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==Coastal villages urged to plant mangroves==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2013/08/20/1111701/coastal-villages-urged-plant-mangroves
*Tuesday, August 20, 2013 12:00 am
:By Garry B. Lao (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Two Talisay City councilors have urged coastal barangay officials to plant mangroves to protect the coastlines from erosion and to provide a breeding place for marine species.
Councilors Antonio D. Bacaltos Jr. and Charles Basillote said barangay captains of Pooc, Biasong, Dumlog, Poblacion, Cansojong, San Roque, and Tanke should plant and nurture mangrove propagules.
Bacaltos and Basillote noted the importance of mangroves to coastal communities - particularly, protecting the coastlines from erosion aside from providing a breeding place for marine species.
“Mangroves are truly beneficial in terms of the ecological system as a whole and also their conversion to other very important uses. The mangroves play a very significant role in coastal stabilization and promoting land buildup, fixation of mud banks, dissipation of winds, tidal and wave energy,” the councilors said, who is proposing a resolution in today’s council session.
Basillote also said the mangroves offer breeding grounds for fish, mollusks, and crustaceans.
==Traders encouraged to help promote ‘inclusive growth’ ==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2013/08/19/1108191/traders-encouraged-help-promote-inclusive-growth
*Monday, August 19, 2013 12:00 am
:By Ehda M. Dagoo /JMD (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Senator  Benigno "Bam" Aquino  has called the business sector to actively participate in promoting "inclusive growth" by providing opportunities and engaging them in their respective businesses, aside from generating jobs for the Filipinos.
Aquino, who was the keynote speaker during the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Business Summit 2013, said that the country's bid to achieve full inclusive growth should need the involvement of businesses and encourage more Filipinos to enter as entrepreneurs.
Aquino admitted that the Philippines has to resolve the issue of poverty reduction, while its economy is known as the "bright star" in Asia in the next couple of years.
"Now is the exciting time to do business in our own shore," he told the over 500 delegates attending the summit at the Cebu International Convention Center.
However, Aquino admitted that despite the good economic shape of the Philippines as confirmed by the international economic experts and global rating agencies, still about a quarter of the population is considered poor.
Aquino, who is the Senate committee chairman for trade and commerce vowed to fast track the seven bills that will energize the "inclusive growth" bid, encourage entrepreneurship, further streamline red tape,  strong development of social enterprise, among others.
Known as a social enterprise advocate before he entered politics, Aquino urged businesses to follow the model of social enterprises, wherein commitment to engaging communities like farmers and fishermen is vital to poverty alleviation and realization of inclusive growth thrust.
He said companies, even those that are not "social enterprise," can well participate to contribute the country's path to self-sustaining growth if they change some of their supply chain systems, such as getting their raw materials directly from the source and eradicating the traders or middlemen.
Part of his committee's plan is also to subsidize those companies that employ good inclusive supply chain approach. He mentioned what Jollibee is doing, for instance, wherein the fastfood chain is sourcing about eight percent of its onion requirement directly from farmers in the Philippines, instead of getting cheaper supply from overseas.
Likewise, Selecta is also practicing inclusive supply chain approach by buying their "ube" requirements from farmers for its ice cream flavoring.
"I urged you work with marginalized communities, provide them with the market, engage our countrymen in business, give them the opportunity," Aquino specifically addressed to successful entrepreneurs and the MCCI members.
==SMB, Mandaue plant trees==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2013/08/18/1104611/smb-mandaue-plant-trees
*Sunday, August 18, 2013 12:00 am
:By Flor Z. Perolina (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Officials of Mandaue City and some business establishments led by San Miguel Brewery and the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Indsutry (MCCI) planted seedlings of indigenous hardwood and fruit-bearing trees in barangay Tawason yesterday morning.
The tree planting was part of San Miguel’s month-long celebration of the company’s environmental flagship program “Buhayin ang Kalikasan.”
Seedlings were planted in the Vera Estates, a twenty-hectare property being developed as a subdivision.
Since the inception of its “Trees Brew Life” reforestation program, the beer company has planted 150,000 samplings of hardwood, mangrove and fruit-bearing trees in several areas in the country where the company’s facilities are located.
The beer company’s tree-planting programs are in support of the National Greening Program of President Benigno Aquino III and the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources.
City officials led by Councilor Diosdado Suico joined yesterday’s activity.
Participants included employees of SMB, Uratex Foam, RCBC, Busa Printers, Adnetwork, Metro Cebu Water District, students of Tipolo, and Tawason Elementary Schools, and local residents including those from adjacent barangays of Tabok and Casili.
“Where environment thrives, business thrives,” said Ricky Tablante, assistant vice president of Mandaue Brewery during the opening program.
Roberto Huang, president of San Miguel Brewery Inc., in his message vowed to double by 2015 the 150,000 trees they have planted.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes in his message read by councilor Diosdado Suico said trees help maintain the ecology, adding “we are doing this for the future generation.”
The eco park is part of the 20-hectare Vera Estates developed by Castille Resources Realty Development , Inc.
Edgar Castillo, owner of Vera Estates, said he will ensure that the trees are well taken care of.
Romelinda Garces, communication officer of San Miguel Brewery, said the next tree-planting activities of the company will be held in Cebu City and Liloan town since its goal is to plant 6,000 trees in Cebu this year.
==Bastille day in Cebu==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-lifestyle/2013/08/17/1100741/bastille-day-cebu
*Saturday, August 17, 2013 12:00 am
:By Honey Jarque Loop (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - The French national holiday known as the Bastille Day, celebrated each year in July, has such a strong significance for the French, as well as the rest of the freedom loving world.
To commemorate such a historical event, the well-respected and visionary Honorary Consul of France in Cebu, Michel Lhuillier, and his wife Amparito hosted an outdoor reception and dinner at the beautifully landscaped garden of the Aliance Francais with French Ambassador Gilles Garachon as guest of honor.
The entire setting carried the French tri-colors of blue, white and red. The ceiling was draped with vertical bands reminiscent of the national flag. The table centerpieces which were filled with beautiful clusters of blooms also carried the same color scheme.
Ambassador Garachon, in his brief speech, highlighted not just the celebration but also reminisced about the historic events which give French citizens the opportunity to unite around the motto of the French Republic proclaiming “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity”. The occasion has been etched in history and has become firmly established as an ultimate symbol of French nationhood.   
Delectable French dishes were displayed at several stations where guests feasted on duck liver terrine in home made spicy bread with onions, beef bourguignon, sweet and salted tart with caramelized pears and grilled pork blood sausage, salted éclair caviar eggplant and provencale vegetables and pork cooked in duck fat served with beans and homemade smoked sausage.
The merriment marked a fitting Bastille Day celebration that truly epitomized the French  joie de vivre.
   
--
The Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion alumni, headed by dedicated president Tina Jordana, recently hosted an intimate dinner at Gabriel’s Hotel for golden jubilarian Sanchez Dale Torrefranca Fernandez, a long time resident of Palm Springs, California,  who came to Cebu to visit family and friends.
Sanchez, as she is fondly known, graduated with honors in college. She is best remembered for her numerous lead roles in CIC’s school plays such as Romeo and Juliet (where she portrayed Romeo), as Oedipus — the tragic king of Thebes, in Antigone;  Puck, who served as Shakespeare’s    voice in the play Midsummer Night’s Dream; as Joan of Arc, the folk heroine of France,  and a lot more.
Sanchez until very recently was director of Human Resources for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for 16 years.
==Port development to boost regional economic growth==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2013/08/16/1096891/port-development-boost-regional-economic-growth
*Friday, August 16, 2013 12:00 am
:By Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento /JMD (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - The regional port development, if realized, can boost the robust economic performance of the region and fuel the growth of other economic drivers given the increase of port activities to and from Central Visayas.
This was pointed out by National Economic and Development Authority regional director Buenaventura Go-Soco, Jr. in his presentation on the outlook, opportunities and growth areas for regional port development during the 2nd Visayas Cargo-Handling Operations Excellence Forum last July 26.
He told industry stakeholders that the heightened economic activity and people movement result to the need to develop the ports in the region so as to address the growing number of port activities, cater to the influx of domestic and foreign tourists and avoid possible accidents.
“There is a need to facilitate the movement of passengers and cargo in our ports since with the present practice, accidents are bound to happen anytime,” he stated.
Go-Soco said that the Region 7 is considered to be a significant contributor to the country’s economic growth particularly in terms of construction, manufacturing, trade, real estate and other business activities.
The ports have paved the way for the job generation, attraction of more tourists coming in and increased passenger and cargo traffic in the region, he said.
He said that this is evident as the Cebu-based port is getting already congested since it caters to both domestic and international shipping lines while the Tubigon and Tagbilaran ports are fast becoming the gateway of tourists going to Bohol.
He particularly cited that the vibrant economic performance of Central Visayas is primarily attributed to the manufacturing industry, business process management and tourism sectors.
For instance, he said that the business process outsourcing - information technology (BPO-IT) industry has drawn migrants into the region.
Go-Soco then noted that such economic drivers will further exhibit robust growth given the implementation of the port development in the region.
He said that the manufacturing sector, for example, which has recently posted signs of recovery shall attract more shipcalls to the region.
He further said that those ports in the provinces which are managed by local government units could now facilitate the movements of goods to and fro.
However, he noted that there should be a policy on the establishment of LGU-managed ports since these may crowd each other out for services and may not be feasible over time.
He cited the ports of Loay and Alburquerque in Bohol as examples in which both towns are adjoining each other.
Go-Soco also said that the region has to look into other challenges on the port development which include the improvement of port facilities for the convenience of passengers and the coordination with other agencies whose projects may be affected or may affect the seaport.
“An example here is the proposed Cebu International Port which is to be located within the Consolacion-Liloan shoreline. The need for an access road and a bridge must be addressed by the Department of Public Works and Highways so that the port operations will be well-facilitated,” he said.
==DPWH proposes P742M for Cebu projects==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2013/08/15/1092481/dpwh-proposes-p742m-cebu-projects
*Thursday, August 15, 2013 12:00 am
:By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon /JPM (Freeman, The Philippine Star)
CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) - 7 has allocated over P742 million for 272 infrastructure projects scattered all over the towns and cities in Cebu province.
The amount, however, still needs the approval of the House of Representatives, said DPWH-7 Director Ador Canlas.
“We allocated the amount but everything still depends on the approval of Congress,” Canlas told The Freeman yesterday.
The P742 million is part of the 2014 budget for the public works department that is still being deliberated on by the House of Representatives.
DPWH data shows that as of July 31, 2013, majority of the infrastructure projects are school buildings amounting to some P100 million. These school buildings are to be constructed in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Danao, Carcar, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Bogo, Toledo and Naga.
School buildings will also be constructed in the towns of Pilar, Carmen, San Fernando, Sibonga, Samboan, Dalaguete, Asturias, Argao, Barili, Moalboal, Malabuyoc, Alcoy, Dumanjug, Boljoon, Oslob and Alegria.
Of the 273 proposed projects, DPWH-7 proposed an allocation of P318,590,000 for concreting of the Cebu South Coastal Road.
Part of the amount or P74,438,000 will be for the Cebu North Hagnaya Wharf Road (CNHWR) which is divided into three sections. Another P21 million will be for the improvement of drainage structure of CNHWR in Mandaue City.
The Cebu north road is 109.45 kilometers long, traversing the main coastal highway along the northeastern part of Cebu and serving the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Danao and Bogo and the municipalities of Consolacion, Lilo-an, Compostela, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Borbon, Tabogon and San Remigio.
DPWH-7 also allocates P150 million for the road right of way and widening and concreting of Governor Cuenco Avenue (from Mahiga bridge to Cabancalan, Quezon St.) in Cebu City.
P50 million is also allocated for the improvement of drainage along the Mactan Circumferential Road in the town of Cordova.
The replacement or reconstruction of two bridges in the north - the Maraat Bridge in Victoria, San Remigio and the Dayhagon Bridge in Medellin have an allocation of P21.4 million and P23.6 million, respectively.
==Cebuanas on the Web summit to empower women in business==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2013/08/14/1087971/cebuanas-web-summit-empower-women-business
*Wednesday, August 14, 2013 12:00 am
:By John M. Destacamento (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Providing Cebuanas with formal networks for their firms and giving them access to business-related technologies will be the focus of a meet that hopes to gather a host of 150 women at the Oakridge Pavilion in Banilad, Mandaue City on August 22.
Cebuanas on the Web (COTW) will be the first women and tech summit in Cebu spearheaded by independent community called Cebu Google Business Group (GBG) to further advance the cause of women empowerment particularly in the field of business.
Filipino women are said to be under-represented in various established corporations, owing to timeconstraints, family responsibilities and insufficient social services for them.
Backing these claims, organizers cited a report released back in February that had Philippines rank 74th in terms of women’s economic opportunity index.
The report said the problems women face in the Philippine business setting include under-representation in reputable businesses, lack of formal networks and less accessible access of women to business-related technologies.
Titled “Access to Trade and Growth of Women’s Small and Medium Enterprises in APEC Developing Economies,” the research involved countries in the Southeast Asian region like Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines, among others.
Fleire Castro of GBG Cebu said with the staging of COTW, they hope Cebuanas can finally be given the right network that can help them further their businesses and make them aware of the importance of business technologies for SME innovation and firm performance.
COTW will feature talks from women who trail-blazed in their respective companies, using the Internet as one of their advertising platforms. It is open to neophyte businesses and even those that have started but wish to know and learn more about how technology can upgrade their presence.
Rica Serenio of Offshore Consultancy, however, pointed out that online advertising or marketing is not necessarily confined to Facebook or Twitter. She said there are a lot of other online channels and tools that women can take advantage of that can potentially benefit their businesses.
Serenio said, for instance, that they can make use of Blogger, Google Analytics, the popular video-sharing website YouTube, as well as the multilingual social networking and identity service owned by Google, the Google+.
Unlike conventional platforms like TV, radio and print, the Internet is deemed the least costly means of publicity. In fact, Serenio said most of the online tools are actually free of charge.
Although organizers said using these tools will be an added boost, they also warned that this will not be a one-way ticket to success, adding that other traditional means of marketing the business should not be left out.
Still, women have to finally brace for these changes in order to cope with the competition, said MJ Yuvallos of Istorya.net. She said women have to be introduced to the new techniques of selling their businesses, and that is using the Internet as a new medium.
Yuvallos also said Cebuanas must outgrow the notion that technology is only for the men. She said technopreneurs who are not yet keen on “going social” should outgrow their negative perceptions and instead have an open mind.
“If you raise a social media campaign, it will give you statistics that will be helpful in making economic decisions. With Istorya.net, for example, we are able to segment profiles of our website visitors and users so that advertising is better and more properly coursed through its intended audience,” Yuvallos said.
For Hannah Amora of HoneyComb Finance Consultancy, it’s essential to tell women that it (the process) is not actually difficult.
“We hope women can finally see the impact of embracing and incorporating technology into their business schemes,” said Amora who is a self-confessed fan of social marketing after having experienced its advantage first-hand.
From personal experience, Amora and her family in three months time were able to generate a fund needed for the medication of her son who had a heart ailment, using social networking sites as the only medium.
“You have to attract your intended audience. You have to tell them why they should care. The same with your business, you have to make people make that product switch. Sometimes, all it takes is a good online campaign,” Amora said.
Acting as mere volunteers, organizers said no registration fee will be collected from COTW participants. Interested parties are called to book their participation via GBG Cebu's website where limited slots are up for grabs.
==Securities Course to help Cebu develop capital market experts==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2013/08/13/1085231/securities-course-help-cebu-develop-capital-market-experts
*Tuesday, August 13, 2013 12:00 am
:By Ehda M. Dagooc /JOB (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Cebu is expected to develop a strong pool of capital market experts that could generate a demand, following the recent partnership between the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and the University of San Carlos (USC) to offer a Certified Securities Specialist Course here in Cebu.
PSE president and chief executive officer (CEO) Hans Sicat said that with the increasing interest of Cebuanos in tapping the capital market as one of the high yielding investment channels, the development should be well complemented, in providing the right types of skills and comprehension as to what is happening in the market.
Sicat said PSE may consider partnering with other universities here in the future, but the expansion of course offering to other universities largely depends on the movement of demand.
He said despite the aggressive effort of PSE to intensify the promotion of stock market investment to the mainstream market, only about .5 percent of the Philippine population has participated in the capital market.
However, on the flipside, PSE has noted a tremendous increase of Filipino investors trading the market through different online portals provided for by the PSE and brokers.
Online accounts last year grew by 12 percent. Aside from its active partnerships with the academe to further develop the capital market in the Philippines, PSE is also tapping the different online channels such social networking, among others.
Off-the-cuff, Sicat said the exchange is hoping to hit five million investors to trade within the exchange in the next few years. Today, there are only 575 thousand investors actively trading the country's capital market.
About 50 percent of these traders are Filipinos, while the other half are foreign stock market investors.
Although the interest is very high among capital market savvy investors, Sicat hopes that ordinary Filipinos, or even the monthly earner individuals will be able to appreciate the stock market as a way of building up their savings.
Today, the country's capital market registered an average daily trading value of P11.5 billion, a significant jump from P5.4 billion it posted about 18 months ago.
==Cebu gov to donate 800 Capitol-owned multicabs to barangays ==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=554078
*Monday, August 12, 2013
:(PNA), LAP/EB/
CEBU CITY, Aug. 12 (PNA) -- Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has said he will donate all 800 Capitol-owned multicabs to the barangays.
Davide said he has directed Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega to study the memorandum of agreement (MOA) and prepare the deed of donation.
Barangays use multicabs in their projects and basic services.
The MOA between the governor and the barangays, towns or component city states that Capitol pays for the cab’s registration while the local government unit (LGU) will take charge of the vehicles’ maintenance.
Davide said the multicabs are intended for the barangays and there’s no point for the provincial government to retain its ownership.
Cebu Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) head Eva Encabo said the governor’s move will lessen their workload.
Encabo’s inventory records showed that Capitol has 800 units of multicabs it bought since 2006.
Some barangays have two multicabs, some have one while others have none.
The province has 1,091 barangays.
Encabo said once the vehicles are formally turned over to the LGUs, the PGSO will no longer take care of their yearly registration and upkeep.
==Korean university students distribute school supplies ==
*Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2013/08/11/korean-university-students-distribute-school-supplies-297226
*Sunday, August 11, 2013
:By Rebelander S. Basilan
CHILDREN lined up inside the covered court to receive school supplies, while adults sat on plastic chairs waiting to read the letters on an eye chart.
Dressed in bright Korean costumes, little boys and girls smiled before a photo-spewing camera. Others giggled as they learned to say “Good morning” in Korean.
Dozens of students from the Wongkwang Health Science University in South Korea visited the Cordova Elementary School in Cordova, Cebu yesterday morning for an outreach program.
Residents of a nearby urban poor village were also invited to the event, where they availed themselves of a free eye test and got free eyeglasses.
The university partnered with the Department of Science of Technology (DOST) 7 and the Department of Education (DepEd) 7 to distribute school supplies, learning materials, computer units and other donations.
Cultural exchange
“By supporting the local residents, we want to strengthen the friendship between Korea and the Philippines,” said Lee Hark Jun, an official of the Wongkwang Health Science University.
Lee said the activity enabled their students, who are studying English in Cebu, to learn more about the local culture. It was the university’s second outreach activity in Cebu this year.
Aside from school supplies, the university also donated dental kits and computer units. The DOST 7 gave two desktops, a laptop, an overhead projector, books and magnifying glasses.
The Cebu Korean Community donated five sacks of rice for the school’s feeding program.
The activity was also supported by the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation-Integrated Development Center Inc., the SIGN Asia Foundation and the Philippine KOICA Fellows Association. KOICA stands for the Korea International Cooperation Agency.
Some 50 students from the Korean university participated in the outreach activity. They taught children simple Korean phrases and helped distribute sunglasses to the residents.
Long-term project
“This outreach program is part of their curriculum,” said Jessica Eribal, human resource manager of the university who also volunteered as part of her duties as a runner-up of the Mrs. Philippines Globe 2013.
DOST 7 Director Rene Burt Llanto said they have identified Cordova as one of the areas in Cebu that need intervention in terms of technology.
“This is a long-term project. This is just the start of the assistance we will extend to Cordova,” he said.
Crescensia Sitoy, a Grade 4 teacher and president of the Cordova Central School Teachers’ Association, said the materials will help them teach their pupils more effectively.
“Our goal is to improve our academic performance,” she said.
Dr. Caridad Labe, assistant director of DepEd 7, described the outreach program as “a very holistic intervention.”
“This is a sustained assistance with a holistic approach. Aside from the learning materials, there is also a feeding program to keep the pupils healthy,” she said.
Labe lauded the efforts of the different organizations, saying collaboration among stakeholders is important to address the problems on education.
“If we depend only on the government, nothing will happen,” she said.
==Tigerair eyes Cebu as next international hub ==
==Tigerair eyes Cebu as next international hub ==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2013/08/10/1073771/tigerair-eyes-cebu-next-international-hub
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2013/08/10/1073771/tigerair-eyes-cebu-next-international-hub
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