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Cebu City News June 2018

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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.

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Cebu City Cathedral
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Magellan's Cross in Cebu City
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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  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.
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Mormon Temple Lahug cebu city philippines

Cebu to have country’s first waterbus

By Lesley Caminade Vestil

Cebu City — The city will have the country’s first waterbus transport beginning next month.

The waterbus service will be run by Max Boat Marine Corporation.

Barbara Salmero, Max Boat CEO and president, told Manila Bulletin the waterbus will provide an alternative to commuters who want the city’s traffic gridlock.

“Our seas are wide and available, why not make use of them and be traffic-free,” Salmero said.

The waterbus will come in three types: the first can accommodate 70 passengers, the second can carry 100 passengers and the third can accommodate 150 passengers and cargo.

The waterbus will dock and wait for passengers at the port in South Road Properties near Malacañang sa Sugbo.

Salmero said Mayor Tomas Osmeña offered to make the docking area a temporary terminal for the waterbus.

The Naval Architect and Shipyard Manager Denostenes Lipura said the twin-engined waterbus is twice as fast as existing ferry boats in Cebu.

A trip from Cebu City to Oslob town on the southern tip of Cebu will take only about 90 minutes. A bus ride would take almost five hours, Salmero said.

Max Boat assured the riding public the fare will be affordable.

Aside from the city, the towns of Argao and Dalaguete are also interested in the waterbus, Salmero said.

Czech Republic opens Cebu visa center

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora (PNA)

MANILA -- The Embassy of the Czech Republic on Wednesday opened its new visa application center in Cebu City, in partnership with VFS Global, an international outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments.

“The launch of the Czech Republic Visa Application Centre in Cebu City reflects the [Czech Republic] country's genuine commitment in continuing to bolster people-to-people network between our two friendly nations through tourism, business and culture," said Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Olša in a statement.

"As a result of this policy, the Czech Republic will continue to emerge as one of the top European destinations for Philippine tourists," he added.

Olša said the newly-launched visa center will accommodate the growing demand for visas to different Central European countries among tourists from the Philippines, particularly those going to the Czech Republic.

The Cebu visa application center inaugurated on June 20 is located at Keppel Center, Samar Loop corner Cardinal Rosales Avenue.

Simultaneously, the embassy further promoted Czech Republic’s visibility in Cebu, through travel promotions event, highlighting the tourism destinations of Czech Republic in Radisson Blu Hotel.

The event was organized by state-run agency CzechTourism, in partnership with travel company Rajah Travel.

Street in front of Cebu CH renamed after Rizal

(RVC)

THE Cebu City Government yesterday unveiled the marker of Dr. Jose P. Rizal St., formerly known as City Hall Lane, to commemorate the 157th birthday of the country’s national hero.

The renaming came after the City Council approved City Ordinance (CO) 2495, which paved the way for changing the name of the street in front of City Hall after members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal Cebu Chapter had requested it.

Councilor Joy Pesquera, who drafted the ordinance, said it is only proper to name the street after Rizal since his monument is located in front of it.

Under CO 2495, naming the street after Rizal will give due recognition to all those who made a name in the field of science, including Rizal and his fellow Filipino scientist like Anacieto del Rosario.

Before it was renamed City Hall Lane in 1998, the street was called Anacieto del Rosario St.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella led the unveiling of the street marker yesterday along with Cebu City North District Rep. Raul del Mar; Councilors Margarita Osmeña, Sisinio Andales, Joel Garganera and Pesquera; members of the Orders of the Knights of Rizal; and some city department heads and employees.

In his speech, Labella said the name change gives due recognition to the country’s national hero.

In a short program organized by the Cebu City Historical Affairs Commission to honor Dr. Rizal’s birthday, a flower offering was placed on the monument beside City Hall.

King Properties holds Brigada Eskwela, puts up senior high cookery classroom

(Sunstar Cebu)

KING Properties, together with Juanito I. King Foundation (JIKFI) on its 27th Foundation Day, spearheaded a Brigada Eskwela on May 29 in Mambaling National High School, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

King Properties partnered with the Department of Education’s “adopt a school program” and renovated an abandoned canteen, creating the first cookery classroom in the school.

Together with volunteers from King Properties, the foundation fixed the leaking roof and collapsed walls, repainted the whole room and installed ventilation and electricity.

The support from Athecor Land and RFK Holdings Inc. also made the activity possible.

The pioneered classroom restored by King Properties can accommodate the students of Mambaling National High School whose interest are veered towards pastries and culinary. It can also help the school make a program that can attract students who are into baking and food art, attracting more parents to enroll their students in such a program.

In order for the cookery classroom to function efficiently, King Properties also donated utensils, bowls, knives, plates and other cooking materials with the help of Modena Liloan. These kitchen utensils can be utilized by students in practicing their talents in culinary art.

True to its mission of uplifting human dignity and enhance the lives of the disadvantaged, unprivileged and marginalized, King Properties continues to develop various activities and participate in different initiatives that could benefit the people in need.

The institution yearns to widen their scope and aid more Filipino people in the near future.

King Properties is the real estate arm of Juanito King & Sons Inc., which continues to create sustainable communities to improve the life of the people in Cebu.

Habal-habal has become a ‘money-making venture’

(RVC)

CEBU City Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. questioned the executive department for organizing some habal-habal (motorcycle taxi) drivers in the city even though the City Government has no authority to regulate them.

In a news conference, Alcover said habal-habal drivers were made to pay for the stickers with the seal of the City Government, identification cards (ID) signed by Mayor Tomas Osmeña and uniforms to avoid apprehension.

The sticker costs P60 while the ID costs P200.

Alcover said that it has become a business for those who are accrediting the drivers.

He also criticized Osmeña for pursuing a program for motorcycle drivers in cooperation with Angkas, a mobile application for booking a motorcycle ride.

“They proposed a program for motorcycle drivers with Angkas. What is the difference between Angkas and habal-habal? Angkas is a business, habal-habal is a livelihood, and why are they giving priority to Angkas?” he said.

Alcover said the City is being selective when it comes to the operation of habal-habal drivers.

“Why are they giving privilege to some? They said habal-habal is illegal,” he said.

Alcover said that although Osmeña has acknowledged that the operation of habal-habal is illegal, it’s dereliction of duty for the mayor to tolerate the illegal act because he will not apprehend those accredited by the City.

Alcover earlier proposed an ordinance that would regulate habal-habal operation in the city but the council’s committee on laws did not endorse it.

The committee said the City cannot regulate habal-habal operation because it is beyond its power to enact that legislation and even if local government units have the power to regulate the operation of conveyances for hire, the power does not extend to motorcycles as no national law allows and regulates the operation.

Alcover said the administration blocked his proposal because the credit in organizing habal-habal drivers would have gone to him.

Firm submits bid for garbage hauling

(RVC)

ONLY one private service provider expressed interest to haul Cebu City’s garbage in the next five months.

Ronald Malacora, who heads the bids and awards committee (BAC) of City Hall, said only Jomara Konstruckt Corporation (JKC) submitted their bid last Thursday during the opening of bid documents for the procurement of solid waste disposal service involving 109,141 tons of garbage.

Malacora did not disclose yet how much was the bid price submitted by JKC for their services, saying they will still have to undergo post-qualification review before BAC awards the contract to them.

For July to December this year, the City Government has a P136-million approved budget for garbage disposal services.

JKC used to haul the city’s wastes after the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill was closed.

In a related development, Kasambagan Barangay Captain Franklin Ong said Pasajero Motors Corp. (Pamocor), which is the City’s current garbage disposal service provider, said they will continue to dump trash at the private landfill in Aloguinsan.

Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. earlier found out that a cease-and-desist order was issued by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 against the facility in Aloguinsan.

Ong, who owns Pamocor, said that the management of the private landfill has been compliant with their contract.

“What we have is a third party contract with the operator of the landfill in Aloguinsan and they submitted their ECC (environmental compliance certificate), which is one of the requirements. As far as I am concerned, I’m fulfilling my contract to the City and the landfill has to fulfill also their contract to us,” he said.

Pamocor’s contract with the City for garbage disposal will end on June 30.

Hundreds join Eid'l Fitr in Cebu City

(JKV/SunStar Cebu)

MORE than 1,500 members of the Muslim community in Cebu celebrated Eid’l Fitr through a religious ceremony held at the Plaza Independencia in Cebu City, Friday.

Wearing their best robes and dresses, Muslim men and women living in Cebu City gathered at the center of the historic Plaza to celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan, the Islamic month of Sacrifice.

The celebration started through a traditional Salat al-Eid or special prayers recited during the Eid holidays, at around 6:30 a.m.

In his message after the traditional Salat al-Eid, Ustadz Salih Sarigan, the imam of the community, called upon Muslims to keep the lessons of the Ramadan close to heart.

He reminded the Muslim faithful that Ramadan is not just about fasting and abstinence of worldly pleasures, but also about sacrifice, of practicing humility and of sharing our gifts to those who have none.

“The practice of Ramadan starts by fasting for an entire month. The lesson is how to endure, that you remain calm in the face of suffering. If you don’t endure, then what you have done during the Holy month means nothing,” Sarigan said, in Tagalog.

Sarigan added that the Ramadan is also about coming together as one community.

After the Salat al-Eid, the Muslim community then partook of meals provided by the Cebu City government and the Office of Muslim Affairs.

Cebu City gov’t offers to help PRO-7 clean its ranks

By Morexette Marie B. Erram

The Cebu City Government is willing to extend help to the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO – 7) on its bid to cleanse its ranks from illegal drugs.

Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak said that this was made possible after the Cebu City Council approved a resolution, during last June 5’s regular session, allowing Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena to enter and sign a memorandum of agreement with Drugcheck Philippines Inc. to provide drug screening services to its employees.

According to the resolution, sponsored by Tumulak, that Drugcheck Philippines is a pharmaceutical company that offers drug testing services.

Tumulak in an interview on Monday said that police officers in Cebu City could also avail of the services of Drugcheck Philippines.

He said this would also mean that the city government could also provide drug testing kits for the drug tests, which costs P240 each.

“We support the PRO -7’s director (Chief Supt. Debold Sinas) in conducting random drug tests among its ranks to see to it that its personnel are not involved in illegal drugs,” said Tumulak.

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.

Cebu City holds job fair to mark 120th Philippine Independence celeb

By Ferliza C. Contratista

CEBU CITY, June 14 (PIA) -- Cebu City held a local and overseas job fair to mark the 120th Philippine Independence celebration on June 12.

The City of Cebu held its 4th Cebu City Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan - its Kalayaan Local and Overseas Jobs Fair - at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

According to the Cebu City Public Information Office, a Holy Mass kicked off this year’s commemoration at the Cebu City Sports Complex (CCSC) and the raising of the flag.

The job fair was held from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with over 5,000 jobs available from more than 50 companies.

There was also a showcase of products from the medium and small scale enterprises initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Meanwhile, at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, a flag-raising ceremony was held led by Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale at 7:45 a.m.

The rest of the local government units (LGUs) in Cebu also conducted the ceremonial raising of the flag.

In Santander town, aside from celebrating the 120th Philippine Independence Day, was also the 100th Independence of the LGU.

Santander Public Information Officer Maria Gemma Cortes said they also unveiled the commemorative bust of Governor General Francis Burton, the governor of Cebu who signed the Executive Order 2 in 1918 declaring Santander as an independent LGU.

In Toledo City, which is also celebrating its annual fiesta, a parade was conducted after the wreath-laying early in the morning led by Mayor John Henry Osmena.

In the afternoon was the Hinulawan Festival.

This year’s theme of the 120th Independence is “Pagbabagong Ipinaglanan, Alay sa Masaganang Kinabukasan." (fcc/PIA7-Cebu)

Cebu City to keep Independence Day rites short, parade-free

By Paula Joy Mendoza (CNU Intern)

SIMPLE and short.

This will describe the activities that the Cebu City Government has prepared to commemorate the 120th Philippine Independence Day.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that in past celebrations, employees from government offices and students from different schools were asked to participate in a parade and walk from the Cebu Provincial Capitol to the Cebu City Hall.

“Nauwaw gyud ko (I was ashamed) after the first one. I said, ‘forget it, cancel this’,” Osmeña said. He explained that marching and walking under the heat of the sun have nothing to do with independence.

Today’s program

“I’ll just tell them to go home and watch the NBA championship on TV, they will be happy pa,” Osmeña added.

Cultural and Historical Affairs Office officer Bryner Diaz said that the celebration will start with a mass at 7:30 a.m. at Plaza Sugbo, followed by a 30-minute program with a simple presentation and a short message from the mayor.

Department heads, regional directors, civic organizations, officials and employees from the Cebu City Hall will attend the program.

There will also be a week-long exhibit at the Cebu City Museum that will showcase artifacts and paintings of Cebuano heroes starting tomorrow.

Independence Day is observed as a regular holiday in the entire country and Diaz said that the city’s program was intentionally made short so employees and officials can go home early and enjoy the rest of the day with their families.

Council seeks update on Cebu City-FLI deal

(RVC)

THE Cebu City Council wants Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) to make known the status of the plan to rescind the sale of 19.2 hectares in the South Road Properties (SRP).

In an approved resolution, Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said that both parties have expressed the intention to rescind the sale but after it, no further move has been made.

“A mutually-agreed rescission of the Filinvest consortium’s purchase will allow the City to reacquire the 19.2-hectare property and sell the same to interested buyers at P110,000 per square meter at the cheapest,” reads a portion of the resolution.

In June 2015, the Cebu City Government sold three parcels of lots in the SRP, with a combined area of 45.2 hectares.

Of the lots sold, some 26 hectares went to the consortium of Ayala Land-Cebu Holdings Inc. and SM Prime Holdings Inc., while FLI bought 19.2 hectares.

Last year, Tristan Las Marias, FLI senior vice president for Visayas and Mindanao, announced that they have agreed, in principle, with the City to rescind the contract for the sale of SRP lots worth P6.8 billion.

Las Marias said that the City has failed to fulfill its obligations under the sale contract, including the failure to release the lot titles even if they won the public bidding in June 2015 yet.

Because of the matter, Osmeña earlier said that the City will refund the P4 billion FLI made as a down payment for the 19.2-hectare property it purchased.

Earlier, Osmeña said he would revoke the sale of 45.2 hectares in the SRP, which took place during the previous administration, because he believes that the transaction is illegal.

Telephone hotlines up for inmates of Cebu City Jail

By Paula Joy Mendoza (CNU Intern)

INMATES from Cebu City Jail can now make and receive calls from their families and loved ones through the newly installed telephone lines funded by the Cebu City Government.

Councilor David Tumulak, deputy mayor for police matters, said there will be two telephone lines that the inmates, particularly those who have not been visited by their loved ones, can use.

“Communication is vital in the rehabilitation of the inmates” the councilor said.

Tumulak said the City decided to install telephones inside the jail to ease the pain and loneliness of both the inmates and their relatives.

This is also a way to prevent cellular phones from being smuggled inside the facility and control the volume of daily visitors.

Tumulak, however, assured that there will be guidelines in the use of the telephones.

He said the inmates will have to schedule their calls and they will be given three minutes each. An officer from Bureau of Jail Management and Penology will also listen to every conversation to avoid coded messages and illegal activities. Calls are allowed only during office hours.

The telephones have been installed and made available since last week yet. Tumulak said the City will install four more telephone lines this year.

Families can call the inmates at 239-5234 and 239-5244.

Through a clinic, Cebu City Hall promotes safe use of bicycles

By Paula Joy Mendoza (CNU Intern)

THE Cebu City Government, through the Sugbo Bike Lanes Board and the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO), launched yesterday its bike clinic caravan at the Plaza Sugbo.

Through the bike clinic, the board hopes to promote the use of bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation in going to school or work.

The clinic has four modules that will be discussed in different schools every Saturday of June and July.

The modules will teach the students the basics in using a bicycle, preventive maintenance, and traffic safety education.

City Administrator Paul Villarete said that bike lanes are an integral part of the transport system, especially with the Bus Rapid Transit.

Although the board is still evaluating the implementation of bike lanes, the clinic itself will still benefit the environment since it is sustainable, accessible, it is carbon-footprint-free and requires less road space.

“It is really an alternative and hopefully it (bicycles) will become a primary mode for many,” said lawyer Delight Ladat of the Sugbo Bike Lanes Board.

Everyone is invited to attend the clinic—from beginners who would like to know the basics of bicycling to those who already know how to ride a bike but would like to know how to use one on the main roads.

Cebu City government to release second tranche of cash aid

By Candy Baraga (STC Intern)

Almost 9,900 persons with disabilities (PWD) in all 80 barangays in Cebu City will receive their second tranche of financial assistance from the Cebu City Government on Saturday (June 9).

The Cebu City government allocated P7,000 cash aid annually for PWDs this year.

The distribution will be at schools near barangay hall.

Each PWD will get P2,000 as their second tranche for 2018. They will already be receiving a total of P4,000 cash assistance and the remaining P3,000 will be claimed within the year.

The first tranche for this year happened during last March.

SM Seaside’s art exhibit to feature Caohagan quilts

(PR)
Independence Day celebration

In a peaceful island of Caohagan shows a true feeling of independence when it comes to art and culture through quilting – a process of sewing three different layers of fabric.

As SM Seaside City Cebu celebrates Independence Day, the mall supports the works of Caohagan locals by highlighting their quilted items in an exhibit that will be launched at the Mountain Wing Atrium of SM Seaside City on Independence Day, June 12 at 5 p.m.

Caohagan is located between the islands of Cebu and Bohol.

The Caohagan quilts have already been exhibited outside the country. The first exhibit, titled “Exhibition of Caohagan Quilt: The Path to Sustainable Economic Independence of the People” was held in 2009 at the Peace Museum of Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. It was followed in 2012 in Nantes, France, where the International Quilt Exhibition was held.

Meanwhile, the Kythe Foundation will take part in SM Seaside’s Independence Day celebration through kite-making.

Around 60 young cancer patients under the Kythe Foundation will join the kite-making workshop to be conducted by the Global Art Cebu on June 10 at 4 p.m. at the Cube Wing Atrium. Mallgoers can join the workshop for free.

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.

Kids receive school supplies from Cebu City police

By Benjie B. Talisic (/CNU Intern Bea Samantha Esteves)

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has distributed school supplies and toiletries to at least 35 foster children on Monday as part of helping poor kids in the community.

The money used by the police came from a certain Wilma Ablan who donated P10,000 cash.

One of the beneficiaries, James, said expressed gratitude for having received school supplies from the police.

City Council okays P469M Supplemental Budget

By Morexette Marie B. Erram

The Cebu City Council approved the P469-million Supplemental Budget (SB) requested by the executive department of the Cebu City Government.

In today’s regular session, the ordinance for the additional P469 million budget was authored by Councilor Margarita Osmeña, the wife of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Bulk of the budget, around P208 million, was allocated as cash aid for senior citizens.

It was signed by acting City Treasurer Veronica Morelos and acting City Accountant Arlene Rentuza.

PNG medalists to get P5 million

(RSC)

CEBU City’s medalists will get a well-deserved cash incentive for helping the team clinch the overall title in the 2018 Philippine National Games (PNG), which ended a week ago.

Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo, the deputy mayor for sports, told SunStar Cebu in a telephone interview yesterday Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña wants to divide P5 million among the medalists as cash incentives.

The exact amount that every medalist will get is yet to be determined as Guardo will still meet with officials of the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) on Tuesday to finalize the details.

“We will compute the actual medals and come up with the standard and the breakdown with CCSC. After that, we will present it to the mayor,” Guardo said.

The Cebu City team will receive P10 million worth of sporting assistance from the organizer Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Office of the President for winning the overall title, beating more than 70 participating local governments.

“The P5 million will be used for incentives of the medalists while the other P5 million for the sports program and construction of facilities in the South Road Properties (SRP),” said Guardo.

The PSC has shelled out P5 million for the overall champion, but President Duterte announced during the opening ceremony last May 19 he would double the prizes for the Top 5.

Cebu City hauled 48 gold medals, 70 silvers, and 79 bronzes in the medal tally released by the PSC secretariat last Thursday.

A week after the event concluded, the official medal tally has not been released yet as the organizers said they’re going to double-check all the results before they will release the final tally on Monday.

Based on the medal tally released last Thursday, Baguio City (38-37-59) was in second place followed by Mandaluyong City (27-18-31), Davao City (19-30-43), and Cebu Province (19-20-30).

The second to fourth placers will receive P8 million, P6 million, P4 million and P2 million, respectively.

Cebu City government to launch 9-day bike clinic caravan

By Joyce Ann Gabutan(/KBQ, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government is set to spread awareness about the importance, practicality, and versatility of bicycling through its Bike Clinic Caravan.

The nine-day caravan will start on June 8 at Plaza Sugbo and will end on July 28 at Cebu City Central Elementary School (CCCES).

“To increase awareness among city residents on the importance of using bicycle in their daily activities, the (Sugbo Bike Lanes) Board has scheduled Bike Clinic Caravan in different areas in the city,” the city’s Public Information Office’s Facebook post read.

The caravan schedules include Plaza Sugbo (June 8 and 9), Mambaling Elementary School (June 16), Pardo Elementary School (June 23), Guadalupe Elementary School (June 30), Talamban Elementary School (July 7), Mabolo Elementary School (July 14), Ayala grounds (July 21), and CCCES (July 28).

Among the activities during the launching at Plaza Sugbo are discussions on traffic safety, practical use of bicycle, and responsible bike use.

City Administrator Nigel Paul Villarete said it was agreed during the meeting with the board last May 12 to hold the bike clinic every Saturday for two consecutive months.

He said biking is also being promoted as an alternative means of transportation.

Homegrown firm continues to pursue horizontal dev’ts in Cebu City

By Jose Santino S. Bunachita

INCREASING lot prices in city centers have been dispersing property developers into the countryside.

But young, homegrown property developer Sterling Land Residences and Development Inc. continues to pursue horizontal developments within the city.

The five-year old company broke ground for its latest development, the Santa Monica Estate Tisa, in Cebu City on May 22.

“We look at the distance from the city center. We study the market carefully. This area is ideal for a horizontal development,” said Marilou Padilla, Sterling Land’s president and chief executive officer.

The 1.2-hectare site is located in the upland sitio of Caduloy in Barangay Tisa.

There will be 139 units of executive townhomes expected to rise in the area after three years of construction.

Its design will be inspired by Bali with Balinese architectural design that makes use of earth and wood elements. All units will have their own pocket gardens with landscaping.

Each unit, which will stand on a 52-square meter lot, will have one car garage, a toilet and bath, and maid’s room at the ground floor. On the second floor, there will be a master bedroom with its own toilet and bath and another two bedrooms with common toilet and bath.

According to Padilla, they are still waiting for a license to sell from the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) which they expect next month (June). They have already acquired an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The company is marketing Santa Monica Estate Tisa for the mid-high market.

While they have yet to formally launch their unit sales next month, Padilla said they have been receiving inquiries mostly from residents in nearby subdivisions and villages also in Barangay Tisa.

Sterling Land, which was only established last January 2013, remains bullish in the real estate industry of Cebu.

Padilla said they have set a target of breaking ground for at least two projects in a year.

Just last February, they also broke ground for their Santa Isabel Estate in Carcar City.

“We are eyeing two new horizontal developments within the city, probably by next year. We also have two high-rise projects in the pipeline,” she said.

In December last year, Sterling Land also launched its 25-hectare Minglanilla Highlands project under the “affordable luxury residences” brand in Barangay Tubod, Minglanilla, targeting the high-end residential market.

They also have the Santa Monica Estate in Talisay City with an expected 96 units of townhouses; and the Sea Breeze Residences in Barangay Pooc, Talisay City, a pocket-sized gated community which has 29 townhouses.

Cebu to establish Sports Park at SRP

By Shainna Marie O. Edullantes (CNU Intern/GAN, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — If Cebu City will be declared as champions in the Philippine National Games (PNG), half of the prize will be allotted to develop the Sports Park at the South Road Properties (SRP) prioritizing the skateboarding activities.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that some of the P10-million prize will be given to the athletes, but most of it will be used in developing the Sports Park.

"We're doing the preliminary plans already but we are going to prioritize skateboarding," Osmeña said in an interview.

He said there is a massive demand for a skateboarding area from the youth.

"My priority is what will make the most number of people happy especially the youth," he said.

Osmeña added that there will be other things to consider like football fields and others.

He also said that skateboarding is a good way to keep the kids active and away from drugs.

It can be recalled that last Tuesday, May 29, RauellYgot, a netizen, posted an open letter addressed to Osmeña about the achievement of Cebuana Margielyn Arda Didal who placed fourth in the biggest skateboarding competition of the world.

In the letter, Ygot stated that it is not easy to be competing among the best female skateboarders of the world considering that Cebu has no skate park.

"While we know that not everyone understands and are into this sport, unlike basketball, the local skateboarding scene is proud of what our fellow Bisaya has achieved. It's no easy feat to be competing against the top female skateboarders in the world, considering that Cebu is one of the places with NO SKATEPARK. Because of this, we hope you can take the time to acknowledge Ms. Didal's achievement and consider putting up park as well," read a portion of Ygot's post.

Osmeña said that the construction of the skateboarding area will be started immediately. —

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