPs placed on hold. I’m happy that they have finally made a decision so that we can move forward. This is something really positive for Cebu,” said Aldeguer.

Cebu’s top 10 pasalubongs: Summer tourist influx spells profit for local entrepreneurs

By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - As Cebu braces for the influx of tourists this summer season, local entrepreneurs likewise prepare themselves as souvenir and pasalubong items in Cebu has been an essential part of the travel experience among local and foreign tourists, promoting the diverse mix of locally-made products and helping entrepreneurs and the local economy.

The spending potential of local residents and travelers has improved the businesses of local designers and exporters of delicacies, fashion accessories, souvenir items, guitars among others.

Known for being the tourists’ preferred place for vacation, Cebu also has a lot of locally-made souvenirs, export and delicacy products to offer to both local and foreign visitors. be and p for local and foreign tourists who are visiting Cebu a g 30% are items that come from other regions in the o

These pasalubong or homecoming gifts are available in many parts of the city and province of Cebu. These areas include the Taboan Market, Tabo sa Banay, Lapu-Lapu Shrine, grocery and department stores and many other souvenir and delicacy stores.

One-stop souvenir store

The One Town One Product Store Tindahang Pinoy in Mandaue City’s Bridges Town Square displays and sells a wide variety of Philippine export quality products to domestic buyers and tourists.

It offers pasalubong items such as native delicacies, wicker and coco products, fashion accessories, capiz shell decors, hand-painted linens, handicraft and many more.

Cebu Gifts, Toys and Housewares Foundation (Cebu-GHT), Inc. manages the store which is a project the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Tindahang Pinoy helps small entrepreneurs and established exporters showcase their food and non-food products to the tourism market, said Dr. Elias G. Tecson, DTI region 7’s chief on Business Development Division.

Products made in Central Visayas make up the 70% share in the store and the remaining 30% are items that come from the other regions in the country.

Tecson said they are closely working with tour guide operators and local tourism promoters to make TP a regular stop for bus tours.

“It’s an automatic stop for local and foreign tourists who are visiting Cebu,” the chief said.

Meanwhile, Tecson is calling on more small entrepreneurs to join this year’s Sandugo Trade Fair in July in Bohol.

The fair aims to enhance the competitiveness of local manufacturers of delicacies and other OTOP products.

“That’s why we continue to conduct labeling and packaging development training to manufacturers to better improve their products,” Tecson said. “How can we promote our products if we don’t improve it?”

July is the month for micro, small and medium enterprises.

The FREEMAN has compliled the top pasabulong and souvenir products in Cebu:

1. Dried mango and Otap. The two and other known Cebu delicacies are still the top pasalubong choices among out-of-town travelers and even locals, Tecson said. “Number one gihapon ang food products nato,” he said. “Our delicacies are really unique and in-demand to tourists.”

2. Other delicacies. Other in-demand Cebu products include Rosquillos, Chicharon, Mazareal and Torta. Each municipality and city in Cebu has its OTOP product. For instance, Argao’s One Town One Product is the famous Torta with Tuba.

3. Danggit and other dried seafoods. The Taboan Market in Cebu City sell different types of buwad or dried seafoods which are mostly bought in bulk. This flea market offers the cheapest prices of the famous danggit, buwad pinikas, squid and a lot more to dried fish retailers and domestic visitors. These are also available at delicacy sections in many grocery stores but are priced relatively higher.

4. Wicker products. Wicker includes a variety of grasses, vines and other plants that are woven into baskets, chairs, tables and other furnitures. OTOP Store Sales Clerk Gema Paras, 39, said wicker-made baskets are one of the saleable non-food items in the shop. These baskets, she said, come from the different parts of Cebu province and other provinces in the region.

5. Guitars. Cebu has been known for its finest guitar industry, producing instruments of world class quality. Aside from Lapu-Lapu Shrine, Cebu guitars and ukuleles are also sold in the city’s Carbon Market stores. A guitar sells at P800, the cheapest.

6. Fashion accessories. Accessories include bracelets, necklaces, rings, earings, anklets among others. Gema said locals prefer buying native accessory items because of the affordability. The items sell at P20 - P500, depending on the design and size.

7. I Love Cebu T-shirts. Souvenir t-shirts are not only available in pasalubong centers but also in shopping malls and other retail stores, answering to the demand among Cebuanos and foreigners.

Other shops allow customers to personalize the design printing their names on the shirt. The famous line, “I Love Cebu” has evolved into a promotional tagline for Cebu.

8. Keychains and ref magnets. Gema of OTOP Store said the guitar and “I Love Cebu” keychains are the most saleable and attractive to visitors, saying these serve as keepsakes to them for having visited the “Queen City of the South.” Other keychains are printed with photos of the famous beaches and tourist spots in Cebu and other provinces in the Visayas.

9. Handicrafts. Craftsmen from different parts of Cebu province are exibiting and selling their hand-made items in Tindahang Pinoy, showcasing their customary creativity and skill.

Sales Clerk Gema revealed to The Freeman that the OTOP Store get a lot of orders from abroad on their various native products such as hand-painted linens, capiz shell decors, wrought iron furnitures and accessory boxes. These products are made from bamboo, shell, vines, fiber and other indigenous materials.

10. Miniature figurines. Figurines of jeepneys, traditional ice cream pushcarts, dolphin, and bangka are the best sellers in TP. Most of these miniatures are manufactured from barangay Mabolo in Cebu City.

MCWD earmarks P2B for business expansion

By Jessa J. Agua/JMD (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - With the aim of serving its target consumer better, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District has allocated an estimated P 1.91 billion for its expansion and distribution improvement projects in the eight local government units within its service area.

This is in line with the water district’s mandate to serve more businesses and communities in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay and the municipalities of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Cordova.

To ensure local government support for the projects that will benefit their constituents, MCWD will conduct a meeting with the mayors of each LGU about the water district’s infrastructure projects this year and in the next seven years.

“We want to support the growth of these LGUs and of Metro Cebu as a whole. As responsible water utility, we want to ensure that we can serve the demand and that there will be a stable supply of affordable, safe and potable water in Metro Cebu,” said MCWD General Manager Armando Paredes.

MCWD is currently producing around 200,000 cubic meters of water per day but is only serving around 43 percent of the total water demand in its service area.

The total water demand is projected to increase to 416, 000 cubic meters per day in the year 2020.

The water district is working to meet this demand by sourcing different additional sustainable supply.

One of which is the bulk water supply project of the Cebu Provincial Government and the Cebu Manila Water Development Inc. which will bring in additional 18,000 cubic meters of water per day by July this year. The volume will increase to 35,000 cubic meters per day in the second year up to the 25th year, which is the duration of the contract.

This additional supply will not only answer the supply gap but will also mark MCWD’s shift to surface water sourcing, which is more environmentally friendly than groundwater extraction.

To prepare for the incoming supply, MCWD will have to implement the P1.91-billion expansion and distribution improvement projects in its service area.

The implementation of these projects is expected to affect traffic flow in the northern part of Metro Cebu.

MCWD is appealing to motorists and the public for their patience and understanding for the inconvenience these will cause.

The same expansion project was recently presented to Liloan mayor Duke Frasco.

Capitol set to hire medical specialists

By Michael H. Braga (BANAT NEWS, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - In line with its thrust to upgrade health facilities, the Cebu provincial government is now eyeing to enter contracts of consultancy with medical diplomats who would be assigned to different provincial and district hospitals.

Capitol would be hiring medical specialists in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, internal medicine and pediatrics.

Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez is sponsoring a resolution authorizing Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III to enter into and sign contract of consultancy with medical diplomats.

She said that this would give convenience to the patients since those who live in far flung areas would no longer have to go to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

“This would really save time ug mo-minus pod ang makalas nga kinabuhi kay tungod sa byahe nga layo pa… We slowly arm our hospitals. We are starting to decongest the influx of patients sa Sotto,” she added.

Davide said the province aims to improve the provincial government-run hospitals to at least level one since these are still in the primary care level.

There are 16 government-run hospitals in Cebu province.

The province is putting Carcar Provincial Hospital, district hospitals in Tuburan, Badian and Danao on the priority list this year.

He admitted though the provincial and district hospitals have their own operating rooms, but they don’t have surgeons.

Under the existing laws and orders, level one hospitals are required to have medicals specialists in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, General Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Davide earlier announced the province already set aside budget for the hiring of medical personnel and for the upgrading of operating rooms including the P6-million purchase of X-ray machines.

To develop local manufacturing CCCI eyeing DOST programs

By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans to tap the support technologies and programs available specifically from the Department of Science and Technology and other government agencies to perk up the local manufacturing sector.

CCCI president Ma. Teresa Chan said that while services and remittances from the Overseas Filipino Workers continue to fuel the economy, there is a need to support the local manufacturing sector to grow the other side of the economy.

"There are a lot of government programs that the private sector is unaware of. DOST for example has several programs that would support the local manufacturing industry," said Chan.

She added that the Regional Development Council has a lot of good plans and proposed programs that the government can act upon and this has to be presented by the private sector in full scale.

"We really have to develop our local manufacturing sector. This is also to help push the inclusive growth that our government is trying to achieve," she added.

Chan mentioned the development of women entrepreneurship that needs serious attention, and the private sector like the Chamber could start an advocacy and hopefully eventually gain support from bigger institutions like the government and also other international non-governmental organizations that share the same advocacy.

Cottage and micro industries including those that are run by women, are one of the few sectors that the chamber is going to pursue under Chan's leadership.

Meanwhile, in an earlier interview with National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Arsenio M. Balisacan, the said that the government is now bent on developing the local manufacturing sector, aside from attracting big-ticket foreign manufacturing investors.

In the last few year, when the Aquino administration started is thrust to promote inclusive growth, Balisacan said manufacturing investments have started to move up from both local and foreign capitalists.

"The revival of manufacturing is vital," said Balisacan adding that the government is now updating the Philippines Economic Development Program to prioritize six blue-collar generating industries such as agri-business, manufacturing, tourism, construction, logistics, as well as Information Technology.

The revival of attracting manufacturing investments to the Philippines is deemed crucial to balance the economic expansion, enabling the poor to participate in the growth process, he said.

Asian Development Bank senior country economist Norio Usui said, “now is the time for the Philippines to translate economic growth benefits down to the ordinary people if the country wants to take the right road to inclusive growth."

Cebu to host 23rd World Economic Forum’s Ocean 14 segment on May 23-25

(PNA), FPV/EB

CEBU CITY, April 1 (PNA) -- Cebu will host the Open Collaboration with East Asia New Champions 2014 (Ocean 14) segment of the 23rd World Economic Forum (WEF) on May 23 to 25 at the Movenpick Resort in Lapu-Lapu City.

The WEF East Asia Regional Summit will be held in Manila for the first time on May 21 to 23.

The Ocean 14 is an extension to the WEF summit, which will gather 200 top decision makers and shapers in the world.

The summit is intended to open up stronger collaboration between private and public sectors with the unified goal to promote development, networking, and essentially to make the world "a better place" to live amid the challenging issues it faces.

The new champions of the WEF, a community that includes the Young Global Leaders, Global Shapers, Schwab Social Entrepreneurs in the Philippines, officially launched the three-day event Monday.

"To further fuel the momentum, Ocean 14 aims to develop a framework for creating Innovation Zones, that promote a new class of businesses," said Winston Damarillo, Ocean summit chairman.

Damarillo, who is also a Young Global Leader and owner of one of the successful innovation companies in the Philippines serving the global clientele, said the summit will give an opportunity for Cebu and the Philippines to showcase its world-class leaders, as well as innovations.

"Designed for start-ups and entrepreneurs working on high risk, high reward ventures, Innovation Zones will build on best practices and encourage innovation," Damarillo said.

He said Ocean 14 aims to convene the New Champions through leaders and Filipino change-makers in Cebu for three days of networking, dialogue on social and economic development.

Damarillo said those attending will discuss where the Philippine economy is now and what the future holds.

More than 200 leaders from the government, including YGL and senators Bam Aquino and Chiz Escudero, business, academe, and arts and culture will share strategies and solutions for promoting social economic progress as the Philippines prepares for Asean integration next year.

"The World Economic forum is one of the most influential non-profit organizations in the world and its a rare opportunity for the Philippines to host it. Its an honor for our foreign counterparts to experience Cebu and see a mix of the best-- from beaches to creative minds," said YGL and broadcaster Karen Davila.

The WEF, which gained strong international exposures such as running stories in CNN and other distinguished and top rated international media organizations, is also on its way to officially form the Global Shapers Cebu Hub and appointed Cebuano entrepreneur Jay Aldeguer as the founding curator.

Ocean will feature keynotes such as Asean Social Enterprise and Igniting the Innovation Initiatives via private-public partnerships, a range of interactive break-out sessions with themes around sustainable social initiatives, design thinking and solutions, and enabling a digitally-enabled economy, fireside chats, among other events.

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