Cebu City News February 2016

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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 City takes over trash collection

By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama announced yesterday that City Hall was taking over the garbage collection in three barangays - Guadalupe, Labangon and Tejero – after seeing uncollected piles of garbage in these areas.

He ordered the Department of Public Services (DPS) to collect the garbage of the three barangays daily. This was supposed to start yesterday.

In a news conference, Rama said he saw piles of uncollected garbage in the three barangays on his way to Barangay Pamutan last Sunday.

“I don’t know what’s happening there. I am seeing garbage. I do not want that they will be pinpointing it to us. So it will be much better if we will take over,” he said.

Rama also instructed City Administrator Lucelle Mercado and Solid Waste and Management Board chief Atty. Jade Ponce to go around Guadalupe for at least a week to check on the City’s efficiency in garbage collection there.

The mayor said his order will either be temporary or permanent, depending on what will happen in the next few days.

He said he wants the matter to be investigated.

Asked if his move will not be construed as wooing the voters in the three barangays, which are identified with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), Rama said that’s not the case.

“I’m already winning in these areas. But the most important thing, I cannot agree that garbage will be seen when we have the capacity to collect. That’s not acceptable to me,” he said.

The mayor said that the City recently acquired nine 10-wheeler dump trucks amounting to P39.6 million that can be used to haul the garbage from the barangay to the private sanitary landfill in Consolacion. Rama said he doesn’t want to blame anyone.

Sought for comment, Guadalupe Barangay Captain Michael Gacasan said they have been working hard to make sure garbage in the barangay is collected.

Dump site

“Tanan among gibuhat makaapas lang mi sa problema. Pero bisag unsaon maapiki gyod mi tungod sa kalisod ug kalayo sa labayanan didto sa Consolacion. Way adlaw nga di maguba atong mga truck. Maapiki gyud mi sige. Hinuon way laing mabasol kon di ako ra (We’re doing our best. But the dumping site is very far. Our garbage trucks are not in good condition. We couldn’t cope. There’s no one to blame but me),” he said in a post over Facebook.

Gacasan lamented the absence of a landfill in the city or someplace near where the barangays can throw their trash.

Not enough trucks

He said Guadalupe has never been given a garbage truck by the City unlike other barangays. He said their barangay collects the trash but after two hours, more garbage piles up.

Labangon Barangay Captain Vic Buendia, for his part, challenged Rama to be the barangay captain instead so he will know the problems of their village.

He said the mayor’s move is pure politics. Tejero Barangay Captain Jessielou Cadungog, on the other hand, said their barangay has no garbage collection problem in interior areas.

“Ang among trabaho sa barangay road ra man. Ang problema kanang naa sa highway nga trabaho sa DPS (Garbage along the highway is not our responsibility but DPS’),” he said.

SWMB’s Ponce said, though, that the collection of garbage is the responsibility of the barangays as stated in Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Section 17 of the law says, “The barangay shall be responsible for ensuring that 100 percent collection efficiency from residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural sources, where necessary within its area of coverage, is achieved.”

Cebu City buys heavy equipment, service vehicles worth Php 70 M

(PNA), RMA/EB/PJN

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- The Cebu City government has acquired 22 new heavy equipment and service vehicles worth Php 70 million.

Supplier Tiger Motors Friday turned over to the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) nine 10-wheeler dump trucks worth Php 39.6 million, while Fast Autoworld Philippines Inc. turned over six Mitsubishi Strada pickups and six L300 vans worth Php 13.86 million.

D’Limitless Vehicles Ventures Corp. delivered the PHP16-million declogger.

DEPW Chief Engr. Jose Marie Poblete said the dump trucks would be used not only to haul asphalt or sand and gravel for DEPW’s infrastructure projects but also by the Department of Public Services to pick up garbage.

The dump trucks can accommodate 18 cubic meters of sand and gravel or trash.

Poblete said the service vehicles would be assigned to the Office of the Building Official to be used during building inspections and to some engineers of the DEPW’s maintenance section, drainage section and the planning and construction division.

Poblete said the new declogger would add to the City’s one that had been in service in the past three years.

He said their office received 30 to 40 requests for declogging of drainage lines every week.

But Poblete said the DEPW’s fleet of heavy equipment and service vehicles was still not enough to serve all the city’s 80 barangays.

Based on their inventory last January, DEPW has 41 heavy equipment, including asphalt pavers, bulldozers, backhoes, backhoe loaders, graders, loaders, sewers and skidders, 17 of which are under repair.

It also has 43 vehicles that include dump trucks, truck crane, mini dump truck, flat truck and pickups among others, 21 of which are under repair.

Cebu City transforms old fish market into kids' park

(PNA), JBP/EB/PJN

CEBU CITY, Feb. 27 (PNA) -- The site of the old Pasil Fish Market in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City, which was destroyed by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Oct. 15, 2013, has been converted into a children’s park.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the city government did not spend a single centavo in the construction of the city’s newest park because it was done on a public-private partnership scheme.

The park, which was opened on Thursday as part of the celebration of the 79th Charter Day of Cebu City, will become the playground for children from at least five villages near it.

Rama, who ordered the conversion of the market into a park, said it will complement with the nearby San Nicolas Parish Church, the oldest church in the city.

Rama said the area used to be a park in the 1960s, and he wanted to restore it.

It has an area of some 3,000 square meters with swings, slides and monkey bars that kids would enjoy.

Aside from the park, two tennis courts will also be developed in the area, as well as other board games to encourage the children to engage in sports activities.

Rama said he asked Edward Hayco, chairman of the Cebu City Sports Commission, to co-manage the park with the barangay since it is close to the city’s Sports Institute.

The project was established at no cost to the city, since it was undertaken through a private-public partnership between the Cebu City government and AS Enriquez Engineering Consultancy, the construction firm of Engr. Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez of the Cebu City Planning and Development Office (CPDO).

Rama sought the help of Enriquez’s husband, who is a contractor, since no budget was allocated for the project.

Cebuanos assured of enough vegetable supply despite dry spell

(PNA), LAP/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY, Feb. 26 (PNA) -- The Cebu City Agriculture Department (CAD) has assured the public there is enough supply of vegetables in markets in the city despite the dry spell.

Cebu City Agriculturist Joelito Baclayon said the supply of vegetables, root crops, fruits and cut flowers in the city will still be good until June, when demand is expected to increase because of the opening of classes.

“In Cebu City, I could assure the public that we have enough supply until June. In fact, we have oversupply,” he said.

Baclayon said the prices of some agricultural products even decreased, particularly green leafy vegetables and flowers.

Baclayon also said his office did not monitor the presence of armyworms, which usually attack crops in its early stage, in several vegetable plantations in the upland barangays.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture 7 warned the farmers of possible pest infestations in some towns in Cebu.

“So far, we did not monitor any presence of armyworms, but we told the farmers to contact us if there are armyworms so we can do something about it. But in previous years, there was no armyworm infestation,” Baclayon said.

But he said the CAD is monitoring the presence of diamondback moth, which usually damages green leafy vegetables like cabbage, Chinese cabbage, radish and pechay, among others.

Diamondback moth, Baclayon said is very hazardous and damaging to vegetable plantations.

Electrical equipment manufacturer studying plant operations in Cebu

By Jeandie O. Galolo

A JAPANESE-Filipino electrical equipment manufacturer has expressed plans of expanding its plant operations to Cebu.

Hi Kian Yu, managing director of Fuji-Haya Electric, an affiliate of Japan’s Fuji Electric, said the company is looking at Cebu as a second potential plant location, after the first one in Laguna, which has been operating for close to 40 years.

“We will have to ultimately open a plant at some time in the future when the market grows and the volume really expands to serve the Visayas and Mindano,” Yu told Sun.Star Cebu at the sidelines of the launching of Fuji-Haya Electric Cebu at the Grand Convention Center on Wednesday.

The newly-incorporated Cebu company, located in Escario St. in Cebu City, will concentrate on sales and distribution of Fuji-Haya products like switch gears, indoor substation and panel boards, said Yu.

“The timeframe depends on the market..We’ll see how the market evolves, and we’ll identify if we will pursue with the manufacturing plant in Cebu,” Yu said. The Laguna plant is currently employing more than 200 workers.

The Fuji-Haya executive has observed increasing sales, fueled by the construction boom throughout the country in recent years.

Cebu, he said, is a “substantial” market, especially with their big-ticket clients like mall developers and real estate players opening up more projects in the province.

The company also exports some of its products to Asia and Africa, but the bulk of the business comes from the local market.

City develops 2 housing sites for 400 families

By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas

THE Cebu City Government is developing two of its socialized housing sites for more than 400 families affected by court-ordered demolitions.

Building of roads, construction of drainage, ground works, and establishment of water and power connections are what the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) is doing at the City’s one-hectare property in Barangay Quiot and another 1.7-hectare land in Barangay Pit-os.

Robert Barquilla, head of DWUPs Land Investigation Section, said the Quiot property will house at least 116 families.

Barquilla said 38 of them are families affected by a demolition in Barangay Bulacao last December, 50 families from V. Rama Ave. and 28 families whose houses encroached into a road in Quiot.

There are also families affected by last month’s fire in Quiot who will be transferred in the housing site. The families were relocated since their previous homes stood in a private lot owned by Japer Development Corp.

The City’s socialized housing site in Quiot can accommodate 200 families, said Barquilla.

In Pit-os, Barquilla said the area will house around 289 families. Out of them, 69 families are among those affected by a demolition in Barangay Mabolo, and 132 families from Barangay T. Padilla.

Some 88 families will also be transferred there once the upcoming court-ordered demolition in Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Apas will be implemented. There’s no schedule yet.

The City’s property in Pit-os can house 300 families.

Housing

Most of the families affected by the court-ordered demolition are already at the City’s socialized housing site, although ideally, Barquilla said the site should have been developed first.

“But court-ordered demolitions are faster,” he said.

Barquilla said a moratorium on court-ordered demolitions should have been in place and not a moratorium on demolitions initiated by City Hall.

He is apparently referring to the ordinance of Councilor Alvin Dizon imposing a one-year moratorium on City’s clearing operations, which have been passed twice by the City Council.

It was not realized though as it had also been vetoed twice by the executive department.

At present, Barquilla said the families are living mostly on shanties at the Quiot and Pit-os socialized housing sites since the lots will be divided among them only later, once the site development will be completed.

Milo Little Olympics regional finals to return to Cebu after a year in Iloilo

(PNA),LAP/EB/MP/EBP

CEBU CITY, Feb. 23 (PNA) -- The Milo Little Olympics Visayas Regional Finals will be back in Cebu after a year in Iloilo City.

Visayas Leg head organizer Ricky Ballesteros said it was finalized by the board last Friday that the event will be going back to Cebu.

The Visayas Regional Finals was held for 19 straight years in the Queen City of the South before a one-year stint in Iloilo City.

“I think they are planning to rotate the hosting of the event in different cities in the Visayas region,” Ballesteros said.

“They are going back to Cebu, which is the main venue,” he said.

Ballesteros, who was given a special citation last week for organizing the Milo Little Olympics Visayas for 20 years, said there are also changes for this year’s edition, which will be held in August.

Karatedo and arnis will be added to the 13 events.

Other events are athletics, badminton, basketball, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, chess, scrabble, sepak takraw and volleyball.

Last year, two Cebu-based schools dominated in Iloilo City despite being the visiting team.

These are the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) which snagged the secondary title and the University of San Carlos- Basic Education Department (USC-Bed) which won the elementary division.

Ballesteros said that during the meeting of organizers in Makati City last week, there were possible changes for basketball and football.

The organizers are looking at the possibility of shifting to 3-on-3 format for basketball and seven-a-side for football.

Ballesteros said these changes are not yet final and will still be discussed by the board.

He said the organizers are considering this to draw moreparticipants. The decision will be made before the start of the new school year.

Aside from the special citation given to Ballesteros last week, he was also awarded with the best organizer plum for the 39th Milo Marathon Cebu Leg. It’s the third consecutive year that Ballesteros bagged the award.

Cebu City transport body gets most outstanding department award

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Feb. 22 (PNA) -- The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) was named as the outstanding department of the Cebu City Government as part of the activities of the 79th Charter Day of Cebu City on February 24.

Lawyer Rafael Christopher Yap, CCTO chief, said the recognition is dedicated to all of their personnel who did not hesitate to give their selfless service to the public.

Yap was also a recipient of the mayor’s special award.

He said he is thankful for the award, but he said the recognition also serves as a challenge for them to continue doing their best for public service.

He said many activities in Cebu City in 2015 and the first quarter of 2016 have been a tough period for the CCTO.

Yap said international events such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings and the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC), among others, became a huge challenge for CCTO in traffic management.

Other yearly activities, such as the Sinulog 2015 and Mega Sinulog 2016, became an added load as well to the tasks of the traffic office.

The CCTO also has to deal with the everyday traffic as more big establishments, such as the SM Seaside City Cebu and Robinsons Galleria Cebu, which contributed to traffic, opened late last year.

Yap said their early preparations for the major events paid off.

He also gave credits to lawyer Rey Gealon, who is the current executive director of CCTO and Operations Chief Jonathan Tumulak, who co-managed the office.

The PHP10.6-billion Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, the continuing traffic problem in Banilad-Talamban area and dealing with the many new developments in the city have been the challenges they need to hurdle now, Yap said.

Traffic education remains to be a priority of the office, he said.

Street dwellers get post-Valentine treat

By Marc Eric Cosep

THE children of street dwellers who are taking temporary shelter at the Compania Maritima received a post-Valentine treat from the Cebu City government yesterday.

Forty-nine kids, with ages ranging from 4-10, received snacks and lunch from the Task Force for a Better Life headed by Alvin Santillana.

Santillana said he wanted them to feel loved and special despite their situation.

Ranilo Guinita, who lives in Compania Maritima, said he was grateful to Santillana and the members of the task force for dedicating their time to them and for considering them as their family.

Guinita of Barangay Pardo said he was forced to live on the streets when his parents died.

“I have 13 siblings, and I was told to leave the house after my parents died because of my sexuality. I’m thankful to the city for giving us a place to stay,” he said.

Compania Maritima currently houses 69 street dwellers.

However, Santillana said the street dwellers will be relocated to Barangay Lorega once the construction of a temporary shelter is done.

The center can accommodate 150 persons. A livelihood program for the occupants will also be introduced.

The building is set to be completed next month.

6,000 for 6th edition

By Richiel S. Chavez

THE sixth edition of SM2SM Run will be marked with around 6,000 runners converging at the Northwing Atrium, SM City Cebu tomorrow.

Race director Joel Baring of Sports and Fitness Enthusiasts (Safe) told Sun.Star Cebu that the registration closed with a total of 6,182 on the start list. The number of registered runners has increased, from 5,000 last year to 6,000 for this edition.

Out of 6,000 runners, more than 2,000 of those are registered in the 12-kilometer category; 1,800 are listed in the 21K; while the 6K and 3K have a combined 2,000 participants.

The race will start early for this year. The 21K flags off at 4:30 a.m., the 12K at 5 a.m. and the 6K and3K at 5:15 a.m.

During the race, the mountainside of the South Road Properties will be closed at 4 a.m. to 9 a.m., while the S. Osmeña Road and MJ Cuenco will be half-closed from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Baring said that though this race has no cut-off time and they will wait until the last finisher, the runners must mind that the roads will be reopened to motorists and they will be running at their own risk if they go beyond 9 a.m.

The race will start and end at SM City Cebu for all the four categories. The 12K and 21K runners will be passing through SRP to complete the distance.

The organizers said that all things are set for the race this Sunday and the security, traffic and safety will be manned by private and public entities.

The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, Red Cross and the Medical Team of Perpetual Succor Hospital will be at helm of the four ambulances that will be stationed within the route.

The City of Talisay-Traffic Operation Development Authority (CT-Toda) and Cebu City Traffic Office will be working on the traffic.

Baring said there will be volunteers and members of Reavo Communicators stationed along the race.

The top runners in the country are set to run, bannered by reigning Milo Marathon champions Rafael Poliquit Jr. of Tagum City and Cebuana Mary Joy Tabal on the men’s and women’s 21K race.

A total of nearly P300,000 worth of cash prizes will be given to the winners in every division. The men’s and women’s local 21K have the biggest cash prizes with the champions going home with P60,000, second placers pocketing P40,000 and P25,000 going to the third placers.

Aside from the cash prizes, the participants will have a chance to win quality items such as iPhone 6, watches, flat screen TV and hotel gift certificates during the raffle draw.

The SM2SM Run 6 is staged for the benefit of Cebu Newspapers Workers Foundation Inc. (Cenewof) and Children of Cebu Foundation.

DSWD boosts program for street kids, families

By Kristine B. Quintas / ATO (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - At least 600 street children and 200 families are currently living in the streets and sidewalks of Cebu City, based on the recent profiling of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) Chief Ester Concha said some of the children have homes, but with dysfunctional and poor families.

“These children roam around the city streets because it is where they can find friends and foods,” she said, adding that some of the street kids opt to sleep on streets after taking a long and tiring walk looking for scraps to sell, instead of going home.

According to DSWD, the phenomenon of children living and working in the streets was first felt in the 1970s, persisted through the 1980s and has grown to alarming proportions by mid 1990s until now.

With the issue of street dwelling, DSWD-7 adapted in September last year the Comprehensive Program for Children and Families at Risk on the Streets, which was piloted by the National Capital Region in 2011. It is now being expanded in the Regions 3, 4-A, 5, 6, 7 and 11.

In Central Visayas, Cebu City is the pilot area for the program being the “prime city and has many cases of street children and families among other areas in the region.”

At least P3.6 million has been allocated for the program in Cebu City and DSWD has turned over P2.8 million to DSWS, as first tranche of the program.

Grace Yana, DSWD-7 Social Worker Focal on Children, said the program aims to reduce the vulnerability of children and families at risk on the streets by responding to their immediate needs and engaging them in productive, cultural and developmental activities in a safe environment.

Yana explained that the program is more comprehensive because there is a convergence of resources and active participation from different stakeholders.

Also, it involves the development of income-generating opportunities and skills training for families to prevent them from working on the streets while children will undergo developmental activities that will stimulate their physical, psychological and moral development.

DSWS has identified six centers in the city –Tinago, Mambaling, Sawang Calero, Punta Princesa gymnasiums and mobile school on wheels at Fuenta Osmeña, where the seminars and activities will be held.

On the other hand, DSWD is urging couples and even single individuals longing for children, to avail of the agency’s legal adoption program.

“There is no difference between an adoptive parent and a biological parent, both give love to their children,” said DSWD-7 regional director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre.

Agro-Trade Fair Cum Exhibit 2016 Opens!

By Greggy Jiggs P. Senados (Cebu City Public Information Office PIO)

Various agricultural products are featured in the Plaza Sugbo fronting Cebu City Hall as the annual Agro-Trade Fair Cum Exhibit opened February 15 Monday.

Fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, root crops, flowers, seedlings, and different native products and delicacies from the eighty villages comprising this city are displayed and available for sale.

The activity which will run for five days ending on February 19 is in line with the 79th Charter Anniversary celebration of this Queen City of the Philippines.

Looking back, it was on February 24, 1937, when the City of Cebu was born by virtue of Commonwealth Act No.58 through the initiative of Don Vicente Rama, the father of Cebu City Charter.

The then municipality of Cebu who was under the Cebu Provincial Government became an independent Chartered City known as “Cebu City”.

This year, series of activities are lined-up towards the grand celebration.

Moreover, various competitions are also embedded in the exhibit which is made possible by Cebu City Farmers Federation, Barangay Officials, Cebu City Agricultural Fishery Council, Cebu City Agriculture Department and other stakeholders, among others.

3 Cebu journalists among awardees in Cebu City’s 79th Charter Day on Feb. 24

(PNA), SCS/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Feb. 16 (PNA) -- Three journalists are among the outstanding individuals in Cebu City who will be recognized during the city’s 79th Charter Day celebration on Feb. 24.

The Cebu City Council has approved a resolution sponsored by Cebu City Councilor Nendell Hanz Abella listing all the awardees as outstanding individuals and institutions in the city.

Among the awardees for outstanding individuals are lawyer Pachico A. Seares, Sun.Star Cebu’s Public and Standards Editor for media; Jerry Tundag, publisher of The Freeman in Cebu City for print media; and Ruphil Bañoc of radio station DYHP and CCTN TV for broadcast media.

The other individual awardees are Court of Appeals Senior Justice Gabriel Ingles for the judiciary; Vito Selma for furniture design; Pilita Corales and Dulce for entertainment; former Cebu City South District Rep. Antonio Cuenco as public servant; and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, religious.

Also to be awarded are Fernando Barrios for the fashion industry; Mary Joy Tabal for sports; and Carmelo Tamayo for visual arts.

The seven awardees for the outstanding institutions include Cebu Institute Medicine, Cebu Contractor’s Association, All-Terrain Medical Relief Operations (AMRO), Rapid Philippines, Gasa sa Gugma (Gift of Love), Kiwanis Club International, and Cebu Chamber of Commerce andIndustry.

The city will also be giving awards to seven centenarians who will receive Php100,000 each from the city government.

There are also seven posthumous awardees.

The city has set aside Php3 million for the city’s 79th Charter Day celebration.

The bulk of the amount, totaling more than Php1.34 million, will cover the expenses in the city’s awarding of its outstanding employees.

The event, which seeks to recognize employees who have contributed to the city’s operation and delivery of basic services to the constituents, will be held at the Parklane Hotel on Feb. 20.

Construction of new PHP1.5B Cebu City hospital ahead of schedule - exec

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Feb. 15 (PNA) -- The construction of the newPHP1.5-billion, ten-story Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) on N. Bacalso Avenue and Panganiban Street is ahead of schedule, an official said.

Engr. Jose Marie Poblete, Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) chief, said they already finished 27 percent of the project and were seven percent ahead of schedule as of Feb. 6.

Construction of the entire hospital building is expected to be finished by April 2017.

C.E. Padilla Construction, the contractor of the PHP515-million first phase of the project, earlier said the new CCMC will be able to withstand a magnitude 9 earthquake.

The old CCMC building was demolished after it was heavily damaged by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck Cebu and Bohol on Oct. 15, 2013.

Poblete said the hospital is being built by block, to leave space for the heavy equipment to move around the site.

He said the 1.2-hectare lot where the hospital will stand was divided into three blocks.

“So we will raise the floors on a per-block basis. Once one block is completed, we will move to the other block and construct another four floors,” he said.

Poblete said the contractor is now is raising the four floors on the block near N. Bacalso Avenue, which they are hoping they can finish by Feb. 24, the city’s 79th Charter Day.

Bus firm offers to service new Robinsons mall

By Jose Santino S. Bunachita

A CEBU City-based bus firm offered to service routes heading to and from the recently opened Robinsons Galleria Cebu (RGC).

In a letter addressed to Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival Sr., KMK Transport Corp. sought the Cebu City government’s endorsement of their offer to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“LTFRB advised us to obtain the necessary endorsement from Cebu City endorsing and/or certifying the need of the service (High Quality Bus Service) so that they can issue a CPC (Certificate of Public Convenience) for additional units serving the north and south of Cebu City direct to RGC in accordance with your designated route,” KMK President Richard Cabucos wrote Councilor Archival Sr.

KMK is already servicing routes in Naga City, Minglanilla and Talisay City going to SM City Cebu.

The Cebu City Council scheduled an executive session on February 17 to discuss KMK’s request.

The council invited KMK along with Rafael, Yap who heads the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project implementation office.

Last year, Robinso’s Galleria Cebu management requested the Cebu City government to include their new mall as a bus stop for the MyBus System of SM Seaside City Cebu.

Cabucos said the mall’s request convinced them to offer servicing routes to and from the mall.

KMK said they are willing to put up a bus service going to and from San Fernando town to Cebu City and from Compostela town to Cebu City and vice versa with a specific stop or destination at RGC.

In his letter proposal to RGC Regional Operations Manager Floramie Vega, Cabucos asked the mall management to provide a space for their buses to park within their area.

In her response, Vega said they are willing to meet with KMK to discuss further the proposal.

“In our thrust to improve accessibility of Robinsons Galleria Cebu, we are amenable to this proposal subject to terms and conditions acceptable to Robinsons Land Corp. and Cebu City KMK Transport Corp.,” Vega’s letter read.

Robinsons Galleria Cebu asked the city government to put up more passenger jeepney routes to their mall which they expect to generate a daily foot traffic of at least 56,000.

But Yap said an additional bus station at Robinsons Galleria Cebu is a better option than providing more jeepney routes there to avoid congestion in the area since there are more jeepneys plying the route to and from the mall.

New building eyed for Cebu City jail

By Apple Ta-as

TO ADDRESS the perennial problem of congestion in the Cebu City jail in Barangay Kalunasan, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) will build a high rise building for the inmates.

The Cebu City jail, which is also called The Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center, has a capacity of 400 inmates, but it is holding 2,717 inmates at present, said Chief Supt. Allan Iral, BJMP regional director during an interview yesterday.

“Actually the national government had already given P2 billion to the BJMP. The region will receive around P178 million for the construction of a high rise building to address the congestion especially in the male dormitory,” said Iral.

Supt. Johnson Calub, Cebu City jail warden, said most inmates at the jail were awaiting the resolution of their cases.

Calub said an inmate spends an average of three years inside the jail while waiting for his or her case to be resolved.

Iral said the ideal space for each inmate is supposed to be 4.7 sq.m., but at present, that jail space is being shared by five inmates, especially in the jail’s male dormitory.

Valentine promos at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel

(PR)

AS soon as the calendar hits the month of February, love songs start playing on the radio, heart and cupid decorations are adorned almost everywhere and stores begin displaying flowers, chocolates and stuffed toys. The most awaited Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and everyone is looking forward to expressing their love for their special someone, may it be in grand gestures or in simple sweet nothings.

Whatever way one intends to treat a loved one on Valentine’s Day, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino can help paint the sweetest smile on the significant other’s face with a grand “staycation” and romantic dinner sets.

Lovers who want to stay in grandeur and spend an amazing two-night staycation could avail themselves of Waterfront’s special Valentine’s Day room promo. At only P4,300 for a standard room, P2,500 for superior room and P4,700 at a minimum of two nights, the couple could enjoy breakfast buffet or breakfast in bed, Valentines Dinner for two at La Gondola, one time 30-minute foot or back massage, couple yoga on Feb. 13 at only P2,000 per couple, one-time snack at Pool Aquarius and 10 percent off on a bottle or a glass of wine.

For those who want to keep things simple, some of Waterfront’s food outlets have special promos. A special menu at one of Cebu’s best Italian restaurants, La Gondola, has been prepared especially by Waterfront’s world-class chefs that will definitely delight lovers. At a minimum of P850, a gastronomic spread that starts off with a tasty mushroom soup followed by the ultimate Italian combination—margherita pizza and seafood pasta, capped off with its signature chocolate delice cake will surely make the night more meaningful. The entire set also comes with a glass of wine.

For those who want to take their lover on a Japanese culinary adventure, Mizu has a special Valentine’s menu made by the hotel’s Japanese chef. For only P999, a feast of authentic Japanese fete of assorted rolls, delicious miso soup, fried Lapu-Lapu served with Japanese rice and vegetables and green tea cake awaits couples at Mizu.

Cebu City’s 60,000 seniors to get PHP2,000 cash aid Friday

(PNA), LAP/EB/SSC

CEBU CITY, Feb. 10 (PNA) -- The Cebu City Government is set to distribute Friday to the city’s 6,000 senior citizens a cash assistance of PHP2,000, the first tranche of this year’s PHP12,000 assistance.

Dr. Lucelle Mercado, Cebu City Administrator, said the cash aid will be distributed in the city’s 80 barangays.

Mercado urged the senior citizens to claim their cash assistance early because the distribution in the barangays is more efficient and convenient compared to getting it at the City Hall.

Mercado said senior citizens who will not be able to claim their share of assistance on Friday can still collect it at the distribution center which the Cebu City Treaurer’s Office will set up at the Plaza Sugbu grounds on Monday.

Also on Monday, the city is set to distribute the PHP1,000 cash aid for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

Each of the PWDs in the city will receive a cash assistance of PHP5,000 from the city government this year.

City’s sports program to intensify this summer

By Rommel C. Manlosa

THE Cebu City Sports Commission is going for a more comprehensive regimen for its Summer Grassroots Sports Training Program, which will start on April 18 to May 6.

Unlike the previous years, this time the SGSTP will be held daily from Monday to Friday with the top-caliber athletes and coaches of Team Cebu City sharing their skills and knowledge in different sports activities.

And after the three weeks of free training, a culmination activity will be held at the Cebu City Sports Center with the participants engaging in friendly competition on May 7.

This year, CCSC offers a total of 18 sports disciplines to learn. These include arnis, archery, basketball, boxing, badminton, chess, dancesports, karatedo, futsal, taekwondo, table tennis, sepak takraw, track & field, volleyball, weightlifting, touch rugby, lawn tennis and softball/baseball.

The schedule would be basketball from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., while the rest of the sports events will be taught from 2 to 4 p.m.

CCSC also lowered the age requirement to 6 years to 16 years old.

Training centers, which have been identified earlier, include the City Central School Quadrangle, and the gyms inside Hipodromo Elementary School, Lahug ES, Mabolo ES, Tejero ES, Zapatera ES, Bo. Luz ES and Talamban ES in the north district and the gyms of Don Vicente Rama Memorial ES, Pardo ES, Mambaling ES, Labangon ES, Punta Princesa ES, Guadalupe ES, Inayawan ES, San Nicolas ES and the Cebu City Sports Institute in the south district.

The athletes who volunteered to teach in the barangays are the priority on the CCSC’s list to carry the Team Cebu City colors to the Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games competitions.

For those who are interested, more details are available with the School PESS coordinator, barangay halls or at the Cebu City Sports Commission office at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Chinese museum to open in Cebu

By Razel V. Cuizon

A MUSEUM dedicated to Chinese culture and heritage will soon rise in Cebu City.

The Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum will be housed in the century-old Gotiaoco building, which will be restored and converted.

The building is located near the executive building of the Cebu City Hall.

It will be the first Chinese museum outside Metro Manila.

Bob Gothong, chairman of the Sugbu Chinese Heritage Museum Foundation Inc. (SCHMFI), said the restoration will cost around P100 million, excluding the cost of artifacts that will be displayed in the museum.

Project’s start

He said they plan to start work next month and have it completed in two years’ time, considering that a building restoration is a meticulous process.

The contractor must remain true to the original design to allow the site to qualify as a United Nationals Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization world heritage site.

The museum will have three floors with a lobby, a grand hall and two major halls on the third floor.

The grand hall will have 15 small rooms where the gallery of the photos and information about Chinese families in Cebu will be placed.

Yesterday, the SCHMFI held a launching activity of the restoration project, which was participated by several local prominent Chinese families and members of the foundation.

Also in attendance were Mayor Michael Rama, Atty. Augustus Go and Ambassador Frank Benedicto.

At no cost to City

Gothong clarified that project is at no cost to the Cebu City Government, saying the SCHMFI will manage the museum.

He said he hopes the museum will teach the public, particularly the youth, about the contributions of Chinese-Cebuanos to all aspects of local life, particularly in trade and commerce.

He said schools will be invited to conduct field trips in the museum.

The Gotiaoco building was built in 1914 by Don Pedro Gotiaoco, who was the wealthiest businessman of his time in Cebu, said Gothong.

It was the first building with an elevator in Cebu and was a prime site for head offices of many multinational companies.

But the building was damaged during World War II.

Rama, for his part, said he is happy the project will finally be realized after several years of negotiations.

“I’m looking forward to its completion because that is an additional icon for the city,” he said.

Aside from the museum, Rama said, the group, through Ambassador Benedicto, also vowed to construct a senior citizens center next to the building to complement the senior citizens park.

Rama will visit the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 7 to inform the agency of the plan since the lot where the two-floor center for the elderly will stand is public property.

CITE to host int’l conference on character on March 2

(Sun.Star Cebu)

THE Center For Industrial Technology And Enterprise (CITE) will bring to Cebu City multi-awarded author and teacher Hal Urban in a one-day international conference dubbed as “Life’s Greatest Lessons: Better Character for a Better Quality of Life.”

The conference will be held at the grand ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Barangay Lahug, on March 2.

The morning session will start at 9 a.m., while the afternoon session will begin at 1 p.m.

The conference will gather educators, parents, students and people from all walks of life to understand the tenets of character-building for quality life, the power of positive words and teaching strategies taken from Dr. Hal’s lifetime of teaching both children and adults.

Dr. Hal’s wisdom, sense of humor and common sense are widely celebrated in one of six books, Life’s Greatest Lessons, as it helps a reader to rediscover that the desire to live a good life is timeless.

The conference is presented in cooperation with Catalyst for Professional Development Services.

For ticket reservations, call the hotlines (032) 346-1611/344-0899 or inquire through the following mobile phone numbers 0925-7019280 (Dr. Jon Mercado), 0925-5038564 (Benjie Wong), 0925-8954513 (Jojo Marturillas) or 0925-8599663 (Dariel Lauron).

For updates, visit CITE’s official Facebook page: CITECEP.

CCMC posts rise in income in 2015

By May B. Miasco / JMO (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Medical Center announced yesterday that its revenue has increased in 2015 following a challenging year that succeeded an earthquake that pushed the hospital out of its original building.

CCMC is operating currently at the Bureau of Fire Protection-7 compound.

The hospital’s administrator, Atty. Rey Chris Panugaling, credits the increase partly to strict monitoring and collection of claims. Numbers reportedly rose starting in July last year.

“We check all promissory notes. We check all PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) and CHAMP (City Hospitalization and Medicines Program) receivables from PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.) We started to write demand letters to them, to PCSO, CHAMP, and then they were able to provide payments to the hospital,” he said.

Another reason, he said, are the two long-time programs of PhilHealth that the hospital adopted last year – the No Balance Billing (NBB) and Point of Care (POC). These were established in July last year following dialogues between PhilHealth and city government officials with the hospital management.

The POC system applies to all indigents who are not beneficiaries of PhilHealth. The hospital personnel themselves will register the patient to the agency.

Under the NBB, medical expenses will be covered by PhilHealth for registered indigents, including lifetime members or senior citizens who are discharged with payables.

“The hospital will not let them pay anymore while the patient is not demanded to pay any single centavo,” Panugaling said.

Patients who are able to avail of the two programs, medical necessities like drugs and laboratories will be paid for by the city government. The amount of hospitalization is charged against PhilHealth.

In some cases, Panugaling said, the patient’s hospital charge is lower compared to the corresponding PhilHealth monetary benefit that the city can receive in return. Numbers

Since July last year, numbers showed consistent rise.

From P9.1 million in July, it rose to P10.9 million in August), P11.8 million in September, P12.2 million in October, P11.2 million in November, and P12.2 million in December.

In the months prior, revenue only reached P6 million.

“This is the proof that these policies and programs of PhilHealth are very much effective and advantageous to the hospital and also to the patients. The management took the risk to implement, that is why we have this sort of revenue,” he said.

As of last year, 90.5 percent of the hospital’s patients were PhilHealth beneficiaries with at least 1,165 indigents enrolled to the POC system from July to December 2015.

As an effect, Panugaling said, they can procure more equipment with higher revenues.

“The money can also be placed in the medical trust fund and can be used for improvement of facilities. It can also benefit the city government as a whole since. Eventually, this will mean lesser subsidy to be given to the hospital. If this continues, we can also have fiscal autonomy later on,” he added.

Panugaling also disclosed that CCMC has used P218.1 million (87.72 percent) of its budget – P163.2 million (84.98 percent) of the P192 million for personnel services and P54.9 million (97.03 percent) of the P56.5 million for maintenance and other operating expenditures.

In previous years, budget utilization reached 50 to 60 percent.

In 2015, CCMC was allotted P297 million and in 2014, its had a budget of P249 million. For both years, P60 million was subsidized by the city government. Admissions

In 2014, there were 6,409 patients admitted at CCMC but the number went to 5,091 the following year.

Dr. Anton Oliver Reposar II, director for medical services, said more patients were admitted in 2014 because the hospital could only accommodate non-critical cases after the October 2013 earthquake. Patients with non-critical cases did not have to stay long, thus, the hospital could accommodate more.

“In 2015, when the hospital system was more stable, we already admitted critical (related cases of) patients who would stay longer since their sickness were more complicated,” he said.

CH invites film makers to join short film contest

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

CEBU, Philippines - To celebrate Cebu City’s 79th Charter Day, the city government is inviting film makers for a 79-hour challenge to write, shoot, and edit a five-minute short film.

Participants will be asked to incorporate pre-selected passages from the works of Don Vicen-te Rama, father of the Cebu City Charter and grandfather of suspended Mayor Michael Rama.

“The purpose of this competition is to encourage the young people to take part and recognize the history of the city and its past leaders,” Cebuano Cinema Development Council member Diem Judilla, who is also a faculty member and coordinator of Cinema program at the University of San Carlos.

This is the first 79 Oras Salidagan Sugbo 2016. Salidagan is a combination of the Visayan words “salida” and “dagan.” When combined, it means “film run or film race.”

This project is spearheaded by the city government, CCDC, city’s Public Information Office, Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, and Cine Oriente.

In a press conference yesterday, Judilla said the competition will be launched on February 18 at 9 a.m. at the Cebu City Hall Social Hall. On that day, the CCDC will be giving kits with further rules and guidelines of the competition to participants.

Each kit, Judilla said will have five passages of Don Vicente Rama’s works. Parti-cipants will choose only one passage that will be incorporated in the film.

These passages will serve as the moral lesson or the theme of the films. Judilla said the interpretation of these passages will be up to the film makers.

He said entries are open to any genre; horror, comedy, romance, among others. All entries should be submitted on February 22 and it will be screened on February 23.

Judilla said entries will be screened at Cine Oriente since the area has also historical connection with Don Vicente Rama. Judilla said the works of Rama were first presented at Cine Oriente.

On February 24, Cebu City will celebrate its 79th Charter Day. On that day, winning entries will be presented.

Expo to showcase franchise brands

  • Source:www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2016/02/02/expo-showcase-franchise-brands-455143
  • Thursday, February 4, 2016
By Katlene O. Cacho

EIGHTY exhibitors will take center stage at the 17th Cebu Franchise Expo next month.

Organized by the Filipino International Franchise Association (Fifa), the three-day expo, which will be held at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall on March 4 to 6, opens business opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs in the Visayas and Mindanao, said Rudolf Kotik, founder of Fifa and RK Franchise Consultancy Inc.

This year’s expo will feature a mix of food and non-food businesses like beauty, convenient stores, cafés, pet care, printing, laboratories, water and gasoline stations and support industries to franchising and business.

“As a result of the business growth in the Visayas comes the demand of more franchise opportunities from and outside the region, and franchising created more job opportunities for people and produced additional profits for the owners of franchised outlets and the franchisor,” said Kotik in a statement.

Franchising in the Philippines is expected to grow by 20 percent this year.

“Franchising is the way to go. It is the best option available for would-be entrepreneurs who wish to venture into business,” he said.

Kotik noted there were 42 new franchise businesses that joined Fifa last year, an indication that franchising remains to be an attractive business model among Filipino entrepreneurs.

Of the 42, three homegrown firms, JCA Pizza, SLT Cafe and A La Mode have opened their businesses for franchising. Kotik said he is optimistic more Cebuano businesses will soon venture into franchising following the successful business expansions of popular Cebuano brands like Thirsty, Mooon Café, Bo’s Coffee and Body and Sole across the country.

He noted that franchising remains to be an attractive entry into business because of its proven system and business model, with 95 percent success rate compared to putting up a business from scratch.

But despite franchising’s growing popularity, the franchising guru cited investment level, interest in a business, location, market, franchise assistance, and training as some of the evaluating factors an aspiring entrepreneur should consider before choosing which product or service to franchise.

At present, Fifa has over 400 franchise members.

The Philippines has been identified as the most successful country in Southeast Asia, as far as franchising is concerned, with 1,300 established franchisor companies, spread across the country. The industry is currently dominated by homegrown brands that comprise more than half of the franchisors in the country.

Improvements sought for IT-BPM

By Jeandie O. Galolo

CEBU should work on developing its talent information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sustainably to improve its current ranking in Tholons 100, a key industry official said.

Cebu City was identified the seventh best site in the world for outsourcing in 2016, up from last year’s eighth spot, dislodging Pune in India from the position.

Manila, on the other hand, remained on the second spot after Bangalore in India, which topped the list.

“(The challenge remains to be the) availability of talent due to high growth and the diverse industry reqirements. The industry must also be willing do its share in the talent cultivation through more academe-industry partnerships,” said Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (Cedfit) managing director Jun Sa-a.

Sa-a pushed for trainings in the academe on higher-value services to attract more BPO investors in Cebu.

One vital way that has fostered local talent, according to Sa-a, is the development of Philippine IT General Certification Exam (Phil IT GCE), an assessment test for IT graduates, a program pioneered by Cedfit and initially funded by European IT Service Center. This was then sustained by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

“We are very happy to see the fruits of our labor with the continued growth of the industry and receiving this international recognition from Tholons,” said Cebu Business Month 2016 chair Christian Paroan, echoing Sa-a’s statement.

Traffic

According to Tholons, Cebu City has a healthy mix of services cutting across all three major service lines--information technology outsourcing (ITO), knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), and business process outsourcing (BPO). But it noted that Cebu has not been marketed enough, having a BPO-centric image in the global marketplace.

“Cebu should also work on its infrastructure like the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to have a more efficient mass transport system and avoid the Manila-like traffic gridlock,” added Sa-a.

For developers like Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI), it has expressed interest to develop another cyberzone project at the South Road Properties, following its present development Filinvest Cyberzone Cebu beside the Cebu IT Park in Apas, Cebu City.

Fuel for real estate

“(The Tholons report) is very encouraging indeed for investors like us to pour in more money into the outsourcing business. Our expansion works at our cyberzone is now in full swing,” said FLI vice president for strategic business development Allan Alfon in a text message.

The project is still in the planning stage, said Alfon, and this will be part of its City di Mare development at the South Road Properties in Cebu City. Cebu Property Ventures Development Corp., developer of the Cebu IT Park, welcomed the news.

“As a pioneer in Cebu’s IT/BPO scene, we have seen this industry grow to be one of the main drivers of the city’s economy, employing thousands and generating millions in revenues each year,” said corporate communications manager Jeanette Japzon.

She said the city’s upgraded rank will help attract more investors to Cebu IT Park.

“To meet the continuing demand of this growing industry in Cebu, we currently have BPO offices in the pipeline in the next five years within our two Peza-accredited IT parks,” she added.

She identified the ongoing construction of eBloc 4 and Central Bloc at the Cebu IT Park and the CBP Corporate Tower and Tech Tower in Cebu Business Park.

Aside from Cebu and Manila, Tholons’ list is joined by seven other cities in the Philippines.

The newest entrant is Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, which took a huge leap this year to land on the 93rd spot.

Davao City climbed three notches to the 66th place. Sta. Rosa, Laguna moved a step to 81st and Bacolod in Negros Occidental is up also by a notch to 85. Iloilo is up one notch to 90th from 91st.

In addition, Baguio City went up by a notch from 95 to 94th place. Metro Clark moved up from 98 to 97.

Based on the Tholons report, the cities of India remained dominant. Bangalore maintained its top spot, followed by Mumbai ranking third, Delhi (fourth), Chennai (fifth),Hyderabad (sixth), and Pune (eighth).

Krakow, Poland is in the ninth place, and Dublin, Ireland is in the 10th spot.

Analysts expect revenues in the IT-BPM industry to overtake OFW remittances soon.

In 2014, OFW remittances reached $24 billion, while BPO revenues totaled $18.9 billion.

Projection by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that remittances will grow at a single-digit rate, while the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (ITBAP) forecasted the IT-BPM sector to grow by 15 to 18 percent in the next five years.

Waterfront Cebu now a non-smoking hotel

(PR)

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino takes pride in being one of the Queen City’s non-smoking hotel. This movement was pursued officially on December 15,2015 in support of City Ordinance 2241 or the “Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance.”

Waterfront, known as one of Cebu City’s premium hotels, pushed this movement not only to be at par with the international hotel standard of having designated smoking areas, but because the management truly believes in the benefits it can do not only to the guests and the establishment, but to the community and the environment as well.

“This will definitely reduce the risk of fire. And for guests both external and internal, it is a fact that smoking is compromising the health and safety of the public especially to those whose immune systems are less resistant (to smoke),” Mr. Rex Yap, Waterfront Rooms Division Director expressed.

“As a hotel that strives for the clean and green movement, implementing this would greatly help the environment as it minimizes the ill effects it poses to the environment such as the emission of harmful chemicals to the ozone layer which contributes to its depletion. We also believe that through this, we are saving the lives of smokers and secondhand smokers,” Waterfront Marketing Communications Manager Arnel Aparis added.

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