Cebu Province News February 2013

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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.

‘It will rain money in Cebu’

By Aileen Garcia-Yap, Anabelle Lim-Balanzar (Cebu Daily News)

The year of the black water snake will be a “good year” for Cebu.

It will be so good that “it will literally rain money this year,” a geomancer and a “feng shui economist” said.

“The feng shui of Cebu is perfectly like Hong Kong’s. This is a good year for Cebu,” Master Aldric Dalumpines said ahead of today’s celebration of the Chinese New Year.

The year of the black water snake runs through Jan. 31, 2014.

“It will literally rain money this year,” Dalumpines said.

He said the coming into play of the sin tax and the reproductive health law as well as election-spending will fire up economic engines in the country this year with construction and real estate continuing as magnifiers of growth.

Dalumpines advised those who want to go into business to venture into anything related with water and to shun fire-related ones like restaurants.

To start the year right and attract more luck, feng shui expert Marites Allen is advising people to wear something “auspicious” and mystic knot blouses during the first day of the year.

Critical days

Allen said the first 15 days of the year are also very critical for one’s fortune for the rest of the year

She said people should be happier especially on these days.

Allen said that with today being the luckiest day of the year coincides with the number 8 prosperity star . One should wake up early and wear new clothes preferably with mystic knot prints or symbols of your Chinese zodiac sign.

“Play loud and happy music. Wish every member of the family a ‘Happy New Year’ and give children and young adults their angpaws (red money envelopes). From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. everyone should gather as a family for breakfast. At the start of the meal, young children and young adults should offer sweet tea to their elders,” Allen wrote.

According to Harbour City Dimsum House Co., Inc. marketing manager Steven Kokseng, in Chinese tradition, all family members should be together especially during the first day of the year.

“It is said that you shouldn’t sweep, mop or vacuum nor do laundry as you might sweep away your luck,” Kokseng said.

Philippine Retailers Association past president and this year’s Cebu Business Month chairman Melanie Chua Ng said the Year of the Water Snake holds a lot of promise and prospects for businesses considering that the snake is known to be resourceful which implies that businesses are expected to survive and grow this year.

“Every year we gather with our family during the eve of the New Year. It’s considered our bonding day and we usually give each other the prosperity bread to wish all of our family members a prosperous year ahead,” Ng said.

She said they give out tikoy and huat kueh to family members and colleagues in the business.

“Huat kueh is considered the prosperity cake while tikoy is best given to families because of its sticky texture and sweet taste for an abundant and sweet year ahead,” Ng said.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry past president Eric Ng Mendoza also said they gather during the eve of the New Year and eat as one family in a big round table.

“We serve fish, Peking duck, prawns and prosperity cakes, and sweet round fruits which are considered lucky,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza said the business community in general is expecting a good year ahead this year.

“The snake is a stable and strong animal with a strong survival instinct which implies that businesses this year will flourish and survive and just keep growing. Snakes always possess material wealth and symbolizing grace,” Mendoza said.

International Pharmaceuticals, Inc vice president for sales and marketing Stanley Uang said that they follow certain traditions like giving of angpao and wearing red.

“We usually celebrate it by dining together with the closest of relatives and with those who happens to be here. The most common ritual is dressing up oneself in red or wearing red garments and of course the favorites among the children is the receiving angpaos from the older relatives,” he said.

Uang added that the Chinese consider the snake as a lucky animal hence, this year is generally regarded as a good year for the economy.

“Plus the water element connotes money,” he said.

Some businessmen however, said that pne should not just rely on lucky charms and traditional practices to attract good luck.

“It will always help if one works hard for their business to grow and not totally rely on what the stars say.

“Blindly believing in prosperity in every new year by doing nothing will not make any difference. Hard work coupled with innovation and kindness in our lives are keys to peace and continuous blessing in everything we do,” said Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Philip N. Tan.

Cebu, CV sustain growth for 3rd year

By Aileen Garcia-Yap (Cebu Daily News)

Central Visayas sustained growth rate in at least the last three years with last year’s Gross Regional Domestic Production higher than the 6.6 percent national average.

For this growth to be inclusive a senior economist at the National Economic Development Authority in Region 7 (Neda 7) said that more investments are still needed in the manufacturing sector.

“Manufacturing should be revitalized to develop a ‘two-legged’ economy that is not only dependent to industry and services sector,” said Efren Carreon, asst. regional director of Neda 7.

To sustain the growth, Carreon said that we need to push for more manufacturing investments which will help balance the industries that fuel the economy of the region.

Employment also improved based on figures as of October 2012 with 93.5 percent employment in the region which according to Carreon will validate the improvement in the region’s economic condition fueled by the outsourcing and construction boom, retail expansion and solid outsourcing sector.

Although employment rates are higher in Central Visayas, sustained growth will further increase its capacity to absorb unemployment in neighboring regions.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Prudencio Gesta agrees on the need to expand Cebu’s and the CV’region’s manufacturing and agriculture sectors to create more jobs.

“I strongly believe that Central Visayas can sustain its GDP growth momentum this year as its economic growth drivers like ICT/BPOs, tourism, construction, real estate development, OFW deployment. Trading and other economic activities remain on its upward trend and can generate more employment opportunities,” said Gesta.

Underemployment also improved from 22 percent in April 2012 to 18.4 percent in October last year.

“Construction grew by 21.5 percent which is the highest among all sectors. The construction boom provided jobs for those who cannot land jobs in the outsourcing sector,” said Carreon.

“This was helped by the entrance of KPO or knowledge process outsourcing companies which allows those who feel underemployed in call centers now land a job that better suit them in the KPO companies which pays more,” said Carreon.

RETAIL EXPANSION

While the outsourcing sector has been doing so much for the economy, Carreon said that developing the manufacturing sector can help solve unemployment and stimulate higher spending capacity among the population thus resulting to a more vibrant economy.

Based on partial 2012 data, the Central Visayas, whose economic hub is Cebu, will surpass the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 6.6 percent and will remain on the top five fastest growing economy in the country.

Carreon estimates real Gross Regional Domestic Production (GRDP) growth rate in the region between 7 to 8 percent.

“In 2012 we have sustained economic growth as preliminary indicators show that most likely we’ll have higher than the national GDP. We have always surpassed the national average,” said Carreon.

Central Visayas had the highest growth rate in 2010 with 12.5 percent compared to national average of 7.6 percent. In 2011, the national GDP growth was 3.9 percent, but Central Visayas, composed of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces registered a GRDP growth of 7.5 percent.

In 2011 the services sector was the biggest contributor of the GRDP at 56 percent at P336 billion while industry followed with 36 percent contribution at P214 billion.

“Total GRDP in 2011 was P602 billion. In 2012 the target was 6.5 percent to 7 percent growth or a GRDP of P641 billion,” said Carreon.

Industry sector includes mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, electricity, gas and water supply.

Services sector includes transport, storage and communication; trade; real estate renting and business services which includes the outsourcing sector and the tourism sector.

“The real estate renting and business services is one of the highest growing sector which grew by 10.9 percent in 2011, this is a good indicator and we expect the same trend for 2012,” said Carreon.

In 2012, there were 17 new outsourcing companies that set shop in Cebu. The employment is now estimated at 90,000 concentrated in IT parks and IT accredited buildings in the region.

Tourism grew by 12.2 percent as of first quarter of 2012 with 565,898 foreign tourists and 891,006 domestic travelers.

2013 Target

This year, the target GRDP growth is 6.7 percent to 7.3 percent which according to Carreon is achievable especially that 2013 is an election year.

According to Cebu Business Club president Gordon Alan Joseph “we need to once and for all breakdown the barriers that have made the Philippines an Asian laggard in attracting foreign investments. We are moving there but too slowly. Our people need jobs – today. Foreign Direct Investment creates jobs. And jobs are a major tool in fighting poverty.”

Cebu’s tourism players back VAT exemption for tourists

(PNA), PDS/EB/BH

CEBU CITY, Feb. 8 (PNA) -- Cebu’s tourism players have supported the retailers’ move to ask Congress to exempt foreign tourists from paying value-added tax (VAT).

Entrepreneur Jonathan Jay Aldeguer on Friday said the move would show that the country was serious about its tourism.

”This is a wonderful move to signal and convey the message to visitors that we appreciate their business. Just like liberalizing visa requirements, these tax incentives will be an added lure to make the Philippines, indeed, more than,” said Aldeguer, president and chief executive officer of The Islands Group.

The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) earlier announced plans to seek VAT exemption for foreign tourists to encourage them to shop more in their stay in the country.

PRA chairman emeritus Samie Lim was quoted in news reports as saying other countries already exempt foreign tourists from having to pay VAT.

”It is not right to tax tourists because they only stay here for a while, so they don’t really make use of the basic services that government gives locals from revenues generated,” Lim said.

Hans Hauri, vice president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines for the Visayas, said he would support the move because it would encourage foreign tourists to spend more.

But, he said,regulations need to be put in place in terms of quality of goods, minimum purchase, refund mechanism and even location of refund counters.

”We might start with Duty-Free shops first on a trial basis. Let’s do some math to evaluate the potential expenses of the scheme,” Hauri said.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) tourism chairperson Dr. Milagros Espina echoed the sentiment saying the initiative should be carefully studied.

She said foreign tourists would still shop with or without VAT exemption, given the Philippine products were relatively cheaper and varied.

”Perhaps we should look for other incentives for both local and foreign buyers. That is how other countries attract shoppers,” she said.

Cebu Business Club president Gordon Allan Joseph said the move should be considered urgent because this was already done in almost every major tourism-oriented country, including Singapore and Thailand.

”We should do it and do it well as it will strengthen our tourism product,” Joseph said.

SB Corporation OKs P3M fund for creative industries in Cebu

(DTI)

QUEZON CITY, Feb. 7 -- The Small Business Corporation (SB Corp.) approved the P3 million seed fund for the special financing program for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the creative industries in Cebu.

“This special program is the first institutional financing program for creative entrepreneurs in the country. It seeks to address the challenges on financing access of MSMEs in the creative industries and creative services sector,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Merly M. Cruz said in a statement.

The creative sectors include music, visual arts, film, animation, graphic design, fashion design, industrial design, multimedia, writing-based industries, and the performing arts. These sectors also cuts across the creative, high-value, intellectual property (IP) industries such as information and communication technology (ICT) and design; and creative services such as advertising and architecture.

This special financing program have two types of financing facilities: (1) direct lending to creative entrepreneurs; and (2) soft and transaction loan for creative services, which is a business to business scheme where MSMEs are encouraged to tap the services of creative firms to spur innovation and creativity.

“Through this financing program, the DTI intends to support and complement SB Corporation’s programs and services, and improve the viability and global competitiveness of MSMEs in the creative sectors by increasing their access to appropriate and affordable financing,” Cruz said.

SB Corp. is a government financial institution (GFI) attached to the DTI that provides financing aid to MSMEs.

“Together with SB Corp., other institutional partners and industry stakeholders, our provincial office in Cebu looks forward to implement this financing program in the province this year,” DTI- Cebu Provincial Director Nelia V. F. Navarro said.

BOC Cebu surpasses P8.6 billion target in 2012

By Joy Cherry Quito (Correspondent, Cebu Daily News), FFC/EB/BH

Despite a sharp decrease in revenue collection in the last four months of 2012, the Bureau of Customs Cebu District was able to surpass its P8.6 billion target.

Behind this solid revenue collection was Kepco-SPC Power Corp. which operates a 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Naga City and SteelAsia Manufacturing Corporation, Cebu Customs District Collector Ronnie Silvestre said.

Also notable in 2012 is the entry of a food processing company in the top 20 importers – the Virginia Food Corp.

He added, the performance of Customs Cebu District would have been higher had Seaoil Philippines, Inc. maintained its operations here. Last September, Seaoil, Inc. which was the top importer in 2011 moved their operations to Bacolod.

Last year’s revenue collection performance is an improvement to 2011′s performance where the Cebu District had a shortfall of P100-million.

“We are hopeful that they would increase their importation volume this year,” Silvestre said, who admitted that smuggling in the Cebu International Port is still a problem.

To address this, Silvestre said, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has to strengthen the law enforcement operations of the Customs Police.

Silvestre will turn over the reign of the Customs Cebu District to Edward dela Cuesta, who was reassigned from the Clark International Airpor in Pampanga, today.

The Customs Cebu District will host today the BOC’s 111th anniversary at the old Customs Building near Plaza Independencia.

This the first time the BOC will celebrate its anniversary outside Manila.

The reshuffling of district collectors according to Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon is one of the measures the agency is undertaking to meet 2013 revenue collection target of P394 billion.

“We are now doing a re-configuration of our organizational structure, especially among our frontline officials, to re-position our district collectors where they can be most productive.” Biazon said in a statement in the BOC website, www.customs.gov.ph.

PHL can attract tourists with infra development, Thai official says

(PNA), FFC/EB/BH

CEBU CITY, Feb. 5 (PNA) -- Infrastructure development can help the Philippines attract more tourists, a top tourism official from Thailand said.

Phanom Kaributa, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) executive director for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), South Asia and South Pacific Region department, said aggressive tourism promotions and improved infrastructure and tourism services drew tourists to Thailand.

He said that if the Philippines and other Asian countries do the same things, they will also have a surge in tourist arrivals.

”You have an advantage because you are an English-speaking nation. You also have nice and hospitable people but your country needs to develop infrastructure and service,” Kaributa said.

Infrastructure development has long been a concern among tourism players in Cebu.

Plantation Bay Resorts and Spa general manager Efren Belarmino said that aside from developing more products, the government should also address pressing problems on infrastructure, particularly road improvements.

He said that although hotels and resorts in Lapu-Lapu have enjoyed the boom in sports activities, bad roads that are causing traffic have inconvenienced tourists.

Kaributa said that when people go on vacation, they look for places that are safe with good tourism services like great food and leisure destinations.

They also prefer places where people are hospitable, honest and friendly.

TAT officials were in Cebu for their promotional roadshow in the Philippines.

This year, the organization will also visit Davao City, aside from Manila and Cebu.

Officials said the objective of the roadshow is to promote Thailand to Filipinos in the hope of increasing Filipino arrivals in Thailand by 13 percent this year.

According to TAT director Kanokkittika Kritwutikon, 288,000 Filipinos visited Thailand in 2012, up by 6.7 percent compared to the figure in 2011.

Although the Philippines is not included in Thailand’s top 10 travel markets, Kritwutikon said the country is an attractive market because of its proximity to Thailand, which is about three and a half hour of travel time.

”Hitting the 13 percent growth for Filipino arrivals in quite difficult that is why we need to join hands with the various travel agencies in the Philippines,” she said.

Thailand achieved a record-breaking visitor arrivals of 22 million for the first time last year. The figure is a 15.98 percent growth over 2011.

A strong growth is seen from China with projected arrivals of 2.7 million this year, surpassing Thailand’s top market, Malaysia, with only 2.5 million in projected arrivals.

TAT governor Suraphon Svetasreni said the primary contributor of the growth was the “prevalence of global, regional and local peace and stability.”

”Travel and tourism can only flourish worldwide if the underlying conditions that support it remain free of disturbance and disruption. That is one of the most important lessons for the entire industry to learn worldwide,” Svetasreni said.

Kaributa said Thailand has an influx of tourists every year because the country has a lot to offer in terms of food, culture, shopping, destination and entertainment. The country has also strengthened beauty, health and wellness and eco-tourism programs.

”You get your money’s worth in Thailand,” he said.

But despite Thailand’s progressive tourism industry, Kaributa said they are not in competition with the Philippines.

He said both countries can work together to lure more tourists to visit the ASEAN region.

By 2015 all 21 ASEAN economies will be integrated, creating a single market and distribution base with full economic integration.

”We are now becoming borderless with flow of human resources becoming seamless so countries, like Thailand and the Philippines, should work together as one ASEAN nation and should not consider each other as competitors,” he said.

TAT is confident of increasing tourism arrivals of Thailand to 24.5 million this year, with a projected tourism income of 1,149 billion baht.

Real estate giant, subsidiary to add P5-B investments in Cebu

(PNA), LGI/EB/GB

CEBU CITY, Feb. 3 (PNA) -- Property developer Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and its subsidiary Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI), which have invested a total of P14 billion in Cebu in the last three years, are pouring in a fresh investment of P5 billion for its various projects in the province this year.

Included in the capital expenditure (capex) for Cebu is the P1.6-billion ACC Corporate Center, which will soon rise on the western side of the Ayala Center Cebu property along Bohol Street at the Cebu Business District, and other residential and retail projects.

ALI president Antonio Aquino said this new investment for Cebu is a testament of their optimism and confidence in Cebu’s thriving economy, as shown by the performance of Cebu Park District, which covers the Cebu IT Park and Cebu Business Park (CBP).

He said the establishment of the ACC Corporate Center will now make the Cebu Business Park development fully-integrated with elements like hotel, retail, residential and corporate officers in place.

”This will be a new home to business process outsourcing (BPO) locators,” Aquino said during the project’s ground-breaking ceremony.

The ACC Corporate Center, which sits on a 3,424-square-meter property, is envisioned to be a 20-storey, Grade A building, which will cater to the office space requirements of BPO locators and will complete the “live, work, play” concept at the CBP.

The building will have 12 floors of office spaces with a total gross leasable area of 28,574 sq.m., two floors for retail establishments which will operate 24/7 and six levels of parking.

”This is the first of its kind here and is completely attached to the Ayala Center Cebu. It is located near the terminal, the proposed bus rapid transit and its situated in the very center of things,” said Aquino.

He noted that new and existing BPO firms have already expressed interest in the building, but no formal agreements have been signed yet.

“One unique element of our products that has attracted buyers is that our products are right in the middle of a thriving community,” he said.

ACC Corporate Center’s completion is slated in the second quarter of 2015.

As for its other projects, Aquino reported brisk sales of its residential projects both at the CBP and Cebu IT Park.

He said the units of high-end 1016 Residences and two towers of Solinea condominium projects are already sold out.

The company is now preparing the flow-through of the third tower of Solinea and Avida Riala at the Cebu IT Park.

CBP and Cebu IT Park have five residential projects each that are still under construction.

Top 20 importers pay more than half of P8.8B Cebu Customs collection in 2012

(PNA), HBC/EB/BH

CEBU CITY, Feb. 2 (PNA) -- Cebu’s top 20 importers contributed more than 50 percent of the P8.8 billion duties and taxes collected for 2012 by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu, a senior official said.

Outgoing Cebu Customs District Collector Ronnie Silvestre said these 20 top importers also provided jobs to the Cebuanos and taxes to local government units (LGUs).

The companies are Kepco-SPC Power Corp., which paid P771.9 million in duties and taxes; Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp., P691.2 million;

Seaoil Philippines Inc., P481.5 million; TWA Inc., P211.1 million; CMK Trading, P192.2 million; Tridharma Marketing Corp. P189 million; Carmen Copper Corp., P166.6 million;

Apo Cement Corp., P159 million; Maxima Machineries Inc., P148.2 million; Cebu Energy Development Corp., P145.5 million; Petron Corp., P141.3 million; Taiheiyo Cement Phils. Inc., P131.8 million;

Adelc Trading, P127.4 million; Petronas Energy Phils. Inc., P125 million; Ajinomoto Phils. Corp., P109.4 million; JM-ARS Trading, P108.6 million; International Pharmaceuticals Inc., P94.8 million; A.D. Gothong Manufacturing Corp., P79.3 million; Pryce Gases Inc., P78 million; and Virginia Foods Inc., P77.3 million.

Of the P8.8 billion in collections of the Port of Cebu, P4.228 billion came from these 20 importers.

The P3.861 billion was paid by other importers, P428 million came from the Sub-Port of Mactan under Collector Paul Alcazaren, while the P79 million came from the Port of Dumaguete.

Of the top importers, Kepco-SPC , which is number one, and Cebu Energy Development Corp., which is number 10, are in power generation.

Apo, which is number eight, and Taheiyo, which is number 12, are engaged in cement production.

Seaoil, which is in number three, Petron, which is in number 11, and Petronas which is number 14, are engaged in fuel distribution.

Silvestre said the P8.8 billion collection in 2012 is higher than that in 2011, which was P8.7 billion.

He said the volume of importation decreased but the revenue collections went up because of the correct computation of duties and increasing vigilance of customs personnel.

CA upholds ruling on CICC payments

By Gerome M. Dalipe and Oscar C. Pineda

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed the lower court’s ruling directing the Cebu Provincial Government to pay a private contractor P257.4 million for more work done on the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

The appeals court denied the appeal filed by Capitol, which questioned the order of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court (RTC) finding them liable to pay WT Construction Inc. (WTCI) for the extra construction cost.

“The Province of Cebu, in failing to promptly pay WTCI and attempting to evade its liability, acted maliciously and in bad faith,” read the decision written by Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando for the CA’s 20th Division.

Acting Governor Agnes Magpale’s office has yet to receive a copy of the CA decision.

Lawyer Czareem Joseph Estella, Magpale’s consultant, declined from commenting on the decision until they receive the notice from the CA.

Without pre-empting Magpale’s move, Estella assured that there are legal remedies available to the Province, such as filing a motion for reconsideration or appealing it before the Supreme Court.

WTCI filed a civil case for sum of money against Capitol for its refusal to pay for works made on Phase 2 of the CICC in 2006.

On Feb. 26, 2006, WTCI won the bidding for the construction of the CICC, which was used as one of the venues of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit.

When the construction of Phase 1 of the CICC was completed, the Province requested WTCI to complete Phase 2 of the project.

When Phase 2 was nearing completion, Capitol later contracted WTCI to perform additional works such as site development, structural, architectural, electrical and plumbing works. When all the works were completed, the contractor said Capitol refused to pay.

Replying to the suit, the Province argued that the additional works being claimed by WTCI were not acknowledged and did not pass the bids and awards committee (BAC) of the Province.

Since there was no contract for additional works, the Province said payment to WTCI would be questionable and illegal.

On May 20, 2009, Judge Ester Veloso of the RTC Branch 6 ordered Capitol to pay WTCI P263,263,261.41 for the site development, structural, architectural, plumbing and electrical work done by the contractor.

The Province was also directed to pay 12 percent legal interest per year from Jan. 22, 2008 and P50,000 as lawyer’s fees.

Judge Veloso ruled that an “oral contract” was perfected between WTCI and Capitol for the additional works.

Denying payment to WTCI would be tantamount to “unjust enrichment” on Capitol’s part, the judge said.

The Province filed a motion for reconsideration and contested the awarded amount.

Veloso partially granted Capitol’s appeal and reduced the liability from P263,263,261.41 to P257,413,911.73.

In the decision, the appeals court upheld with modification the trial court’s ruling, saying the awards were “definitely justified.”

“Concededly, it has already been established that the Province of Cebu is obligated to pay WTCI for the additional construction work, which it satisfactorily rendered,” the CA said.

The CA reduced legal interest per year from 12 percent to six percent, to be computed from Jan. 22, 2008 until full payment is made.

Earlier, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has approved the filing of formal criminal and administrative cases against suspended governor Gwendolyn Garcia and six Capitol officials for allegedly giving WTCI unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference.

The six co-accused in the case, who compose the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), are identified in the final evaluation report as chairman Eduardo Habin, vice chairman Marino Martinquilla, and members Roy Salubre, Emmy Hingoyon, Ernesto Biernes and Eulogio Pelayre.

The respondents are facing charges for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

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