Cebu City News January 2016

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Cebu City Map Locator
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View of Cebu City from the bay
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Aerial View of Cebu City
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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.

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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 now 7th best worldwide

By Jeandie O. Galolo

FROM the eighth spot in the Tholons 100 in the previous year, Cebu City is now the seventh best site in the world for outsourcing in 2016.

All cities in the Philippines improved their rankings, except for Manila, which remained in the second spot, after Bangalore in India.

The information came from the managing director of the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (Cedfit), who added that Dumaguete City joined the top 100 list. Its taking the 93rd rank brought to nine the number of Philippine cities on the list.

“One of the important shifts in the APAC (Asia Pacific) region in this year’s Top 100 List was the rise of Cebu City in the Philippines—moving upwards, from 8th to 7th spot,” said Tholons in a report, which Cedfit managing director Jun Sa-a forwarded to Sun.Star Cebu.

Improvements in infrastructure and an enlarging talent pool have allowed the city’s IT-BPM sector to sustain recent developmental gains, said the global outsourcing and investments advisory firm.

In addition, Cebu City has also seen an excellent mix of IT-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) companies over the years and a healthy mix of services cutting across all three major service lines, namely: Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO), Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

By the end of 2015, Cebu had 117,000 IT-BPM workers in 200 companies. This is a huge leap from 2001. Sa-a recalled that there were only five IT-BPM companies at that time, which employed some 1,200 workers.

“Tholons remains bullish on the trajectory and long-term potential of Cebu City as a global services outsourcing destination and there is an opportunity for Cebu City to capitalize on the prevailing weakness of global competition,” the report reads. The economic turmoil in several of Latin America’s key economic markets, for instance, has pushed companies to refocus activities on proven locations like Cebu and Metro Manila, Tholons added.

While Cebu saw improvement in its rankings, Tholons also noted that it has not been marketed enough. “The industry identity remains somewhat BPO-centric in the global services outsourcing marketplace,” it said.

Sa-a believes fostering academe-industry linkage is vital to further improve Cebu’s IT-BPM and its ranking in the global arena.

For instance, through Cedfit, IT graduates in Cebu and the rest of Visayas are encouraged to take the IT certification exam or the Philippine IT General Certification Exam (Phil IT GCE) that will be helpful when applying for a job in IT-BPM companies. Training in the academe for teachers was also initiated to improve the local education system in the field of IT.

Sa-a also acknowledged the importance of improving Cebu’s mass transport infrastructure to support growth.

“Based on feedback from the big centers operating in Cebu, our operations here are very competitive globally so it is either at par or even better than the NCR operations or other global sites,” said Sa-a.

Large multinational companies that have large-scale operations in Cebu include Lexmark, JP Morgan Chase, Aegis, Accenture, Teletech, IBM, and Convergys.

Quoting the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Sa-a said Cebu’s IT-BPM sector is expected to grow by 15 to 18 percent in the next five years.

500 street kids, thousands of others receive first communion

(PNA), JBP/EB/PJN

CEBU CITY, Jan. 30 (PNA) -- Some 5,000 children, including 500 street children, will receive their first Holy Communion at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) Saturday afternoon as part of the activities of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC).

The first communicants Friday attended the rehearsal at the CCSC, reciting prayers for the communion rites.

Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal reminded the first communicants to prepare to receive the sacrament of the HolyEucharist.

“So that if God allows them to live longer like me at least they will have a good memory of what had happened to them,” he said.

Vidal, 84, said he was six years old and one of many first communicants when the country last hosted the IEC in Manila in 1937.

“I was very, very happy that time. We had to memorize all the songs during the first communion,” he said.

Cardinal Vidal sang a few lines of the songs during his first communion.

He said the activity for the first communicants Saturday is special for its participants, considering it is being held in Cebu, the cradle of Christianity in the country.

Projects for street kids to be tested in Cebu City

By Elias O. Baquero

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will soon have a bureau that will handle projects for street children. Cebu City was chosen as the pilot area for the projects.

This, as the agency clarified that it’s the local government units’ responsibility to take care of the street children. DSWD’s role is to provide technical support.

Social Worker Officers Emma Patalinghug and Concepcion Solera clarified this during the Kapihan sa PIA (Philippine Information Agency) yesterday, when they were asked why DSWD failed to help the street children and families who sleep on the sidewalk.

Patalinghug said that their central office is developing the Social Technology Bureau, which will implement projects for street children.

She said that they had a meeting with Dr. Ester Concha, chief of Cebu City’s Department of Social Welfare Services, last Jan. 26 to tackle the problem on street children and homeless families and find long-term solutions.

At present, the Cebu City Government has an existing task force that helps street children, with the support of different non-government organizations.

“The DSWD national office is engaging the Cebu City Government on how to address the problem on street children. This will be a pilot project and the DSWD will provide a budget for this,” Patalinghug said.

Patalinghug said they already have a memorandum of agreement with the City on how to take care of the street children and the homeless families.

Cebu City’s Php4-M temporary shelter for street dwellers nears completion

(PNA), PGL/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Jan. 27 (PNA) -- Cebu City Government’s Php4 million temporary shelter for street dwellers in Barangay Lorega, near the Gawad Kalinga-City housing project, is expected to be completed in two weeks, an official said.

Dr. Ester Concha, chief of the city’s Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS), said the two-storey facility can house 200 individuals.

Concha said the DSWS has also received a Php3.6 million fund from the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) 7 to implement a comprehensive program for street children, families and indigenous people, particularly the Badjao community.

Concha said the amount will be used for more “reaching out” operations and case management of street children and families, and for maintaining a database of street children, “unattached adults” and families at risk in the streets.

She said the program will be integrated into the other programs of the city that involve taking care of the welfare of street children and families.

Concha said the city has been conducting “rescue operations” to get street dwellers from the streets at night, but the operation has nothing to do with the ongoing 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu.

”We simply do not want them to sleep in the streets at night and have prepared a place for them to sleep,” Concha said.

Concha said they have so far rescued 25 families from the city’s streets.

Some 15,000 church officials, priests and lay persons from 71 countries are in Cebu until Jan. 31 for the international religious event.

Concha said the rescue operation was conducted in coordination with the Cebu Provincial Government because many of the street dwellers are from the towns.

Those who want to go home will be allowed to go home immediately, she said.

The city has set up a temporary shelter for the rescued street dwellers at the abandoned Compana Maritima building but they will be transferred to the temporary shelter in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel once it is finished, concha said.

Cebu’s dancing inmates perform before papal legate for 51st IEC

(PNA), LGI/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Jan. 26 (PNA) -- Cebu’s famous dancing inmates Tuesday afternoon performed before Archbishop Charles Maung Cardinal Bo of Yangon, Myanmar, papal legate of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress.

Bo paid a visit to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.

Bo was accompanied by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and other church officials.

Fr. Jan Limchua, a Cebuano priest who serves as protocol officer for the papal legate, said Cardinal Bo also interacted with the inmates after their performance.

Limchua said the inmates performed to the theme of the 51st IEC.

Bo held a dialogue with the inmates after their performance, he said.

Limchua said Bo will also visit the Don Bosco Youth Center (DBYC) in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City on Thursday.

Limchua said Bo included DBYC in his itinerary because he is also a member of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB).

Bo also has an affinity for the poor, whom he continues to encounter even in his own turf, he said.

The DBYC will organize a traditional Sinulog dance to welcome Bo, Limchua said.

He said Bo, who officiated the IEC’s opening mass, will also serve as the main celebrant for the Statio Orbis or the closing mass at the South Road Properties on Sunday.

Mini-Sinulog to be held Jan. 30 for 51st IEC delegates, first communicants

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Jan. 25 (PNA) -- A mini-Sinulog will be held in the afternoon of January 30, Saturday, for some 15,000 delegates of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) and some 5,000 first communicants.

Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) executive director, said at least six contingents which have performed in the Sinulog grand parade on Jan. 17 will perform again at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) on Saturday.

The grand finale in this year’s Sinulog has the theme of welcoming the IEC delegates from the different countries.

Some 1,500 of the IEC delegates are foreigners coming from at least 71 countries.

”This will allow the delegates and the bishops and archbishops to experience the Sinulog,” Ballesteros said.

Ballesteros said the delegates will be seated at the CCSC grandstand, while the first communicants will be seated at the football field.

Ballesteros said the mini-Sinulog will be held immediately after the mass for the first communicants.

Among the foreigners in the IEC are the Papal legate, Charles Maung Cardinal Bo of Myanmar, Archbishop Pierro Marini, Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace based in the Holy See, Cardinals Timothy Dolan of New York, Oswald Gracias of India, Joseph Zen of Hong Kong, Peter Erdo of Hungary and John Onaiyekan of Nigeria and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, which hosted the last IEC in 2012.

UP hosts mobile science exhibit

(Cebu Daily News, Inquirer.net)

The University of the Philippines Cebu is hosting the “Science on the Move” mobile science exhibit by the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology until February 26 this year.

This is their 7th year of holding the exhibit in Cebu City.

The exhibit, which started on January 21, offers interactive hands-on exhibits to promote a better grasp of basic science and technology (S & T) concepts and processes, which are effective tools in rediscovering science in its essence.

Anchored on the Basic Education Curriculum of the Department of Education, the event was put together by the Philippine Science Centrum and its traveling component, the Adventures in Discovery (AID-TSC), Sci-Fun Caravan (SFCTSC), Science on the Move (SOM), Science Works (SW), the Science Sparks (SS) and Health Science on the Go (HSOG).

Through its travelling exhibits, the Science Centrum has reached communities that would not have benefited from its permanent exhibits in its Science Center/Museums in Metro Manila.

UP Cebu is inviting schools in Cebu to experience this face-to-face educational, exciting and stimulating learning facility.

Such facility allows S & T discovery, interaction, and manipulation of interactive exhibits in the atmosphere of fun, excitement, and entertainment.

“Our aim is to excite young minds to learn more about science and appreciate how it works in order to improve the quality of life,” the university said in a statement. Inquiries and ticket details may be directed to UP High School principal Catherine M. Rodel at (032) 505-1823 or 0917-6217707, or Jeff Montecillos at 0917-5017319.

All is set for 51st IEC in Cebu

By Ferdinand G. Patinio [(PNA), RMA/FGP/SSC]

MANILA, Jan. 23 (PNA) -- All is set for the holding of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) on Sunday in Cebu CIty.

According to Msgr. Joseph Tan of the IEC committee, they are 125 percent ready to host the religious event which will start on Jan. 24 to 31, in the Queen City of the South.

“Modesty aside, we are 125 percent ready. We are down to our last two percent of things that remain to be done … the nitty gritty,” he said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website.

He added, “We hope that we will make a very impressive opening day given the number of people expected to attend although we know there are many who registered for the second half of the congress.”

Thousands of participants from 71 different countries are expected to attend the week-long event.

Based on the IEC 2016 Calendar of Activities, an opening mass at the Plaza Independencia will kick off the Congress on Sunday at 4 p.m., to be led by Archbishop Charles Maung Cardinal Bo, a Papal Legate to the IEC 2016.

There will be concurrent catechesis and sessions for the IEC 2016 delegates to be presided by priests, bishops, and archbishops, among others.

Speakers include CBCP President Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Cotabato Archbishop Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, and Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as well as Abuja Archbishop Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Bombay Archbishop Cardinal Oswald Gracias, and New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

There is also a scheduled “Parish Encounter” on Jan. 27 for the parishioners of San Roque-Subangdako; Gethsemane; Holy Family-Casuntingan; National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City; St. Joseph The Worker-Mabolo; St. Therese of the Child Jesus-Lahug; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart-Capitol; Our Mother of Perpetual Help-Redemptorist; Sto. Rosario-P. del Rosario; Sacred Heart-Jakosalem; Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral; Our Lady of Lourdes-Punta Prinsesa; San Roque-Mambaling; and Our Lady of Guadalupe-Guadalupe, Cebu City.

A Visita Iglesia, or the visit of churches by the IEC 2016 delegates, is also set on Jan. 28 at the Asilo de la Milagrosa Chapel; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart-Capitol; Our Mother of Perpetual Help-Redemptorist; Sto. Rosario-P. del Rosario; Sacred Heart-Jakosalem; Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral; and Basilica Minore del Sto. Niῆo.

The IEC 2016 Youth Day is also set to be held on Jan. 28 to 29 at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City and at the Mandani Bay at the Mandaue City Reclamation Area.

On Jan. 29, there will be a mass at 4 p.m. at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Grounds, which will be followed by the solemn procession from the Capitol Grounds to the Plaza Independencia.

The culminating mass or the “Statio Orbis” will be held on Jan. 31 at 4 p.m. at the South Road Properties (SRP) with Cardinal Bo again presiding.

The IEC is an international gathering of people which aims to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church, help improve understanding and celebration of the liturgy, and draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist.

This is the second time that the Philippines will be hosting the quadrennial event of the Catholic Church, the first one was in 1937 during the 33rd IEC which was held in Manila during the pontificate of Pope Pius XI.

130 bishops, priests converge in Cebu for 112th CBCP plenary assembly

(PNA), LGI/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY, Jan. 22 (PNA) -- At least 130 bishops and priests from the different dioceses in the country have converged in Cebu Friday for the 112th Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) plenary assembly.

The assembly, which will run until Jan. 24, precedes the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) to be held in Cebu from Jan. 24 to 31.

Msgr. Renato Beltran Jr., a member of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral’s team of pastors, said this is the first time the plenary assembly was held outside Metro Manila.

The plenary assembly started with the 10 a.m. opening mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Mabini St., Cebu City.

Beltran said the different CBCP commissions and offices will give a report on their programs during the assembly.

The bishops may also tackle the need for a voter’s guide for the May 9 elections, he said.

Lawyer Rey Gealon, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) executive director, said there were no road closures around the cathedral.

But, he said he has approved Beltran’s request to allow the parking of the coasters and other vehicles used by the bishops to park in roads around the cathedral.

Cebu City sports body eyes hosting Seag

(PNA), RMA/EB/MP/EDS

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- The Cebu City Sports Commission is willing to host some of the events of the biennial Southeast Asian Games (Seag) when it returns to the country in 2019.

CCSC Chairman Edward Hayco said they are willing to have a few games in Cebu City, just like in 2005, when Cebu became one of the satellite venues of the competition.

That effort was a concerted undertaking with Mandaue City and Danao City.

“Yes, I would love to take that challenge, and I believe we can handle that,” Hayco said.

But he said the CCSC won’t be aggressive in seeking co-hosting rights for the event.

“We are willing, but only if PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) will offer it to us. We won’t make the first move because it would be a tough job, but we are ready if ever co-hosting will be given to us,” Hayco said.

In 2005, when the CCSC was under the leadership of Jonathan Guardo, Cebu hosted six events, namely, dancesports at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, pencak silat at the Cebu Coliseum, karatedo and judo at the Mandaue Sports and Cultural Complex, sepak takraw at the University ofSan Carlos gym and mountainbike competition in Danao City.

The Philippines went on to win the overall title in the 2005 Sea Games, collecting 113 gold medals, 84 silvers and 94 bronzes.

“If given the chance, dancesports is the top priority because the Cebu City grassroots program started with dancesports. And, possibly, other sports that can inspire our current grassroots program, like weightlifting, archery, table tennis, badminton, chess, muay thai,boxing, taekwondo or even air rifle shooting,” Hayco said.

The Philippines got the Seag hosting job in 2019 afterBrunei-Darussalam pulled out from hosting the event, for financial and logistics reasons.

The Philippines’ turn was supposed to be in 2025 yet.

Cebu City earns another PHP85M from SRP

(PNA), LGI/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Jan. 20 (PNA) -- The Cebu City Government has earned another PhP85 million from the sale of a lot at the South Road Properties (SRP).

Acting Cebu City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said the amount represents the last and final payment of SM Prime Holdings Inc. for the 30-hectare property it bought at the SRP where the PHP8.5-billion SM Seaside City Cebu was built.

SM Seaside City is the biggest mall in the Visayas and Mindanao.

SM bought the property for PhP2.7 billion on Jan. 14, 2010 during the term of former mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Cuevas said the PhP85 million, which served as the last tranche of amortization from SM, will be used to support the city’s PhP6.4-billion annual budget this year.

She said the amount was identified as one of its sources of funds.

Cuevas said the city will turn over the title of the entire property to the developer now that SM Prime has completed its payment for the lot.

She said the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) informed her two weeks ago that the title is ready for the turnover.

The title was placed on escrow with the LBP, as the state bank is the borrower on record of the 12.315-billion yen loan granted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in 1995 to reclaim the 300-hectare SRP.

Cuevas said Filinvest Land Inc. also completed late last year its payment for the 10.6-hectare Pond F at the SRP, which it bought from the city for PhP1.59 billion in 2009.

Cebu City transport body, organizers hold dry run for Jan. 29 IEC procession

(PNA), FPV/EB/EBP

CEBU CITY, Jan. 19 (PNA) -- The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) and organizers of the 51st International Eucharistc Congress (IEC) early Tuesday morning held a dry run for the Eucharistic procession on Jan. 29.

The procession is among the activities lined up for the 51st IEC set in Cebu on Jan. 24 to 31.

Msgr. Marnell Mejia, head of the IEC’s Eucharistic Procession Committee, had requested for the dry run to find out how long the procession might take.

The Jan. 29 procession was originally scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 29.

The dry run started at 4 a.m. from the Cebu Provincial Capitol and moved along Osmena Blvd., crossing Clon St. to Plaza Independencia near the city’s port area.

The dry run wrapped up before the 7 a.m. rush hour.

Lawyer Rey Gealon, CCTO executive director, said no road was closed for the dry run, as organizers used only one lane of Osmeña Blvd.

But some 20 traffic personnel were fielded to guide drivers.

Gealon said the dry run will help the CCTO and the IEC organizers finalize traffic arrangements for the Jan. 29 Eucharistic procession.

Organizers award winners in Sinulog grand parade

(PNA), LGI/EB/SGP

CEBU CITY, Jan. 18 (PNA) -- The Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SLI) on Monday afternoon handed out the cash prizes of up to PhP1 million for the winners in this year's Sinulog grand parade at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

The winners were also given the chance to repeat their performance at the CCSC before thousands of spectators.

The contingent from Lanao del Norte won first place in the free interpretation (FI) category, besting 14 other contingents, including last year’s champion, the dancing bees of Abuyog, Leyte.

The Lanao contingent showcased Sagayan, a Maranao war dance to ward off evil spirits.

They also performed Darangen, a Maranao story depicting two warring groups that were later reconciled and united, which in turn, brought them peace.

The Kulturang Placereño of Placer, Masbate, won for the third straight year in the Sinulog-based (SB) category, defeating 16 other contingents.

The Kulturang Placereño won with a grand production that used light and technology.

They made use of the LED screens put up by the Sinulog Foundation Inc. on the stage for their routine.

Both contingents received a cash price of PhP1 million each.

Lanao also won PhP100,000 for best in musicality and another PhP100,000 for best in costume.

Placer also won PhP100,000 for best in costume.

Other winners for the ritual showdown in the SB category are Carcar City Division (2nd place, PhP700,000); Tribu Sinanduloy of Tangub City (3rd place, PhP500,000); Pundok sa Kabataang Mananayaw of Danao City (4th place, PhP300,000); and Municipality of Tuburan (5th place, PhP200,000).

The winners in best in musicality were given to Tangub (1st, PhP100,000); Kulturang Placereño of Placer (2nd place, PhP50,000); Tuburan (3rd place, PhP30,000); Panglao, Bohol (4th place, PhP20,000); and Carcar (5th place, PhP10,000).

For the FI category, the other winners in the ritual showdown are Tribu Katbalaugan of Catbalogan City (2nd place, PhP700,000); Abuyog,Leyte (3rd place, PhP500,000); Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer, Masbate (4th place, PhP300,000); and Lumad Basakanon (5th place, PhP200,000).

The other winners in the best in musicality are Don Sergio Memorial National High School (2nd place, PhP50,000); Abuyog, Leyte (3rd place,PhP30,000); Lumad Basakanon (4th place, PhP20,000); and Tribu Himag-ulaw of Placer (5th place, PhP10,000).

For the best in street dancing, the winners are Abuyog, Leyte (1st, PhP1 million); Tangub (2nd, PhP700,000); Kulturang Placereño (3rd, PhP500,000); Carcar City (4th, PhP300,000); and Lumad Basakanon (5th, PhP200,000).

Millions expected in today’s Sinulog in Cebu

By Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.

CEBU CITY – Millions of revelers are expected to witness today’s Sinulog Festival at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

Contingents will perform at the Cebu City Sports Complex and the parade route, the Sinulog Foundation Inc. said.

Last year, millions of revelers also witnessed the Sinulog grand parade here, the Sinulog Foundation and the Cebu City Police Office said.

The Sinulog grand parade will be a carousel type. Contingents will parade towards the Cebu City Sports Complex for their presentation and parade back to the location where they started.

The Sinulog Foundation has been following the carousel type parade so that revelers will not have to go from one place to another to witness the different dancing contingents.

Suspended Mayor Michael Rama, who remains the chairman of the Sinulog Foundation, urged the public to be vigilant and cautious during today’s celebration to ensure that the Sinulog Festival will be peaceful and secured.

Yesterday, millions of devotees witnessed the fluvial parade in the morning and joined the foot procession in the afternoon amidst tight security and heavy traffic.

The fluvial procession that brought the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu from Mandaue City to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City was described by authorities as peaceful and orderly with no sea incidents.

The fluvial parade was followed by the reenactment of the first mass and the first baptism in Cebu on 1521.

Meanwhile, the dancing contingents from Placer, Masbate celebrated back-to-back wins Friday after its festival queen, Cynthia Thomalla, was declared this year’s Sinulog Festival Queen.

Her court were Marianne Hernandez of Carcar City (first runnerup), Ceydney Basalo of Don Sergio Memorial National High School (second runnerup), Hyra Desiree Betito from the municipality of Asturias (third runnerup), and Reignna Azucena Mondoy of Catbalogan, Samar (fourth runnerup).

The festival queen of Placer, Masbate also bagged the crown as Sinulog Festival Queen last year.

Cebu City gov’t opens Devotee City

(The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines – Instead of staying in the streets, 71-year-old Fransisca Rubin is pleased to find temporary shelter at the Devotee City – a place used to accommodate transients who travel to Cebu City for the Sinulog.

Yesterday, the Devotee City was officially opened at the vacant lot near Compaña Maritima.

The Devotee City can accommodate at least 3,000 people from areas beyond Carcar City in the south and Danao City in the north, as well as those from neighboring provinces.

Rubin travelled all the way from Barangay Poblacion, Toledo City yesterday bringing with her 1,000 pieces of candles to be sold to other pilgrims.

She vows to set aside 100 of her candles to be offered to the Holy Child Jesus, who granted her prayers and guided her through the years.

“Gidungog niya akong pag-ampo ug gihatag akong gipangayo, nanaad gyud ko nga modagkot og 100 ka kandila. Pasalamat ko ni Señor Santo Niño nga nagpadayon og hatag og kinabuhi,” she said in an interview yesterday during the formal opening of the Devotee City.

Rubin said she is glad that there is a comfortable place to stay.

“Sa akong pangedaron, himsog gihapon akong panglawas ug gikaloy-an ni Santo Niño, makapanginabuhi gihapon,” she said.

The Devotee City is the brainchild of former city councilor Fe Mantua Ruiz back in 1996 that was originally called the Tent City.

The project serves as a free temporary lodging place for Sto. Niño devotees who are housed in empty container vans clustered into two-storey structures.

At least 120 vans and basic facilities are being set up – such as portalets, shower rooms, and cooking area. There are also water and electricity supply.

The Cebu City Health Department and the Cebu City Medical Center provide the medical services while policemen and barangay tanods are deployed to guard the premises. — May B. Miasco/ATO (FREEMAN)

Cebu City starts to implement Php 6.4-B budget

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- The Cebu City Budget Office has started to implement the city’s Php 6.4-billion annual budget for this year.

Cebu City Budget Officer Marietta Gumia said they started using this year’s appropriation for the payroll for the salaries and wages of city employees after she received a copy of the budget ordinance covering the 2016 annual budget.

Gumia said the budget ordinance had no signature from Cebu City Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella.

But Gumia said the budget ordinance had a notation, or a remark, from the Sangguniang Panlungsod Secretariat, which says “deemed approved.”

Earlier, the Cebu City Council passed a resolution directing the budget office to enforce the 2016 annual budget.

The local finance committee, to which the budget office is a member, did not immediately implement the 2016 annual budget since Labella and members of the majority bloc of the council had opposing positions on the validity of the 2016 budget ordinance.

Labella had informed the council he could not act on the ordinance because it lacked one vote for it to be validly passed.

On the other hand, the council’s majority bloc reiterated that the ordinance, which was approved last Dec. 18 through a 9-4 vote, was valid. (PNA) RMA/EB/EDS

Jica donates Php 30M worth of equipment to Cebu water firm

(PNA), RMA/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Jan. 14 (PNA) -- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has donated more than Php 30 million worth of equipment to the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).

MCWD Chairman Rene Mercado said these pieces of equipment will further improve the quality of water for Metro Cebu consumers.

Jica officials, led by senior representative Takahiro Morita, formally turned over two mobile siphon filtration tanks (MSTs) and one sand washer to MCWD officials, led by Mercado in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City Wednesday.

The truck-mounted MST, which is worth Php 15 million, can produce up to seven cubic meters (cbm) of potable water per hour.

The second MST, which is stationary, is worth Php 7.5 million and can produce up to 20 cbm of potable water per hour.

The special equipment was invented and produced by Nihon Genryo Co. Ltd., which has been involved in developing waterworks in Japan.

The special equipment was given to Jica for free through MCWD’s twinning program with Yokohama Waterworks Bureau.

Engr. Noel Dalena, MCWD acting general manager, said the MSTs will also allow them to respond to water-related disasters such as drought and El Niño.

The MST, both truck-mounted and stationary, are capable of producing potable water from murky water in rivers.

The MST has been used by Jica to provide potable water to victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Daanbantayan town in 2013.

On the other hand, the sand washer is used to clean the sand used by MCWD’s filter plant based in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City.

Cebu-based firm breaks ground for first 2 of 4-tower PhP3-B Base Line Center

(PNA), LGI/EB/PR/EDS

CEBU CITY, Jan. 13 (PNA) -- Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) Wednesday formally broke ground for the first two of four towers of the PhP3-billion Base Line Center on Juana Osmena St., here.

Baseline Center, an integrated development with four towers, will rise on a site in the heart of midtown Cebu City already locally known as Base Line, a landmark in sports and recreation for locals and foreigners since 1973.

The groundbreaking comes three months after the company launched the project as well as its partnership with The Ascott Limited that will operate Citadines Cebu City which will have 180 serviced apartments in one of the two buildings.

These two buildings are Tower 1 to be known as Base Line HQ and Tower 2 to be known as Base Line Premier.

Both are slated for completion by the last quarter of 2018, according to Rose Yulo, CLI assistant vice president for sales and marketing.

On the other hand, Citadines is set to open in time for Sinulog 2019, she said.

Citadines Cebu City will use condotel units located from the ninth to the twenty-first floor of Tower 1.

The third to the eighth floors of the 21-storey condominium are allocated for Base Line HQ’s offices.

Both offices and residences will have separate lobby access.

Base Line Premier or Tower 2, on the other hand, will be a 27-storey residential condominium designed with contemporary architecture to maximize the best views of midtown Cebu with the units designed for flexible interior configuration.

The first two buildings under phase one will stand on a commercial area that will feature a supermarket and food and retail outlets surrounded by alfresco areas, said CLI chief operating officer Jose Franco B. Soberano.

Citadines operator Ascott is the world’s largest international serviced residence operator that has expanded its presence in the Philippines beyond Metro Manila, starting in Metro Cebu.

Citadines Cebu City will be its eighth property to operate in the Philippines, according to Arthur Gindap, Ascott's regional general manager for Philippines and Thailand.

Based in Singapore, Ascott has over 26,000 operating serviced residence units, plus 15,000 now under development, in over 260 properties in key global cities.

It runs three award-winning brands Ascott, Citadines and Somerset in 92 cities across 26 countries, 24 of which are new cities in Ascott's portfolio.

In the Philippines, it operates Ascott Makati, Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila, Somerset Millennium Makati, Somerset Olympia Makati and Citadines Salcedo Makati.

It will soon open Somerset Alabang Manila and Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila.

Soberano said the partnership with Ascott is a “dream come true,” especially that this is CLI’s first project with a hotel component.

“Cebu is known for its thriving tourism and trade industries,” he said.

“We think Cebu deserves to have an international brand that will cater to the needs of both local and foreign investors and tourists who stay in Cebu for the long-haul,” he said.

16,000 delegates expected to attend the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu on Jan. 24-31

By Ben Cal [(PNA), SCS/RBC/EDS]

MANILA, Jan. 12 (PNA) -- Some 16,000 delegates coming from various parts of the world are expected to attend the 51st International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Cebu City on Jan. 24-31.

Msgr. Jose Palma, Archbishop of Cebu, made the announcement during a live television interview of the US-based EWTN Television Network hosted by Fr. Mitch Pacwa on Tuesday.

Palma is now in Alabama, USA where the interview was conducted. He also said some one million people are expected to attend the Eucharistic Congress, the second time to be hosted by the Philippines. The first was the 33rd Eucharistic Congress held in Manila in 1937.

During the hour-long TV interview, Palma invited people from various parts of the world to attend the eight-day Eucharistic Congress and come together as one church in praising and adoring God.

For his part, Fr. Mitch said that the forthcoming Eucharistic Congress hosted by the Philippines is a “magnet to draw people” to participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

Msgr. Palma said the celebration will put a spotlight on the Holy Mass so the people would see the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.

He proudly told Fr. Mitch that in the Philippines, Filipinos go to Mass every Sunday and churches are full-packed with churchgoers.

Msgr. Palma said the people should feel grateful to God for His mercy.

A Eucharistic Congress is an international gathering aimed at promoting an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church.

Meanwhile, Msgr. Palma said that foreign delegates attending the Eucharistic Congress will also have the chance to visit the Magellan Cross in Cebu City which was brought by Ferdinand Magellan to the Philippines on March 16, 1521 that started Christianity in the country.

Another religious site is the centuries-old St. Niño Cathedral, also in Cebu City.

Developer installs fiber optics in condo units

By Jeandie O. Galolo

A LOCAL IT company has partnered with a national player in mass housing development for the installation of fiber optic infrastructure to some 2,500 housing units in Cebu.

ITECH-RAR Solutions Inc, together with 8990 Housing Development Corp., widely known for its Deca Homes brand, launched its Fiber to Deca Homes (FTDH) project in Urban Deca Homes-Tisa in Barangay Tisa in Cebu City.

In the middle of last year, ITECH-RAR also installed fiber optics in Urban Deca Homes-Tipolo in Mandaue City.

8990 vice president for engineering and construction Alexander Ace Sotto said the company has invested some P40 million for the two FTDH projects.

“With fiber optics infrastructure inside the condominium units, residents can already avail of and enjoy Internet, WiFi, cable TV, IP phone and IP camera for home security with standby 24/7 technical support,” said ITECH-RAR.

IT company president and CEO engineer Andres Ralota Jr. noted that their service to Deca Homes does not in any way compete with the giant telecommunication and entertainment providers.

“We don’t compete with the providers. We just get their bandwidth, then we redistribute it to the subscribers,” explained ITECH-RAR FTDH project manager Engr. Emmanuel Lomboy. ITECH-RAR taps the services of PLDT and SkyCable.

The FTDH project, according to Lomboy, will enhance the existing amenities of Deca Homes.

Homeowners would still have to pay for their Internet, cable TV, and telephone subscriptions, with the billing process taken care of by ITECH-RAR. Homeowners will also have the freedom to avail of different packages to choose from.

“Since it’s a combined bandwidth (PLDT and SkyCable) for subscribers, it means it’s more reliable,” Ralota said.

In the second quarter of this year, Sotto said 8990 will launch its third condominium project in Cebu, the Urban Deca Homes-Hernan Cortes in Mandaue City.

“We will still partner with ITECH-RAR for this project,” he said.

Sotto is also considering the possibility of extending the IT company’s service to the developer’s condominium projects that are located outside Cebu.

ITECH-RAR is in the business of web design, CCTV installation, solar panels, and fiber optics, among others. Some of its clients include Bureau of Customs Cebu and online English school Bibo.

Cebu Marathon sets bigger goals for 2017

By Richiel S. Chavez

YEARS after its humble start in 2008, when they only had hundreds of local runners, the Cebu City Marathon (CCM) is now a different kind of race as it continues to attract foreign runners.

This year, there were 203 foreign runners who signed up for the event sanctioned by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) and Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (Aims).

Japan had the most bets out of 36 countries that had representatives for the race, which is one of the activities of the famous Sinulog Festival.

One of the 22 Japanese who joined the event is Tomo Suzuki, a hardcore runner who has 42 marathons under his belt. The hotelier from Japan is in Cebu to study English and is elated that the Queen City of the South has a lot of running activities.

The 43-year-old Suzuki, a regular participant of the Tokyo Marathon, told Sun.Star Cebu that it’s his first time to run in the country. He arrived in Cebu four months ago to study English, and luckily his teacher, who’s also into running, recommended the CCM to him.

The CCM was his 42nd marathon and he said it was an awesome experience and the route was different from what he was used to in Japan. Suzuku finished the event in 5 hours and 40 minutes.

“There were a lot of uphills and downhills in the route, it was a very good route and its’ nice for runners like me who want a new race experience. In Japan, most of the races are in flat roads,” he said.

Suzuki is a late bloomer in running and he started when he was 30 years old. But the Japanese got a rolling start and after 13 years, he has finished 42 marathon . He said his personal best is 3:20 in the Tokyo Marathon.

The Japanese is also into ultra-marathons and finished the Ultra Trail Mt. Fuji, a 168-kilometer race which starts and end at Yagizaki Park in Mt. Fuji.

Suzuki, a hotelier in Hotel Nikko Tokyo, said that he will be going back to Japan on Feb. 20 after he completes the English study program. He said he really liked Cebu and will definitely return this summer and will consider staying here for good.

One of the organizers, John Pages of Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC), told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that one of their aims is to boost sports tourism though this sporting event.

“The CCM is going international. This 2016 edition, we attracted over 200 participants from 36 countries. Given that the name of Cebu and the popularity of the Sinulog are increasing, we hope to convince more to come. If we look at our neighbors like Hong Kong and Singapore, their marathons have 50,000 participants each. The potential is huge to invite these runners to Cebu. That, plus convincing more from Manila and other regions to join, is our goal for 2017,” said Pages, who is also a columnist of Sun.Star Cebu.

The rest of the foreign entries were from Taiwan (20), Malaysia (18), US (16), UK (14), Germany (13) Australia (10), Nepal (9), Singapore (9), Kenya (7), China (6), Canada (6), Hong Kong (6), Korea (6) Netherlands (5), France (3).Indonesia (3), Ireland (3), Poland (3), Sweden (3), Samoa (2), Switzerland (2) India (2), Russia (2), Maldives (2), New Zealand and (2). There were also one entry each from Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Micronesia, Italy, Kazakstan, Marshall Island, South Africa and Spain.

Review on P6.4-B budget sought

By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas

CEBU City Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) 7 to review the P6.4-billion annual budget of the City Government for this year.

Labella said the review is needed considering that both the executive and legislative departments disagree on the validity of the budget ordinance.

“In so far as budgeting is concerned, it is the DBM, which has the authority to review the budget ordinance. As I’ve said, ato man gyud barugan nga it has not complied with the requirement set under the law,” he told reporters in a news conference.

Labella wrote DBM the other day, seeking its view on his observations on the votes cast by the council during a special session.

He also wrote the council informing them that the executive department will stand by its position that the 2016 budget ordinance is invalid.

Last Dec. 29, Labella wrote the City Council and informed them that he cannot act on City Ordinances 2445 and 2446 because these failed to meet the required number of votes specified under Article 107 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Local Government Code of 1991.

The 2016 annual budget was approved by the Cebu City Council in a 9-4 vote on Dec. 18.

But Labella said it needs an absolute majority (50 percent plus one) or 10 votes, in order to be passed, considering that there are 18 seats in the legislative body.

Last Wednesday, during the council’s first session this year, the majority bloc, however, insisted that the budget ordinance is valid and they only need a simple majority to have it approved, invoking a 2010 opinion of the Department of Interior and Local Government on a similar situation.

This means that they only need majority of the votes of the members present in a session.

The council then directed the City Budget Office to enforce the annual budget.

But the acting Cebu City mayor, in his letter to the council, invoked the DBM Budget Operations Manual for local government units as sanction by DBM Local Budget Circular 2008-90 dated September 2008.

It states that an “appropriation ordinance shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all the council members (50 percent plus one) for its passage.”

Once he receives a reply from DBM, Labella said he will bring the matter to court, so it can discuss and define the voting cast by the council on the 2016 annual budget.

CH, Sinulog foundation introduce more changes

By Razel V. Cuizon

SEVERAL changes will be implemented by the Cebu City Government and the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) in this year’s Sinulog celebration.

Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella said that aside from disallowing the holding of parties on the streets, bleachers and tents will no longer be allowed along the carousel route.

However, these can be set up on the other side of the road, or the portion that is not used by the dancers, Labella said.

“Along the carousel route, only bleachers for the judges will be allowed,” he said.

To make sure that everything will be in order, Labella has also formed Task Force Carousel, which will be in charge of ensuring there will be no obstructions like parties along the grand parade route.

The task force convened last Wednesday to discuss final preparations for the weeklong festivities.

The group is headed by Councilor Dave Tumulak. Its members include Councilor Hanz Abella; Senior Supt. Marciano Batiancela, Cebu City Police Office director; and some barangay officials like Association of Barangay Council president Philip Zafra and Tinago Barangay Captain Joel Garganera.

Temporary detention

They will be going around the carousel route to check the situation.

Labella also ordered the City Health Department to form a group that will monitor and inspect food that will be sold in food stalls during the Sinulog.

The Department of Engineering and Public Works has already been instructed to bundle dangling wires along the carousel route so these won’t be snagged by floats and props of the contingents.

Eleven Kaohsiung buses will be converted into holding centers, where police can temporarily detain unruly revelers during the celebration.

Labella said they will not also allow the drinking of alcoholic drinks and performances with “sexy” outfits on board the floats, as well as the throwing of any merchandise and goodies from the floats to avoid stampedes.

“Even if it is a cultural activity, there is always the religious touch of it because the event is done in honor of Señor Sto. Niño, the Holy Child Jesus,” Labella said.

Labella said they are expecting a bigger crowd this year even though there are fewer participating contingents.

Many local government unit officials are busy preparing for the May elections so they’re too busy to join this year’s celebration, he said.

Today, the Prevention Restoration Order Beautification and Enhancement will start clearing the entire carousel route.

Party atmosphere

Labella has encouraged establishments owners in the central business area to light up their premises during the celebration week, as required under City Ordinance 2215.

Suspended Mayor Michael Rama said they upgraded their preparation this year, considering that some foreign visitors, who will be participating in the 51st International Eucharistic Congress, are already in Cebu.

He said this year’s celebration is for a Mega Sinulog.

Rama also clarified that only street parties along the carousel route will be prohibited, while Sinulog events in different business establishments like bars and restaurants will still be allowed.

Organizers of these parties, Rama pointed out, should make sure their events are inside their premises and do not encroach on the road.

Rama also said he plans to invite Vice President Jejomar Binay to attend the grand parade.

Rama said they have been inviting President Benigno Aquino III to attend but the latter never showed up, so they decided not to invite him this year.

Dawn procession kicks off Fiesta Señor 2016

By Justin K. Vestil, Daryl T. Jabil

THE 451st Fiesta Señor celebration formally kicks off with a Penitential Walk with Jesus at dawn today.

At 4 a.m., Sto. Niño devotees will assemble on Osmeña Blvd. for the penitential procession toward the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.

After the procession, the first novena mass will be held at the Basilica Pilgrim Sector and presided by Basilica Rector Fr. Jonas Mejares.

Tuning in

Mejares told reporters during a press conference last Monday that those who cannot join the penitential walk can follow the religious activity by tuning in to radio stations that air the community rosary and hymns.

After the mass, Mejares will also install businessman Mario King and his wife Haydee as the new Hermano and Hermana Mayores for this year’s Fiesta Señor.

Last year’s Hermano and Hermano Mayores were optometrists Jose Enrique and Jill de las Peñas.

After the first novena mass at 5:30 a.m., corresponding masses will follow at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Some 250 police officers will be deployed to secure the procession and the first day of novena masses in the basilica.

Advisory

Senior Supt. Marciano Batiancela Jr., officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), urged the faithful not to bring long umbrellas, backpacks and jewelry, as these things may be associated with petty crimes.

Umbrellas with a pointed edge might harm other participants during the mass and the procession, while backpacks may delay their entry to the basilica since security guards will have to inspect these. As for wearing jewelry, this might attract thieves and robbers.

Batiancela said security measures have been heightened in the vicinity of the Fuente Circle and the basilica until the end of the month.

The CCPO has also tapped members of the Barangay Intelligence Network and barangay tanods to augment police personnel managing the dawn procession.

Batiancela urged participants not to leave their homes unattended when they participate in the activities.

“Dili gyud pasagdan ang panimalay. Kon mahimo, aduna untay ibilin nga magbantay (Don’t leave the house unattended. If possible, have someone guard it),” he told reporters yesterday.

Tourism Commission opens Balik Cebu booth, program

By Vanessa Claire Lucero

The Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC) opened its Balik Cebu booth at the Ayala Center Cebu today as part of its Balik Cebu program that’s now on its 15th year.

Balikbayans can buy tickets for some of the numerous events lined up for January, including the Miss Cebu 2016 pageant and the Sinulog Parade.

They can inquire about tour packages at the booth, located in the Ayala Activity Center near Paseo Marina.

Tetta Baad, chairperson of CCTC said they will be welcoming the balikbayans with a dinner party on January 14.

The dinner party is in keeping with Cebu’s theme, ‘Cebu: Where the Heart Sings’.

The party will showcase all-Cebuano talents and acts.

Baad said they are anticipating more tourists to arrive this year.

While majority of the balikbayans are from the US, Baad said they are also receiving more balikbayans from European countries such as Germany and Russia.

Cebu City now running on reenacted budget

(PNA), LGI/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Jan. 5 (PNA) -- Cebu City Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella on Tuesday said the city government is now temporarily running on a reenacted 2015 budget of PhP13.4 billion after he himself questioned the validity of the PhP6.4-billion 2016 annual budget.

Labella said the city council has 90 days from the beginning of the fiscal year to enact the annual budget.

The city mayor rejected the 2016 budget because the Local Government Code provides that any ordinance or resolution authorizing or directing the payment of money should be approved by the majority of the council members.

Since the council has 18 members, including the presiding officer, the majority votes should be 10.

Labella also asked the council to tackle again the 2016 budget ordinances.

Cebu City Legal Office Chief Atty. Jerone Castillo said not all items in the 2015 budget can be re-enacted.

Castillo said Section 323 of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code, states that “only the annual appropriation for salaries and wages of existing positions, statutory and contractual obligations, and essential operating expenses authorized in annual and supplemental budgets for the preceding year shall be deemed reenacted.”

He said the purpose of the re-enacted budget is for the city to continue its day-to-day operations.

Cebu City Budget Officer Marietta Gumia said the re-enacted budget took effect on Monday.

Temporary V-hire terminal transferred for Devotee City

By Jean Marvette A. Demecillo / FPL (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The temporary terminal at the Compania Maritima grounds has been transferred at the back of Senior Citizen’s Park near the City Hall building in preparation for the Devotee City.

The Cebu City Transportation Office has finished transferring the facilities at the new area last January 1.

“CCTO facilitated the transfer of the temporary v-hire terminal as drivers and operators give way to the setting-up of the devotee city in the Maritima grounds. Everything is in place and in order including tents, tables, chairs, portalets, among other facilities,” said CCTO executive director Rey Gealon.

Gealon said he was informed by City Administrator Lucelle Mercado about the transfer because they need to already start preparing for the Devotee City.

The city government would start setting up the Devotee City, a project that provides free accommodation for devotees of the Santo Niño coming to city from distant towns and provinces.

Mercado said the city will start to install container vans that would serve as temporary shelter of devotees. One van can accommodate 15 to 20 people. She said the Devotee City will be open on the third week of the month. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:

Gealon said he was instructed to transfer the temporary terminal at the back of the Senior Citizen’s Park, which is just near the Maritima grounds.

“We are expecting that more v-hires will be coming in the next days which can be easily accommodated,” he said.

Mercado said at least 30 V-hires plying the Balamban route were already transferred to the North Bus Terminal.

“Sa luyo sa park, same facilities sa temporary terminal. Eventually, mo-move gyod sila sa SM Seaside kay dako man gud. Naay 2,000 square meter nga pwede magamit as terminal,” she said.

Mercado said SM Prime Holdings Inc. asked the city government for permission to operate a van-for-hire terminal outside the SM Seaside since there is an open space available.

She said SM Seaside City management has already asked the Terminal Accreditation Committee for a permit to operate a v-hire terminal. The city has already inspected and evaluated the area, she said. But, the management has yet to comply the other requirements like the provision of a public comfort rooms.

She said the management of SM expressed their intention in August last year, but added that it needs to undergo the whole process. As soon as the SM is able to comply all the requirements, she said all south-bound v-hires may be permanently transferred there.

The city provided temporary terminal in the open space of Compania Maritima after it closed the One Citilink Terminal for allegedly operating without a permit.

The court, however, has already ordered the terminal to resume operations but a number of v-hire drivers have opted to stay at the Compania Maritima lot.

City to convene stakeholders over UP lot in Lahug

By May B. Miasco /JMO (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City government will convene a meeting with the University of the Philippines - Cebu and other stakeholders in efforts to arrive at an amicable decision over the disputed lot in Barangay Lahug that was hit by fire last week.

The lot where at least 80 houses were razed by an evening fire is owned by UP - Cebu and the university has since been trying to retrieve the lot for its expansion project.

UP - Cebu wants to expand its high school campus.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, the city’s acting mayor, said he has instructed city lawyers Collin Rosell and Jerone Castillo and City Administrator Lucelle Mercado to initiate a meeting with UP – Cebu officials, barangay officials, officials of the homeowners group, as well as Capitol representatives next week.

There have been plans for the fire victims to be relocated to an area in Nivel Hills owned by the provincial government.

“Now that the basic needs of the fire victims have been addressed, it’s time for us to sit down with them (UP representatives). I have designated (urban poor housing czar) lawyer Collin Rosell, [City Attorney] Jerone Castillo and City Administrator Lucelle Mercado now that the province has also intervened… so I have already instructed them as soon as possible to meet next week,” Labella said. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:

“For as long as the stakeholders will be very objective [with open mind and heart], I think we can solve this problem. I’m prayerful that we will come up with a solution,” Labella said.

Labella disclosed his office received a written communication from UP-Cebu’s dean, laywers Liza Corro, last Wednesday but was only opened yesterday.

Earlier, Corro questioned the city’s move to intervene when the university ordered that the fire-stricken area be fenced on New Year’s Eve.

At least 200 homeless families are staying at the Lahug Elementary School.

The city targets finishing the clearing operations at the area as soon as possible so it can plot the designated lots for those who can avail of the city’s socialized housing plan prepared by the Department of Social Welfare Services.

“Ato paninguhaon mahuman siya og clear unya ma-plot dayon tungod kay naa na tay design para sa reblocking so mahatagan sila’g puwesto,” Mercado told The Freeman.

She said she personally wants the residents to return to the area.

Cebu City traffic body okays road closure, pushes partial truck ban during 51st IEC

(PNA), RMA/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY, Jan. 2 (PNA) -- The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) has approved the closure of a portion of a road and a partial truck ban from Jan. 24 to 30 during the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu.

Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo, the 51st IEC secretary general, said they were informing the public about these ahead of time to avoid inconvenience to motorists.

Villarojo said the CCTO agreed to close to vehicular traffic both sides of a portion of Pope John Paul II Ave. in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City on certain hours of the day while the congress was ongoing.

The main venue of the international religious congress, the Php 500-million IEC Pavilion, is located within the seminary grounds on Pope John Paul II Ave.

From Jan. 25 to 30, Pope John Paul Ave. will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. to make way for at least 120 buses that will transport the IEC delegates to the IEC Pavilion on Pope John Paul Ave. in Barangay Luz.

Only the stretch from the flyover on Gov. Cuenco Ave. (beside Tesda) to the corner of Cardinal Rosales Ave. or Ayala access road will be closed.

From 1 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 29, both sides of a portion of Osmeña Blvd., from the corner of Cebu Doctors’ Hospital to the Capitol, will also be closed for a mass.

The following day, both sides of the boulevard, from P. del Rosario St. to R. Landon St., will also be closed for the mass with the first communicants at the Cebu City Sports Center.

The CCTO is proposing to implement a Metro Cebu-wide truck ban on certain hours of the day also during the IEC to ensure a smooth flow of traffic when the 120 buses carrying delegates are on the road.

At least 25,000 delegates from around the world are expected to attend the IEC in Cebu City from Jan. 24 to 31.

The culminating mass at the South Road Properties is expected to gather at least one million participants.

860 or more commercial buildings to rise in Cebu

By Razel V. Cuizon

AT LEAST 860 new residential structures and office buildings are scheduled to rise in Cebu City starting this year, records of Cebu City’s Office of the Building Official (OBO) showed.

As of Dec. 18, 2015, the OBO has approved 868 new building permits out of 1,272 applications filed in 2015 alone.

But the number of approved applications may still increase considering that the data was only up to the middle of December and the OBO had processed only 68 percent of the total applications, said Architect Florante Catalan, the office’s assistant head.

“As far as OBO is concerned, the process wouldn’t be delayed if all of the documents were there, upon submission. Duna’y uban nga kung lacking ilang requirements, dugay mo-balik that is why, gamay atong approval compared to application (There are some who take their time in coming back, once told that they lack some requirements. That’s why we haven’t approved more),” he told Sun.Star Cebu.

It takes OBO 15 days to process an application.

With more structures being built in the city, the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) has to make sure these won’t add to road congestion.

When an application is for a commercial building, the CCTO usually asks the developer to submit a traffic management plan.

CCTO Executive Director Rey Gealon said their planning division conducts regular city-wide road traffic inspections to identify what adjustments are needed in some areas.

“With the construction of new buildings, we will stick to the protocol and improve it to mitigate these constructions’ traffic impact,” he added.

Applicants for a building permit are asked to submit an application form with copies of the building plan, barangay clearance, certified true copy of the land title or lot tax declaration, lot sketch plan, tax clearance, approved locational clearance, bill of materials, specifications and structural design analysis.

These are supposed to be verified by different divisions.

Once their papers are approved, applicants will receive text messages from OBO informing them of the status of their application.

Among the developments that OBO granted a permit in 2015 is the 45-storey condominium building being developed by Midland Development Corp. along Cardinal Rosales Ave. in Barangay Luz.

The development is the tallest so far, out of the projects with approved building permits.

In the North Reclamation Area, Barangay Mabolo, Grand Land Inc. is also constructing a 35-storey mixed use building. A 32-storey condominium is being developed by South Portal Properties Inc. in the Cebu Business Park in Barangay Luz.

For its part, Sunkai Land Inc. and Cebu Land Master Inc. are developing 28-storey and 26-storey condominium buildings on Pope John Paul II Ave. in Barangay Mabolo and Juana Osmeña St. in Barangay Capitol Site, respectively.

More applications were filed this year than in 2014, when there were 1,069 building permit applications, Catalan said.

In 2013, the OBO received 1,122 applications but only 889 were approved.

As 2016 starts, Catalan said they are expecting that more approved applications will be released.

City Hall, he added, is working on a system that will allow them to process business permit applications in just a day, tentatively scheduled for implementation this year.

The City’s Management Information Computer Services unit has a P5-million allocation in the 2016 budget to work on the OBO-Integrated System.

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