Cebu Province News February 2012

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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.

Cebu to have rainy days ahead: Pagasa

By Rebelander S. Basilan

A LOW-pressure area in Mindanao will bring rains in Cebu in the next few days, the weather bureau said yesterday.

Quiley Torregoza, weather observer at Pagasa’s Mactan, Cebu station, advised residents in Cebu to stay alert against floods and landslides. He also advised fishermen not to venture into the rough seas.

The low-pressure area, spotted near Malaybalay City in Bukidnon yesterday, is not likely to develop into a typhoon, however, said Torregoza.

But the low-pressure area, he said, may generate two millimeters of rain per hour, which can trigger floods if the rains last for several hours.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), no tropical cyclone threatened the country as of yesterday.

“Both LPA (low-pressure area) and tail-end of a cold front will continue to bring cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rains and thunderstorms in Southern Luzon, Visayas and Northern and Eastern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides,” Pagasa said in its weather advisory yesterday.

Torregoza said the northeast monsoon or amihan will also bring cloudy skies and rains in Cebu.

The public, he added, can expect a wet summer because of the La Niña phenomenon.

Cebu boxer sparks riot in Argentina

By Emmanuel B. Villaruel (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - An ugly riot broke out after Johnriel “Quadro Alas” Casimero halted Argentina’s Luis Alberto Lazarte in the 10th round for the vacant IBF light flyweight title in Buenos Aires yesterday.

It was a chaotic victory for the Ormoc City native, who dropped hometown favorite Lazarte twice in the ninth round at the jam-packed Club Once Unidos in Mar del Plata in Argentina’s capital.

Even before referee Eddie Claudio could formally declare the winner, an army of disgruntled Argentine fans rushed to the ring and attacked Casimero and his team.

Even the IBF officials, led by fight supervisor Anibal Miramontes, and some cooler heads who attempted to calm down the situation were not spared by the wrath of angry fans.

Videos of the disgraceful incident, which became an instant hit in various social networking sites, showed Casimero, his manager Sammy ‘Don King” Gello-ani and trainer Pingping Teropa scampering for safety as chairs, bottles and wayward punches were flying all over the arena at the height of the melee.

Gello-ani’s wife Cora told The Freeman that her husband, Casimero and Tepora sustained only minor injuries.

“They’re okay now and are resting at their hotel room. They no longer had to go to the hospital because they only suffered minor injuries. They were also given police escorts to ensure their safety,” said Cora.

The two warriors actually fought on even terms until Casimero rattled Lazarte with a powerful shot to the chin at the end of round nine, hurting the Argentine who barely had the ability to stand in the 10th.

Prior to the stoppage, Lazarte was slapped with one-point deduction for biting Casimero in the neck in sixth round.

Casimero, of Omega Boxing stable based in Mabolo, Cebu City, also lost points for fouls in the fourth and eighth rounds.

Casimero, who will turn 22 years old tomorrow, improved his record to 16-2 with 10 KOs, while Lazarte fell to 49-11-2 (18 KOs).

Families in Cebu town ordered to leave danger zone

(KAL/Sun.Star Cebu)

CEBU CITY -- After massive cracks were found in a mountain in Ronda town, authorities said the residents should be evacuated to safer ground.

The cracks -- about three kilometers long -- found in Sitio Langin, Barangay Vive were caused by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit the provinces of Cebu and Negros Oriental last Monday, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Central Visayas Director Loreto Alburo said in a television report.

“We mapped this area before as susceptible to landslides,” Alburo said. “(It is a) permanent danger zone.”

A representative of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Central Visayas suggested that the Ronda Municipal Government conduct “pre-emptive evacuation” to keep anyone from getting hurt.

At the foot of the mountain, there are about 150 families living in 85 households and a school with a population of over 300 students.

Engr. Ver Neil Balaba, OCD-Central Visayas operations officer, said there is a possibility a landslide would occur during a heavy downpour.

“The cracks are a warning from nature,” he said in a phone interview with Sun.Star Cebu.

Balaba said a team from MGB-Central Visayas will conduct a geological survey to assess the extent of the damage in the area.

Ronda’s Municipal Engineer Oscar Pilapil said some of the cracks were old and the mountain is connected to a mountain in Kan-actol in Dumanjug town, where a fault line is located.

The official said Barangay Vive was declared a danger zone in 1996.

During the earthquake, Pilapil said, five houses were destroyed, while five others were damaged. Residents noticed smoke rising from the ground during the tremor.

A high school student, Mary Ann Tejas, said their house was destroyed after it was hit by a boulder.

Chief Inspector Bonifacio Tecson, in a phone interview, said personnel from the town’s disaster team and social workers checked Friday Barangay Vive, which is about 15 to 20 kilometers from the town proper.

“We already advised residents not to go near the mountain,” he said in Cebuano.

Tecson, Ronda police head, said he assigned two policemen to monitor the area. The barangay watchmen were also tapped to help the police.

He said residents can temporarily stay in a school in the barangay.

Residents said in a television interview that they wanted to leave their place, but they hesitated because it would mean leaving their livelihood, which is primarily farming.

“Pag-ampo aron maluwas mi dili madayon kay ang Ginoo ra ang makatabang nato (I will pray for our safety because God is the only one who can help us),” said Jenny Langunis, a student.


DSWD to cover more areas hit by killer quake

(Hazel F. Gloria-PIA 7 & DSWD 7)

CEBU CITY, Feb 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office-7 in Central Visayas Relief Operations Team is expected to reach out to more survivors in La Libertad, Tayasan, Jimalalud, Guihulngan, and Ayungon, towns in Negros Oriental badly hit by the earthquake on February 6.

According to DSWD-7 information officer Jaybee Binghay, the relief goods contain cooking and eating utensils such as plastic plates and drinking glasses; packed foods; bottled water; and mats and blankets from the DSWD will be delivered today to the municipalities of La Libertad, Tayasan, Jimalalud, Guihulngan, and Ayungon.

Additional DSWD tents will also be put up in strategic areas especially in the identified evacuation centers. The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday used tents coming from DSWD for its temporary hospital and clinic in Guihulngan town.

If the weather cooperates today, DSWD -7 will deliver food and non-food items in the mountain village of Planas, Guihulngan which has not been reached due to the continuing aftershocks making the area difficult to reach for rescue, retrival, and relief operations.

DSWD-7 regional director Maria Evelyn Macapobre said, “Operation center in Cebu is standing by to accept more donations from the public both in cash and in kind." Their office had identified the following most needed supplies: food, water, mats, mosquito nets, blankets, tents, and flashlights with batteries.

DSWD-7 Help Desk hot-line numbers are 2321192 and 2330261; contact persons are Shalaine Lucero or Marshall Fernandez.

Anytime today, DSWD-7 is expecting an additional truck of relief supplies to augment available resources and expedite relief operations.

Demand for beachfront properties remain strong

By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Property marketers remain optimistic that the recent tsunami scare will not in any way affect the high selling potential of beachfront properties.

The sellers believe that a strong tsunami is very unlikely to happen in Cebu as it is not an open island.

Philippine Allied Chamber of Real Estate Brokers and Licensed Salesmen (PhilACRE) president Anthony Leuterio said in an interview yesterday that the demand for beachfront properties in Cebu remains strong, and that the Tsunami scare will not in any way discourage the market to buy beachfront properties, specifically in Cebu.

“We even have increased inquiries today, even after the tsunami false alarm,” said Leuterio.

Besides, he said investors have choice. “We are just lucky we don’t have open seas.”

Leuterio said earthquake, tsunami and other calamities could happen anywhere, it is not only limited to Cebu. He believes that investors do not have to stop their appetite in buying properties due to fear of the unknown.

“Business as usual” for the real estate industry in Cebu, he said adding that growth in the sector can’t be derailed just because of any calamity scare.

In fact, Leuterio said most of the buyers prefer the beachfront properties, specifically the foreigners while Cebu is likened to Hawaii, because of the beach and tropical environment.

Leuterio downplayed the impression that because of the tsunami scare, near beach properties for sale will experience a momentary decline of buyers’ interest.

Meanwhile, Cebu Business Club (CBC) president Dondi Joseph said that although the tsunami warning on Monday issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) brought about business disruption in Cebu due to panic, he warned that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for the government, as well as the public.

“Cebu has been complacent about its exposure to earthquakes and even tsunami. We need to be prepared and vigilant,” said Joseph.

Because of what happened the business community in Cebu is calling on the government, specifically the Local Government Unit (LGU) to immediately set up a center information command that will provide proper information dissemination to the public, whenever there is a threat of any calamity, or natural disaster.

“It’s better to be prepared to avoid panic,” Joseph reiterated.

Earlier, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Eric Ng Mendoza said although the business disruption across industries in Cebu was just temporary and only affected half-day of the operation, still “business was disrupted.”

“We suggest that there should be a proper information dissemination. In the case of tsunami warnings, it should be explained well to the people so as not to create panic. Tsunami is new to Cebuanos, unlike typhoons. Most people do not know the extent of the tsunami level 2 alert,” said Mendoza.

After Monday's 6.9 earthquake requests for bldg checks flood OBO

By Jessica Ann R. Pareja (– with Flor Perolina, Niña Sumacot, and Ria Mae Booc/NLQ, The Freeman )

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Building Official (OBO) of Cebu City has been flooded with requests for building inspection following the magnitude 6.9 tremor last Monday.

Building Official Josefa Ylanan said that occupants of structures and their owners can do their own inspection as the OBO will have to prioritize government structures.

Meanwhile, two school buildings in Mandaue City have been deemed by an inspection team as unsafe while reports of minor damage in the southern towns have reached the Capitol.

The requests were made to ensure the soundness and the safety of the buildings.

Ylnan advised owners of private buildings to hire civil engineers to inspect their structures preferably from the construction company that built the edifice.

“For private buildings, I told them to please hire civil engineers. It’s logical that who constructed the building knows how strong it is. So call them again, hire them and have them check the building,” Ylanan said.

“We will then be collecting the results. I am supposed to write a letter addressed to all building owners,” she added.

Among those prioritized for inspection are the office of the Bureau of the Internal Revenue in Barrio Luz, which was reported to have sustained cracks.

OBO engineers will also inspect today the building occupied Civil Service Commission.

“Before we inspect, I told them that let’s do our share of inspection. Every building occupant must inspect their immediate surrounding. Should they find a hairline crack, then there is no cause for alarm. But if they observe it is getting bigger, then something is wrong,” Ylanan said.

The inspection for all schools in Cebu City is being conducted by the Department of Engineering and Public Works.

The OBO already declared both the executive and legislative buildings of City Hall as “sound and stable.”

Building officials also immediately inspected the Cebu City Medical Center and the City Condominium and found no problem.

The occupants of the city condominium, which is now being used as a dormitory for city scholars from the mountain barangays, were already asked to return.

The Market Operations Division was advised anew to vacate the Gotiaco Building after a portion of the wall facing the stairs collapsed due to the quake.

Market Administrator Raquel Arce said they will transfer to Unit III of Carbon Market and some will move to the Taboan Public Market.

Ylanan said that in the first place, the Gotiaco Building occupied by the MOD has been declared hazardous in the past, but some officials insisted on staying.

“We did not recommend the area for occupation. Ila rang bana-bana na lig-on ang building, but we cannot gamble anymore,” she said.

The city is renting the building for P25,000 a month. Assistant City Administrator for Economic Enterprise Atty. Dominic Diño said that the contract of lease might be terminated since it will no longer be occupied.


Big cracks on school buildings

Two school buildings in Mandaue City have been found to be unfit for use based on the result of the joint team, which inspected all the school buildings in the city.

The team recommended the immediate abandonment of a school building in Barangay Umapad and another in Barangay Opao due to major cracks.

The team headed by Councilor Demetrio Cortes Jr., chairman of the committee on education, along with Engr. Ceres Menderico of the City Engineering Office and Nicasio Cortes, coordinator for physical facilities of DepEd Mandaue started inspecting the 39 public schools in the city.

Menderico said they noticed deep cracks in the end columns of a three-classroom building in Umapad Elementary School. She added these cracks are big enough for one to put his hands into them.

Likewise, she added they also observed a major crack in the beam of a two-storey classroom-building in Opao Elementary School.

Seven other schools, which were inspected yesterday, were found to have sustained “minor hairline cracks,” Menderico said.

The other schools inspected yesterday were the elementary schools in Paknaan, Tabok I and Tabok II, Tingub, Banilad, Tawason, Casili and Kabancalan High School.

Nicasio Cortes said the schools in Umapad and Opao are located in reclaimed area and this could be one factor that cause the defects.

Councilor Cortes for his part said he will wait for the final recommendation of the engineering office before recommending an appropriation from the Special Education Fund for the repair of these structures.

Eva Barino, principal of Umapad Elementary School, said they will comply with the recommendation and implement two-shift classes to offset the loss of the decades-old building.

Damage in southern towns

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said parts of the province also sustained minor infrastructure damage.

“Thanks for the continued protection of the Señor Sto. Niño, Cebu was largely spared,” the governor said.

She, however, said that most of the damage has already been repaired.

Portions of some provincial roads were destroyed and blocked by landslides like in Barangay Mantalongon, Dalaguete and an area in Badian town.

Bell towers of some of the churches also incurred damage. The southern part of the province is known for its heritage sites.

Garcia said she deployed the province’s engineering personnel to do the repairs. The provincial government is now also coordinating with the Archdiocese of Cebu to retrofit the heritage structures.


Back home

After fleeing the coastal areas due to fear of tsunami, residents of the shorelines have returned home early yesterday.

Police chiefs of the towns confirmed that good weather condition prompted the residents to return to their houses.

Among the affected towns were Barili, Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian and Alegria.

The police and the local government units are still continuously monitoring for the safety of the people.

Minor cracks were found on the Tangil Wharf in Dumanjug.

The Dumanjug police have also cordoned off the St. Francis de Assisi Parish Church after stones from its structure fell. They will be opening the same upon further advisory from the LGU. 

In Barangay Poblacion, Barili the municipal hall sustained cracks, but the municipal engineer assured the public that there is nothing to worry.

In the town of Badian, their mini wharf in Barangay Zaragosa and four houses along the shore were damaged while water lines were cut off.

About 45 motorized bancas owned by the Badian Island Resort were also damaged.

A landslide also happened in Barangay Basak.

Sr. Insp. Almirante Bacayo, Badian police chief said they are coordinating with the LGU in monitoring the affected areas.

He said the mini wharf was immediately repaired as well as the water lines.

Cebu developer sets aside P3B for three residential projects

(PNA), LAP/EB/bh

CEBU CITY — Homegrown developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. is earmarking P3 billion for capital expenditures starting this year, for the development of three residential projects in Cebu under a joint venture with RDAK Transport Equipment Inc.

Cebu Landmasters Inc. president and chief executive officer Jose Soberano III said the programmed capex will stretch until 2014.

The company broke ground over the weekend on its first residential project, Midori Plains, in partnership with RDAK.

The project, which sits on eight hectares in Tungkop, Minglanilla town in southern Cebu, will house an initial 387 residential units with prices ranging from P1.6 million to P3.2 million. Average lot area is 120 square meters.

”The partnership of this project came in when I learned that RDAK and Cebu Landmasters are both eyeing the same property in Minglanilla. So we decided to work on the project together rather than compete with each other,” Soberano said, adding that this project is RDAK’s first venture in Cebu’s thriving real estate industry.

RDAK’s core business is in the transportation and heavy equipment industry, which includes manufacturing and selling of several types of heavy, light and medium transport vehicles.

Ricarido Delfin Abellana King, founder and owner of RDAK Transport Equipment Inc., said their venture into property development signifies their optimism and confidence in Cebu’s real estate industry.

The two companies will pour in P500 million to develop Midori Plains, which will have nine house designs intended for the middle-class market. The firm also allotted some 50 lot-only units.

Midori Plains land development is expected to be completed within one year.

Among the amenities are Club Chi, which features a swimming pool, open-air pool cabanas, function hall and entertainment rooms’ and a gazebo.

Aside from Midori Plans, Cebu Landmasters and RDAK are also set to develop two condominium buildings on A.S. Fortuna in Banilad, Mandaue City and on Salinas Ext. in Cebu City.

According to Soberano, the A.S. Fortuna project will have two 12-storey; condominium buildings with 198 units each. This condo project is being pitched to the middle-class market, such as young professionals, with unit prices ranging from P1.3 million to P1.6 million.

The Salinas project, on the other hand, will have seven mid-rise condominium buildings with a total of 1,200 condo units. This project is programmed for a three-year development.

According to Soberano, the low interest rate, strong domestic liquidity, huge housing backlog and strong inflows of remittances prompted them to be aggressive in building property projects in Cebu.

Cebu, he said, has always been a hub for work and education.

He added local players like him are not threatened by the coming of big players in Cebu, as the province records a huge housing backlog.

”They may have dominance in certain markets but local developers here have a good head start in the real estate environment because of our familiarity with local conditions,” he said.

His company for instance, is eyeing the middle market who can afford to acquire houses with prices ranging from P1.5 million to P3 million.

Cebu Landmasters’ first residential project is San Jose Maria Village in Balamban in 2003. Since then, he brought the brand to different areas such as Minglanilla in 2007, Toledo in 2009, and Talisay in 2010.

The company made its first foray into vertical development with the 17-storey high-rise condominium project called Asia Premier Residences at the Cebu I.T. Park, formerly known as Asiatown I.T. Park.

This was followed by the construction of the 18-storey residential condo, the Baseline Residences, along Juana Osmena St. last year.

Soberano said there are more residential subdivision being eyed by the firm in Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro, and Iloilo cities, as part of their positioning to become a significant community developer in the Visayas and Mindanao.

DepEd suspends classes in all levels in CV due to earthquake, tsunami alerts

By Juju Manubag-Empuerto (MBCN/JSME/PIA-Cebu)

CEBU CITY, Feb. 6 (PIA) -- Students from kindergarten to high school in Central Visayas in both public and private schools were advised to go home because of the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that shook the region at 11:49 this morning.

Department of Education Assistant Regional Director Carmelita Dulangon issued the pronouncement due to the unpredictable nature of the earthquakes unlike the onset of storms wherein people have more time to prepare.

“It is better for the children to be in their homes and be with their families in such times. We cannot gamble lives,” Dulangon added.

Dulangon also advised schools to prepare just in case the barangays need to use their schools as evacuation centers.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued tsunami warning alert level no. 2 and advised coastal residents of Negros Oriental and western Cebu to take precautionary measures just in case sea water level rises.

Lapu cops strengthenties with dive shops

By Jose P. Sollano (JMO, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City Police is strengthening its partnership with owners and operators of dive shops and water sports utilities in the city in its campaign to make the city a premier tourism destination.

Yesterday, the LCPO called a dialogue with the owners and operators of dive shops and water sports utilities to thank them for their cooperation the past year and to orient them of the PNP’s program – the Lapu-Lapu City Tourist Police.

Present during the meeting were Simplicio Gilig, Cesaria Ompad, Linda Ompad, Emi Bonghanoy, Lavilla Chua, Jaime Lapac, Joselito Espinosa, Ferdy Balao, Larry Intong, Noel Bernales, Bienvenido Timtim, LCPO Director Anthony Obenza, Supt Loreto Delelis, Supt Virgil Ranes, Supt Percival Zorilla and PO2 Lorgina Sayson.

SPO1 Rodito Viovicente, Lapu-Lapu Police Community Relations Officer, said the police would want the owners and operators of dive shops and water sports utilities to help authorities protect tourists.

Viovicente said a more appropriate and effective strategy can be put in place if the police will have a full grasp of the “inner workings” of the tourism industry.

Most of the owners and operators of dive shop and water utility sports in Lapu-Lapu City are small and middle scale entrepreneurs who provide sea-based services such as snorkeling and scuba diving lessons, actual dive site guiding, rental of boat and diving gear, and lease of other water-borne sport equipment such as jetski, kayak, banana boat and parasail.

There are 37 dive shop owners and water-sports operators providing these services to tourists with some of them connected with hotels and resorts while others operate independently.

Aside from security and safety issues it is also important that the industry players are compliant with coastal and marine environmental laws and regulations such as the Fisheries Code and Wild life Act, Viovicente said.

These laws have very specific regulations protecting coral reefs, marine animals and their habitats, said Mar Guidote of the United States Coral Triangle Initiative (USCTI). Violation of these laws is an actionable police matter.

Guidote said dive shops and resorts owners cash-in on these resources when promoting it to tourists so it is natural for them to protect these resources. However, there are irresponsible divers to watch out for especially those who deliberately destroy corals.

Astrid Lim of the Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW), one of those LLCPO requested to help facilitate the dialogue, the seeming lack of clear regulations in the registration of dive boats is one of the issues raided during the dialogue.

Apart from the circuitous and unclear process, registration is also costly and, as a result, some boat owners no longer renew their registration.

Lim said a meeting with the Maritime Industry Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard has to be in place to clarify these issues. A separate meeting with the Department of Tourism and City Tourism Office is also being requested to shed light on the specific regulations about tour guiding and tour operations in the city.

The LCPO earlier convened the chiefs-of-security of hotels and restaurants in Lapu-Lapu City to consult them of the public order and safety issues they encounter.

The Lapu-Lapu City Tourist Police was created in 2009 by the PNP with the support of the local government to attend to the security and safety needs of both tourists and service providers.

With at least 20 policemen assigned to the unit, the Tourist Police has undergone numerous training to handle tourism-specific issues.

Tourist Police has a detachment located in Barangay Marigondon, Barangay Maribago and Barangay Pajac and cops assigned to the unit wear a different uniform so they can be identified easily.

In a few months, a Tourist Police Assistance Center will be opened near the Lapu-Lapu City Hall.

Capitol saved P90M in 2011, got over P157M from taxes

By Oscar C. Pineda

CAPITOL earned P2.95 billion in 2011 and spent only P2.86 billion, according to the Statement of Receipts and Expenditures (SRE) of the Cebu Provincial Government at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

THe SRE showed that Capitol had savings of almost P90 million in 2011.

The SRE also revealed that Capitol’s non-tax revenues in 2011 reached P162.7 million, higher than its income from taxes at P157.57 million.

Non-tax revenues include permits, other regulatory fees and Capitol’s economic enterprises. Tax revenues come from real property taxes and other local taxes.

Capitol’s income-earning enterprises include the South Bus Terminal, Cebu International Convention Center, Museo sa Sugbu and Larsian. The Province also earns from lot and building rentals.

Capitol earned almost P2 billion (P1.987 billion) from external sources, which includes its Internal Revenue Allotment, amounting to P1.6 billion this year.

On the other hand, Capitol’s expenditures under the SRE include general services,

P844.3 million; economic services, P693.87 million; and social services P1.3 billion.

As it has no outstanding loan, Capitol does not allot funds for debt services.

DTI to hold seminar on doing business with UN on Feb. 22

By Fayette C. Riñen

CEBU CITY, February 3 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BTEP) will hold a one-day seminar for Cebu exporters on doing business with the United Nations on February 22 at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel.

The BTEP is an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The seminar is being held in coordination with the United Nations Procurement Division (UNPD) and DTI–Cebu Provincial Office.

The UNDP oversees the contracts for the acquisition of a wide variety of goods, works and services for the UN Headquarters, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations HQs and peacekeeping missions, the Office Away from Headquarters, the UN Tribunals and commissions worldwide, and other organizations seeking procurement support services.

The seminar aims to brief Philippine companies on business opportunities in and the procurement activities of the UNPD. These include values, policies, process, buying profile, business opportunities among others. It also aims to register qualified vendors on-line by the close of the seminar.

The UNDP is the largest buying resource in the United Nations system.

Target participants are companies that are ready to cater to international requirements or undertake projects overseas in the following sectors: architecture, engineering & construction services; food and catering; motor vehicles, parts & transportation equipment; electronic data processing equipment & maintenance; computer & information technology services; furniture & furnishings; management consultancy services; and security and safety equipment & services.

United Nations Procurement Representatives Toshio Mikami Chief Logistics and Transportation Section and Procurement Assistant Ava Anterola will be among the speakers in the seminar.

There will also be dialogue between UN representatives and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Phil-Export-Cebu.

Interested participants are required to make their reservation with the DTI-Cebu Office on or before February 10. One may contact Fely Pantulia or Tessie Emphasis at tel. nos. 253-2631 / 2557082 loc. 18; 412-1863, or email: dti.un.procurement@gmail.com.

DAR installs 76 CARP beneficiaries in Cebu

By Jonathan L. Mayuga (Correspondent)

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has installed 76 Agrarian-reform beneficiaries in three separate CARP-covered land in the province of Cebu.

First to be installed were 43 farmer-beneficiaries at the 100.8-hectare property formerly owned by Paz Luna Agricultural Corp. in Barangay Tinubdan, Daanbantayan.

The second took place at the 16.6-hectare of Mendy Agricultural Development property in Barangay Mabuli, Tabogon, with 25 farmer-beneficiaries.

The third group to be installed was at the 14.7-hectare cultivation area foreclosed by Aspac Rural Bank in barangay Manlagtang of the same town, where eight farmer-beneficiaries were finally installed.

The properties, with a combined land area of 132.1 hectares, were acquired through compulsory acquisition under CARP, according to Cebu Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Isagani Yee.

Yee urged the farmer-beneficiaries to pay their real-estate taxes and lots’ amortizations religiously to gain full ownership of their CARP-awarded lands.

PBMLP-Visayas Urged To Serve As Exemplary Models For The Youth

By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile, Jr. is calling upon the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP) in the Visayas to be the bridge guiding the youth in the region in achieving their aspirations for their future.

Enrile was guest of honor in a welcome dinner hosted by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia at the Capitol here, during the 7th PBMLP Visayas Island Conference focused on education and employment.

“Let us lay the foundation of an educational system that will truly be a learning and nurturing environment for a responsible, competitive and productive citizenry,” Enrile said.

He said human resource has always been one of the major prerequisites for the economic development and economists and businessmen have come to use these very factors to gauge the effectiveness of governments in creating the kind of workforce responsive to changing needs in the labor market.

Enrile said it is the responsibility of government to ensure that the knowledge and skills being inculcated in the labor force are attuned to the demands of business and industry.

“In the same manner, it is also government’s duty to ensure that companies provide the requisite benefits and appropriate compensation to its workers.

Enrile said he believes that unemployment and underemployment are caused largely by the disparity between knowledge and skill acquired while studying, and the demands of the contemporary workplace.

“The task that we have at hand therefore, is to ensure that the appropriate reforms are instituted in our educational system that will allow us to produce the kind of graduates e needed in our economy at present and in the foreseeable future,” he said.

Enrile also pointed out that in this age of constantly changing paradigms, it is only through appropriate education that the local workforce can attain competitive advantage in both the local and foreign workplace.

Education should be the central strategy in leveling the playing field for workers and in building national competitiveness, the solon underlined.

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