Cebu City News April 2014

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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

Capitol’s rehab plan gets Lacson’s nod

By : sunstar.com.ph


PRESIDENTIAL Assist-ant for Reconstruction and Recovery (PARR) Chief Panfilo Lacson approved Cebu’s P10.45-billion detailed rehabilitation and reconstruction plan, according to Gov. Hilario Davide III.

“PARR will even use it as a template for other provinces that have yet to submit their plan,” Davide’s text to Sun.Star Cebu read.

Presidential approval

Cebu’s plan will be submitted to President Benigno Aquino III next week for final approval.

Davide said there’s a big chance the President will approve it.

“Secretary Lacson, himself said he’s going to recommend to the President the approval of our rehab plan,” he said.

Davide submitted the plan to Lacson in the latter’s office in Manila last Friday night.

Davide’s advance party included Task Force Paglig-on chief Baltazar Tribunalo and his assistant Carmel Ulanday and Capitol consultant Rodrigo Lachica.

They first presented the plan to Lacson since the governor’s flight was delayed.

Initial aid

“From PARR, it’s already okay, but we need to abide by the process and that includes getting the approval of the President,” said Tribunalo.

“A P2.5-million financial assistance will be given to the Province by PARR for the establishment of a website and other IT (information technology) stuff,” Davide said.

The Nov. 8 super typhoon Yolanda devastated Cebu’s northern areas, affecting 16 towns and a city, and displacing 152,746 families in 328 barangays.

Daanbantayan had the most number of families affected with 20,426 households and a total of 103,831 houses.

The task force will again discuss the plan so the team will be prepared for the final presentation to convince the President and to “ensure fewer questions are raised.” (OCP)

Cebu City may get P1B in infra

By : Razel V. Cuizon


CEBU City will get at least P1 billion worth of infrastructure projects from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in preparation for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit meetings next year.

The projects include P356 million worth of road concreting projects in Barangays San Roque, Kamputhaw, Carreta, T. Padilla, Kalubihan, Lahug, Punta Princesa and Tinago.

City Mayor Michael Rama said Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson advised him about the projects during a meeting last Wednesday afternoon.

Rama told reporters during his regular news conference that the budget for the road projects has been approved and is part of the convergence program of the DPWH and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The other projects are related to improving the traffic management system in Cebu City, the mayor said.

The news was welcomed by City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) Board Chairman Ruben Almendras and Citom Executive Director Rafael Christopher Yap.

“Secretary Singson said DPWH is willing to help the City and he was very clear and serious about it. He has the capacity to produce the money and the traffic system is also in line with matters on infrastructure,” Rama said.

But the mayor said the DPWH still has to look for funds for the traffic projects, which are estimated to cost about P830 million.

The traffic management-related projects were proposed by Citom and include upgrading of traffic light signals, widening intersections, and designating loading and unloading bays for public utility vehicles.

1990s system

The Cebu City uses the Sydney Coordinated Adaptive traffic System (SCATS) traffic light system, which was installed in the early 1990s yet.

In its proposal to DPWH, Citom stressed the need to upgrade the system and the facilities, especially since some parts have been phased out by the SCATS manufacturer.

Intersections proposed for widening include Salinas Drive, F. Sotto St., Juan Luna Ave., M.L. Quezon Ave., M. Gaisano St., M.J. Cuenco Ave. and Gen. Maxilom Ave.

Ambassador Ma. Angelina Sta. Catalina, Apec's deputy director general for conference services, earlier said Cebu may host four to six minor meetings during the Apec Summit in 2015.

Local roads

She visited Rama two months ago.

Rama said he also discussed with Singson his plan to widen local roads that are used as national roads or have heavy traffic. These include the road from Banilad to Talamban and Pit-os, which connects to mountain barangays.

He also told the DPWH chief of his plan to widen the sidewalk on S. Osmeña Blvd., a portion of which is being rehabilitated by the public works department.

Rama said he considers these road projects priority strategies to decongest traffic.

Widening of the sidewalk is also meant to ensure the safety of pedestrians, he added.

With Singson’s approval, Rama hopes that the project would be implemented soon in time for the Apec and other major activities in the city.

Cebu City will be the venue for the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.

Rama: Where are DPWH-funded infra projects?

By : Kristine B. Quintas/JRS


CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will meet today Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson to discuss updates about the P200-million unimplemented infrastructure projects for the city.

“I’ll be seeing Sec. Singson tomorrow (today). Dugay naman mi dapat mag-storya to discuss who will be coming in sa Mega Cebu? Where is Cebu City in terms of priority sa national-funded projects? What to expect from the national government?” Rama said.

Rama and Singson will be meeting at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, since the latter is scheduled to speak before the 1,500 human resource officers for the national Second Human Resource Symposium.

Since Cebu will be hosting two huge international events starting next year, Singson reportedly promised to allocate at least P200-million worth of infrastructure projects in preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in 2015 and the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.

Also, Rama will be asking Singson on the projects endorsed by the city to the Department of Public Works and Highways, which are not implemented yet.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo earlier said DPWH failed to implement the projects endorsed by the City Government through the Cebu City Development Council amounting to more than P1 billion and has only implemented the asphalt overlay and road rehabilitation projects in some roads in the city.

“I will tell him that Cebu city is part of the Philippines,” Rama said, pointing out that the national government seems to be shortchanging the city of the nationally-funded projects. (FREEMAN)

Cebu has hair of John Paul II and piece of John XXIII’s skin

By : sunstar.com.ph

CEBU CITY—Cebuanos need not travel to Rome to pay homage to two of the most influential popes of the 20th century. In a hilly portion of Talamban in Cebu City, a hair strand and blood stain from late Pope John Paul II have been exposed for public veneration. Also on exhibit at the Chapel of Holy Relics in Tabor Hills is a part of the skin of Pope John XXIII, whose body is said to have been remarkably preserved following his death in 1963. Fr. Dennis Duene Ruiz, the chapel’s chaplain and curator, acquired the relics of the two soon-to-be-saints from his acquaintances in Rome, Italy, where he served as assistant in the Office of the Holy Relics for five years. The two popes are to be canonized on Sunday. But venerating the relics of holy people isn’t enough. Ruiz said the people must emulate the lives of those whom they revere. “If people come to this chapel, we will tell them about the lives of these saints. They should not visit this place just to kiss these relics. For what? If people come here and venerate these relics without imitating the lives of the saints, what a waste it would be,” he said.

Aside from the relics of the two popes, Ruiz was also entrusted with a chasuble—the outermost vestment worn by a priest during Mass—worn by Pope John XXIII in celebration of the Eucharist as well as a hard hat used by Pope John Paul II during a visit to an Italian factory. A stone marker at the Tabor Hills chapel which was blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1997 as well as a life-sized image of the late pontiff are also on display at the Chapel of Holy Relics. The image of John Paul II, which stands on a table, has him wearing a red chasuble, red leather shoes, a white miter or liturgical headdress, and holding a rosary with hands clapsed. The Chapel of Holy Relics is under the supervision of the Order of the Discalced Augustinians and houses over 900 relics of different saints, 98 percent of which are so-called “first-class relics.” The relics are administered by Ruiz with the help of his order in their Tabor Hills compound. Relics are physical remains of saints such as bones, pieces of clothing or some object associated with saints or other religious figures that have been authenticated by the Catholic Church. They are divided into three classes. First class relics are body parts of saints; second class consist of their garments; third class are objects touched touched by a first-class or second-class relic, including tombs or burial ground. Ruiz said relics are not for worshipping but simply for veneration or showing due respect for holy people. He said he once met Pope John Paul II in 2005, days before the Holy Father died. “Actually, his hands were shaking uncontrollably from Parkinson’s disease. Also, he could hardly speak already when I met him. I told him, ‘Your Holiness, I’m one of the fruits of World Youth Day.” And he said, ”Bene, bene” (Good, good)’,” recalled the priest, who, along with over 150 other people, had a private audience that day with the John Paul II in Rome. “Pope John Paul II showed us what the gospel of joy is all about. He was able to show us how to be joyful amid the pains and sufferings he went through when he was still alive,” he said. Pope John Paul II left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of Filipinos, especially in Cebu, which he visited on Feb. 19 and 20, 1981. To perpetuate his memory, the street leading to the I.T. Park, formerly called Juan Luna Avenue, was renamed after him. Near the John Paul II Avenue is a diocesan seminary named after John XXIII. Some of the things used by John Paul II during his visit to Cebu, including a miter or headdress and his litugical vestments, are on display at the Cebu Cathedral Museum.

Four in Cebu test negative for MERS; more still underway

By : Carine M. Asutilla

The PNP Regional Office in Central Visayas is tracking the 14 passengers of Flight EY0424 who were supposedly exposed to the Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome or MERS Coronavirus. In a phone interview, Senior Supt. Erson Digal, chief of the Regional Operations Plans Division of the Police Regional Office, said the 14 passengers are from the provinces of Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Cebu. They already have the names and contact numbers of the passengers. Initially, they were able to contact some of them and they were willing to undergo testing at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center or VSMMC. They are assigning police officers to every health unit where there are suspected cases, to also trace those who got in contact with the 14 passengers of the said flight. Digal and the DOH-7 had an emergency meeting last Friday evening on the tracking and information dissemination on the MERS Coronavirus. Dr. Expedito Medalla of the Health Emergency Management of DOH-7 said the 14 is just the initial number of passengers from Region-7 on board EY 0242. They are still waiting for the whole manifest of passengers. Last Friday evening, DOH-7 assisted four patients on board an ambulance from Pinamungajan town at the VSMMC. In a phone interview, Medalla confirmed that the four patients were among the initially traced 14 passengers to undergo testing. He said the four patients were on the flight home from a pilgrimage. Medalla said the four patients were not all from Pinamungajan town but from other locations. Medalla said the four were tested negative and were sent home afterwards.

Fire guts warehouse in Cebu City

By :sunstar.com.ph

CEBU CITY - A fire ravaged a warehouse in Barangay Tinago past 10 a.m. today, Good Friday, as workers went on vacation for the holiday.

The warehouse was rented out to WWR Enterprise located at M.J. Cuenco Avenue beside the National Statistics Office (NSO) building.

Tinago village chief Joel Garganera said no one was around at the time the fire began as workers planned to go to the beach today, Good Friday.

He said the fire alarm sounded around 10:15 to 10:20 a.m.

Senior Fire Officer 3 Delfin Abella, substation chief of the Parian fire substation, said they were first at the scene after a little boy alerted them about seeing people running.

He said fire trucks from the Pahina, Mabolo, Lahug, Pardo and Talamban fire stations also responded as did the Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Emergency Response Unit Foundation.

The warehouse made plastic hangers, pails and basins, said Betty Go, a worker at the firm owned by Wally Ang.

The roof partly caved in on the structure, whose exterior remains intact. A truck parked inside the building was also burned.

CENRO sues road rehab contractor over missing S. Osmeña Blvd trees

By :Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon & Mechelle P. Florita

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 yesterday filed a complaint before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office against six WT Construction Incorporated officers and the project-in-charge of the ongoing Sergio Osmeña Boulevard port corridor road expansion project in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

The respondents were taken to court for violating Section 3 of the Presidential Decree No. 953 (Requiring the Planting of Trees in Certain Places and Penalizing Unauthorized Cutting, Destruction, Damaging and Injuring of Certain Trees and Vegetation) for the disappearance of trees planted in the center island of the said road.

Named respondents in the complaint were Irene U. Te, president; Willy U. Te, vice president; Julie U. Te, secretary; Juanita Y. Te, treasurer; Mary Grace Y. Te; Mary Joy Y. Te; and Adolfo V. Quiroga, project-in-charge of WTCI.

The complaint sheet was signed by Anastacio Cabalejo, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Cebu City chief.

After the City Council complained against the missing trees, which supposedly should have been earth-balled and transplanted in another location, DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo issued an April 4 order addressed to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 to cease and desist any further tree cutting activities at the project site.

Road project implementor DPWH-7, through Regional Director Ador Canlas, has requested Montejo to lift the cease and desist order.


Montejo, in his letter-reply to Canlas yesterday, required DPWH-7 to produce around 7,900 seedlings and plant them at designated National Greening Program sites, as a condition for the possible lifting of the cease and desist order.

In his affidavit, Cabalejo said it is WTCI which stands to benefit, particularly of having to clear the area the easiest possible way, by simply bulldozing off the trees.

“Logic dictates that it (WTCI) should be held responsible for the disappearance of these trees, for the awardee (WTCI) will be benefited by doing it (removing the trees), for it will expedite the completion of the project, and no one would ever dare to use heavy equipment or machineries to do such things without getting advantage thereof,” read Cabalejo’s affidavit.

Section 3 of PD 953 states that “Any person who cuts, destroys, damages or injures, naturally growing or planted trees of any kind…along public roads… or areas therein for the common use of the owners of lots therein, or any species of vegetation or forest cover found therein shall, be punished with imprisonment for not less than six months and not more than two years, or a fine of not less than five hundred pesos and not more than five thousand pesos, or with both such imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court.”

In his judicial affidavit, Felimon Embalzado Jr., CENRO Forest Utilization and Special Uses Unit chief, said that results of his April 4, 2014 re-inventory of the trees in the center island showed 79 tree species were removed and could no longer be found, while around 66 remained.

Embalzado and CENRO Forest Management Section Chief Raul Pasoc also stated in their respective affidavits that based on their interviews with several people who were in the vicinity of the road rehabilitation project, “it was a backhoe owned by WT Construction Inc. and operated by its personnel that destroyed the subject trees.”

Embalzado and Pasoc said that on April 3, they were able to confiscate some branches of trees made into 40 bundles of firewood from a Pier 5 sidewalk vendor, and some of the uprooted trees in an open space in front of Gate 3 of the same pier area.

Cabalejo further stated in his affidavit that they would present a copy of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage of the removal of the trees with a backhoe to substantiate their claim in due time.

The Cebu City Government, which owns the footage, earlier said it would release the recording only when ordered by the court.

Embalzado and Pasoc’s inventory showed that the 79 missing trees comprise 65 fire trees, three acacias, two duhats, two mangoes, two talisay dagats, and a tree each of ficus, iba, narra, neem and yellow shower.

In a separate interview, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the city would not file a separate complaint against WTCI even when it is City Hall which owns the removed trees.

“Kanang separate, bati na siya…may pag consolidate... mas better man tong DENR. It will now be a matter sa legal (City Legal Office) on how they (city lawyers) will assess the matter; that’s why we have City Legal Office,” Rama said

“We can join them (DENR) whenever (they need assistance); but we’re still be calling a meeting with DENR (prior to that), etcetera, so that the real direction can be pursued,” he said.—/RHM (FREEMAN)

Highway Patrol guards helped task force

By :sunstar.com.ph

TWO security guards in the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) who took note of the vehicles entering or leaving the compound helped the authorities build the case against suspected killers of lawyer Noel Archival.

One of the guards, in an affidavit, said that sometime in the first week of March, a gray Mitsubishi Strada was driven out of the compound in Lahug, Cebu City around 9 p.m.

When he was about to log the vehicle’s exit, the security guard said that the driver told him, “Guard, huwag mong i-logbook ito, ha? (Guard, keep this out of the logbook, okay?)”.

“Considering that I am just a security guard assigned in that gate, I then followed his instruction not to log the vehicle. (But) one of the policemen called my attention not to follow any instruction not to log any vehicle coming out of the premises,” the guard said.

Another security guard told investigators that on February 18, 2014, a red Toyota Vios (GSC-675) left and then returned to the HPG compound twice, between 10:21 a.m. and 10:22 p.m.

That was the same day Archival died in an ambush in Dalaguete town around 1 p.m., along with his companions Alejandro Jayme and Candido Miñoza.

“There is evidence that will show that members of the HPG 7 have tendencies of inter-changing plate numbers,” the NBI said, in the report where it recommended the filing of multiple murder and frustrated murder charges against the HPG officers.

It said that “several” plate numbers were seen scattered inside the HPG 7 compound during the search last March 20.

“These plate numbers could be used illegally if members of the HPG 7 will desire to do so,” the NBI added.

But what could have triggered the attack against Archival and his two companions?

“Motive of the killing is very strong,” said lawyers Jose Ermie Monsanto and Rennan Augustus Oliva, NBI 7 supervising agents. They referred to complaints against the HPG 7 officials, whom Archival had accused of illegally seizing his clients’ vehicles.

The NBI 7 agents cited the complaint filed by one of Archival’s clients, businessman Jovel Tan Entote, who had accused Iglesia and his men of extorting P8 million from him.

This allegation of extortion was mentioned by a Quezon City judge, who acquitted Entote of criminal charges, the NBI 7 officials said.

In its report, the NBI 7 also said that Archival and the group of Senior Supt. Joselito Lerion, HPG 7 Special Operations Team head, “almost came to blows” when the lawyer reported the alleged attempt of the policemen to extort P200,000 from another client, Catherine Jane.

In their report, the NBI 7 officials said the HPG 7 personnel were within 30 to 40 kilometers from the crime scene on the day of the ambush.

Witnesses had told NBI investigators that about 10 policemen from Cebu City were in the area in the third week of February. Another witness also confirmed the presence of the HPG 7 personnel near the crime scene.

HPG 7’s Bacani and his companions, according to the NBI report, even paid a courtesy call on the office of Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia in the afternoon of Feb. 18, 2014.

Paolo Cortes, the lone ambush survivor, also executed his affidavit stating that a red Toyota Vios (GSR-995) blocked their way when they tried to overtake a bus in Dalaguete town.

When they reached Barangay Coro, Cortes recalled, the Toyota Vios blocked their path. Then a gray Strada pickup stopped beside them, and one of the passengers opened a window and fired.

Although he was hit in the arm, Cortes managed to survive by pretending to be dead, until the assailants left the scene. He then called up his office mates and reported the attack. (GMD)

Rodriguez to see action in Milo jr. tennis finals

By : visayandailystar.com

Ten-year-old Pete Andre Rodriguez will represent the Visayas region in the Milo Junior Tennis National Finals scheduled this August in Manila.

Rodriguez earned the privilege of joining the national championship after topping the 10 years and under unisex category of the Visayas qualifying round held April 7 to 11 in the Baseline Tennis Club in Cebu City.

In the final match of the qualifying round, he defeated teammate Fern Aledzander Po, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

The young tennister comes from the family of tennis champions and coaches with his father Eduardo, a former ace player who represented Bacolod City in various tournaments.

Pete now trains under his grandfather, Ed Rodriguez, a former coach of the Bacolod City team and head coach of the Philippine Tennis Associaton-Bacolod.*NAB

Palma tells youth to disobey law

By : Bryner L. Diaz/RHM


CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma yesterday advised over 3,000 delegates to the 29th Local World Youth Day (LWYD) not to follow the law if they believe that it infringes their freedom of religion.

It was in response to a young participants question during a dialogue about the Reproductive Health Law, which the Supreme Court declared as constitutional last April 8.

Palma told the pilgrims, who joined the LWYD on April 12 to 13 at the Blessed John XIII Seminary in Mabolo, Cebu City, that if the law contravenes their freedom of religion, Catholics should defy the law.

He said that aside from being contrary to morality, the law contradicts the basic teachings of the church against pre-marital sex.

Also, Archbishop Palma lauded the youth for joining the 29th LWYD despite the heavy rain and the recent calamities that Cebu experienced during the last quarter of last year.

“I’m very inspired by your presence tonight,” said the archbishop, who answered questions ranging from calamities and the RH Law to the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) that the Archdiocese of Cebu is hosting.

Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: Asked by the media on the presence of Pope Francis during the IEC, Palma said the Vatican has not confirmed it yet.

He said, though, that the pope intends to visit the Yolanda stricken areas of Western Visayas.

Palma said that as part of preparations for the IEC, construction of the venue is ongoing at the Blessed John XXIII Seminary.

While he did not answer questions on funding for the structure, the archbishop said it would be fi-nished in due time.

Also, before the 29th LWYD ended yesterday, Reverend Fr. Kit Sestoso, Commission on Youth chairman, lauded the priests and the pilgrims in helping make the activity successful.

He told the delegates to also share what they have learned and experienced during the two-day activity to their respective communities and to their families.

The LWYD is the local version of the World Youth Day established by the late Pope John Paul II, who will be canonized as a saint together with Blessed John XXIII on April 27. (FREEMAN)

Buzz: Translated road signs

By : sunstar.com.ph


A Bzzzzz source recommended that the person or persons who included the Visayan translation of road safety signs along the Cebu Transcentral Highway be given praise. The translation ensures that everyone gets the message.

To heck with the more sensitive ones who think translating English road signs is condescending. Where safety is concerned, pride should be set aside.

Some of the road safety signs at the Transcentral Highway read: “Slow down. Accident-prone area (Hinay-hinay, disgrasyado);” “Slow down, ravine ahead (Hinay-hinay, kimba sa unahan);” and “Slow down, shift to low gear (Hinay-hinay, iubos ang kambyo).”

In contrast, all of the road safety signs on the South Coastal Road are in English.

Two of the signs are always violated: “Use left lane only when passing” (read, use the inner lane only to overtake a slower vehicle); and “slow vehicles, keep right” (read, if you’re moving at snail’s pace use the outer lane).

The South Coastal Road also has other signs that tend to confuse: “60” – Is that the minimum or maximum speed?, a motorist asked; and “Check your brakes” –Shouldn’t the vehicle owner check his brakes and other important functions of his vehicle before going anywhere?

And then there’s the sign “No lane for motorcycles” written on the pavement of the fast/inner lane. Several motorcycle drivers miss reading this sign even if they have nothing in front of them and stay on the very same lane.

Recent road accidents stress the need to re-examine the skills of drivers and give those who are found to be lacking knowledge or skills proper orientation. Motor vehicle inspection must also be made compulsory.

The accident in Barangay Guadalupe, Carcar City that claimed seven human lives was the result of a fatal combination of negligence and recklessness. The driver of the truck that rammed into a concrete wall reportedly knew the vehicle had defective brakes, but instead of getting a mechanic to fix the problem, he merely put in more brake fluid.

Investigators still have to determine if the truck was overspeeding but even if it wasn’t, it was definitely not roadworthy, especially on a steep incline.

Drivers lacking experience make mistakes when they forget to stop and look before stepping on the gas. They make worse mistakes when they try too hard to look experienced by driving faster. But experienced drivers make the worst mistakes when they think their skills make up for poorly maintained vehicles and bad road conditions.

Keeping Cebu clean, beautiful

Cebu has many beauty spots that have yet to be discovered. Behind mountains and hills are waterfalls, rivers and lakes. However, concerned local government units must manage these resources properly.

The Municipal Government of Asturias, for instance, should regulate spraying of chemicals on mango trees near Buswang Lake. Chemicals could poison the water and fishes in the lake. People who swim and bathe in the lake can be discouraged from using soap and shampoo.

If the lake’s biodiversity remains intact, it will continue to provide food and water to residents. It can also become an eco-tourism site and create jobs in the town.

They raised farm animals for their families’ needs

By : sunstar.com.ph

School board to allot P9M to rewire school

THE Cebu City Local School Board (LSB) will be undertaking a P9-million rewiring project in all the 137 public elementary and secondary schools in the city.

LSB head Ester Cubero told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that the project seeks to make public schools safer for the students.

The rewiring project will be replacing old and substandard electric wires and installations in the schools with new ones, particularly with appropriate wire sizes and properly insulated cable wires, among others.

“It will involve the upgrade of all electrical installations in our schools,” Cubero said in an interview.

Consumption

Cubero said the rewiring project will help prevent fire in the schools as well as reduce their monthly electricity consumption.

Every month, the City pays almost P2 million for the public schools’ power bills, including those in the night high schools.

Cubero said the rewiring project will be done by the LSB together with the members of the City Government's “Task Force Kahayag.”

Its members include the LSB, Department of Education Cebu City Division, head of the City Council's committee on energy, the Visayas Electric Company, and the Electrical Engineering Association in Cebu City.

At present, Cubero said, the task force is conducting an audit of all electrical installations in the schools to determine how many needs to be rewired.

She said they hope to start the implementation of the rewiring project before the start of the 2014-2015 school year.

The budget for the project will be charged to the more than P200 million Special Education Fund (SEF) for this year.

The SEF is derived from the one percent of the realty taxes collected by the local government unit.

It is used for the operation and maintenance of public schools, construction and repair of school buildings, facilities and equipment, education research, purchase of books and periodicals and sports development, among others.

Vehicle maintenance sector expects rise in auto sales to drive growth

By : Katlene O. Cacho

BOSCH Car Services expects huge opportunities for growth on the back of the growing automotive industry in the Philippines, officials said.

According to Peewee Ligot, senior officer for business development at Workshop Concept of Bosch Philippines, it is not only car manufacturers that are enjoying the boom in the automotive industry, but also the car service and maintenance segment.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) said 2013 was a banner year for the automotive industry. Total sales for the industry, including non-CAMPI and non-Truck Manufacturers Association members, hit over 210,000 units.

CAMPI estimates vehicle sales this year will hit 230,000 boosted by strong consumer confidence. (See related story, Biz Bites)

Ligot recently visited Cebu for the opening of RL Cars Saver, Bosch’s second car service partner in Cebu, located at the corner of V. Sotto St. and McArthur Ave. in Tinago, Cebu City.

Bosch Car Services Philippines handles RL Cars Saver’s vehicle diagnosis and engine management and repair. The company also trained RL Cars Saver’s automotive technicians.

Erick Velasquez, sales and service manager for Workshop Test Equipment of Bosch Philippines, said their main market are those “outside-of-the-warranty” vehicles, but he noted that with Bosch’s upgraded equipment and technology, they have also serviced a good number of vehicles still under the warranty period.

“Bosch addresses the modern needs of vehicles. We heavily invested on the latest technologies to meet the repair and maintenance requirements of the latest car models,” said Velasquez. “There really is a continuous development in the automotive industry that players like us need to play catch-up with this exponential development.”

Bosch currently has 25 car service partners in the Philippines. Five are located in the Visayas.

In earlier interviews, SJ Huh, NPI general manager for Marketing, said the Philippines is about to experience a “motorization era” backed by the increased purchasing power of Filipino consumers and an expanding middle class.

Motorization refers to an increased demand for mobility that is expected to pave the way for the rise in motor vehicle ownership.


Gunmen shoot 3 brothers in Carreta, Cebu

By : sunstar.com.ph


CEBU CITY -- Three brothers were hurt after they were shot by gunmen in Carreta village in this city Wednesday night.

Radio reports said the shooting happened at 9:00 p.m. Wednesday in Sitio Mahayahay in Barangay Carreta.

The victims were identified as Carlito, Felix and Glenn dela Torre.

Carlito and Felix are still in a critical condition.

Reports added that the siblings were watching a basketball game in their barangay when shot by the perpetrators who were wearing bonnets. (Sunnex)

Cebu archbishop: RH Law a sign of 'imperfect society'

By : Carine Asutilla, ABS-CBN News Central Visayas

CEBU CITY -- Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma has expressed dismay with the Supreme Court's decision on the Reproductive Health Law.

He believes that the high court's decision is a sign of "society's imperfection."

He expressed his views during the archdiocese's renewal of vows and blessing of oils held at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Wednesday.

Priests from all parishes under archdiocese of Cebu joined the mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal also attended the event.

Palma explained that for practical reasons, they decided to do it earlier.

He doesn't want priests, especially those coming from island parishes, to be caught up with travel problems on Holy Week.

In his homily, Palma criticized the Supreme Court's ruling that the RH law is not unconstitutional.

Palma said the Philippines is a Catholic country and approving a law that adopts the culture of non-Catholics is a manifestation of being in an imperfect society.

Palma said although that he respects the decision, he does not know yet if those opposing the law will file a motion for reconsideration.

He said the church will continue to educate people not only in honoring the sacraments of the church, but in voting for the right government officials.

Serge O should see the light

By : sunstar.com.ph


IT HAS been days after the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) decided to award the contract for the expansion of the Mactan Cebu International Airport to the GMR-Megawide consortium. Some requirements are still to be met, though, before the awarding of the contract is completed. If there are no hitches, construction will start in the early part of 2015.


Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III are both relieved that the contract has finally been awarded. The delay in the bidding process was due to questions raised earlier by some members of the House of Representatives from Cebu and by Sen. Sergio Osmeña III. The second highest bidder, Changi-Filinvest also joined the questioning.

Business leaders in Cebu are also one in expressing approval for the DOTC decision.

Like DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, their stance was to stick to bidding rules.

“Gone are the days when big-ticket contracts would be awarded despite being tainted with irregularities. As promised, bidding at the DOTC is conducted on a level playing field, because we follow ‘daang matuwid,’” Abaya said.

But while everybody in Cebu has welcomed the DOTC decision, obviously including Cebu congressmen who I still have to hear complain about it, Osmeña is pursuing what has become a lonely struggle. He has not backed off from his earlier decision to go to the Supreme Court to stop the awarding of the contract to GMR-Megawide. And he is even including in his target the DOTC officials who did the awarding.

Incidentally, Changi-Filinvest has also released a press statement claiming that the DOTC did not consider the questions they raised against GMR-Megawide.

I don’t know if what Osmeña is doing is mainly because of his genuine concern for the welfare of the Cebuanos or personal interest plus ego is pushing him forward.

Anyway, I hope the good senator will see the light. Leaders of both the private and public sector in Cebu are not protesting the awarding of the contract to GMR-Megawide.

Instead, they are expressing the hope that work on the airport will finally start.

By seeking to prevent DOTC from awarding the contract to GMR-Megawide and even disqualifying the said consortium, Osmeña wants to put the process back to square one.

But even if the bidding process is re-started, there is no assurance that disgruntled losers won’t again launch a campaign to prevent the next winning bidder from snagging the contract.

The bidding process that has just been completed was done in a transparent manner.

This was to prove to potential investors that a level playing field can be had in this country. What Osmeña and the other critics are doing is to instead show that nothing much has changed in the manner we are running this country. And it’s a turn-off.

The more Osmeña and the people behind them will work to prolong the process, the more he will be alienated from the majority of Cebuanos. That is a bad strategy for politicians like him. Serge may not be running in 2016 but we all know what the political plans of his brother are.

They seemed to have forgotten one lesson in the 2013 polls, which is that it is no longer “Bisag unsaon, Osmeña gihapon” as far as Cebu City politics is concerned.

Megaworld increases investments to P30B

By : Elias O. Baquero


DEVELOPER Megaworld is increasing its investment in The Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City from P20 billion to P30 billion in the next five to seven years and expanding the development area from 16 hectares to 28.8 hectares.

The company is expected to build five hotels in the township which will include two beachfront hotels overlooking the Hilutungan Channel. The company is also building its own exclusive, world-class beach club at the township’s beachfront, and sports facilities that will promote active lifestyle by the beach.

Megaworld will partner with Landmark Inc. in developing the 11-hectare beachfront.

In a press conference, Megaworld strategic marketing and communications director Harold Geronimo said the expansion will complement the expansion at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

Aside from the hotels and beach club, Geronimo said Megaworld is also adding at least five more office towers in the township by 2020, offering around 150,000 square meters of office spaces that can accommodate 45,000 workers in the information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector.

“There will be construction of at least 20 buildings in the next ten years within the 28.8 hectare area”, Geronimo said.

Megaworld Cebu Properties Inc. president Noli Hernandez said this is the most exciting time for The Mactan Newtown.

“The beach vibe of The Mactan Newtown will definitely make the township stand out from other mixed-use developments in Cebu. We envision this township to be the next big thing to happen in Central Visayas,” Hernandez said.

Megaworld said that by 2016, it will be opening the Newtown School of Excellence, which will be supervised by the Lasallian Schools Supervision Office. Sitting on a 7,000 square meter property near the township’s main entrance, the school will initially open to students in the primary level for the schoolyear 2016-2017.

“We are fast-tracking the developments in The Mactan Newtown. With the rehabilitation of the new Mactan international airport and the expansion of businesses to Lapu-Lapu City, which is now the second fastest-growing highly urbanized city in the country, we see The Mactan Newtown rising to become Cebu’s next central business district in the booming side of Mactan Island,” Hernandez said.

“This is the most exciting time for The Mactan Newtown. With the new beach area up for development, we are spicing up our pioneering “Live-Work-Play-Learn” concept. Now, The Mactan Newtown offers “Live-Work-Play-Learn and Beach” lifestyle to our future township residents, workers in the office towers, retail partners and customers, as well as students and academic personnel in the upcoming Newtown School of Excellence,” Hernandez said.


Region 7 starts bid for 4-peat in Prisaa

By : sunstar.com.ph

REGION 7 vies for a four-peat in the national finals of the Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa), which opens this afternoon at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City, Davao Del Norte.

Region 7 is composed of 350 athletes coming from Cebu, Bohol and Dumaguete.

This year’s premiere collegiate multi-events include a secondary division with selected sporting events making this year’s competition even tougher.

“The inclusion of the high school participants this year will make this year’s tournament more challenging. But we are are still aiming to win our fourth straight overall title this year,” said Bernard Ricablanca.

This afternoon’s opening will be led by Prisaa national president emeritus Dr. Emmanuel Angeles, Davao del Norte and Tagum City officials. It will start at 3 p.m. (ISL)

P785,000 worth of lumber seized

By : Phoebe Jen Indino

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 seized P785,880 worth of teak lumber or flitches (Tectonagrandis).

DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said the confiscation was the biggest in the last two years.

“It has to be stressed here that the shipment of forest products should be covered with original documents for monitoring and controlling purposes and the entries thereat should be consistent with the actual kind of species and quantity of forest products,” he said.

Based on a report released by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Cebu City, a trailer truck with plate number GXU-340 loading at least 917 pieces of teak lumber or equivalent to 8,732 board feet disembarked from a Ro-Ro vessel in Ouano Wharf last Thursday afternoon.

The truck was intercepted inside the wharf by a four-member investigating team created by Montejo. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

Missing Trees

By : Phoebe Jen Indino

Cebu City, Cebu — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 7 (DENR-7) is gathering evidences to file a case against those who were responsible for the unauthorized removal of at least 88 trees due to a road construction at Sergio Osmeña Street here. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footages of the road taken by Cebu City Command Center (C3) cameras showed Willy Te Construction is the culprit behind the trees removal, said C3 Chairperson and City Councilor Dave Tumulak, as WT’s vehicles and equipment were seen in the video. Meanwhile, DENR-7 information officer Eddie Llamedo disclosed that they are gathering pieces of evidence and affidavits from various witnesses for the possible case or complaint to be filed on Monday. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

Cebu City skips PNG softball

By : sunstar.com.ph

THE Cebu City’s softball team withdrew its participation in the upcoming Philippine National Games (PNG) on May 20-28 at Marikina City.

The Cebu City Government was willing to shed P60,000 for the team’s stint but they decided it was not enough for a 20-man team’s expenses in the weeklong tournament.

The players had a meeting with Mark Aliño of Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) last Wednesday to finalize the status of the softball team.

“We agreed to withdraw our participation in the PNG. Our two expected private sponsors have also backed out. So as of now, we have no other choice,” said John Tugot, one of the players.

However, Cebu City will continue to promote softball, especially in grassroots development and the P60,000 originally intended for the team’s stint in the PNG will now be used to fund a baseball and softball clinics.

The free clinic will be on April 22 and offers basic and advanced softball techniques for the little league bracket. Although, it’s for kids below 12 years old, anyone older can also be accommodated.

Tugot said grassroots development is already handled by Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute Technology (SCSIT) coach Dionisio Bacarisas and they are willing to offer help for the improvement of local batted sports.

The initial plan is to create a team for each district which will play in a one-day league event.

“The CCSC and the team initially agreed in the meeting that the clinic will be divided in to two: North and South. Each district will facilitate a clinic, and create two teams for each district. The total four teams on both districts will be the participants in our one-day league league.” said Tugot. (RSC)

Lawmaker vows help for new Cebu Palace of Justice

By : Linette Ramos Cantalejo


CEBU CITY - Senate President Franklin Drilon pledged to help include P1 billion in the national budget in the next two years so a new Hall of Justice can be constructed in Cebu starting next year.

The Provincial Government offered the Capitol-owned lot in Barangay Guadalupe, where the Department of Agriculture (DA) offices used to stand, and another Province-owned property in Barangay Kalunasan as possible sites of the new Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice.

In a press conference in Cebu City on Tuesday, Drilon said the site of the new building is not an urgent concern at this time.

What is important, he said, is that the initial funding of P500 million is included in the proposed President’s Budget for 2015.

Gov. Hilario Davide III, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and some members of the Provincial Board (PB) discussed the need for a new Hall of Justice building during a private meeting with Drilon last Monday night.

“I urged Governor Davide and Vice Governor Magpale to work and I will assist them to request the President to include in the 2015 National Budget the P500-million initial funding for the Hall of Justice. The estimated cost that they have in mind is about P1 billion. It can be a two-year project so that in 2015, P500 million will be appropriated and in 2016, another P500 million,” Drilon said.

“But it’s important that the request be immediately made so that while the budget is being crafted, then the amount can already be included,” he continued.

Drilon was secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) when he and the late Marcelo Fernan led the inauguration of Cebu’s Hall of Justice in the late 1980s.

Fernan, a Cebuano, was the chief justice that time.

The Hall of Justice was severely damaged during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake last Oct. 15, prompting court officials to transfer courtrooms to the Capitol grounds.

Last month, the courts were transferred to the Quimonda IT Center in the North Reclamation Area, which the Supreme Court is leasing.

SRP site, too

In a phone interview last night, Magpale said the PB will pass a resolution urging the President to include in the budget the P500 million needed to start the construction of the building.

“We will do that in this Monday’s session. We are not very clear yet on the area where it will be constructed but the governor has offered two lots—the DA lot and a lot in Kalunasan. We offered it but it’s the Supreme Court (SC) that has the final say on where it should be constructed,” she told Sun.Star Cebu.

Magpale said the SC may also opt to construct the building on the South Road Properties (SRP) lot donated by the Cebu City Government to the Court of Appeals.

Davide earlier announced the Province’s interest to retrofit and occupy the existing Hall of Justice as an extension of the Capitol. The building stands on a Province-owned lot, he said earlier.

“There are several options for the site and we already offered the Supreme Court the properties but they have no comment yet. We’re here to help them get the funds for the building,” Magpale said.

Drilon said whether or not the existing Hall of Justice is still safe and fit for occupancy has not been established, “but whatever it is, we take the side of prudence and I will support the building of the new Hall of Justice here in Cebu.”

Timing

He advised Capitol officials to prioritize the funding request and decide on the location, detailed engineering plans and design later. These can be finalized any time until Dec. 31.

“Let us prepare everything else simultaneously with the deliberation in Congress for the inclusion of P500 million. Anyway the location, detailed engineering design, those are not needed yet in the budget (proposal),” Drilon said.

The request for funding has to reach Malacañang before Congress convenes on July 28.

The executive department is required to submit the proposed budget to Congress within 30 days after Congress convenes.

“If the appropriation for the Cebu Hall of Justice is not included in the budget call and in the President’s budget for 2015, there can be no appropriation in 2015 and you have to wait for 2016 before they can start the Hall of Justice. We must start it next year, we must appropriate already in the 2015 General Appropriations Act, and I assured Governor Davide that I will support this project,” Drilon said during a press conference at the Cebu Country Club yesterday noon.

Access

The SC decision declaring the Priority Development Assistance Fund as illegal makes the task even more urgent, he said, since there are no more pork barrel funds that can be used for such projects.

In a separate interview yesterday, lawyer Elaine Bathan, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Cebu City Chapter, said the lawyers prefer to keep the Hall of Justice in its present location at the back of the Capitol building so it will be accessible to court workers, litigants and lawyers.

“Our preference is to rebuild the Hall of Justice here in Capitol. For us, it’s the best location for our courts. But if it’s not feasible, then the next best area is the DA property or any area that’s not too far from the Capitol. Kalunasan is just not accessible,” Bathan told Sun.Star Cebu.

She lamented that even the Quimonda IT Center at the North Reclamation Area is not accessible for the litigants and the court workers, “but of course, we have to make do with what is available.” (Sun.Star Cebu)

Scholar of Cebu City Gov’t graduates cum laude at CNU

By : Princess Dawn H. Felicitas


JHANEL Flores, 19, didn’t think he would have a chance to go to college when his father Solomon got sick over four years ago.

Solomon used to drive a public utility vehicle in the morning and did welding jobs at night. But in early 2010, Solomon was forced to quit because of high blood pressure.

Jhanel was then graduating from the Camp Lapu-Lapu National High School in Barangay Apas. That same year, the Cebu City Scholarship Program was implemented.

The rationale behind the program is for all high school graduates in Cebu City to have a college education.

Most scholarships are only for those who are in the higher percentage of the class. Open to all

In the City’s scholarship program, all high school graduates from Cebu City public schools are eligible to be scholars in participating schools.

Last March 25, Jhanel accepted his diploma from the Cebu Normal University with a degree in BS Education, major in Math. He graduated cum laude.

Jhanel plans to take the licensure examination on July 27. In the meantime, he has submitted applications for a teaching job in local schools.

The Flores family squats in La Guardia, Barangay Lahug.

Solomon said he had sent Jhanel’s two elder siblings to college: one graduated with a degree while the other got an associate degree.

Paying a visit

When it was Jhanel’s turn to go to college, Solomon was financially hard-up. “Lisud kaayo labi na kay lalaki (It was really difficult especially since he’s a boy),” Solomon said, adding that Jhanel is his only son.

Solomon said he wants Jhanel’s younger sister Rhea, a third-year high school student at the Camp Lapu-Lapu National High School, to avail herself of the program.

Jhanel, accompanied by his father and mother Rosie, visited former mayor Tomas Osmeña in the latter’s house yesterday.

They brought grilled fish, pancit, seaweed, rice cake, sweet potatoes and bananas to thank Osmeña for initiating the program during the end of his last term as mayor.

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