Cebu City News September 2012

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View of Cebu City from the bay
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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 Hall should settle P5.2 M food bill’

By Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao


CEBU City Hall can settle the P5.2 million bill being charged by a caterer for packed meals it delivered to election personnel during the Oct. 2010 barangay elections. City Legal Officer Joseph Bernaldez said even if they haven’t received a copy of the complaint filed by Cebu Red Carpet Catering Service, a settlement cannot be ruled out. “If the evidence would warrant that indeed the catering services delivered in favor of the city of Cebu those items, then it is but right that we have to pay on the principle of unjust enrichment,” Bernaldez said. Cebu Red Carpet Catering Services filed a complaint with the Regional Trial Court for payment of the P5.2 million. It also demanded an additional 12 percent interest computed since Oct. 2010 along with legal expenses. The civil suit was directed at Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and former city treasurer and now financial adviser Ofelia Oliva. Bernaldez said one of the city’s accounts worth P124 million was frozen by a court order. He said the amount can be used for legal remedies of the city. The account is one of several being garnished for payment of the P132 million supposedly owed by the city to the Rallos heirs, whose property was expropriated in the 60s. The Rallos case is still pending at the Court of Appeals, the city legal officer said. Bernaldez said they are also asking for additional financial incentives as well as personnel for their office which has 38 employees.

Dating ivory will be tough act, says heritage experts

By Connie E. Fernandez


CEBU CITY, Philippines—Running after newly acquired ivory pieces will not be a walk in the park for the authorities, according to heritage experts. For one, the investigation team created by the Department of Environment and Natural Resouces and the National Bureau of Investigation will have to know the age of the ivory pieces to determine if these were acquired before bringing ivory into the country was banned in 1981, after the Philippines signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). But the age of ivory cannot be determined by its mere appearance, according to Louie Nacorda, renowned iconographer in Cebu. “Do they have a machine that will determine the age of the ivory?” he asked. “How do you determine the age of ivory? I don’t also know. On the surface, they all look the same.” He cited the life-sized image of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary or La Naval in Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City, considered the oldest ivory carving in the Philippines. Although it was carved in 1593, the image was so well preserved that it looks new, he said. Fr. Brian Brigoli, head curator of the Cathedral Museum of Cebu, agreed that the authorities will have difficulty in determining the age of ivory. Brigoli, vice chairman of the archdiocesan commission on the cultural heritage of churches, said Cebu doesn’t have chemicals that can help determine the age of ivory. Brigoli, however, doesn’t know if the conservation laboratories in the University of Sto. Tomas and the National Museum of the Philippines have the chemicals and equipment that can do so because the Philippines has never been known for ivory trading. He said, however, that there were various ways to determine the age of ivory pieces. The artistry, craftmanship and associated fabrics of the ivory pieces can provide information on the age of the ivory pieces especially if these are peculiar to a particular era, said Brigoli. The provenance of ivory items can also determine if these were manufactured before the ban on ivory in 1981. This may be written – documents and certifications that can attest that the ivory items are antique. The provenance may also be oral – people who can vouch that the ivory items are heirloom pieces. Carbon dating may not be effective, said archeologist and heritage expert Jojo Bersales, because it can only work on artifacts that are at least 300 years old. “You also destroy a part of the object if you do radio carbon dating,” he said. Photos may be used as proof that the ivory pieces are heirlooms, said Bersales. Most families, he added, have photos of their ivory pieces that were taken years earlier. Isabelo Montejo, DENR director for Central Visayas, has admitted that they have no expertise to determine whether the ivory pieces are antique or not. But he added the lack of experts has prompted them to seek the help of the National Museum of the Philippines, which can help in determining the age of ivory. The crackdown on newly acquired ivory pieces was prompted by a National Geopgrahic article which called attention to the illegal ivory trade in various parts of the world, including the Philippines. The article identified Msgr. Cristobal Garcia as one of the country’s top collectors of ivory religious icons. On Friday afternoon, the DENR team started the investigation into illegally acquired ivory by going to the shrine in Talisay City, Cebu, where Garcia keeps part of his collection. But the security guard prevented the DENR personnel from entering the Diocesan Shrine of Jesus located inside the compound of the Society of the Angel of Peace in the absence of a search warrant. The Society of the Angel of Peace was founded by Garcia. The DENR wants collectors of ivory such as Garcia to prove that their ivory items were made before the 1981 ban. These include presenting sales invoices that can prove that these pieces were bought through legitimate traders or manufacturers. Nacorda said, however, that instead of taking on the collectors, the authorities should go after the traders who are all based in Manila. Nacorda, who owns less than 20 ivory pieces, said he has been in Cebu for at least 20 years but has never encountered an ivory trader here. He said he bought some of his ivory pieces in Manila, where they were openly sold. The rest of his collection were heirloom pieces, he added.






Cebu city mayor approves insurance for pre-school kids

By Patricia Andrea D. Pateña


CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama signed Executive Order no. 12-15 which provides insurance coverage for pre-school children enrolled in all barangay day care centers in the city. The life and accident insurance will extend to children in public day care centers based at school and home. “This kind of ‘kid-surance’ is the first in the country,” said Dr. Ester Concha, head of the Dept. of Social Welfare and Services. It covers hospitalization and medical fees for cases of accident and illness. “There have been so many accidents involving children. Many also get hospitalized because of dengue so we saw the need for the program,”she said. The Cebu city government will pay for the annual premium of P50 per child charged to the City Hospitalization and Medicine Program (CHAMP). Parents of pre-schoolers have to get a certification from DSWS and the Department of Education to avail of this benefit. Norma Franco, whose eldest child is enrolled at barangay Guadalupe’s Day Care Center, was happy to hear about the new order. “That’s very good news because God forbid that anything happen to my children. If they get sick, it won’t be a big burden anymore. I hope this order is implemented soon,” she said. The order is aimed at “promoting its endeavor in making the city friendly and liveable for children.”

Vatican sacks Cebu priest months ahead of ivory scandal, says church exec

By Connie E. Fernandez


CEBU CITY—Msgr. Cristobal Garcia has been suspended and stripped of all his positions in the Archdiocese of Cebu on orders of the Vatican while the Holy See investigates the child abuse case that stemmed from accusations that he molested altar boys more than 20 years ago in the United States. Msgr. Achilles Dakay, Cebu archdiocese media liaison officer, said Garcia’s suspension happened months before the monsignor was implicated by a National Geographic article on the illegal trade of ivory in the Philippines. Dakay’s announcement came after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said that Garcia could face up to four years in prison unless he could show proof that he legally acquired his huge collection of religious icons made of ivory. The National Bureau of Investigation said it was gathering evidence against those involved in the illegal sale of ivory, which an environmentalist lawyer calls the “new blood diamond” in the international trade. NatGeo said the demand for ivory in the Philippines has resulted in thousands of deaths of African elephants. Dakay said Garcia was suspended by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma in June on instructions of the Vatican because of the ongoing investigation of the child abuse case filed against him. As part of the penalties, Garcia is not allowed to say Mass in public and hear confessions, and has been stripped of his positions in the archdiocese, including his chairmanship of the committee on worship. Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, had informed Garcia about his suspension, which might have affected the latter’s health, Dakay said. Diabetic, hypertensive Garcia, a diabetic and hypertensive, is on sick leave. He was confined at a private hospital in Manila. Before that, he had been staying with a sibling in Manila while he sought medical treatment. At a news conference at the Archbishop’s Palace here on Wednesday morning, Palma confirmed Dakay’s statement that Garcia had been removed from his positions in the archdiocese. “You might notice you have not seen Monsignor Cris since June because he’s out of Cebu,” Palma said. “He is no longer connected with any of the post he occupied before.” Palma said the investigation of Garcia’s child abuse case came long before the monsignor was embroiled in the controversy involving ivory trade. “With regard to the matter of Monsignor Garcia’s past, the case has been elevated to the Holy See and it has initiated the investigation into it long before the present controversy erupted,” Palma said in a prepared statement. “I have also fulfilled the Holy See’s instructions regarding the submission of documents and acting upon related consequences,” he added. Garcia was a Dominican priest working in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in the 1980s when he was accused of child abuse. He was later expelled after a nun reported to the police that an altar boy had been found in his bed in a Los Angeles rectory. An article by The Los Angeles Times reported that Garcia was accused of molesting two youths in 1980 and 1984. In a Dallas Morning News interview, Garcia was quoted as saying that he did have sex with the two altar boys but claimed that he was the one who was “seduced and raped.” His accusers, however, found his claims absurd. Rosales brought him back Garcia also claimed that his reputation had been tarnished because of his family’s wealth and that a cardinal had given him clemency after a review of a psychological report on him and materials from the Dominicans. Dakay told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that what he knew was that Garcia was the last priest ordained by Cebu Archbishop Julio Cardinal Rosales before he died in the 1980s. After Garcia was expelled by the Dominican Order, Dakay said Rosales brought him back to his hometown in Cebu and took him in the archdiocese as a diocesan priest. But Dakay said Garcia could no longer go back to the United States after his conviction in the civil aspect of the case. He, however, didn’t know if Garcia was ordered to pay damages. Garcia made monsignor It was during the time of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Rosales’ successor, that Garcia was named monsignor. Garcia later became a high-profile priest in Cebu and has been known for his vast collections of religious icons, including Sto. Niño made of ivory, and paintings. His collections are usually displayed on exhibit every January as part of the festivities leading to the annual fiesta of Cebu’s patron, Señor Sto. Niño. Publication manager Garcia was also given various positions, including the chairmanship of the Commission on Worship. He was also business manager of “Bag-ong Lungsoranon,” the official publication of the Cebu archdiocese and spiritual director of Bukas Loob ng Dios and the World Apostolate of Fatima. He was also a founder of the Society of the Angel of Peace in Talisay City, and rector of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus Nazareno, also in Talisay. Dakay said he thought the child abuse case against Garcia had been considered closed until Palma was informed by the Vatican about an ongoing investigation. Sin, crime “He must have repented and was sorry for what he did because it was a sin. But the crime remained. The Vatican went on investigating it,” Dakay said. “What happened in the States could be a crime. If it was also a sin on his part, it was forgiven. He had repented,” Dakay said. But he added the criminal case was elevated to the Vatican and was now the subject of an ongoing investigation. Dakay said he didn’t know when the case was revived. “I don’t know why it reached the Vatican as a Church case.” “We have been communicating with the Vatican. We didn’t know that there was an investigation. We didn’t know that it was revived,” he said. ‘Soften’ penalties Dakay said Palma was appealing to the Vatican to soften the penalties on Garcia apparently due to the monsignor’s health condition and his contribution to the archdiocese. Garcia left for Manila several weeks ago to seek medical treatment. He had been in and out of the hospital because of hypertension and a heart ailment. Dakay said some Cebu priests saw Garcia in Makati City last week with his bodyguard and private nurse, “looking very sick.” “He is now in hospital,” he added. Dakay said Garcia, an expert in liturgy, had been printing the prayers of the archdiocese. How to smuggle ivory In his article titled “Ivory Worship” in NatGeo’s October issue, Bryan Christy, who visited the Philippines five times for the story, said Garcia advised him on how to smuggle religious icons made of ivory to the United States. “‘Wrap it in old, stinky underwear and pour ketchup on it … so it looks shitty with blood. This is how it is done,’” Garcia told Christy. Christy said Garcia also gave him the “names of his favorite ivory carvers, all in Manila, along with advice on whom to go to for high volume, whose wife overcharges, who doesn’t meet deadlines. He gave me phone numbers and locations.” “If I wanted to smuggle an icon that was too large to hide in my suitcase, I might get a certificate from the National Museum of the Philippines declaring my image to be antique, or I could get a carver to issue a paper declaring it to be imitation or alter the carving date to before the ivory ban. Whatever I decided to commission, Garcia promised to bless it for me,” Christy said of Garcia’s advice to him. Christy said that “a few families control most of the ivory carving in Manila, moving like termites through massive quantities of tusks. Two of the main dealers are based in the city’s religious-supplies district, Tayuman. During my five trips to the Philippines I visited every one of the ivory shops Garcia recommended to me and more, inquiring about buying ivory.” Hide it in coffin “More than once I was asked if I was a priest. In almost every shop someone proposed a way I could smuggle ivory to the US. One offered to paint my ivory with removable brown watercolor to resemble wood; another to make identical hand-painted statuettes out of resin to camouflage my ivory baby Jesus. If I was caught, I was told to lie and say ‘resin’ to US customs. During one visit a dealer said Monsignor Garcia had just called and suggested that since I’d mentioned that my family had a funeral business, I might take her new, 20-pound Sto. Niño home by hiding it in the bottom of a casket. I said he must have been joking, but she didn’t think so,” Christy said.

I’ll get more funds for Cebu City, says Tomas O

By Doris C. Bongcac


CEBU City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña yesterday said city residents shouldn’t worry about his shifting P400 million in national road project funds to south Cebu towns. He said that if he is elected mayor next year, he will secure new funds. Osmeña said that it was an achievement for a first-time congressman like him to secure the P400 million budget on top of his P75 million annual pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund. He said it was ironic that a senior congressman like Rep. Pablo Garcia who is deputy speaker and his son, Pablo John, were not able to secure the same. Osmeña took credit for the realignment, refuting Gov. Gwen Garcia’s observation that it was the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that decided it. He said Governor Garcia should ask 4th district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon who was there in the budget hearing. During the hearing of the 2013 national appropriation, Rep. Eduardo Gullas of the 1st district of Cebu asked DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson’s help to secure more funds for the South Road expansin from Carcar to Sibonga. Singson told Gullas that his need could be met only if another congressman would give up his share of the national road improvement funds. Osmeña immediately responded: “Mr. Secretary, the projects that I canceled (for my district), just give it to him (Gullas).”

Caterer sues Cebu City Hall for P5.2 M meal packs

By Ador Vincent Mayol and Correspondent Joy Cherry Quito

TWO years after the barangay elections, a catering company has yet to collect P5.2 million from Cebu City Hall for packed meals they supplied to election personnel. A civil suit for collection of money was filed against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and his financial advisor Ofelia Oliva by Cebu Red Carpet Catering Serices (CRCCSI) for failing to pay the amount. The caterer also asked the Regional Trial Court in Cebu to make the city pay an annual interest of 12 percent from October. 2010 until the amount is fully paid along with lawyer’s fees and litigation costs. In Oct. 12, 2010 letter request, Oliva and Cebu City south district election officer Edwin Cadungog told the chairperson of the Bids and Awards Committee there was time to have the packed meals procured through public bidding. The company served the meals based on credit to the Board of Election Inspectors, City Hall and Commission on Election (Comelec) employees, policemen and other staff members who served 85 polling precincts. From Oct. 23 to 25, 2010, packed meals worth P5,208,600 were distributed by the private caterer. To date, the Cebu City government has not paid for the meals. Cadungog, the Cebu City election officer, wasn’t impleaded in the complaint. Since the defendants refused to pay, the caterer to file a case in court. Mayor Rama yesterday said he would refer the matter to the City Legal Office for action.







Caterer sues Cebu City Hall for P5.2 M meal packs

By Ador Vincent Mayol and Correspondent Joy Cherry Quito

TWO years after the barangay elections, a catering company has yet to collect P5.2 million from Cebu City Hall for packed meals they supplied to election personnel. A civil suit for collection of money was filed against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and his financial advisor Ofelia Oliva by Cebu Red Carpet Catering Serices (CRCCSI) for failing to pay the amount. The caterer also asked the Regional Trial Court in Cebu to make the city pay an annual interest of 12 percent from October. 2010 until the amount is fully paid along with lawyer’s fees and litigation costs. In Oct. 12, 2010 letter request, Oliva and Cebu City south district election officer Edwin Cadungog told the chairperson of the Bids and Awards Committee there was time to have the packed meals procured through public bidding. The company served the meals based on credit to the Board of Election Inspectors, City Hall and Commission on Election (Comelec) employees, policemen and other staff members who served 85 polling precincts. From Oct. 23 to 25, 2010, packed meals worth P5,208,600 were distributed by the private caterer. To date, the Cebu City government has not paid for the meals. Cadungog, the Cebu City election officer, wasn’t impleaded in the complaint. Since the defendants refused to pay, the caterer to file a case in court. Mayor Rama yesterday said he would refer the matter to the City Legal Office for action.

For giving up P400 million, Mike calls Tom:

By newsinfo.inquirer.net

For not allocating the P400 million to Cebu City, Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district can be “guilty of treason”, Mayor Michael Rama said yesterday. “Is he running for governor? He could have assigned it to another project for Cebu City, that is his obligation. Why should he give it to the province?,” Rama told Cebu Daily News. Rama questioned Osmeña’s decision to realign the P400 million flyover budget in favor of the Naga-Carcar road expansion project, saying it was “expensive political gimmickry” on the congressman’s part. “Ngano gipaabout sa laing lugar (Why give it to another place)?,” he said. Osmeña said he was tired with having to deal with Rama’s opposition to the flyover project where the P400 million were supposed to go. The flyover was supposed to be built across the Mormon temple in barangay Lahug, Cebu City but opposition in the community forced the Department of Public and Highways (DPWH) and Osmeña as sponsor to realign national funds. Instead, Osmeña realigned the P400 million to fund the Naga-Carcar City road expansion being pursued by Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu’s 1st district. Legal action Gullas’s Alayon Party entered into an alliance with the Liberal Party (LP). However, Alayon party members like Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said the mayors in the first district will support Rep. Pablo Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district in his run for governor of the province (see Page 2). The mayor, who insisted that the funds be used instead for road widening and repair of Cebu City’s roads in the north district, said he may look into legal action against the congressman. “It’s political gimmickry because he hasn’t been thinking that the money is intended for Cebu City,” Rama said. The mayor and the congressman were earlier tangled in a legal dispute over the two US Dodge cars parked at Osmeña’s home. The case was filed before the Ombudsman-Visayas. In this latest run-in, Rama said Osmeña should find ways to appropriate the P400 million budget for Cebu City other than the flyovers. Too much politics Osmeña, who recently received Liberal Party (LP) support for his mayoralty bid against Rama next year, said he gave up the P400 million in appreciation for the first district voters who supported former Cebu City councilor Hilario Davide III’s gubernatorial run in 2010. Still, Rama said Osmeña’s decision to allocate the PP400 million budget for the diversion of roads in the Naga-Carcar road stretch to prevent the cutting of century old trees wasn’t driven by altruistic motives. When asked about his comment on Osmeña’s statement that he didn’t set any conditions for his funding assistance to Gullas, Rama said, “I will answer it with a big Hahahahaha.” “He’s old enough and he’s supposed to be thinking much in the heart rather than to be thinking too much of politics,” the mayor insisted. The P400 million allocation was funding secured from the national government on top of Osmeña’s P75 million pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). After Rama and anti-flyover groups opposed the construction of the proposed flyover projects near Modesta Gaisano road across the Mormon temple and near JY Square in Lahug, Osmeña sought to shift the funds to south district roads. But the mayor opposed the fund transfer, questioning why the DPWH had to dismantle roads in good condition. More funding He said the funds could be better used to repair damaged north district roads like the Reclamation Area or for drainage improvement. Osmeña then had the road projects canceled last month. Osmeña said he called up Gullas after hearing that the congressman needed funds for the Naga-Carcar project three weeks ago during Congress’s hearings on next year’s budget. Osmeña’s P400 million offer also came with a promise to find more funding for Cebu’s 1st district if Davide and Bando-Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) councilor Raul Alcoseba wins in next year’s elections. Davide is running for Cebu’s gubernatorial post while Alcoseba, a three-term councilor in Cebu City, will run for the Provincial Board representing Cebu’s 1st district. Osmeña was recently appointed Cebu City chairman of the Liberal Party (LP) after the administration party endorsed his mayoralty candidacy and his BO-PK party for next year’s elections. Tweeny M. Malinao, Correspondent with stories from Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

Cebu governor accepts ‘challenge’ to run for 3rd district House seat

By (PNA)

RMA/EB/GB


CEBU CITY, Sept. 22 (PNA) -- Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia has dropped her senatorial bid, saying she is more needed in Cebu than in the Senate.

Garcia will run instead in Cebu’s third district for a congressional post.

”At this crucial time, the task of sustaining Cebu’s unprecedented gains and progress as the number one province in the entire country requires that I be here, at all times, if necessary,” Garcia said.

She made the statement in her keynote speech before more than 1,500 college students during the Second Student Marketing Convention at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City Friday.

She cited this as her reason for not seeking a senatorial seat and aspiring instead to become a representative of the towns of Barili, Aloguinsan, Pinamungahan, Asturias, Balamban, Tuburan and Toledo City in the House of Representatives.

”I am humbled that our party’s leaders in the third congressional district have unanimously, and so graciously, opened up an opportunity for me possibly to further serve Cebu in another capacity,” the governor said, adding that she accepted the challenge to become a congresswoman there.

She said she would still confer with the district’s congressman, Rep. Pablo John Garcia, her brother and One Cebu Party gubernatorial aspirant, so she would be informed of the district’s needs, in case she wins.

Garcia said she already informed Vice President Jejomar Binay about her plans and he understood her position.

She told reporters that her rank in surveys was improving, so she thanked Cebuanos who expressed their confidence in her senatorial bid.

”I have not been known to run from a good fight just because it was difficult. But as my most well-meaning friends and allies have pointed out, the good fight is here, in the province I have pledged to serve well, to serve faithfully,” she said.

She said it was a really difficult decision since being a senator would also benefit Cebu.

Garcia landed 25th in the recent Pulse Asia survey last week. Last year, she was in the 45th spot, then 32nd in a survey last June.

There are only 12 seats for the Senate in next year’s elections.

Thanksgiving mass for Calungsod pressures DPWH 7 to speed up rehabilitation of road that links Mandaue and Cebu

By (PNA)

GHG/EB/RE


CEBU CITY, Sept. 21 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 is speeding up the rehabilitation of the U.N. Ave. linking Mandaue City and Marcelo Fernan Bridge in time with the national thanksgiving mass for the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod in November.

Calungsod will be canonized on Oct. 21 in Rome.

Marie Mignon Nillama, DPWH 7 public relations officer, said the agency and its contractor hope to finish the project next month because thousands of pilgrims are expected to arrive in Cebu to attend the thanksgiving mass the Archdiocese of Cebu will organize on Nov. 30.

”We received an advice from the central office to speed up the project because many tourists are coming to Cebu for the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod,” she said.

The DPWH 7 is upgrading almost a kilometer of the UN Ave. starting from the foot of the Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge.Under the contract, the P28.4-million rehabilitation project should be finished by February next year.

Meanwhile, Nillama apologized for their failure to coordinate with the Mandaue City government when it closed part of the inner lane going to Lapu-Lapu City.

Before the project started, Mandaue City and the DPWH 7 agreed that the road will be rehabilitated one lane at a time.

Edwin Ermac, head of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, said he was surprised when the DPWH 7 started working on another lane, even though the inner lane going to Mandaue City remains closed.

”Had they informed us earlier, we could have created a scheme that will ease the traffic congestion,” Ermac said .

Nillama said the rehabilitated lane going to Mandaue City will be opened on Sept. 27.

US lawyers in Cebu over Texas stabbing case

By Edgar Escalante, ABS-CBN Central Visayas


CEBU, Philippines - A group of lawyers and volunteers from Texas, USA, are in Cebu to gather documents and information on the background of an 18-year-old Cebuano who is facing cases of murder and frustrated murder in Texas.

Gabriel Canada Hall is accused of stabbing his neighbors last year.

One man died while his wife was injured.

Lawyers from the Public Attorney's Office, together with some volunteers from Texas, paid a courtesy call on Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama Tuesday night.

The group asked Rama's help in their gathering of documents and information regarding Hall.

Hall lived in Barangay Calamba Cebu City and was a former street child.

He was adopted by her sister and was brought to the US when he was 11 years old.

Documents and information that will be gathered will be used by the group to seek a more lenient sentence for Hall, who could face the death penalty.

Hall's case will be heard in March next year.

Hall's sister, Ernalyn, cried when asked about her brother's case.

DENR-7 spearheads coastal clean–up drive in Cebu

By (FCR/AYS/PIA-7, CEBU)


CEBU CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) -- In commemoration of International Clean-up Day, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in cooperation with the Coastal Law Enforcement Alliance -7 spearheaded a coastal clean-up drive last September 15 in the coastal areas of the Municipality of Liloan in northern Cebu.

With this year’s theme “Bayanihan Para sa Karagatan,“ the coastal clean-up activity was conducted in five coastal barangays namely Cotcot, Jubay, Poblacion, and Catarman that covers 6.5 kilometer of coastline.

The coastal clean–up activity were able to gather together the DENR-7 employees, representatives from other government agencies, local government units, private sector, academe and other stakeholders.

At least five to 10 representatives from the participating entities were asked to join in the campaign to have a sustainable safe and clean coastal areas and seas.

The purpose of the said activity was geared towards giving emphasis and importance as well as instilling awareness of the value and importance of having sustainable, clean and safe coastal areas and seas for future generations.

Presidential Proclamation No. issued on 2003 directed the need to promote the significance of International Clean-up day annually every thrid Saturday of September.

Cebu City board: Garbage abundant in coastal barangays

By Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao


A HUGE amount of waste in Cebu City’s coastal areas were sighted by the city’s Coastline Management Board (CMB) during their third quarter clean-up drive. Pedro Cuizon, head of CMB showed a video presentation of garbages floating in seawaters and scattering in seashores along the city’s coastal barangays. “Ang basura padulong gyud sa (garbage will go to) the lowland areas (during a downpour),” said Cuizon. These lowland areas include barangays Mabolo, Tejero, Carreta, Tinago, San Roque, Sto. Niño, Ermita, Suba, Pasil, Sawang Calero, Duljo-Fatima, Mambaling, Basak San Nicolas, Kinasang-an, Cogon-Pardo and Inayawan. Cuizon said the percentage of garbage varies on the size of the barangay. “Kon dako ang barangay daghan sad ang basura (If the barangay is big, the amount of garbage is also high,” said Cuizon. Cuizon said their clean-up activities involve the participation of city hall employees, students, organized groups and city’s scholars. He said CMB is currently conducting an information dissemination campaign on the enforcement of No Segregation No Collection policy, recycling and clean-up drives. CMB conducted their third quarter coastal cleanup last June 20 and another cleanup will be held on Sept. 22. The next coastal cleanup will be held on the fourth quarter of this year. Cuizon encouraged the barangays the implement the “No Segregation, No Collection Policy.” “The problem here are the individuals who do not properly dispose their garbage,” Cuizon said.

Eight skin-whitening products found to exceed mercury toxicity limits

By Tweeny M. Malinao and Joy Cherry Quito, Correspondents


Eight whitening products being sold in Cebu City’s stores were found to contain high concentrations of toxic mercury, according to results of test-buys by a Cebu-based ecology group. The Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) said test buys done on Sept. 13 and 14 in four beauty shops showed that the creams exceeded the allowable mercury limit of one part per million (ppm). The test buys were done together with representatives of the Quezon City-based Eco-Waste Coalition. These shops specialize in beauty products, Chinese medicines and health supplements. Aileen Lucero, safe cosmetics campaigner of Eco Waste Coalition, said the shops were located in Manalili, V. Gullas and Colon Sts., Cebu City. She said the test buys proved that these toxic products already reached the Cebu market. The eight mercury-laced skin whitening products were listed among the 50 banned products of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and cost P35 to P99. Through a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer used by Engr. Ramir Castro of QES (Manila), Inc., the eight skin-whitening creams showed high levels of mercury even if none of them listed the substance as an active ingredient. Questionable Pediatric toxicologist Dr. Bessie Antonio of the East Avenue Medical Center said mercury serves as a “preservative” for what is supposed to be effective skin whitening cream. While the limit set by the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) for mercury levels in cosmetics is 1ppm, Antonio said mercury is unnecessary in whitening creams. Antonio said “claims that it can whiten the skin is questionable.” Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, coordinator of the Philippine Earth Justice Center, said these mercury-laden cosmetics in Cebu should rouse government in confiscating these products and penalizing importers, distributors and vendors. The Eco Waste Coalition statement said mercury, an extremely toxic chemical that can damage the kidneys, the skin and the nervous system, is often found in imported skin facial creams. In its article concerning mercury in skin lightening products, the World Health Organization (WHO) said “the main adverse effect of the inorganic mercury contained in skin lightening soaps and creams is kidney damage.” The organization said mercury can also cause skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring and lower the skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infections. “Other effects include anxiety, depression or psychosis and peripheral neuropathy,” it said. Alarming In a statement Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairperson of the environment committee voiced concern over the illegal trade in mercury-tainted cosmetics. “I find this very alarming as consumers are practically buying poisonous cosmetics that can bring about adverse health effects. This is unacceptable,” said Cabrera. When asked how the public can help identify these mercury-tainted creams, Antonio said this would prove difficult unless testing these products is done. Eco Waste Coalition urged users to be extra vigilant, read the product information carefully and reject items that lack adequate and understandable labels in keeping with the Consumer Act of the Philippines. Provincial Director Nelia Navarro of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the Department of Health (DOH) will take the lead in clearing the markets of these beauty products. “It is their responsibility to give license or permit to sell and monitor trade of the products such as whitening cream and similar products like food and drugs,” Navarro said. DOH-7 earlier advised the public to check the cosmetic registration number of the products for safety. These must also be registered under the Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD). The DOH-FDA had already banned 50 products conducted last 2011 and this year. Antonio asked the DOH-FDA to “remind again the public” about these mercury-laced skin whitening creams.

Tom O has ‘cop car’ repainted; keeps second white Dodge sedan for family use

By Correspondent Edison delos Angeles


One of two controversial US Dodge Chargers whose use is being investigated by the Ombudsman Visayas is now in a shop to be repainted. Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district said the vehicle’s color will be changed to blue from its original black-and-white police car look. That may take some of the heat off the issue of Osmena’s continued use of a lookalike police car with the seal of the Cebu city government. “There was no intention by (sister) Minnie to keep the police car. The vehicle is now in the shop… Maybe (the change of color) will help address the issue, maybe not. But this was what was originally planned for the vehicles,” he said. The sedan is not an official police car, but a moving prop once used in movie sets of film maker Bigfoot Entertainment, whose owner Michael Gleissner let Osmena use the vehicle during his term as mayor. With questions raised about the propriety of the gift and the pseudo-official appearance of the car, the Ombudsman of the Visayas has started a fact-finding inquiry. A second Dodge Charger, all white with no markings, remains in Osmena’s house. Osmeña clarified that repainting the other black-and-white sedan was planned even before the controversy broke out. His sister Minnie and her son Paulo acquired both vehicles last June 29. The cars we re registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) shortly after their purchase. Registration papers described the vehicles as white and blue Dodge Chargers, an American brand. The white Dodge sedan was parked at the Osmeña residence in barangay Guadalupe yesterday when Cebu Daily News visited. He said it was painted white shortly after its purchase to be used as a service vehicle by Minnie and the family’s guests in addition to a 14-year-old Toyota sedan his sister uses during her visits to Cebu. The other black-and-white Dodge sedan was used during the funeral march of the late DILG secretary Jesse Robredo in Naga City. Osmena said the repainting of the second vehicle was delayed because of requests for use by other parties, including Guadalupe barangay captain Micahel Gacasan. Osmeña said he was willing to cooperate with the Ombudsman’s inquiry but said investigators should clarify what laws were actually violated. He challenged Mayor Michael Rama to produce documents and prove claims that the vehicles were donated to the city government. Osmeña recalled that he borrowed the vehicles from Gleissner on several occasionS when he was still mayor. The lookalike police car was used by the security office of the South Road Properties. Mayor Rama earlier challenged the Ombudsman-Visayas and the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) to investigate Osmeña’s use of the city government seal on one of two US Dodge cars. In issuing the challenge, Rama said he himself responded to public criticism about the vanity plate bearing the title “Mayor” in the front of his city government issued Toyota Grandia van. “I had the original license plate restored together with the vanity plate. Why doesn’t he (Osmeña) do the same with the Dodge cars in his possession?” he told reporters over the weekend. Rama said he wasn’t the first one to question the ownership of the two US Dodge Chargers in Osmena’s possesion. A photo of the Dodge police car was circulated in Facebook. The car was also photographed escorting the burial march for the late secretary Robredo. Osmeña said the Dodge cars were kept at the SRP because of an earlier plan to build a police precinct there. At the time he said the vehicles will be parked there “for bragging rights” since Cebu City was the only city in the country which used a Dodge Charger as a police car, the same type used by American law enforcement agencies. Osmeña admitted that the accusations leveled against him were already “hurting” him politically with many people talking about the car. He said his critics including Rama are branding him for “lack of transparency.” “A lot of money is being spent by the other side in the media. All they provide are twisted allegations and all I have to do is to answer. There was no donation of the vehicles and the vehicles were never owned by the city. There are LTO registration documents to prove its ownership. That will help clear up some matters,” he said. “But does that make it owned by the city? When I challenge them to file charges, that is not arrogance but a defensive mechanism because I believe in the system. All they have to do is state the laws which I violated,” he said.

City checks hauler’s contract; exec says rental seems okay

By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas


THE Cebu City Government will revisit its contract with the supplier of heavy equipment used in hauling garbage from the Inayawan sanitary landfill to the town of Consolacion.

This, after landfill manager Randy Navarro said the City is being shortchanged by Armed Builders and Supply.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said Navarro’s allegation and his suggestion to pay Armed Builders on a per trip basis will be looked into.

But he said the rental of Armed Builders’ heavy equipment is lower than that of the Association of Contractors Equipment Lessor (Acel), another supplier of heavy equipment.

He said City Hall rents Acel’s payloader at P4,413 per hour, P3,804 per hour for backhoes, and P1,716 per hour for 10-wheeler dump trucks.

No overpayment

On this basis alone, he said, there is no overpayment to Armed Builders, whose dump trucks are being leased by City Hall at P3,998.37 a day.

The City rents 15 10-wheeler dump trucks, one backhoe and one payloader from Armed Builders to haul garbage from the transfer station at Inayawan to a private sanitary landfill in Consolacion.

At P3,998.37 for each of the 17 equipment, the City owes Armed Builders about P2 million in rent every month.

“Billings of the contract had been scrutinized and certified by the Department of Public Services in terms of actual equipment utilized, as well as the number of days being served. The same passed audit scrutiny by the City Accounting Office,” Poblete said.

Navarro said Armed Builders’ equipment sometimes make only one or two trips a day instead of three.

Trips

But Poblete said it is not accurate to say that each equipment of Armed Builders is required to make three trips a day. He said the contract with the supplier merely stated that Armed Builders should ensure that the equipment is available 24 hours.

Poblete said Navarro’s task involves making the most use of the Armed Builders’ equipment.

The City administrator agreed with Navarro, though, that the truck ban in Mandaue City prevents the garbage-hauling trucks from making more trips.

Big trucks are allowed to pass Mandaue only between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The City’s one-year contract with Armed Builders became effective last January.

Cebu City’s P5 million aid to Luzon flood victims approved

By Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac


DESPITE some reservations, the City Council yesterday approved the P5 million donation to victims of last month’s massive floods in Luzon. Councilor Margot Osmeña, the council’s budget committee head, assured the council that there was still enough calamity funds to spend for the rest of the year. Osmeña reported to the council in yesterday morning’s session the result of her committee’s review of the mayor’s request for the P5 million calamity fund allocation. The city government has a P159 million calamity fund this year. Of the amount, 30 percent is set aside as a disaster quick response fund while the remaining 70 percent is for disaster management and preparation. Osmena said that as of Aug. 2012, the city still has a balance of P22 million from its disaster quick response fund. Even if the P5 million assistance is released to flood affected LGUs in Luzon, the city will still have a balance of P17 million for its use until the end of the year. Under the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act, local government units can share the five percent calamity budget allocation to other LGUs that are declared under state of calamity if the local legislature of the donating LGU approves the assistance.

MGB-7 declares a slope in Cebu as critical zone

By Hazel F. Gloria


CEBU CITY, September 12 (PIA) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 has declared "critical" the slopes within the five-kilometer ongoing widening road project that extends from Barangay Camp 4 hall up to Barangay Camp 6, Talisay City, Cebu.

A team of senior geologists, composed of Maria Elena Lupo and Josephine Aleta, who conducted a field investigation yesterday, September 11, said the slope is highly fractured with noted seepages. The slope measures between 60 degrees to almost 90 degrees.

Lupo said the area is highly susceptible to landslides and rockfall due to the highly fractured plus jointed and highly weathered characteristics of the rocks of the area. This is further aggravated by an ongoing slope cutting by a road expansion project.

MGB 7 recommended the immediate evacuation of houses alongside the road network; conduct regular clearing and monitoring of landslides-affected slopes; observe proper easement from weak slopes; and develop an early warning system

“Unless and until the appropriate slope protection measures are implemented such as riprap or retaining walls which will render the slope stable, all families should go to safer grounds,” Lupo added.

Continuous rains would make slopes weaken and saturate thus landslides or rockfall may occur anytime, she added.

The geohazards threat advisories indicating the significant findings and recommendations were received by Barangays Camp 4 and Manipis last March 6, 2012.

It may be recalled that based on the results of the 1:10,000-scale geohazards assessment conducted early this year, 77 percent of the 22 barangays in Talisay City are high risks to either landslides or flooding.

Three sitios each for Barangays Manipis and Camp 4 are highly susceptible to landslides.

These are sitios Cambang, Proper Camp 4, Bogo, in Barangay Camp 4; and Camp 5, Camp 7, and Proper Manipis in Barangay Manipis.

Meanwhile, MGB 7 regional director Loreto Alburo issued anew a geohazards threat advisory last September 6 to Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez on the completed geohazards mapping in a 1:10,000-scale to all barangays in Talisay City, Cebu on the account of the February 28 to March 6, 2012 assessment.

“They (local government units) were also advised to initiate readiness measures for a potential disaster,” Alburo said in a letter.

“Your office is encouraged to instruct your Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to plan for such contingencies and MGB 7 recommends strict and continuous implementation of the recommendations by the barangays,” he said.(HFG/PIA-7/DENR-7)

Pro-RH group in Cebu to gather 1M signatures

By (PNA)

LAP/EB/RE


CEBU CITY, Sept. 11 (PNA) -- A group of Catholic laymen supporting the Reproductive Health (RH) bill aims to gather one million signatures in its campaign in Cebu Province.

“As Catholics we continue to push for the passage of the bill and we hope the Catholic hierarchy will stop exerting pressure on our lawmakers,” said Leny Ocasiones, a member of the Catholics for Reproductive Health (C4RH) – Cebu Chapter.

She said the group will bring the campaign to schools and various communities in the province.

“We hope to gather one million signatures and we are urging other C4RH chapters to do the same,” said Ocasiones.

This is the second signature campaign for the Cebu-based group.

The first was conducted in June last year at the height of the debate over the provisions of the bill.

Ocasiones said the current campaign is still in support of the RH bill and the amendments that will be incorporated into the proposal.

The Lower House voted to end debates on House Bill 4244 last month.

Catholic Church leaders oppose the Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2011, or RH Bill, saying these contain provisions contrary to Catholic teachings.

These provisions include distribution of contraceptives and implementing adolescent reproductive health education.

Last year, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a disclaimer against the C4RH group.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, CBCP president, said church officials are merely upholding the teaching of the Catholic Church.

He said the bishops are not joining the technical working group organized in Congress to tackle various issues related to the bill.

“In principle, we are against the bill. If we participate, we are saying that we agree with the RH bill. We are against the bill, we are against the amendments,” said Palma.

Cebu City village puts up 24/7 outpost to warn residents of floods

By (PNA)

LDV/EB/RE


CEBU CITY, Sept. 10 (PNA) -- Barangay Sapangdaku in the hinterlands of Cebu City has put up an outpost near their bridge to warn residents in case of another flash flood, like the one that swept away appliances and livestock last Saturday noon.

”Our outpost is stationed 24/7 to prevent instances like this,” said barangay captain Lorna Damalerio.

Since June, the weather bureau has adopted a color-coded alert system for Metro Manila, where floods recently forced the cancellation of classes and shut down business operations.

In Cebu City, barangay officials were still consolidating Sunday the number of individuals who suffered from the latest flash flood in Sapangdaku, which means “big river” in English, last Saturday.

Damalerio said they submitted the list to City Hall’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) Monday so that assistance will be given to the victims.

”Based on my estimate, there are over 40 houses affected, more or less a hundred individuals. They have also lost their livelihood, such as crops,” she said.

Damalerio also plans to consult the Cebu City Government about the bridge project that was supposed to be finished last July.

Last Saturday, floodwater entered houses in Sitios Caimitohan Riverside and Mohon in Barangay Sapangdaku, following a heavy downpour.

Damalerio said these sitios near the Sapangdaku River have always been hit by flood whenever there is a heavy rain, but last Saturday’s impact was more severe than usual.

The Bureau of the Fire Protection reportedly had to tear down part of one of the houses to rescue four people trapped inside.

Aside from the families affected, Damalerio said some 50 students from Sapangdaku Elementary School were also evacuated.

Alvin Santillana of Cebu City’s local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has said the flash flood affected several areas in Barangay Kalunasan and Sambag ll, apart from Sapangdaku.

NDRRMC: Flash flood hits Cebu City village

By LBG, GMA News


At least one house was destroyed while another was damaged in Cebu City in the wake of a flash flood brought by heavy rain Saturday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Sunday.

In a report on its website, the NDRRMC said the incident occurred Saturday afternoon in Sitio Lukana in Kalunasan village in Cebu City.

The NDRRMC said the flash flood was due to the overflowing of the Guadalupe River.

"One house was totally damaged while another was partially damaged. As of reporting time, no casualty was reported," it said.

It said the Bureau of Fire Protection, the village disaster risk reduction and management council, and the Philippine Red Cross responded to the incident.

Vertigo forces Cuenco to abandon Congress run

By Doris C. Bongcac, Edison delos Angeles, Jhunnex Napallacan


Team Rama will have to find another candidate to run for Cebu City’s south congressional district. Former congressman Antonio Cuenco, 80, announced that he is retiring from politics for health reasons. In a letter read by his son James Cuenco yesterday, the former Deputy Speaker said he suffered vertigo during a recent sortie in the south. “A check with my doctors the following day confirmed that my vertigo problem started to recur. I was then advised (by my doctor) to refrain from further exposing myself to strenuous activities,” he said during a press conference in the mayor’s office. (See related story on Page 2). Cuenco, who last served as Cebu City south district congressman in 2010, said he fears his condition – which involves severe dizzy spells — wuld worsen if he continues with a campaign. Cuenco endorsed Cebu City Councilor Jose Daluz III as his replacement. However, the younger lawyer said he was just a “temporary replacement” till the matter is discussed with partymates when Mayor Michael Rama returns from China next week. “But I am ready in case the group would ask me to run,” said Daluz. ’Sinking boat’ Opponents in the administration Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) party said Cuenco’s exit was expected. BO-PK founder and Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district, said Cuenco’s exit was a sign that the “boat is sinking” for Team Rama. “Even in the north district, they had to pick a Manila-based relative to run,” he said. Osmeña referred to talent manger Anabelle Rama, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s cousin, who joined Team Rama sorties in recent days and declared her intention to run for Cebu City’s north district. In the same signed letter, Cuenco said he will retain his work as Secretary General of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). Some doubts were raised about Cuenco’s letter when his point man, former Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman Paul Clarence Oaminal pointed to an entry in Cuenco’s Facebook account. “I AM PUSHING THRU WITH MY CANDIDACY… and to those who created the rumor? I’ll lift you all up to the Lord Almighty for making up those lies and that at the end of the day may you sleep PEACEFULLY at night”, the post rea.. No e-mail address Oaminal asked the media to wait for Cuenco’s return from Indonesia later this month. However Cuenco issued an official statement last night through his staff in Jakarta. James said his father didn’t post the Facebook message because he didn’t even have an email address. “Definitely it’s not my father,” he told reporters. Daluz said there was an incident which happened two weeks during a meeting between Cuenco and some barangay captains in his Guadalupe residence. He said Cuenco’s son James managed to catch his father before he fell to the floor. “My family, whom I love dearly, has been incessantly begging me to grant them the gift which they say they value the most, my time. Therefore today, I’m setting aside my political aspirations so I can focus on my retirement,” Cuenco said. Strenuous Cuenco said he’s “passing the torch to a younger generation in Team Rama, particularly Daluz to continue “his legacy” in the city’s south district. A copy of Cuenco’s Sept. 1 letter was sent to Rama before his departure to Jakarta, Indonesia the following day. James said his father’s vertigo problem occurred during the last barangay elections in 2010. He said his father was in the US during the barangay elections which caused then Cebu City Mayor Osmeña to accuse him of abandoning the barangay captains in the south district. James confirmed Daluz’s account that his father had another vertigo episode at his Guadalupe home two weeks ago. He said his father’s doctor Dr. Manuel Lim advised against strenous campaigning but said Cuenco can still work in Indonesia because he usually stays in an office. Consent Cuenco’s stint as AIPA secretary general ends in February next year. James said the family held a meeting and made the decision. “I composed the letter with instructions from my father and consent of my mother and Ronald my brother. My family is happy that after decades of public service he will have time for us,” James said. Daluz said he was “honored” by Cuenco’s endorsement. “I’m ready to run, but this is not my decision alone…I need to consult my family and friends,” Daluz said. Whoever will become Team Rama’s south congressional bet will face Councilor Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa. Osmeña said Cuenco’s retirement only showed that he was conceding to the fact that he will lose in next year’s elections. “Pure excuses. He can say whatever he wants. My interpretation is that they know they are going to lose,” he said. Osmeña added that he is confident that Abellanosa will win over Daluz. “The fact is that Daluz is a substitute. If he’s a strong opponent, why is he a substitute? It’s easy to judge the results because they (Daluz and Abellanosa) always ran together and Bebot is always number one,” he said. Councilor Abellanosa welcomed Cuenco’s retirement. “Tony’s health has been a concern of his family. It’s good this consideration has prevailed over Mike’s urgent need to keep him in his team,” he said. Abellanosa said he could only wish that no one else from among Team Rama would leave the group even before they could file their certificates of candidacy.With Correspondents Sean Timothy Salvador and Jose Santino S. Bunachita

‘Patrol cars’ not City Hall property, says Tom

By Tweeny M. Malinao


ONE still looks like a black-and-white patrol car, and carries the seal of the Cebu city government. But Cebu City Rep. Tomas Osmeña yesterday said the two US-made Dodge Charge sedans parked in his home were not property of the city government. He said there was a misconception that these were donated to the city government by Bigfoot Entertainment, whose owner Paul Gleissner, is a friend and close supporter. Osmeña said the heavy duty vehicles which Bigfoot used as police cars in movies earlier shot in their Cebu studios were offered to him but were later purchased by his sister Minnie and her son Paulo. “I could have asked for it, but I don’t want it,” said Osmeña in a press conference at his residence in Guadalupe. During his term as mayor, Osmeña would occasionally be seen riding the American-made car which he explained at the time was owned by Gleissner’s company and given to him to use. Yesterday, he challenged Mayor Michael Rama to produce documents to prove the vehicles were donated to Cebu City. Mayor Rama said ownership of these cars will be eventually checked by the anti-graft office. “The Ombudsman will be there,” he said because the issue needs to be checked “to clear the air about who’s being honest or in good faith.” A photo of one of the two Dodge Chargers was circulated in the Internet, raising questions about its origin and current status. Osmeña said he saw nothing wrong with keeping the car’s government markings Bigfoot Entertainment was one of the first investors in the South Road Properties (SRP), leasing three hectares in 2008 to build sound stage and studios. Osmeña said Bigfoot owner Gleissner visited him in Houston while he was recovering from gallblader surgery in 2009 and asked the mayor if he wanted to have the two police cars which the company used in their shoots. “He was thinking to donate them to the City but when he found out my term was ending, he didn’t pursue the idea of donating it to City Hall,” Osmeña said. Osmeña said that Gleissner even sent the two vehicles to meet him at the Mactan Cebu International Airport when he returned to Cebu in 2010 after his surgery. Since he refused the donation, he said sister Minnie and nephew Paulo, acquired the vehicles. They have documents to prove the purchase, said Osmeña. “But the cars are under my possession and control. It is not being used without a policeman inside,” Osmeña said. When he was still mayor, he said he allowed use of the two vehicles for security duties in the South Road Properties (SRP). One vehicle is now being used to transport guests, following his exit from City Hall when his term ended in 2010. The other still has a siren, city government seal and the marking “for official use” on its body . Osmeña said it retained its appearance as a police car for “bragging rights”and was even sent to Naga City as an escort vehicle during the burial of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo last month. Two uniformed policemen drove the car to Naga City and carried a mission order for the purpose, with the authority of Police Regiona Director Marcelo Garbo, he said. “That was our contribution to the funeral (march) and no city funds were spent for it,” said Osmeña. He said the cars were used by VIPs like congressmen, some cabinet members, investors, and even Rep. Manny Paquiao when he is in Cebu. Osmena said the car is not used privately without a policeman inside./With reports from Tweeny M. Malinao

Cloud computing ‘more solid’ than non-cloud environment

By (Jean Mondoñedo/Sunnex)


CEBU CITY -- A serial entrepreneur from Silicon Valley, who is also a proud Filipino, allayed fears on Thursday that cloud computing threatens corporate security, saying it’s more solid than non-cloud environment.

Cloud computing is currently considered as one of the most significant shifts in information technology, promising cost-efficient applications and data that the public can use from the Internet like Facebook and Twitter.

Winston Damarillo, CEO and co-founder of Morphlabs, a company built in Cebu, said “it’s no less secured than the servers you store in your closet.”

“It’s not a threat to security. People are just scared because it's got the ability to massively fail. If you have one server that breaks, nobody notices it. But if you have an entire cloud computing environment, which breaks, like Amazon, then it affects a lot of people. So people worry about that, but on the average, if you look at what they call service level agreement, cloud computing is more solid than non-cloud environment,” he told Sun.Star.

He said with cloud computing, people will only pay for what they need.

“Cloud computing is like power, you have a 220 volts plug, and you only pay for what your appliance use…It saves a lot of money, in terms of power, and it reduces the number of computers you'll gonna need…It makes the application easy to use,” he said.

Damarillo believes that cloud computing will soon become the most prevalent infrastructure. “We’ll soon forget that there are servers at all. We’ll expect applications to be downloadable from the Internet and you just log on and use it.”

With this, Damarillo stressed that the Philippines must embrace cloud computing.

“Cloud is like a national infrastructure, we have to have it. Cebuanos have access to it now,” he said, adding that “if you run cloud from the Philippines, your data stay in the Philippines…it’s faster, no latency.”

Damarillo is in Cebu for the “Hack2Hatch: From Hacker to Founder” weekend entrepreneurship camp that aims to gather local tech developers. It is part of the “Silicon Valley Comes to the Philippines,” a special four-day mentorship toward collective empowerment and economic development, a press statement said.

The activity is scheduled on October 5 to 7 in Cebu City.

Aside from Damarillo, top Filipino American technopreneurs, including Philippine Development Foundation chairman of the board and Tallwood managing partner Dado Banatao and Sheila Lirio-Marcelo, founder and CEO of Care.com, will be the mentors.

Rama: No luxury cars for Tom’s BO-PK allies

By Doris C. Bongcac


Vehicles which Cebu City Hall promised to the city’s 80 barangays will only be issued to allies of Mayor Michael Rama. They won’t automatically go to the barangay captain. That much was made clear by Rama in recent meetings with barangay officials allied with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), including a meeting yesterday at the Grand Convention Center. “Minalditohay na man kaha ni. Ingon ani-on ta na lang ni (This is about being clever. So let’s do the same),” Rama reportedly told officials of barangays Guba, Tejero, Talamban, Carreta and Sto. Nino. Rep. Tomas Osmeña said barangay Bacayan officials allied with him confided to him on Monday about the mayor’s warning that he would not issue new city vehicles to non-allies. Last week, the mayor turned over SUVs like Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Fuzion to two barangay captains and eight barangay councilors allied with him. Mayor Rama yesterday confirmed having called a meeting on Monday and announcing that the SUV intended for barangay Bacayan would have the Memorandum Receipt issued to councilor Efren Lauron, an ally, and not the barangay captain. “But the vehicle will still be for barangay Bacayan. If someone wants to use it, they have to talk to Councilor Lauron,” the mayor said in his noontime press conference. In yesterday’s meeting with five other barangays, he told the group he felt insulted each time he learned that city vehicles issued to the barangay under his administartion were used to to the Guadalupe residence of Representative Osmeña, his nemesis. “Dili ba na insulto nako?” (Isn’t that an insult to me?) A barangay official who requested anonymity said he felt offended by what Rama told them in the meeting at the Cebu Grand Convention Center. They received a call from a worker of the Barangay Affairs at City Hall requesting their presence in a lunch meeting with the mayor. “We went because we were told that the meeting was about the city’s Annual Investment Plan,” he said. Councilor Edgar Labella, the vice mayor candidate for Team Rama, and Mayor Rama addressed the group. Labella said that while he won’t force barangay officials to support him in the election, he asked them to consider Mayor Rama’s performance during the last two years. Labella also explained the mayor’s stand on their refusal to pay for the Rallos lot in Sambag 1. Rama assured those present that he spent his personal funds for the luncheon meeting. He talked about the passage of an ordinance which prohibits him to sell lots at the South Road Properties (SRP) and the display of Type O tarpaulins in some barangay halls. Rama also recounted an encounter last week in barangay Guadalupe where he and Congressman attended a basketball tournament. He said he wasn’t acknoledged or given a seat. However, Osmena was repeatedly greeted and introduced by whoever was holding the microphone as the “next mayor” of Cebu City. “How would you feel if it were you who were there?” Rama asked barangay officials. Rama also criticized Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. and former councilor Gabriel Leyson who both plan to run for a council seat in the south district next year. In a separate interview, Congressman Osmeña said barangay Bacayan officials allied with BO-PK also confided to him in a meeting last Monday about Rama’s warning that he won’t give them a luxury vehicle. “And Rama says it’s not politics,” the congressman said.

City Council urged to pass disaster fund

By Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters


Friday night’s earthquake stresses the urgency for the Cebu City government to already have a command center that will coordinate its disaster preparedness and response, said Mayor Michael Rama. Rama has again reminding the City Council of the urgency to pass the P157.5 million Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund LDRRMF) which includes the P34.6 million budget for the command center. “I wanted to again bring this to the attention of the City Council. I do not want that under my watch calamities will happen and we will just look back and bring our regrets because we did not put our acts together,” he said in a press conference yesterday afternoon. The City Council has tabled for approval of the fund which can be used for disaster preparedness and impact mitigation and also for disaster quick response. City Councilors however still wanted to be clarified of some items in the proposed budget like the P98.7 million LDRRMC trust fund. They are also asking for an accounting of the 2011 LDRRMF. Rama said that if the P34.6 million command center budget is not approved this year, he will include the item in the 2013 draft budget. “I just hope that no major disasters will happen before they act on the measure,” he said. The command center allocation being proposed by Rama will include the acquisition and installation of all weather communication equipments and CCTVs. Rama wanted the command center to occupy a structure that be built on an elevated area to make sure that this will not get flooded. He wanted the center personnel to coordinate the city’s disaster preparedness and response efforts and facilitate the immediate release of information in case of emergencies brought about by natural and man-made disasters.

Damage estimate from earthquake rises to P11.2M

By Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper


CEBU CITY –- As cracks on more bridges were spotted, government raised its estimate of the property damage caused by last Friday’s earthquake to P11.22 million.

Eastern Samar reported the most damage, including cracks on the Layug Bridge in San Julian town, which may cost at least P4 million to restore.

Rapid damage assessment reports sent to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) painted a less grim picture than was expected, considering the quake, at magnitude 7.6, was stronger than the one that hit the Visayas in February this year.

But the images were still startling.

An Agence France Press photo showed residents of Basey, Samar staring at the collapsed wall where their chapel’s altar used to be. Robinson’s Place in Tacloban City suspended their operations last Saturday morning to clear broken pieces of glass from the mall’s floors, the NDRRMC learned.

And in General MacArthur, Eastern Samar, residents returned, ignoring warnings to stay away from danger zones, to find at least 50 houses damaged and 24 others wrecked.

Ten more aftershocks hit Eastern Samar and Surigao del Norte between 12:16 a.m. and 4:11 p.m. on Sunday. Their magnitudes ranged from 2.6 to 4.8, according to bulletins from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Seven bridges in Eastern and Northern Samar developed new cracks, some on their piles and girders (Caglankay and Maroyondoyon Bridges in the north) and others on their deck slabs (Sulat and San Eduardo in the east).

“San Pedro Quinapundan Bridge was slightly tilted but still passable to all types of vehicles,” the NDRRMC summed up on its website.

In Cagayan de Oro, an abandoned quarry site in Upper Kolambug, Barangay Lapasan reportedly collapsed. A public market in San Isidro, Surigao del Norte was declared unsafe for regular operations after six columns sustained damage. It will take P400,000, at least, to fix the market, said the NDRRMC report.

New cracks spread on the seawalls of Placer and General Luna, both in Surigao del Norte.

In Agusan del Sur, a gas lamp that fell during the quake lit a fire that burned down an entire house.

No report about property damage in Central Visayas has reached the NDRRMC so far. (Sun.Star Cebu)

Cebu City Hall hit on trips, unused materials at SRP

By Doris C. Bongcac


Cebu City Hall was warned by auditors about using vehicles for unofficial trips and P5 million worth of unused construction materials stockpiled at the South Road Properties (SRP) over the weekend.

State auditors said vehicles issued to Cebu City officials were used mostly for unofficial purposes like trips to the beach, religious activities and other personal purposes in violation of a Commission on Audit (COA) circular.

The disclosure came amid an order by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama last Friday to cut the monthly fuel allocation for city government vehicles by half since the city is running out of fuel supply.

They said the “unofficial” use of vehicles should be charged to compensate the cost of fuel used and the wear and tear of the vehicles.

“Official receipt will be issued upon payment,” the COA 2011 audit report said.

They said the trip tickets showed that city government vehicles were used in beach parties, reunions, outings, pilgrimages and other religious activities by elected city and barangay officials or private persons.

“Aside from the trip tickets, no other documents were submitted to vouch that the private persons/entities indicated as users were authentic,” said the audit report.

It also noted that “the fuel consumptions reflected in these trip tickets varied substantially even for the same vehicle regardless if the distance traveled were more or less the same.”

Councilor Raul Alcoseba, for example, consumed 18 liters of gasoline for his City Hall-issued Toyota Innova to attend Mass and basketball practice.

He consumed 83 liters of gasoline from Oct. 3 to 27 last year.

The Mitsubishi Adventure assigned to Councilor Leah Japson consumed 102 liters of gasoline for trips made from Aug. 13 to 22.

Among these trips were a birthday party in barangay Talamban which ate up 26 liters of fuel.

Councilor Augustus Pe Jr.’s City Hall issued Toyota Innova consumed 153 liters of gasoline from Dec. 3 to 28 for “VIP meetings” held at the Waterfront Hotel, South Road Properties, Compostela town, Ayala and Rustan’s Guadalupe.

The Toyota Grandia assigned to Mayor Michael Rama traveled from Cebu City to the Mactan Cebu International Airport and Santander town in the south on Sept. 23, 2011 and consumed 48 liters of gasoline.

A minibus of barangay Quiot consumed 30 liters of fuel when it traveled to Alcoy town in southern Cebu on Oct. 7, 2011.

It was boarded by call center agents and the trip ticket cited “legal purpose” as the reason for using the vehicle.

The Cebu City government releases 200 to 400 litters of fuel to barangay vehicles per month.

Fuel allocation depends on the type of vehicle and whether the barangay is located in the mountains or lowland.

City vehicle drivers whom auditors spoke with blamed defective odometer of their vehicles as the reason for the varying consumption of fuel.

The auditors also told city officials to completely fill up trip tickets to explain their trips.

In last Friday’s order, Rama said fuel should only be issued to vehicles with marked “for official use only.”

The P20 million fuel and lubricant purchase which General Services Office (GSO) head Rolando Ardosa requested for is included in the P233 million Supplemental Budget 2 which the city council is yet to approve.

Auditors also asked City Hall to identify those responsible for purchasing construction materials acquired in the ‘90s.

They said buying supplies should be based on a three-month supply requirement to avoid waste.

Among these materials are 1,499 culverts of assorted sizes, several construction materials, paint and tires.

These materials were mentioned in a 2010 audit report but auditors said the city government had yet to address it.






Tremor Jolts Cebu City Residents

By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR


CEBU CITY, Cebu — The picture of a peaceful Friday evening here, made more seemingly enchanting by the appearance of the so-called “blue moon,” was jarred when residents started scampering for safety after a strong earthquake shook parts of the province, including Cebu City, and nearby provinces struck.

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred in Guian, Eastern Samar, at 8:47 p.m., according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), but residents in Cebu, Bohol, and nearby provinces reported feeling the ground move for more than a minute.

There were several night activities in Cebu City last Friday. A mall was having a midnight sale, bands were playing in a music venue, and plenty of people were having a good time inside a popular weekend spot when the quake took place.

A tsunami level 3 alert was raised past 9 p.m. with warnings for residents of coastal areas facing the Pacific Ocean in six provinces to “immediately evacuate to higher grounds” because of expected “high tsunami waves.”

Cebuanos, however, seemed calm even with the setting off of the tsunami alert, learning from the past earthquake when pandemonium erupted after someone shouted a false tsunami alarm. The tsunami scare then created panic, with people running and vehicles speeding towards more elevated areas.

Last Friday, however was different with Cebu City Mayo Michael Rama saying that the public was calmer even if the tsunami alert was already raised to the third level.

Online data from the US Geological Survey (USGS) showed the epicenter of the magnitude 7.6 quake at 94 km east of Sulangan, Guian, in Eastern Samar.

Several aftershocks were recorded a few minutes after the occurrence of the first tremor.

Cebu province felt a magnitude 5 earthquake, according to the Philippine Information Agency 7.

Apart from the Philippines, tsunami warnings were raised in Indonesia, Belau, Yap, Taiwan, Japan, Guam, Northern Marianas, and Papua New Guinea by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The warning was later lifted, excluding the Philippines. As of press time, no reports of damage and casualties have yet been affected.

The earthquake was felt in Iloilo City, many towns of Iloilo province, Capiz and Negros Occidental as well as in Bohol. In Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Orienta, a 54-year-old grandmother died after her house collapsed on a hill in Brgy. Lapasan.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) chief Benito Ramos issued an advisory nationwide reminding residents to be on the alert for aftershocks. The quake knocked out power in several other towns and cities across central and southern Philippines, though it was restored in some areas later last night.

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