Cebu City News September 2016

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

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Cebu City Cathedral
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Magellan's Cross in Cebu City
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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
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Mormon Temple Lahug cebu city philippines

DSWD-7 culminates Family Week celebration with indigents

(PR)

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas culminated this year’s Family Week celebration with the indigent families last September 30 in Cebu City.

The half-day event was led by the Garay Family of Barangay Can-upao, Jagna, Bohol. The family is this year’s Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya Regional Winner and is among the top five finalists for the national search.

The family composed of Vicente (father), Marissa (mother) together with their seven children Ivy, Mary Rose, Aria Venice, Lee Mark, Vic Jun, Prince Mikko and Vincent Ian shared their experience and best practices before going to Manila to attend the national awarding on October 1.

Meanwhile, the culminating program featured talks on proper nutrition highlighting Pinggang Pinoy by DSWD-7 Nutrition officer Melina Cañares and Responsible Parenthood by Family Development Session focal person Emmalyn Morada.

Pinggang Pinoy is a food guide that uses a familiar food plate model to convey the right food group proportions on a per-meal basis and meet the body’s energy and nutrient needs.

Responsible Parenthood topic underscored the shared responsibility of the husband and the wife to determine and achieve the desired number, spacing, and timing of their children according to their own family life aspirations.

This year’s family week celebration had the theme “Matatag na Pamilya, Maunlad na Bukas.”

Cebu power firm’s workers plant 2,500 coffee seedlings in mountain village

(PNA), CVL/EB/PR/EBP

CEBU CITY, Oct. 3 (PNA) -- Some 120 Visayan Electric Company (Veco) employees and their family members have planted some 2,500 coffee seedlings in Barangay Pung-ol Sibugay, a mountain village in Cebu City, a company statement has said.

The tree-planting activity was a joint project of Veco and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the statement said.

Veco and PBSP partnered with a people’s organization in Barangay Pung-ol Sibugay, whose members will take care of the seedlings to ensure their survival.

Paul Cadutdut, a member of the Pung-ol Sibugay people’s organization, said the community will nurture the seedlings until they become productive trees.

He said the coffee seedlings are expected to start bearing fruits after three years.

“This tree-planting activity of Veco is a big help to us and to future generations here because once they start bearing fruits, the coffee trees will provide us livelihood,” he said in Cebuano.

Veco and its partners have been planting trees every year since 2009.

Veco has so far planted a total 1,047,299 trees in different areas of Cebu, the statement said.

Fabulation seminar

(PR)

THE European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 7 is conducting a workshop called ekoSHARE: Fabulation on Oct. 6 and 7 at the Materials Innovation Centre (MATIC). It will be held in DOST 7 Banilad S and T Complex located at Gov. M. Cuenco Ave. in Banilad, Cebu City.

Francis Dravigny, a French designer known for his exploration of abaca, is the resource person of this one-and-half-day event. Among Dravigny’s clientele are Cartier, Neiman Marcus and Sonoma.

It will be a lecture and workshop on the fundamentals of fabric manipulation with a one-on-one consultation session with Dravigny on the use of fabric in product design. Part of the package is a plant tour in Cebu Interlace, Dravigny’s factory. Materials from the company will be used for the hands-on application on fabric manipulation.

Registration fee is P4,800 for ECCP member companies and students. Non-member companies will be charged P5,500.

City dad eyes more equip’t for barangay health centers

By Nestle L. Semilla

In order to provide a primary level of healthcare services, a Cebu City councilor authored a resolution to purchase additional medical equipment for the different barangay health centers in the city.

Cebu City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr., author of the resolution, said, “It is imperative to provide the barangay health centers of the city with various medical equipment,” Gabuya said.

Gabuya said Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña already approved the request to purchase medical equipment for the 80 barangay health centers in the city.

Each barangay will be given two stethoscopes, manual blood pressure apparatus, digital blood pressure apparatus, two blood glucose monitoring and two nebulizers, which totals to P2.2 million.

Gabuya said the amount will be charged against the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) funds.

“Among the projects covered by the city’s monthly financial assistance from Pagcor is the delivery of basic health services,” Gabuya said.

These services include the improvement of facilities and the acquisition of needed equipment for the hospital, clinics and health centers in the city, Gabuya added.

He also said the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) has issued a certificate of availability of funds to cover the purchase of these medical equipment.

The council has referred the resolution of Gabuya to the Committee on Budget and Finance for recommendation.

Senior citizens in Cebu City to get P1,000 on October 2

(RTF/SunStar Cebu)

THE Cebu City Government will release P67.4-million worth of cash aid for senior citizens on Sunday, October 2.

Each elderly will receive their seventh tranche worth P1,000 out of the P12,000 the City promised each senior citizen this year.

The Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs head Dominggo Chavez said the system of distribution will still be the same and that their office has sent out personnel to inform the 67,302 elderly in the city.

This came after complaints on poor information dissemination caused trouble in some barangays during the distribution last August.

Elite fitness camp opens in Cebu City

(PNA), LAP/EB/PR/EDS

CEBU CITY, Sept. 29 (PNA) -- Fitcamp PH, the newest elite sports and fitness community, has opened in Cebu with a functional and performance training facility housed inside the premises of Camp Lapulapu, Barangay Apas, Cebu City.

Fitcamp PH is led by owner Kaiser Christopher Tan together with general manager Djundi Binas, and assisted by a team of competent sports, fitness and health professionals including Palarong Pambansa record holder in the 100-meter run Daniel Noval.

The facility offers personal training, fitness boot camps, individual and team sport strength and conditioning, corporate wellness, injury preventive exercises and pain treatment, as well as nutrition and lifestyle consultation.

These programs incorporate the latest and effective programs designed to take fitness enthusiasts to the health, fitness and performance level that they want.

4,000 pupils, teachers join quake drill in Cebu City school

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Sept. 28 (PNA) -- More than 4,000 pupils and teachers from Lahug Elementary School in Cebu City on Wednesday participated in the third quarter nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill.

The fire drill was spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Region 7 based in Cebu City.

Officials of the OCD, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Philippine National Police, Philippine Red Cross, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Cebu City Government and Cebu City Transportation Office served as evaluators during the drill.

Tashuana Alemania of OCD-7 said the drill was part of the simultaneous nationwide earthquake drill.

A one-minute emergency alarm went off at 9 a.m. at the Lahug Elementary School, which was identified as the pilot area of Central Visayas, to signal the start of the drill.

Pupils and teachers immediately executed the duck, cover and hold.

The entire drill was to test the evacuation scheme of the school and to determine how prepared it is should a strong earthquake hit Cebu, given its huge population.

The drill was completed in two hours after the evacuation and headcount were conducted.

DA awards Cebu City

By Rona Joyce T. Fernandez

FOR its excellent enforcement of prevention and animal care, Cebu City was awarded by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) as the best local government unit (LGU) anti-rabies program implementer in the country.

In a phone interview Thursday (September 22), City Veterinarian Dr. Alice Utlang, who has been invited by DA-BAI as the honorary guest to receive the award, said she is happy since it has been a while since the City Government was given such recognition.

Pioneer

“Although it’s not only the City that’s been recognized, I’m grateful and delighted because it’s quite rewarding to have the City’s efforts acknowledged. We are the pioneer of animal population control, humane catching and treatment and other areas,” she said in Cebuano.

Utlang recalled how the City used to catch stray animals with wires and how those who were old and sickly were put in gas chambers.

The practice, however, changed when Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act was enacted in 2007.

The City Government then introduced new methods such as using nets to catch the animals and practicing euthanasia through lethal injection, instead of keeping them in gas chambers.

Control

These new practices also helped the City earn the top spot in the province in terms of animal population control.

“This is because we were able to maintain our projects even without the active involvement of the UN (United Nations) Humane Shelter International and Jica (Japan International Cooperation Agency). We are able to continue and strictly enforce our programs,” Utlang said.

Also, the City Veterinarian’s Office has deployed personnel in all 80 barangays in the city to make sure that everyone in the community practices animal-friendly methods.

Those who are posted in the areas are tasked to issue citation tickets to violators of the law.

DA-BAI, through the National Rabies Prevention and Control Committee, is spearheading the celebration of the World Rabies Day on Sept. 28 with the celebration of the animal welfare week.

Cebu Business Park, IT Park to hold emergency drill today

(Sun.Star Cebu)

THE readiness to respond during emergency situations will be put to the test as premier estates Cebu Business Park and Cebu IT Park are set to conduct the annual Parkwide Emergency Evacuation Drill today.

The annual park-wide drill is an earthquake drill that practices locators and building occupants in the estates on how to protect themselves during an earthquake. This includes the drop/duck, cover and hold SOP during the shaking and other emergency procedures.

The drill will also test the readiness of emergency brigades or quick response teams of the buildings and estates in responding to mass evacuation of all building occupants, and possible incidents that may arise from the earthquake such as mass commotion, fire, property damage, etc.

Evacuation areas

Cebu Business Park will commence its drill by 8 a.m. while Cebu IT Park will start by 2 p.m. Assigned evacuation areas will include vacant lots, open spaces and parks nearest to each building.

The activity will also test the coordination of the estate management team with the buildings including LGUs/NGOs on how to properly respond, control and manage such incidents.

To give way to building occupants evacuating the area, some roads in both estates will be closed to traffic today.

For Cebu Business Park, north-bound lane of Cardinal Rosales Ave. from PhilAm Life Center to Globe Tower will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Vehicles bound for Juan Luna Ave. will take the Samar Loop.

For Cebu I.T. Park, the road along Avida Showroom and the road along The Walk, Calyx and Central Bloc will be closed from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Cebu Business Park and Cebu IT Park are two of the city’s premier estates owned by Cebu Holdings, Inc. and Cebu Property Ventures Development Corp., respectively. (PR)

CitySavings holds 1st hackathon

(Sun.Star Cebu)

A GROUP of computer science and information technology (IT) students from the Cebu Institute of Technology University (CIT-U) bested four other schools during City Savings Bank’s (CitySavings) Hackathon at Summit Circle Hotel in Cebu City last Sept. 10.

The competition was a first for the bank where student-participants demonstrated their quick thinking, collaboration and creative problem-solving skills by developing a digital solution for a given business scenario within the six-hour hackathon duration.

Each team’s digital solution project was judged by a panel of experts based on system performance and design, look and feel, and team presentation.

CitySavings board member Ana Aboitiz–Delgado, who also served as one of the judges, believes that going digital opens up a lot of doors for the bank to make better decisions and to come up with better services delivered over digital channels.

“It’s going to enable us to reach more teachers and change more lives,” she said.

CIT-U’s winning mobile app, CitySavings Loan, aims to make the loan application and approval process more convenient for the teacher-clients with the use of a smartphone.

The group received P10,000 cash for winning as overall champion, while other participating teams from the University of San Carlos, University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of Southern Philippines Foundation and STI College Cebu received P2,000 each as consolation prizes.

“During the moment we came in and the countdown started, we were so nervous, trying to catch up with the time and (we ended up) during our first run, everything was showing an error and we repeatedly created new projects but the same errors were coming out and it was one of the hardest moments during the hackathon. Thankfully our coach, Eugene Busico, helped us resolve those system issues,” CIT-U fourth year BS Computer Science student Jireh Bautista said, when asked about the most challenging part of the competition.

CitySavings EVP-Channel Management Levi Villanueva sees Cebu as a fertile ground for a lot of IT talents.

“The hackathon is a better way to provide these talents with an opportunity to showcase their innovation, responsibility, and teamwork which are all core values of the Bank. Throughout this exercise we want them to have an increased awareness of the society and more specifically of the teachers; they are doing work that we believe is something very honorable,” said Villanueva.

For CIT-U fourth year BS Computer Science student Ryan Lobitaña, the hackathon was a great opportunity to enhance his skills and to explore ideas with his team.

Meanwhile, school’s IT Department chair Larmie Feliscuzo said he was thankful to CitySavings for coming up with such activity that highlighted IT and engineering students’ strengths and encouraged them to go into mobile programming.

“CitySavings hopes to establish stronger linkages with the academe to be able to tap talents for the organization and at the same time create activities that we can embark on to involve students and the academe.” said VP-Human Resources head Maila Quijano.

Sardines-for-garbage scheme to start in Lahug, Guadalupe

By Rona Joyce T. Fernandez

RESIDENTS will soon be rewarded with cans of sardines for delivering their trash directly to garbage trucks.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, in his speech during the annual River Summit, told the more than a hundred participants that he wants them to observe and spread his new garbage disposal system.

“We’re not only giving sardines, but we’re collecting garbage efficiently as well. This will also lessen the trash thrown in rivers, clear the drainage and help the poor,” he said.

In an interview, the mayor said the sardines exchange will soon start in Barangays Lahug and Guadalupe, two of the largest villages in the city.

Access roads

He said the criteria he set for choosing the barangays are the number of constituents willing to participate and the areas that have difficult access roads.

With the people’s involvement, Osmeña said the collection of trash would be made faster considering that loaders will no longer be needed.

Sweepers

This will also mean that the City will no longer be in need of sweepers as the residents themselves are doing the initiative.

The inspiration was taken from a visit to a city in Brazil, wherein the residents took the responsibility of directly taking their trash to the trucks, he said.

Trucks

“We’re ready to go anytime now. We’re fixing up five trucks for that purpose,” he said.

Aside from the sardines-garbage exchange, the mayor is eyeing the installment of water impounding areas to help address the flooding situation in the city.

Meanwhile, Osmeña remained firm in his decision not to close the City’s landfill in Barangay Inayawan, despite Councilor Joel Garganera’s filing of a writ of kalikasan against him before the Court of Appeals last Friday.

“I think there’s some financial and political motives there so that the City will have to spend money...P600 million a year para, ambot lang (beats me). I will not allow other people to steal the money of the City,” he said.

Ayala Cebu promotes sustainable lifestyle

(Sun.Star Cebu)

GO green and “Be Eco-centric” this September as Ayala Center Cebu, rolls out a month-long line-up of activities in its campaign to promote an eco-efficient and sustainable lifestyle.

Reduce, reuse and recycle with the Ayala Recyclables Fair from Sept. 2 to 30. Bring recyclable trash, such as paper, bottles and tin cans every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and exchange for items like a music CD album, or a parking coupon in exchange for every drop of recyclables. Booths for the drop off of recyclables are located at Biliran Road (in front of The Terraces entrance) and Bohol St. (in front of the PUV Terminal).

Discover ways on how you can go green with the EcoLiving Expo from Sept. 18 to 23, showcasing green technologies and organic products from different exhibitors at the Activity Center.

A special trendy, foldable and reusable eco-bag will be available at the Level 1, Concierge near Guess for a limited period from Sept. 14 to 30 for only P50.

For more information, like Ayala Center Cebu on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AyalaCebu or follow @AyalaCenterCebu on Twitter and Instagram.

One may also visit the mall’s concierge for more details or call (032) 266-2535.

Journalism books at city library

(PR)

A SECTION of the Cebu City Public Library will be devoted to journalism books and other journalism-related materials.

Called CJJ Books, the section will be the latest addition to the facilities of the library located at the ground floor of Rizal Memorial Library & Museum building on Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City.

The book section complements two other projects initiated or supported by Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC): the CJJ Gallery at Museo Sugbo on M.J. Cuenco Ave. and CJJ Magazine.

CJJ Books, as a section of the library, will be part of the facility but its materials will be collected by CCPC, mainly from its members, journalists and the public. Aside from printed books and magazines, CJJ Books will also collect audio books and video films and documentaries related to media. CCPC owns CJJ Books materials but the city library manages their use.

Rosario Chua, city librarian, said the new section will add a lot more library patrons to its clientele. Not only the working press, Chua said, will find the materials useful but also mass communication students and campus journalists and other sectors interested in media literacy.

Initially planned by CCPC to be located at University of the Philippines Cebu College, CJJ Books site has been moved to the city library for easier access by its beneficiaries. The public library is in the city’s central district.

CCPC president Dr. Pureza Oñate said the project aims to fulfill CCPC’s mandate to enhance standards and values of present and future media practitioners.

Cebu City to start implementing ‘no segregation, no collection’ policy on Sept. 28

(PNA), FPV/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Sept. 21 (PNA) -- The Cebu City Government will strictly implement the “no segregation, no collection” policy for all garbage in the city starting Sept. 28.

This was contained in a memorandum Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña issued on Tuesday to all barangays and department heads in the Cebu City Hall.

“Pursuant to Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000) and City Ordinance 2031 (Solid Waste Segregation At Source), strict segregation at source is hereby imposed beginning Sept. 28, 2016,” he said in the memorandum.

Osmena said unsegregated garbage will not be collected, while those who are caught disposing of mixed wastes will be apprehended.

He also required barangays, through their respective Barangay Solid Waste Management Committees, to prepare a waste diversion program that will reduce garbage at source by composting biodegradable waste and recycling non-biodegradable waste.

Osmeña said this will reduce the volume of garbage that will be brought to the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill which he reopened last June.

The city produces an average of 300 tons of garbage daily.

But the reopening of the landfill in Barangay Inayawan became controversial after nearby residents and establishments complained of stench coming from the landfill.


Compost system for five Cebu City villages

By Margarette Managaytay

BY launching a barangay-based composting center in Barangay T. Padilla last Tuesday, Cebu City Hall hopes to reduce one ton of garbage from each of the city’s 50 barangays in the next few months.

“Karon pagsugod, mo-process lang ta og 500 kilos a day from each barangay (At the start we will process 500 kilos of garbage a day from each barangay),” said City Hall environment consultant Nida Cabrera.

The barangay composting system is one of several waste reduction programs set up by City Hall to reduce the stench caused by the 15-hectare landfill in barangay Inayawan.

The five pilot barangays for the project were T. Padilla, Kamagayan, Capitol Site, Barrio Luz and Cogon Pardo.

Cabrera said they hope to have composting centers in at least 50 of the city’s 80 barangays by December this year.

She said they are expecting three kilos of household waste to be brought to their respective barangays.

The program will be stopped after two months to allow the harvesting of the compost generated by the garbage.

The barangay composting system is in accordance with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and City Ordinance No. 2031 or the Solid Waste Segregation program.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña called on barangays to compost biodegradable waste and recycle non-biodegradable waste.

Under City Hall’s waste segregation system, organic or biodegradable waste will be collected during Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Non-biodegradable waste or recyclable items and residual waste like rags, diapers and napkins will be collected during Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Garbage trucks will have separate receptacles to collect non-biodegradable waste and residual waste.

Collection of e-waste like damaged consumer electronic products, cellphones and busted lamps will be handled separately by a Transporter and Treatment, Storage and Disposal (TSD) facility.

Celebration of Cebu Press Freedom Week starts

(PNA), LDV/EB/EBP

CEBU CITY, Sept. 19 (PNA) -- Cebu media practitioners on Sunday opened the week-long celebration of the 22nd Cebu Press Freedom Week with a Walk for Press Freedom and a holy mass.

The walk was participated by members of the working press in such publications as Sun.Star Cebu, Superbalita Cebu, The Freeman, Banat News and Cebu Daily News and radio stations under the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas.

The walk started Monday morning from the Cebu Capitol grounds to Osmena Blvd. to the University of San Carlos north campus gymnasium on Gen. Maxilom Ave. where the mass was held.

Fr. Roberto “Bobby” Ebisa, general manager of radio station DYRF in Cebu City who celebrated the mass, said in his homily that the truth should always be the “true north” in the blueprint for media practitioners.

“The truth is just another word for God,” he said.

Ebisa said a lot of buildings are being constructed in Cebu City today. And if one enters the construction site, one can see workers carrying a blueprint.

He said the blueprint is something important in every construction because it contains the architectural and engineering design of the building. The blueprint dictates how a building will look like after the construction.

Ebisa said media practitioners need a blueprint, too.

“That blueprint is something that will guide us in everything that we do as media practitioners, especially that we are in these trying times. We have the social media, which doesn’t tell us the whole truth yet is being patronized by thousands. And we, who are legitimate, are considered to be biased,” Ebisa said.

“Don’t sacrifice the blueprint in our reporting. Don’t sacrifice the truth for the sake of personal gain,” Ediza said.

Cebu City to require establishments to install CCTVs starting October

(PNA), CVL/EB/PJN

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- The Cebu City government will require private establishments, subdivisions and condominiums to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in their premises starting next month to ensure security in the city.

This is mandated under Cebu City Ordinance (CO) 2381, known as the CCTV law of the city, which was approved in January 2014. The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the ordinance was approved in January this year and took effect last May after it was published in local newspapers last April 14.

All those required to install CCTVs were given a 120-day grace period, which will lapse by the end of this month.

Compelled to install the devices are high-risk establishments such as banks, pawnshops, jewelry stores, money courier and wire transfer firms, hotels, and games and amusement centers.

Other areas considered as high-risk include nightclubs, KTV (karaoke television) and resto bars, spas, and massage parlors.

Also covered in the IRR are lending companies, money changers, shopping malls, gas stations, coffee shops, internet cafes, and retail shops with an annual income of PHP5 million or higher.

Private schools, hospitals, parking lots, wet and dry markets and factories are also required to install CCTVs.

Corresponding penalties will be imposed on violators of the ordinance.

For the first offense, a fine of PHP2,000 will be imposed on managers or operators of business establishments and the homeowners’ association president or representative in the case of residential areas.

A fine of PHP3,000 and PHP5,000 will be imposed on second- and third-time offenders, respectively.

Youth group plants more than 300 guyabano saplings

By Kris Emmanuel Andujar (UP Mass Comm student)

A GROUP of young individuals planted recently at least 315 guyabano saplings in the hilly village of Agsungot, Cebu City.

The event was one of the biggest environmental movements in the country that aims to inspire the youth in immersing themselves in charitable activities.

Dubbed as “Empowering People to Unite with Nature,” the Humanist Alliance Philippines International (Hapi) and some Cebuano volunteers joined the 2nd Hapi nationwide tree planting project last Sept. 11.

“Most of our active members are 30 and below (pertaining to age),” said Dominic Malazarte, Cebu chapter head of Hapi Trees Year 2.

Capable

Malazarte said he wants to focus on the youth, as they are the vibrant and most capable population.

Huemer Uy, Hapi Trees Cebu Chapter secretary, stressed the importance of the youth in various activities.

“It’s good to have them because as young as they are, we can inculcate the spirit of humanity among them,” said Uy.

The project was participated by 20 chapters, including Aklan, Baler Aurora, Baguio, Bulacan, Cebu, Manila, Tarlac, Leyte, Bacolod, Davao, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, South Cotabato, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cavinti Laguna, Sorsogon, and Polilio Island.

Target

Other chapters like Sorsogon and Bacolod have started a day earlier, and others a day later.

The movement, in cooperation with various government and nongovernment sectors, aims to plant 30,000 to 50,000 indigenous, mangrove and fruit-bearing trees.

Lenie Fernandez, 21, said she felt more alive and honored to have served a purpose at such a young age.

She said that the thought of helping is a ‘nice’ and fulfilling experience.

“We, the youth, should not only think about ourselves, but also think about what’s around us,” Fernandez said.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Extension Officer Danny Jon Garcia, who attended the event, saw it as a relevant and timely action.

He commended HAPI Trees for initiating the project.

Garcia said that it could help mitigate global warming and prevent landslides.

The fruits of the Guyabano trees will go to the farmers who own or till the land where the saplings are planted.

13th PHILBEX Cebu opens

(PNA), LAP/EB/PR/PJN

CEBU CITY, Sept. 16 (PNA) -- Events and expositions organizer Worldbex Services International on Thursday formally opened to the public the 13th installment of PHILBEX Cebu at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall at the Cebu City north reclamation area.

The exposition is intended to address the needs of the region’s dynamic construction and design scene.

In attendance were Worldbex Services International’s Joseph Ang, Levi Ang and Jill Aithnie Ang.

The opening was also graced by Cebu Investments and Promotions Office head Benjamin Yap, who represented Governor Hilario Davide, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and Herbert Buot of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations.

With the theme “Uniting Strong Foundations,” this year’s installment gathered the most influential players of the region’s construction and design industry under one roof.

PHILBEX Cebu 2016 seeks to elevate the standards of the industry as it inspires ingenuity and excellence in its community.

The exposition occupies 1,158 sqm. of exhibition space with a projected visitor count of 25,000.

PHILBEX Cebu 2016 is expected to provide valuable insights for Cebuano homeowners, designers, architects and industry professionals.

With 100 participating companies, attendees can expect a dynamic trade show experience.

Apart from unique product and service innovations, this year’s show has other event highlights and stage activities, with Cebuano design taking the center stage.

Other event highlights include the Interior Designers Gallery, where attendees can marvel at the latest furniture designs.

At the Architect’s Gallery is the City of Tomorrow exhibition, a scale model metropolis of tomorrow’s urban landscape.

Visitors can take a closer look at some of the state-of-the-art building and construction innovations in the market at the Worldbex Lab and the Furniture Gallery, presented by Murillo Furniture.

Cebu City legislator wants bike lanes in PHP27.9-B Cebu-Cordova bridge

(PNA), LAP/EB/SGP

CEBU CITY 12 (PNA) -- A Cebu City legislator has filed a proposed resolution asking the proponents of the PHP27.9-billion Cebu-Cordova bridge to incorporate bicycle lanes in the construction of the toll bridge.

Cebu City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr., in his resolution, asked the Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC) to put up bicycle lanes in both sides of their proposed bridge that will link Cebu City to Cordova town across the Mactan Channel.

MPTDC proposed to construct the bridge in a joint venture agreement with the local governments of Cebu City and Cordova town.

“I want that people will be encouraged to bike. Not to bring vehicles anymore,” he said.

Gabuya said biking will contribute to a healthy lifestyle and reduce vehicles on the road.

He said the council, under the Local Government Code, has the power to regulate the use of streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks and bridges.

Gabuya said his request to MPTDC will complement with the proposed ordinance he filed asking establishments in the city to reserve a parking space in their areas to encourage the public to bring bicycles with them instead of cars.

The proposed ordinance has already been referred to the committee on laws for review and recommendation.

Cebu City creeks to be rehabilitated

By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas

THE Estero-Parian creek will soon be rehabilitated.

A university in Cebu City along with an international chemical corporation already started identifying the pollutants in the creek so it will be treated.

Engr. Ricardo Fornis, assistant dean of the University of San Carlos (USC)-College of Engineering, said their school together with the DOW Leadersip in Action is undertaking the project as a step toward realizing sustainable water management.

“It (water pollution) is a big problem that needs to be addressed. We are only working on the first step here, the water characterization. We are determining what are the pollutants of the river and the level of pollution. You cannot clean the river if you do not know what to clean. After it will be determined, we will find a technology appropriate to clean these pollutants,” he said.

According to Fornis, the water characterization of the Estero-Parian Creek started in July this year and will take about one year.

He said USC along with the DOW personnel already got three water samples from the Estero-Parian Creek—one each on M.J. Cuenco Ave., near the Gaisano Main and beside the 138 Mall along Colon St.

The samples, he said, will be submitted to a laboratory in USC for study. http://www.zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Cebu_City_creeks_to_be_rehabilitated&action=edit&redlink=1 Fornis said USC and DOW picked Estero-Parian Creek as a pilot area after officials of Barangay Tinago approached USC and sought their help in cleaning the waterway.

They hope to replicate the rehabilitation of the Estero-Parian Creek with other rivers and water bodies in the city.

The study being is being funded by DOW as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Fornis said the local government unit should fund the implementation of the rehabilitation project.

“What we do is we offer technical solutions. The one who decides to embrace the technical solution should be the government,” he said.

Fornis, together with his colleagues and students, in the USC and officials and personnel from DOW gathered last Wednesday at the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.-Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center in Barangay Parian for a forum on water.

DOW, which is based in the United States, is a provider of chemical, plastic and agricultural products to its clients and make innovations to help address challenging problems, such as the need for clean water among others.

They shared their best practices, such as the rehabilitation of the Hot Springs Creek, the Cuyahoga River in Ohio and the Lower Jordan River in Israel.

DOW provided the solutions in the rehabilitation of these waterways.

‘Coffee festival’ set in city mall

(PR)

AN event centering on coffee is coming to SM City Cebu and is certain to stimulate senses with the gorgeous scent of fresh brew. Immerse one’s self in a coffee experience when the Coffee Festival kicks off on Sept. 16, Friday at the atrium of The Northwing.

There are several things in store for mall goers:

Experience coffee like never before at the Coffee Gallery from Sept.16 to 24.

Perk up, chill out and jam with Glynis and Anton on Sept. 16, Here’s Wally on Sept. 17 and Cuppa Folk on Sept. 24.

Learn the basics from bean to cup with Allegro Beverage, the country’s leading provider of complete coffee solutions. The company is the exclusive distributor of the finest espresso machines, brewers, coffee beans, syrups, sauces and teas from Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Ceylon, the Netherlands and the United States.

Brewology activities include Latte Art Down on Sept. 17 and 24 at 2 p.m., Coffee 101 on Sept. 18 at 2 p.m. and bartending training on Sept. 23 at 5 p.m.

Also, don’t miss the free coffee tasting from Sept. 16 to 24 during mall hours at The Northwing.

Riding on the increasing coffee culture in Cebu, the Coffee Festival in SM will be a fantastic opportunity for local coffee players and baristas, and a venue to host conversations among café owners, retailers and Cebuano coffee lovers.

Muslims in Cebu offer prayers for peace during Eid’l Adha

(PNA), LAP/EB/SGP

CEBU CITY, Sept. 12 (PNA) -- Muslims in Cebu on Monday offered prayers for peace and unity in celebration of Eid’l Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice.

Aladin Ubpon, imam or worship leader and administrator of the Al-Khairiah Mosque in Barangay Mambaling in Cebu City, said they offered the prayers for a swift end to hostilities in Mindanao following the bombing of Roxas Market in Davao City, which resulted in the death of 14 people and injury to dozens of others.

“We always pray for that, we ask from the heavens that peace will continue to dominate,” Ubpon said.

Ubpon said the annual feast of Eid’l Adha is a three-day celebration and will involve prayer, feasting and giving alms to the poor.

They slaughtered 22 goats and a cow for their feast.

Ubpon said Eid’l Adha or the “Feast of the Sacrifice,” commemorates the deeds of the Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham.

He said that according to Islamic tradition, Ibrahim brought his son to the desert to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as an offering to Allah.

But Allah, through an angel, stopped Ibrahim and told him to sacrifice a lamb instead of his son.

In honor of Ibrahim’s sacrifice, Muslims must slaughter a lamb or goat and divide its meat among family, friends and neighbors.

Cebu grad tops electrical engineering board

(PNA), RMA/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- A graduate from the Cebu Institute of Technology University (CIT-U) in Cebu City topped the 2016 electrical engineering licensure examinations.

Alfred Isaac Ajo, 22, topped the annual board exams held in Cebu last Sept. 2 and 3, with a rating of 92.40 percent.

Ajo said he didn’t expect to top the exams, but he said he was aspiring to be part of the top notchers’ list.

Ajo, who hails from Barangay Labangon in Cebu City, is the second of four children.

His father is a registered civil engineer while his mother is a public school teacher.

Ajo said he was destined to be an engineer like his father and an older sister.

He credited his parents for developing his study habits.

“The secret to my success was always been my parents. They’ve trained me to really focus on my studies ever since I was still in my elementary years,” Ajo said.

He carried this attitude towards his studies to college. Ajo graduated magna cum laude last March.

Cebu Port eyes a P400M loan to build a new terminal

By Elias O. Baquero

THE Cebu Port Authority (CPA) is applying for a P400-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to build a new terminal for fast craft passengers in Cebu City.

Speaking in the 18th International Network of Affiliated Ports (INAP) Conference 2016, CPA General Manager Edmund Tan said that the project is expected to start by next year and to be completed before the end of 2018.

INAP is composed of affiliated ports from different countries.

“This major passenger terminal project in the pipeline will cater to all fast craft vessels,” Tan said.

Current operators of these vessels include Bullet Express, Fast Ferry Corp., Supercat, and Weesam.

The project has the go-signal of the Cebu Port Commission, the policy-making body of CPA chaired by the secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) or his alternate.

Tan said that they already filed their loan application with DBP in Cebu, which has forwarded it to its Manila office for approval.

Tan started his presentation with the corporate profile of CPA, which was created by Republic Act 7621. He described Cebu as a major trading center with its Asian neighbors even before Spain made the country its colony.

At present, Tan said, the Port of Cebu caters to the international market by maintaining linkages with other ports in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

The CPA, he added, is obligated to produce an efficient, safe, economical, and coordinated system of movement of goods and persons through the port, consistent with the constitutional mandate to give all regions of the country the optimum opportunity to develop.

Tan said he was confident that with DBP operating as an independent bank, the port authority’s loan application will be processed smoothly.

Just last week, the administration under President Rodrigo Duterte formally decided to stop the merger of DBP and Land Bank of the Philippines, which then president Benigno Aquino III tried to accomplish via an executive order last February.

However, the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations resolved to cancel Executive Order 198. Only Congress can amend or repeal both of the laws that created these two banks. The merger would have made the combined entity the second largest bank in the country.

As to the proposed new terminal, Tan said that Robinsons Galleria Cebu has offered to build a pedestrian overpass or skywalk from the proposed fast craft passenger terminal to its establishment, an offer that the Cebu Port Commission is still studying.

Cebu City’s 2017 annual budget to include PHP300M for new city hospital

(PNA), LAP/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY, Sept. 9 (PNA) -- The Cebu City Government’s annual budget for next year will include P300 million for the continuing construction of the PHP1.5-billion new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), an official said.

Cebu City Councilor Margarita Osmeña, the deputy mayor for budget and finance, said the executive department is now preparing the proposed 2017 budget which is of similar amount ot this year’s more than PHP6-billion budget.

Osmena said the budget will address the garbage problem, traffic congestion, and the continuing construction of the CCMC.

The city government allocated PHP300 million each in the 2014 and 2015 annual budgets for the construction of the ten-story CCMC building.

C. E. Padilla Construction won the bid for the construction of the first phase of the project with the lowest bid of PHP514.9 million.

The construction of the first phase, which involves the the CCMC’s building structure, started last year but it was stopped recently because it doesn’t have the required permits from the city government.

There is no schedule yet when the works will resume.

The old CCMC building, which was destroyed by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Oct. 15, 2013, was torn down to give way to the new building on N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City.

The CCMC continues to operate in a lesser scale at the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 7 compound across the site of the old hospital.

South Korean coffee shop opens in Cebu City

By Dominic D. Yasay 1:28 pm

THE South Korean household coffee brand Tom N Toms Coffee opened its first store at The Greenery along Pope John Paul II Avenue in Mabolo, Cebu City Thursday morning.

The two-storey cafe that operates 24/7 can serve 100 customers sells coffee, teas, iced beverages, pretzels, pastries, breads, and pizza.

The second store in the country, Tom N Toms Cebu is a franchise venture by the JL Alba Corp., a Cebuano-grown company operating a hotel in the city.

Peter Kim, general manager of Tom N Toms Coffee Philippines, said they are considering to open more branches in Cebu.

21st Milo Little Olympics Regional Finals opens September 8

By Richiel S. Chavez (SunStar Cebu)

CEBU -- About 4,000 athletes will converge at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) for the opening ceremony of 21st Milo Little Olympics Regional Finals on Thursday, September 8.

Visayas leg head organizer Ricky Ballesteros said, in a press conference at the SM Seaside on Wednesday, that the participants come from 250 schools in Visayas region.

Olympic marathoner and reigning three-time Milo Marathon champion Mary Joy Tabal will signal the opening of the games as she will light Milo's Urn of peace and unity.

"I once dream to have Milo title and it leads to where I am now. You will experience failures but with perserverance and dedication you can make it," Tabal said.

There will be 15 sporting events to be competed: arnis, athletics, badmimton, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, karatedo, lawn tennis, scrabble, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.

The University of San Carlos Basic Education Department and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu will defend its elementary and secondary title.

The sporting event will run from September 8 to 11 in different playing venues in Cebu.

GrandCon: Cebu’s Grandest Event Venue

(PR)

Whether it’s celebrating special occasions or planning for future business endeavors, the Grand Convention Center of Cebu, also known as the GrandCon, continues to bring to life every Cebuano’s milestones. It’s no wonder that it has become the sought-after events venue in Cebu.

Strategically located at the heart of the Queen City of the South, GrandCon offers an expansive ballrom with a floor area of 1,200 square meters, which can accommodate up to 1,800 guests. It also provides versatile function rooms and flexible packages to suit every Cebuano’s events needs.

Aside from catering to various event needs, GrandCon also houses three exquisite restaurants that will surely satisfy your appetite. One is Isla Sugbu Seafood City, Cebu’s pride when it comes to seafood goodness, as it offers the largest selection of fresh and live seafood. Second is the Grand Majestic which has a grand selection of international and local cuisines. Last but not the least is , one of the finest Chinese restaurants in Cebu that constantly delivers an imperial feast and impeccable service.

Moreover, GrandCon’s exeptional team makes sure to be with you every sntep of the way, so that any event will be nothing short of grand.

Now if you want to bring to life your achievements or special moments in the grandest stage, make sure to spend it at GrandCon.

For inquiries and reservations, you may call (32) 260-8000 or email sales@thegrandcon.com.

VocTech holds seminar on use of solar PV technology

(PR)

FOR the past years, there has been an increasing interest in the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology in businesses and households.

Together with the increasing trend in solar power is also the increase in the demand for competent human resources in this industry. Solar PV technology can create jobs, not just in manufacturing, but also in installation and maintenance.

In answer to this opportunity for the labor sector and users of solar panels, VocTech held a seminar called “Solar Energy: The New Paradigm in Energy Source” last Saturday at VocTech’s campus on the second floor of BAI Center, Cebu South Road, Basak-San Nicolas, Cebu City. The seminar is an offshoot of VocTech’s partnership with Lightup Innovative Products Inc. and Japan Solar Philippines Inc.

Lightup Innovative Products Inc. is a direct importer, wholesaler, and retailer of solar-power related products and emergency preparedness products while Japan Solar Philippines Inc. is a manufacturer of solar panels and is also into renewable energy.

The main speaker of the seminar was Simon John Corocoto, president of Lightup Innovative Products. Corocoto presented a comprehensive discussion on the emerging trends in the Solar PV Technology and the key components of solar PV technology.

Corocoto discussed the advantages of using solar PV technology. He cited the independence from oil-dependent energy sources, the power crisis in the country, mitigating global warming and air pollution as the main reasons there is a need to consider solar energy as an alternative source.

After his presentation, he invited the participants to a hands-on demonstration on solar peripherals, tools and equipment. The attendees actively participated in the live demonstration.

Another speaker in the seminar was Suryono Tjoeng, technical manager of Japan Solar Philippines. Tjoeng discussed the importance of quality in solar PV technology. The other speaker, engineer Jun Yap, presented the technical side of solar PV technology.

The three-part solar PV technology course of VocTech was also launched during the seminar.

Cebu City to implement more projects, programs, particularly for kids, women

By Razel V. Cuizon

THE Cebu City Government wants more action and implementations of programs and projects in the coming months.

This was the main point of the three-day discussion for the executive-legislative agenda (ELA), said Councilor Margarita Osmeña.

She said they discussed all aspects of local governance to make sure that constituents receive upgraded and better services.

Among the matters they threshed out were local legislation, health care, water, garbage, financial capacity and women and children’s welfare.

“It was a productive discussion. We talked about almost everything to make sure that we can do more for the benefit of our people. Basically it’s an inventory of what we haven’t done yet,” Osmeña said.

For the City Council, Osmeña said they’ve agreed to strengthen the implementation of city ordinances.

Instead of crafting more local legislation, inventory of previous local policies that were not implemented will be made to allow concerned offices to enforce these. The department heads who attended the discussion also identified what they’ve done and what they need to do.

Priorities

For Osmeña, taking care of the welfare of the children and women will be prioritized.

According to Department of Interior and Local Government, Cebu City has not performed well in terms of projects and programs intended for these sectors.

The City used to excel in these areas, Osmeña said, that is why they will allow more participation by the barangays.

Since her husband Tomas took office as mayor at noon of June 30, three Operation Gugma, or rescue operation of street children, have been conducted.

Aside from department heads and Osmeña, Councilors Sisinio Andales Jr., Alvin Arcilla, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Mary Ann delos Santos and Joy Augustus Young, who are all members of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, were present during the discussions.

Also present were Councilors Dave Tumulak and Hanz Abella, who recently bolted Team Rama and declared that he is an independent.

Osmeña clarified that members of Team Rama, including Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, were invited to the meetings.

She said a copy of the invitation was received by his office last Aug. 30. But the vice mayor and his allies said they were not invited.

Cebu City to turn over aerial ladder to fire department before month’s end

(PNA), LAP/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- The Cebu City Government is set to turn over to the Cebu City Fire Department an aerial ladder that is capable of reaching the 16th floor of a high-rise building.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Chief Nagiel Bañacia said the city bought the aerial ladder during the term of the previous administration.

Fire officials earlier expressed concern over the lack of equipment to reach high-rise buildings which are mushrooming in the city.

Bañacia said the city will also give the fire department one ambulance so they can be part of the loop of ambulance service in the city.

The city has distributed 47 ambulances to the different barangays.

Banacia said there are 18 new ambulances that have not yet been assigned to a barangay.

Bañacia said the city will also train the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel to become emergency medical technicians.

The city will also provide the supplies for their ambulance, he said.

“By that scheme, the city will be able to save money in terms of personnel services, for the salary of the staff of the ambulance service,” he said.

The ambulance, which will be stationed in the fire station in Barangay Parian, will be given to the fire department as soon as the city upgrades it to meet the standards of the Department of Health.

Cebu City gov’t gives 15 patrol cars to 8 barangays, CCTO

By Margarette Managaytay

Fifteen patrol cars that were earlier recalled by Mayor Tomas Osmeña would be distributed to eight barangays and the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO).

Osmeña chose the barangays that would be given the patrol cars, said Nagiel Banacia, Cebu City Public Information Office head, during an interview yesterday.

The eight barangays out of the 80 barangays in the city that would receive the Toyota Hilux patrol car are Talamban, Mabolo, Lahug, Capitol Site, Tejero, Guadalupe, Labangon and Kinasang-an.

The remaining seven patrol cars will be given to CCTO.

Banacia said that the mayor considered the barangay’s population and police operations conducted there in choosing the barangays.

There would be no official turnover of the vehicles but all the respective barangay officials would coordinate with the General Services Office (GSO).

“As long as naa na ang taga-barangay, makuha na na nila. We’ll coordinate with them for proper documentation,” said Banacia.

Despite the mayor being stripped of his authority over the police, Banacia said barangay captains also had the responsibility to take care of the peace and order in their localities.

He, however, said that the patrol cars could still be given to the police through the barangays and it would be the barangay captain’s decision if he would allow the use of the vehicle to the police.

“If the policemen want to use the patrol cars, we’ll leave it to the barangay captain to decide,” Bañacia said.

He, however, pointed out that the policemen would accompany CCTO personnel when they use the patrol cars, which meant that the policemen could also use the patrol cars.

DILG opens 15 emergency hotlines in Cebu

(PNA), RMA/AMD/EDS

MANILA (PNA) -- Department of Interior and Local Government has officially opened 15 emergency hotline 911 operations in Cebu City on Monday.

“We have launched 15 operators in Cebu particularly in Region 7 last Monday at 7 a.m. as part of the nationwide system hotline engagement, they are now providing assistance to our Cebuanos,” Dir. Edgar Allan B. Tabell, Executive Director of PATROL 117 Commission said in an interview.

Tabell stressed that they have drafted an executive order to be submitted to the Office of the President wherein proposals for the enhancement of the hotline 911 was included.

“We have drafted an Executive Order that pertains to the agency that will lead and operate 200 operators all over the country, the proposed 2017 budget of maximum of Php300-million but we are calibrating it and the exclusive free call to 911 which proposed to be funded by the government. Furthermore, we also asked the Telcos to lower down fees.” he said.

Tabell also said that aside from Cebu, they were prioritizing the first operations, which will be facilitated in Bataan, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Sultan Kudarat and Bulacan. He also said that in the next two weeks, LGUs would now be linked to 911.

"As of now, what we are focusing is the increased of hired call agents and equipment, we have 175 agents all over the country that supervise the calls, we hired people from our sister-agencies, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), trained four days by veterans agents. Aside from them, we are prioritizing the capacity of calls to be accommodated. In the long run, the 911 hotline will be applicable to landline and mobile phones.” He added.

He also said that average of emergency calls increases into 8.1 percent this month higher than they expected of 5 percent during its launch. The prank calls, however decreases into 17 percent.

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