Cebu Province News August 2011

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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.

Sec. Paderanga to present nat'l dev't plan to Cebu stakeholders

by Hazel F. Gloria(PIA-7/mbcn/hfg & NEDA-7)

CEBU CITY, August 10 (PIA) -- National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General and Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, Jr. is in Cebu to present the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016 to the members of the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC-7) and the business community through an activity dubbed “PDP Caravan, Bringing the National Plan to the Regions” on August 10-11, 2011.

The NEDA advocacy for the Philippine Development Plan starts in Central Visayas, the caravan's first stop.

Tonight, Sec Paderanga will speak to the business sector on “P-Noy Economic Road Map: What's In It for Cebu” at the Marco Polo Hotel. Participants are members of the Cebu Business Club (CBC) led by the various leaders of Chambers in Cebu.

He will present an audio-video presentation of the PDP and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to the various chambers.

On August 11, Sec. Paderanga is scheduled to speak at a special expanded meeting of the Central Visayas Regional Development Council at the Montebello Villa Hotel, at 10:00 a.m., which will be followed with a press conference at 1:00 p.m.

Expected to attend are Local Chief Executives, Regional Directors, Private Sector Representatives of the RDC, and the officers of the Association of Government Information Officers and representatives from the national and local media outfits.

These fora will be followed with project visits and briefings on ODA-assisted infrastructure projects namely; the Cebu South Coastal Road Project, the North Coastal Road Project, and Cebu South Road Properties to be presented by the heads of the Project Management Offices and the Cebu Investment Promotion Center Managing Director.

The project visit will culminate at the Mactan Cebu International Airport where the MCIAA Manager will give a briefing on the proposed expansion of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport terminal.

In addition, Sec. Paderanga's documentation team will visit Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Industry in Balamban, Cebu; the coal-fired power plants in the cities of Toledo and Naga; and export-oriented furniture enterprises in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.

Tourism experts meeting in Cebu

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/FPL (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - At least 20 tourism experts from all over the world are meeting in Cebu starting tomorrow for the Philippine Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions/Events Conference (MICECON) 2011.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim will be among the 20 tourism experts lined up to speak before the 350 participants from the MICE sector.

DOT-7 director Rowena Montecillo, in a statement, said the experts will be sharing their knowledge and skills to the participants.

Montecillo, who is coordinating the preparations with the local tourism stakeholders, said that there will be speakers from the United States, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, and top Filipino corporate moguls.

The event, with a theme “I Share, You connect, We change” will be held from August 10 to 13 at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Montecillo said the impact of the event will not be limited to Cebu City and province but will benefit the entire Visayas and Mindanao as well because Cebu is a tourism gateway to central and southern Philippines.

She said that in Cebu, many tourists stay for a while after they arrive before going to other destinations like Boracay, Panglao in Bohol, the underground river in Palawan, or Samal Island in Davao.

Lim earlier said that MICECON is a two-pronged strategy of promoting the Philippines as a global MICE destination while helping our industry embark on product development that suits international requirements and standards.

MICECON is organized by DOT through its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board, with the full support of Cebu Province, the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, the Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu, and the Meetings, Incentive Travel, Events/Exhibitions Philippines Inc.

HRRAC president and MICECON organizing committee chair Hans Hauri placed the MICE market at a conservative 50 million constituents worldwide.

French agency offers grant for BRT study

By Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JPM

CEBU, Philippines - The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is setting aside USD100,000 for the Estimation of the Green House Gas (GHG) emission that is part of the full feasibility study on the proposed Bus Rapid Transit Project.

The AFD will be working closely with the World Bank which has granted USD1 million for a full blown feasibility study that was started this year.

While the WB is doing most of the work, the AFD will focus on the environmental impact of the BRT system to Cebu especially in estimating a baseline for GHG emissions and the expected reduction of the GHG after the project.

The AFD study will include the estimation of GHG emission savings using the different available tools and methods, the analysis and comparison of methods and results and transfer of knowledge to the National Center for Transportation Studies, University of the Philippines and possibly the Department of Transportation and Communication, the city government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Economics and Development Authority.

The result of the study on the estimation of GHG emission is expected to be used or applied in GHG evaluation for future urban transport projects.

The feasibility study for the BRT will include the determination of the project design, the institutional arrangement for the ownership and identification of social and resettlement issues, among others.

The Australian Agency for International Development has been tapped for the establishment of the institutional arrangement for the ownership of the BRT.

The total project cost is estimated at USD130 million to USD150 million to be sourced from Clean Technology Fund Loan, the World Bank, AFD, the Philippine Government and the private sector.

As agreed, the loan will be at the national level with DOTC as the implementing agency.

The Environmental Impact Assessment will be conducted alongside the feasibility study but will be handled by a different set of consultants.

The EIA will be funded by local funds from the national government. DOTC assured that it has enough resources in the 2011 budget of the department. DOTC will transfer the fund to the city government who will be the one to hire the consultants to undertake the EIA.

The construction of the phase 1 of the BRT project is targeted to start by June 2014 to be completed by June 2015. Phase 2 will immediately start after the completion of the phase 1 and is targeted to be completed by 2016. —

Program beneficiaries in the province include fisherfolks and small fishing farms.

Coal ash bangus an Agro Fair hit

By Carmel Loise Matus(Correspondent)

There's nothing toxic or special about them, but the “coal ash bangus” tag on the display of milkfish at last week's Agro Fair at the Capitol grounds caught the attention of many buyers.

Its P100 per kilo price was also a big come-on since supermarket prices for milkfish are pegged at P130 a kilo.

Dr. Necias Vicoy, provincial agriculturist officer, said he came up with the name after the office rehabilitated two fishponds near their field office in barangay Tina-an, Naga City, where the province bought land in the Balili Estate.

Asked about the danger of pollution in cultivating fish near a coal ash waste pond, Vicoy said the pond hasn’t been used yet to store coal ash from power plants in Naga.

The fishponds will be transferred once that happen.

Vicoy told Cebu Daily News they started to culture milkfish and tilapia after the field office was set up two years ago.

In 2009, the Capitol purchased the 25-hectare Balili beach resort in Naga town from the late engineer Luis Balili. The land sale sparked a graft investigation because most of the property was under water or classified as timberland.

Nevertheless, the Capitol and Korean Electric Power Company agreed to use part of it as a coal ash waste storage site for $1 a ton. The landfill is still being developed.

The “coal ash bangus,” label was a marketing twist that made people more curious about their products, said Vicoy.

Even before displaying it last week in the Agro Fair for Cebu province’s founding anniversary, Naga residents bought the first two batches of the fish harvest.

Vicoy said he got positive feedback.

“They said that compared to the bangus sold in the markets, the quality of our bangus is dili langsa ug dili lang puro tambok,” he told CDN.

It takes four to five months to culture bangus in either fresh or salty water.

Vicoy said they had about 450 kilos in the first harvest and a smaller volume in the next.

Fish sales go directly to the Provincial Treasurer’s Office. Receipts are issued to customers.

Vicoy said the provincial agriculture office plans to sell another batch of bangus during the Christmas Fair in December.

Two fish ponds in the field office in Naga are part of the Cebu Provincial Aquaculture Development Center program.

Program beneficiaries in the province include fisherfolks and small fishing farms.

Capitol awards outstanding individuals

By Gregg M. Rubio (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government has recognized outstanding individuals and organizations during last night’s Governor’s Ball as part of its 442nd Founding Anniversary celebration.

This year’s awardees are headed by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, the incoming president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Palma said he felt he doesn’t deserve the award because he hasn’t done a lot yet for Cebu.

Palma, who was installed archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu on January 13, received the Award of Distinction and Medal of Merit from Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.

“But I can consider it as the Cebuanos’ expression of welcome to me and even it is just a matter of few months they feel that I’m starting to do something good for Cebu,” Palma told reporters.

He said as a Church leader, he will try his best to bring spiritual renewal to the community.

“I pledge to do my best as a Church leader to really bring about development and growth and also renewal in the church,” Palma said.

Other Garbo sa Sugbo awardees were Ambassador Francisco Benedicto for International Relations, Chester Cokaliong for Entrepreneurship, Gloria Sevilla for the Performing Arts, Very Rev. Msgr. Rodolfo Villanueva for Music and Literature; and Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung for Humanitarian and Social Service.

Benedicto said although he had received numerous awards in his 25 years in the diplomatic service, the Garbo sa Sugbo award has been the most meaningful to him being a Cebuano.

“I will treasure this award for the rest of my life,” he said.

Sevilla asked the business sector to support her plan to revive the Visayan movie.

The Municipality of San Francisco won the award for Local Community Development and Environment Management. The award was received by Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano.

On May 14, San Francisco was awarded the prestigious 2011 United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva.

The UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction is awarded to an individual or institutions that have taken active efforts in reducing disaster risk in their communities.

San Francisco was recognized for its innovative use of the Purok system.

Governor’s Citation Recipients are Mandaue Children’s Choir for music and Catmon Elementary School Volleyball Team Girls for sports.

Started by Garcia in 2004, the Garbo sa Sugbo Award is given yearly to outstanding individuals and institutions.

RAFI's planting activity draws 55,375 participants

By Mechievilla Carline Benolerao, USJR /LPM (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Thousands of Cebuanos have supported the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s tree growing initiative held in June.

In fact, a total of 55,375 had participated in the Run 2 Plant 4 Greenin Philippines simultaneously held in 48 municipalities and cities in the province.

The figure exceeded RAFI’s target of 20,000 participants.

The program planted more than 200,000 native tree species, fruit trees seedlings, and mangrove species in 110 hectares of forestlands and private lands across Cebu.

In Talisay City, where the central event was held, around 10,000 participants planted 12,500 seedlings within the Mananga Watershed.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she was happy with the participation of the local government units in the event.

She said she is proud of the mayors for making their towns and cities aware of the environmental concerns.

The local chief executives also invited the private sector and schools to participate in the event.

According to the foundation, the planted native tree seedlings will be monitored to make them become vibrant forests.

ERUF now one of Asia's best

By Ryan Christopher J. Sorote/FPL (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - After years of struggle and toil, the Cebu based Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) now stand as one of the best emergency units in Southeast Asia.

As they celebrate their 25th anniversary on September 13, the group looked back at how they started with only few old junked vehicles at their disposal during emergencies.

Dr. Jesus Ravanes, over all chairperson of the ERUF silver jubilee celebration, told The FREEMAN how proud their team is to have become one of best emergency teams in Asia.

Ravanes said they have exceeded other emergency units in Metro Manila, Makati and Davao City with their relentless efforts in the past years.

They are the only accredited and recognized medical team by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) based in the United States of America together with another emergency medical service (EMS) team in Hong Kong.

NAEMT is a professional association representing all EMS practitioners, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, first responders and other professionals working in pre-hospital emergency medicine throughout the globe.

In their aim to “serve so others may live,” ERUF has worked the path of sacrifice and true service as they are now recognized by various agencies in America and the European Union.

Though with only minimal supports from local government units where they serve, volunteers have exceeded what the forefathers of ERUF have dreamed in the past – to be world class.

Since 1986, ERUF has grown in terms of manpower, accomplishments both locally and abroad. The group which started with only 24 men has grown to an army of 300 well-trained and selfless personnel.

ERUF has also extended their world class knowledge by training barangay volunteers in Paramedic Training operations like the very active Pardo Emergency Rescue Unit.

With over 31 vehicles used in various purposes from emergency response and rescue, ERUF is one of the most equipped EMS team in the country. Although they said they are just 75-percent equipped, but no other teams have come close to what they now have.

ERUF RUN

BIR-13 exceeds collections target for the 1st semester of 2011

by Fayette C. Riñen(PIA 7-Cebu)

CEBU CITY, August 3 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) - 13 composed of six (6) district offices in Cebu and Bohol slightly exceeded its target tax collection for the first semester of this year with P6.15 billion as against its mandated collection target of P6.08 billion.

“We are proud to report that we have slightly surpassed our target tax collection in the past six months by 1.21 percent,” BIR-13 Collection Division Chief Zenaida Pancito told members of the media during the weekly Kapihan sa PIA this morning that tackled the topic ‘Measures to Increase Tax Collections and Going After Tax Cheats.’

Based on the consolidated cumulative collection report from January to June, this year, the Mandaue City Regional District Office exceeded the highest target collection of almost 9.5 percent with P2B as against its target goal of P1.8B or an excess of over P170M.

Pancito credited their positive performance to the regular information drive of their agency on the emphasis of paying taxes to the government and the programs being implemented such as the Tax Verification Drive and Tax Mapping as part of their measures to strengthen tax collections.

“Taxes are considered the lifeblood of the nation and that no nation is successful without taxes,” according to Pancito.

The BIR however has a minimal shortfall of .5 percent in its total target collection goal, this is learned.

Pancito added that the BIR-13 has always performed well and that in the same period last year, their office also exceeded its target.

In the August 2010 tax collection rate alone, this increased by 65 percent compared to the same period of 2009, this was previously disclosed by BIR-13 Regional Director Jose Tan.

“We are lucky that Cebu has honest taxpayers as we have been consistently meeting our demands,” Tan added.

Five out of the six regional district offices of the BIR-13 are based in Cebu.

Pres. Aquino in his 2nd State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) last week called on all Filipinos to pay the proper taxes because the tax revenues generated will be used to fund several government projects to benefit the poor.

Mandaue gets real against plastic use

By Justin K. Vestil

THE Mandaue City Council approved an ordinance that will require all retail establishments in the city to use only paper or reusable bags and prohibit the use of plastic bags.

The ordinance, which was proposed by Man-daue City Councilor Demetrio Cortes, Jr., is aimed to lessen plastic bags and Styrofoam waste as they can harm the environment, especially marine life.

The Mandaue City Council said that in order to reduce plastic pollution, the ordinance was adopted to require the use of paper bags, cloth, recyclable paper, and reusable checkout bags by all shops, stores, eating places, “carenderias or sari-sari stores” and retail food vendors in the city.

Damage

Cortes, in his ordinance, said the indiscriminate throwing of plastic bags and Styrofoam in public places has largely contributed to the present condition of poor drainage system, causing canals to clog up, resulting to flooding.
Based on the ordi-nance’s penalty clause, a fine of not more that P500, or imprisonment of not more than five days, or both, at the court’s discretion, will be imposed against any store or establishment owner who violates it.
To enforce the ordinance, concerned authorities or agencies will conduct random or surprise inspection on shops and food establishments.

Notification

Establishment owners are also required to notify its customers on the ban on plastic bags in their shops or stores through public awareness.
Discouraging the use of plastic bags and Styro-foam is one thing that storeowners can do for its customers, the ordinance states.
The ordinance, which was approved and signed by Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes last year, was made to lessen the volume of non-biodegradable materials being thrown in the city’s Umapad dumpsite.

Capitol kicks off month-long anniversary celebration

By Gregg M. Rubio/JPM (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The month-long activities for the 442nd founding anniversary of the Province of Cebu kicks off today with the flag raising ceremony to be attended by city and municipal mayors led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Sugbo: Nagsubay sa Tukmang Dalan” which Garcia said echoes the slogan of President Benigno Aquino III’s “daang matuwid.”

“Straight path may not always be the right path. What’s important is, are you following the right path and taking the right direction?” Garcia said.

The governor said this encompasses everything, foremost of which is honesty, transparency, a clear vision and the ability to get everyone on board to work together for a common goal.

One of the activities today is the opening of the Women Trailblazers Photo Exhibit at the Capitol dome area which includes Josefina “Inday Pining” Gullas, the mother of The FREEMAN’s chairman Jose “Dodong” Gullas.

August 6 is the founding anniversary of the Province of Cebu but today is the launching of various programs and activities that will run daily until the month ends.

An agro-fair featuring products from all over Cebu Province is also opened today, and would run until Friday, at the Capitol compound.

On Friday, the One Cebu Expo will be opened at the Cebu International Convention Center while the Governor’s Ball and Garbo sa Sugbo Awards will be held in the evening.

Other major activities include the MICE Conference on August 11 and the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals on August 13 at the CICC.

Some 25,000 visitors are expected to attend the One Cebu Expo while local officials from sister-province of Ilocos Norte led by Governor Imee Marcos and South Cotabato will also attend the weeklong expo and the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo.

Foreign dignitaries from The South Center, a Geneva-based Intergovernmental Policy Think Tank made up of 51 countries, will hold their board meeting here.

The Province of Cebu will host a welcome dinner on August 4 for the South Center dignitaries as part of the founding anniversary activities.

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