Cebu Province News September 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.

Oil exploration in Alegria underway

By Garry B. Lao/BRP (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Energy has discovered a possible oil source in a mountain barangay in Alegria town in the southern part of Cebu Province.

DOE-7 Regional Director Antonio Labios said the ongoing exploration in the said municipality will have no ill-effects on the environment. “Wala gyud ni impact sa environment kay dili ni sa dagat,” Labios said.

Labios said that an Australian drilling group has been formed to prepare the work plan and the department will be conducting an energy sector information and education campaign.

Labios hopes that the exploration, which covers an area of 197,000 hectares, will yield oil deposits of commercial quantity oil.

“If the oil found in Alegria is proven to be clean then it can be used by the oil stations here in Cebu,” Energy Assistant Secretary Ramon Allan Oca said.

Oca said if the exploration turns out positive, then the Municipality of Alegria is very privileged because this signals a rise in their local economy, attracting more business investments that can translate to more job opportunities for its residents.

Oca added having an oil source will also benefit the Province of Cebu and the entire country as well.

Dominant performance in 2011 Board: Cebu grads place 1-2-8 in MedTech

By Niña G. Sumacot (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - She wasn’t sure if she would pass the exam, even branding as a joke the big news her friend broke to her.

But Isabelle Basubas Baisac, a 21-year-old graduate of the Cebu Doctors’ University, could not help but laugh at the result revealing her as the topnotcher of the September 2011 Medical Technologist Licensure Examination.

Graduates of Cebu schools delivered a one-two punch in the exam with Baisac placing first and Sherry Mae Casiño Mondido of Velez College landing second.

A third Cebu graduate, Jana Barbra Dela Cerna Mayol of Cebu Doctors University, placed eighth to complete Cebu’s domination of the exam.

Both the CDU and Velez College got a 100 percent rating (31/31).

Only .40 percentage points separated Baisac and Mondido with Baisac garnering a score of 91.70 percent and Mondido 91.30 percent.

Mayol scored 89.20 percent to share eighth place with Cherry Rose Tuazon Reyes of the University of Santo Tomas.

Baisac said she was not even sure she would pass the exam, and yet she was declared the topnotcher.

“After taking the exam, nagduha-duha gyud ko if mopasar ba ko kay lisod kaayo ang exam. Unexpected gyud ang result,” said Baisac, whose parents are both medical doctors.

She said she did not even believe in her friend who called her up Wednesday night, the time the result was released, to inform her that she topped the exam.

“Wala gyud ko mituo niya. Abi nako ga-joke-joke ra siya,” she told The FREEMAN.

Since the Internet connection at their residence was temporarily cut off, she went to a cousin’s house to see the result online. She then found out that her friend was not lying at all.

“Nakatawa gyud ko kay wa gani ko’y sure makapasar, na-first na nuon,” said Baisac, a dean’s lister of CDU in her first and second year.

In preparation for the exam, she said she just kept on reading her materials.

Before the exam, she visited churches in Cebu along with her friends. A week ago, she went to Simala in Sibonga to seek Divine guidance.

She said the exam was really hard but if a person strives for his or her goal, success can be achieved.

“Study lang gyud og tarong unya sige lang gyud og salig Niya (God). If you find yourself na galisod mo, don’t give up. If ganahan gyud ka sa profession, keep studying kay mo-pay off ra tanang kalisod,” she said.

After the oath-taking, Baisac said she plans to take a vacation first before hunting for a job.

Third on the list was Gelyn Modequillo Ty San Pedro of the College-Davao City, who scored 90.20 percent. Cyrille Maria Trinidad Bebelone Enobio of the University of the Immaculate Conception-Davao placed fourth after scoring 89.80 percent.

Fifth on the list was Roxanne Maritana Figueroa of the University of Perpetual Help System-Laguna, who scored 89.60 percent while Ma. Cecilia Miranda Santos of the University of Santo Tomas placed sixth and scored 89.50 percent.

With only .10 percentage advantage points, Lourivy Pulvera Durano of the University of the Immaculate Conception-Davao and Michael John Amolong Mondragon of the University of Negros Oriental-Recoletos shared the seventh place with 89.40 percent.

Cheryl Julie Samson Argent of San Pedro College-Davao City landed in the ninth place with a score of 89.00 percent.

Sharing the tenth place were Ray Carlo Villanueva De La Cruz of the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, Inc. and Jake Lester Pugao Villanueva of Far Eastern University Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation with a score of 88.90 percent.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 1,123 out of 1,480 passed the examination given by the Board of Medical Technology in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cebu and Davao.

The exams were held on September 3 and 4 and the result was released on September 7.

Cebu set for East Asian tourism forum

By Carmel Loise Matus

Security will be tight in Metro Cebu especially near the Cebu International Convention Center as 200 delegates arrive for the East Asian Tourism Forum (Eatof) 2011.

Governors from 11 East Asian localities confirmed that they will attend the forum from Sept. 13 to Sept. 17, said Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.

Policemen will be deployed in the streets to maintain peace and orders and help secure the delegates, the vice governor said.

The international forum is an annual event where members discuss academic and government concerns in promoting partnerships for development in tourism, trade and culture.

The members of Eatof are Cebu, Philippines; Jilin, China; Gangwon, Korea; Sarawak, Malaysia; Yogyogarta, Indonesia; Tottori, Japan; Tuv-Mongolia; Primovsky-Russia; Chiang Mai, Thailand and Quang Ninh, Vietnam.

Magpale, chairperson of the Cebu Provincial Board’s tourism committee, said they are “97 percent prepared” for the Eatof and all working committees are in place.

The province rented an interpreter’s booth similar to what was used during the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in 2007.

Last year, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia attended the Eatof in Quang Ninh province in Vietnam.

Garcia will assume as leader of the Eatof.

Garcia said the forum, which was primarily for the tourism sector, has evolved into exchanges in trade and culture.

“For the first time in all of its 12 years of existence, there will be a trade and investment forum,” Garcia said.

In the past, the forum only featured governors’ conferences and academic meetings.

One of the highlights of the forum, Garcia said, is the first Eatof cultural festival.

Delegates will be treated to a day tour of Camotes Islands in north Cebu on the last day of the forum.

They will be accompanied by Magpale since Garcia is slated to meet United States Ambassador Harry Thomas on Sept. 16.

Garcia yesterday thanked all sectors who assisted the province in organizing the forum.

“We are grateful for the active participation of the private sector in assisting the province. We have as well the very ready cooperation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine National Police,” she said.

Magpale said they are expecting 200 delegates to arrive.

Most of the governors will be billeted in Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City while others will be staying at Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City’s North Reclamation Area.

Garcia earlier said that because of the goodwill ties, Cebu is hosting several chartered flights from Eatof member provinces in China, South Korea and Russia.

CanCham-Cebu reiterates support to 6 priority areas

By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The newly formed Canadian Chamber of commerce-Cebu Chapter (CanCham-Cebu) reiterated its commitment to focus on the six priority areas on which it pro-actively concentrates its efforts on—food, agri-business, labor and migration, natural resources, mining, financial and banking sectors.

Because of this CanCham-Cebu has started to conduct several briefing on Canada-Philippines mutual business interest, specifically for its member companies.

Led by CanCham president Julian Payne, the chamber also held series of briefings in Cebu covering updates and issues on Labor and Employment, Bureau of Customs duties and taxes, including BIR taxation.

The CanCham-Cebu is the first chapter outside of Metro Manila, it has 60 founding members and industries.

On enhancing trade relations, the Chamber continued to make representations this year

relating to the new Department of Agriculture’s Department Order that had adverse impact on frozen pork imports from Canada.

Together with the Canadian Embassy in Manila, the Chamber co-organized the Canada Pork event last March 29, 2011. In 2010, Canadian merchandise exports to the Philippines were CAD $683.7 million, while Canadian imports from the Philippines were valued at CAD $889.0 million.

According to Payne, a notable development in the Canada-Philippines relationship is the continuing increase of Filipino immigrants to Canada. In 2010, the Philippines was the largest source country for immigrants to Canada.

Records show that nearly 500,000 people of the Philippine origin now residing and working in Canada.

This recognition by Filipinos of Canada as an attractive new home and by Canada of Filipinos as a positive addition to Canada’s multicultural society has long-term implications for potential business and other links between the two countries.

Meanwhile, CanCham-Cebu announced that the latest addition to Canadian food import in Cebu is the “Pacific Kiss,” a top quality British Columbia (BC) oyster. It is a delicious and nutritious option that has been grown at an environmentally sustainable farm by a registered member of The British Columbia Shellfish Association.

Making oysters a part of one’s diet makes sense. Farmed oysters are an excellent source of high quality protein and have more Omega-3 fatty acids than chicken, pork or beef. They are also an excellent source of zinc, a proven immunity booster.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, most people only get about one half of the recommended daily intake for zinc and just one oyster provides close to your entire daily requirement.

In Cebu, these oysters are made available through JEDCO, a Filipino-owned company importing fresh chilled meat from North America, Australia and Europe since 1990. JEDCO is a founding member of CanCham Cebu Chapter.

P20-B Cebu international port eyed

By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.

LILOAN, Cebu, Philippines – Authorities are revisiting a plan that had been shelved in 2002 to build a P20.4-billion offshore international port between the towns of Consolacion and Liloan, in northern Cebu.

The Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) is the proponent of the P20.4-billion offshore international port. According to officials of the CPA, funding for the project could be sourced from either a loan or through an investment as a result of public-private sector partnership.

The CPA has presented plans for the proposed port to be constructed in Maya, Daanbantayan as well as for the improvement of the Hagnaya port in San Remigio. The latter project is being supported by Cebu (fourth district) Representative Benhur Salimbangon.

Representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) met in Cebu Monday to take another look at the study of the proposed international container port.

Said study which involves constructing an offshore container port after the container traffic congestion was already felt at the existing Cebu International Port was conducted by the JICA in 2000.

However, CPA General Manager Dennis Villamor said it was shelved by the Cebu Port Commission in 2002. “It was only recently, in 2010, that we thought we would revisit the proposal because of the problem on traffic management, capacity and volume accommodation,” he said.

Villamor added that the proposed international container service terminal to be built in Consolacion-Liloan will cover an area of 60 hectares. It will be constructed off the coast and will be connected to the shore by a bridge. He also said that it will be implemented in two phases and that the construction of the entire project would take from three to five years.

He said the project proposal has already been presented to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, and now, they are poised to present it to the Cebu Port Commission for approval before submitting it to the DoTC.

From the DoTC, the project proposal will then be presented to the National Economic and Development Authority for review before submission to President Benigno Aquino III for final approval.

Gyeonggi, Korea eyes sisterhood ties with Cebu Province

By Niña G. Sumacot/MIT

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Council members of Gyeonggi, the largest province in South Korea, paid a courtesy call to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and offered sisterhood ties.

The 11 Korean councilmen told Garcia that they are impressed with Cebu especially its government, and the Cebuanos which is why they want to tie up with Cebu through a sisterhood pact.

The officials, through their delegation head, council man Lee Jai Cheon, offered the governor a lot of opportunities for Cebu.

Cheon said Gyeonggi is home of Hyundai, Kia, and other big companies in South Korea.

They invited Garcia and other provincial officials to visit South Korea and see what Gyeonggi has to offer.

The Korean delegation wanted to know the structure of the government in Cebu and expressed surprise upon knowing that the province only has 12 Provincial Board members while they have 141 council members in Gyeonggi.

Present during the courtesy call were Vice governor Agnes Magpale, Provincial Board Members Julian Daan, Thaddeus Ouano, Peter John Calderon, Jose Rimobapil Holganza, Jr., and Cesar Ian Zambo.

The courtesy call was made last Thursday at the governor’s office. Gyeonggi Province is said to be the growth engine of Korea.

The Province is evenly developed in various industries such as heavy industry (electronics, machine, heavy and chemical industry, steel), light industry (textile), and farm, livestock and fisheries industry.

CCCI to promote organic farming

By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.

CEBU, Philippines – The island province of Cebu has officially accepted the invitation of the prestigious international group of tourism islands, the Inter-Islands Tourism Policy (ITOP), which will be holding its annual forum in the island of Jeju in the Republic of Korea.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she formally accepted the invitation to join the ITOP, making Cebu one of the 10 members of the elite islands group.

Current ITOP members include Jeju Island in Korea; Hainan, China; Phuket, Thailand; Okinawa, Japan; Bali, Indonesia; Zanzibar, Tanzania; the Canary Islands, Spain; Southern Province, Sri Lanka; and Hawaii, U.S.A. .

Garcia said it was in Hainan, China in 2010 that Cebu was officially invited to join the prestigious group and yesterday, she said she confirmed Cebu's interest in joining with the holding of the ITOP forum this month in Jeju.

“Cebu was invited to become a member and when asked if we are interested in joining, we, of course, reiterated our interest in doing so,” Garcia said, stressing, “It is our pride to be part of ITOP.”

Garcia said Cebu's reputation as one of the top five sland destinations in Asia could have played a major role in the invitation to become part of the ITOP.

The discussion to establish the ITOP Forum was started by an agreement among Jeju, Bali and Hainan in 1995 to create a tourism policy forum in the East Asian region. The forum strongly supports the idea that a cooperative relationship amongst islands in the world is highly needed.

CCCI to promote organic farming

By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is introducing another noble advocacy to promote organic-farming in the entire province.

To jumpstart this program, CCCI cooperation with Cebu Coalition for Food Security (CCFS) and other partners, will be holding the first “Cebu Go Organic Fair and Conference,” to heighten awareness in organic farming concept, and its resolve issues such as impression complexities, and certification processes.

The fair and conference which is slated on October 21 to 23 (2011) at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) expects to draw at least 500 participants from different sectors, specifically the farming communities in Cebu province, Local Government Unit (LGU) officials (City and municipal agriculturists), among others.

Samson Tiu, the event’s chairman for program and exhibits, said that with this move, there is a need for Cebu to organize a group of farmers that will eventually serve as a certification body.

At present, there are only three organic farm certification group, two of which are privately operated, while the other one is managed by the government.

“The organic law is very strict. It involves a lot of processes,” said Tiu adding that while the market for organic-produce products such as fruits, vegetables, and crops are on the rise, farmers will not only be able to take advantage this growing market domestically, but also it will open the wide consumer-based overseas.

According to Tiu, in terms of organic farming promotion, Cebu is lagging behind, although the province is not an agricultural area. Negros, and Bohol are leading this movement, and Cebu is seen to trail blaze in this movement.

Aside from promoting organic-farming, the event also aimed at encouraging young generation businessmen to engage into farming trade, while productivity of farmers in Cebu is going down, and average age of farmers now is at 55 years old, said CCFS chairman Roberto Bajinting.

In Cebu, several non-government organizations (NGOs) appealed to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to implement a sustainable farming system in the city and province to help ensure food security.

Earlier, DA announced that it is allocating P900 million for 2011 to implement various initiatives under the “Organic Agriculture Act 2010” or Republic Act No. 10068.

As provided under the Republic Act, a National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) will be created to serve as the policy-making body that will provide direction and general guidelines for the implementation of the national organic agriculture program.

According to Tiu, the market for organic products is steadily increasing across the world.

“This is why there is a pressing need to push for the production of organic crops, livestock and processed food especially in the Visayas region,”Tiu added.

Today, organic products are an alternative that is economically, environmentally and socially interesting to the small farmers, especially in Cebu.

P20 wage hike for CV okayed

By Garry B. Lao (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The good news – there will be a wage increase in Central Visayas.

The bad news for workers is that if the increase of the daily minimum wage is only P20 and not P100 as proposed by the labor groups.

This was decided upon by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) after almost five hours of closed-door deliberations.

The increase will only take effect 15 days after the publication of the order on the four provinces of the region.

RTWPB Chairman Exequiel Sarcauga, who is also the acting regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said the increase will make the minimum wage P305 from the current P285.

The Association Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is asking for a P100 across-the-board daily minimum wage hike for workers in Central Visayas, while the Trade Union of the Philippines and Allied Services asked for a P120 across-the-board daily wage increase.

But ALU-TUCP legal chief Ernesto Carreon, one of labor representatives to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, expressed disappointment over the minimal salary hike.

“Gamay ra gyud,” Carreon said, adding that he along with Marianito Ventura of the Trade Union of the Philippines and Allied Services, representing the labor sector, exerted effort that their request will be granted, but they were out-voted.

The two voted against the P20 increase while four voted for it.

“Una P100, unya wala sila misugot so mi-reduce mi og P50, na-pilde gihapon mi sa vote. Mi-reduce nalang mi og P25 pero wala sab sila misugot, mao nga naabot sa P20. Wala gyud pakapin ug wala gyud ta’y mahimo kay inig gawas sa numero, mapilde man gyud ta,” Carreon said.

The RTWPB is composed of two labor representatives; lawyer Hidelito Pascual and businessman Charles Streegan, representing management; and Sarcauga of the Department of Labor and Employment, Acting director Efren Carreon of the National Economic and Development Authority and Director Asteria Caberte of the Department of Trade and Industry, representing government.

Ventura was disappointed when he went out of the room and refused to comment.

Sarcauga said, new indicators to be considered in the deliberation are gross regional domestic product, unemployment rate, employment rate and among others. He said that many companies will be closed down if they will not also consider their plight.

The biggest business group here, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), earlier said the rise of prices of basic commodities could be artificial and should be looked into deeper before any increase in daily wages is approved.

Streegan, on the other hand, said the wage hike may even cause some business closure and the layoff of some workers.

A wage order issued last September 2010 increased minimum wages in Central Visayas to range from P240 to P285.

However, Sarcauga said that private companies can still file their application if they cannot implement the P20 increase before the DOLE.

“Pwede pa sila dili mo-comply kung mo-file sila og application for exemption before DOLE pero kung ma-disapprove ilang application, nay retroactive na,” Sarcauga said.

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