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==DTI shared facility project improves productivity, jobs==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2014/04/30/1317683/dti-shared-facility-project-improves-productivity-jobs
*Wednesday, April 30, 2014 12:00 am
:By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - The shared service facilities in the production industry has brought notable results such as enterprise and job creation, high productivity and quality products that are helping the local economy rise, the Department of Trade and Industry-7 said.
The need to respond to the gaps in production is the department’s main reason of implementing the SSF projects to help local producers in their businesses, said Dr. Elias Tecson, DTI Cebu’s chief on business development division.
In fact, the DTI has turned over yesterday 10 Abaca Stripping Machines worth more than P5.7 million to a cooperative in Barangay Magsaysay in the municipality of Balamban.
The Barangay Unity Key to Integrated Development Multipurpose Cooperative (BUKID-MPC), one of the biggest abaca fiber suppliers in Cebu, is the first beneficiary of the government’s SSF program in the province, the chief said.
The association has 240 hectares of land planted with abaca and additional 150 hectares to be planted this year.
It also spends and takes care for the maintainance of the equipment, personal services, land improvement and other tools needed in the process.
Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:
Its members, other abaca farmers in nearby barangays of Magsaysay and abaca weavers and processors are the beneficiaries of the project which is also joined by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority.
The machines that are made by Mandaue have been distributed to eight sitios of the barangay: Cambagokbok, Kalubihan, Liki, Manunggal, Potol, Sunog, Maoyog and Mount Mangga.
“In this project, we’re looking for a cooperative that has to be duly registered and it will be the beneficiary,” he told The FREEMAN, adding that the new 2014 SSF guidelines has said other non-government organizations, the academe and the local government unit can also now be an operator for the project.
:Faster production
The machines, he further said, will help the members and workers of the BUKID-MPC increase their production and improve the abaca industry. It will also make employment and bigger revenues for the industry, he added.
The stripping machines will make the extraction of abaca fibers faster and more convenient, thus increasing also the making of fiber-made products such as “sinamay,” ropes, gift toys, woven fibers, christmas decors and housewares.
He said the task of the workers can become easy with the help of the machine instead of doing the manual process which is “more tedious and crude.”
“The demand of these products is really for export,” the trade official noted. “Only few is for domestic demand.”
The rise in demand and market for a product, abaca for instance, should also push for the improvement of the production and quality, he added.
In the next months, the trade department will also distribute SFFs to other areas in Cebu such as Carmen, Carcar, Sibonga, Minglanilla, Alegria, Aloguinsan and Toledo and identify the potential industry in the place.
Tecson said the machines to be granted are intended for the production of charcoal briquettes, virgin coconut oil, footwear, dessicated coconut, dried mangoes and other processed foods.
:Choosing the beneficiary
The need of a group of local entrepreneurs is one of the bases to become a probabale beneficiary of the SSF. The department also sees the stability of the association whether it is duly registered.
“We also have to check the strength of the officers,” he said.
And the most important, Tecson stressed, is making sure the potential market for the industry to be helped: “Kung dying ang sector there’s no need kay there would be no market for that.”
The SSF project started just last year and in the past months the regional DTI first focused in the province of Bohol because of its small industry clusters, he chief explained.
This time, it will do more on giving the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Cebu a better and reliable technology and upgrading the skills of the members to become more competitive.
==Locally-made products vital to Mandaue growth==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2014/04/29/1317335/locally-made-products-vital-mandaue-growth
*Tuesday, April 29, 2014 12:00 am
:By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)
THE Kadaugan sa Mactan which commemorates the first anti-colonial struggle in recorded Philippine history is still not considered a national holiday.
In her Kadaugan sa Mactan speech, Mayor Radaza expressed regret that the first anti-colonial event is not recognized nationwide.
“It was on this hallowed ground that the famous Battle of Mactan took place 493 years ago,” Radaza said.
She stressed it was on this very shore where Datu Lapu-Lapu together with his tribesmen successfully defended their land from Spanish conquistador Ferdinand Magellan. The battle that happened here was also a victory for the Filipino people.
Unfortunately, April 27 has yet to be declared a national holiday, “unlike every 9th of April when the entire country commemorates the Fall of Bataan. Every December 30th the entire country commemorates the death of Jose Rizal at the hands of Spaniards.
“It is but fitting that we commemorate here every April 27 the death of a Spanish conquistador at the hands of Datu Lapu-Lapu, the only battle that our beloved country won against foreigners,” Radaza said.
She was happy to note that a bill was filed in the Senate to declare April 27 as “Adlaw ni Lapu-Lapu or Lapu-Lapu Day”.
Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Aileen Radaza has also filed a bill in the House of Representatives to declare April 27 as a city holiday.
This is the first step in their bid to have April 27 declared a national holiday.
“Niini nga paagi, ang tibuok nasud na unya ang magsadya sa Kadaugan sa Mactan,” Radaza said. (This way, the whole country will also celebrate the Kadaugan sa Mactan.)
Yesterday’s commemoration had another first — a TV crew from Spain’s TVE (TV Español) was in town to cover the event.
Tania Garralda, reporter of TVE said, that they are going to feature the reenactment in TVE’s program “Spanish People Around the World.”
She said, they were sent here in the country after learning through social media and other sources from the Philippines that Lapu-Lapu City is celebrating the heroism and the triumph of the man who defeated one of the world’s first circumnavigators, Ferdinand Magellan.
Interestingly, this year, the role of Datu Lapu-Lapu is played by Brazilian-Japanese Daniel Matsunaga, Carlos Agassi whose father is of Persian origin. Reyna Bulakna, Lapu-Lapu’s wife was portrayed this time by beauty titlist Venus Raj.
Lapu-Lapu City government publicist Jonjie Gonzales said the choice of celebrities who are either foreigners or foreignoys (half-Filipinos) was just a coincidence. “It has been a tradition of the Kadaugan sa Mactan to enlist celebrities to draw the crowds,” Gonzales said.
“I’m so happy, so honored, so proud and thankful that I had an opportunity to portray Lapu- Lapu’s role. I always wanted to be part of a show as a warrior,” Matsunaga said.
For Raj: “Iba pala ‘yong feeling kapag ikaw ‘yong nando’n.” (It feels so difference if you’re in the act.)
Sten Dahl, 70, a first-time spectator from Sweden was eager to witness the reenactment. “The play was really good. It’s nice to know local history.”
The DOT is expecting more tourists to visit Lapu-Lapu City because of Kadaugan sa Mactan.
Montecillo said that Lapu-Lapu City gets the lion’s share of tourists coming to Central Visayas. Of the 2.6 million tourists arrivals in the region each year, the city on Mactan Island gets more than a million tourists a year.
==Kadaugan as national holiday pushed==
*Source: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/2014/04/28/kadaugan-as-national-holiday-pushed/
*Monday, April 28, 2014 7:59 am
:By Irish Maika R. Lam and Rosemarie Cananea (Interns)
THE Kadaugan sa Mactan which commemorates the first anti-colonial struggle in recorded Philippine history is still not considered a national holiday.
In her Kadaugan sa Mactan speech, Mayor Radaza expressed regret that the first anti-colonial event is not recognized nationwide.
“It was on this hallowed ground that the famous Battle of Mactan took place 493 years ago,” Radaza said.
She stressed it was on this very shore where Datu Lapu-Lapu together with his tribesmen successfully defended their land from Spanish conquistador Ferdinand Magellan. The battle that happened here was also a victory for the Filipino people.
Unfortunately, April 27 has yet to be declared a national holiday, “unlike every 9th of April when the entire country commemorates the Fall of Bataan. Every December 30th the entire country commemorates the death of Jose Rizal at the hands of Spaniards.
“It is but fitting that we commemorate here every April 27 the death of a Spanish conquistador at the hands of Datu Lapu-Lapu, the only battle that our beloved country won against foreigners,” Radaza said.
She was happy to note that a bill was filed in the Senate to declare April 27 as “Adlaw ni Lapu-Lapu or Lapu-Lapu Day”.
Lapu-Lapu City Rep. Aileen Radaza has also filed a bill in the House of Representatives to declare April 27 as a city holiday.
This is the first step in their bid to have April 27 declared a national holiday.
“Niini nga paagi, ang tibuok nasud na unya ang magsadya sa Kadaugan sa Mactan,” Radaza said. (This way, the whole country will also celebrate the Kadaugan sa Mactan.)
Yesterday’s commemoration had another first — a TV crew from Spain’s TVE (TV Español) was in town to cover the event.
Tania Garralda, reporter of TVE said, that they are going to feature the reenactment in TVE’s program “Spanish People Around the World.”
She said, they were sent here in the country after learning through social media and other sources from the Philippines that Lapu-Lapu City is celebrating the heroism and the triumph of the man who defeated one of the world’s first circumnavigators, Ferdinand Magellan.
Interestingly, this year, the role of Datu Lapu-Lapu is played by Brazilian-Japanese Daniel Matsunaga, Carlos Agassi whose father is of Persian origin. Reyna Bulakna, Lapu-Lapu’s wife was portrayed this time by beauty titlist Venus Raj.
Lapu-Lapu City government publicist Jonjie Gonzales said the choice of celebrities who are either foreigners or foreignoys (half-Filipinos) was just a coincidence. “It has been a tradition of the Kadaugan sa Mactan to enlist celebrities to draw the crowds,” Gonzales said.
“I’m so happy, so honored, so proud and thankful that I had an opportunity to portray Lapu- Lapu’s role. I always wanted to be part of a show as a warrior,” Matsunaga said.
For Raj: “Iba pala ‘yong feeling kapag ikaw ‘yong nando’n.” (It feels so difference if you’re in the act.)
Sten Dahl, 70, a first-time spectator from Sweden was eager to witness the reenactment. “The play was really good. It’s nice to know local history.”
The DOT is expecting more tourists to visit Lapu-Lapu City because of Kadaugan sa Mactan.
Montecillo said that Lapu-Lapu City gets the lion’s share of tourists coming to Central Visayas. Of the 2.6 million tourists arrivals in the region each year, the city on Mactan Island gets more than a million tourists a year.
==First Mandaue boat race on May 4==
*Sunday, April 27, 2014 12:00 am
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2014/04/27/1316693/first-mandaue-boat-race-may-4
:By Flor Z. Perolina (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Around 200 fishermen in Mandaue City will participate in the first-ever boat racing in the city on May 4.
Engineer Ricardo Mendoza, head of the City Sports Commission, said he took the initiative to include the boat racing as one of the activities in city's fiesta celebration in order to let the public know that fishermen still have a place in the city despite its status as an industrial hub.
Mendoza said the boat race is open to all registered fishermen in the city.
Participants may choose any of the two categories, namely individual boat racing and boat relay, which will be composed by five fishermen per group.
Prizes for each category are P3,000 for the first prize, P2,000 for the second prize and P1,000 for the first prize. The winner for the best in banca decoration will also receive P1,000.
The competition venue will be 400 meters long located near the Mandaue Bridge Park.
Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:
Other highlights of the fiesta activities are the Panagtabo Festival street dancing on May 3, coronation of Miss Mandaue on May 7, Symphony of Fire grand fireworks display on May 8, Balikbayan Night on May 10 and a mass wedding on May 29.
There will also be nightly cultural activities that will be held at the City Hall Plaza square spearheaded by the Mandaue City College with the participation of the city's different public schools.
Mandaue City has allotted P9.5 million in budget for this year's fiesta celebration with more cultural activities on hand.
The city celebrates the feast day of St. Joseph, its patron saint, every May 8 of the year.
==Teach to earn this summer==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2014/04/26/1316274/teach-earn-summer
*Saturday, April 26, 2014 12:00 am
:By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - A lot of people consider the summer holiday as a great time for traveling and enjoying whatever the season has to offer.
However, enterprising people also see the occasion as an opportunity to earn some good cash by establishing a personal business to make them busy. Creative individuals and groups prove that starting an income-generating endeavor does not necessarily require a hefty startup capital.
In fact, they have shown that having an extra revenue flow on the side is actually possible by just being confident in using God-given talents to teach and share these to other people—and earn at the same time.
Generally, the summer months are the best time for these people to do their initiative as some are on the lookout for something they can be productive with while taking the pleasure of the vacation break.
They do summer workshops and lessons independently or with a company in arts, music, academics and personality development. For the most part, sports clinics are the most popular activities this summer among children and teenagers—and sometimes adults.
While there are summer camp centers in Cebu that offer short-term summer courses on sports activites and specialized trainings, some ordinary people with extraordinary talents and skills are gaining good benefits from helping develop the abilities of others as well.           
Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:
The love for music is what led 18-year-old Shem Dominique Abay, a resident of Barangay Poblacion Talisay City, to succeed in his long time passion: Playing the violin.
Abay, who is an event violinist, learned to play the instrument for years until an incident came, “I stopped for two years because of the hardships of  learning the violin but then relearned it all by self study.” 
Later on, he discovered that he was capable of  teaching his talent, which prompted him to start his own enterprise when he was in first year college.
He wanted to be independent because he believed most companies have limited sessions which he thought are not very really productive, effective and rates are mostly expensive.
The young mentor find his musical passion as a good investment and, in fact it is his motivation to realize his dream of having his own training center.
“The talent that God has given should be invested and should somehow return to you,” the teenager told The FREEMAN. “But everything has limits. Having talent or skill should not mean that you can leech on people.”
Abay teaches basics and techniques of violin playing on one-on-one basis or sometimes in groups not just during summer but also anytime of the year and his rate is P300 for a two- hour session.
Although this time he only has three students, he believes summer is still the best time for learning: “Because some of my mentees also have summer classes.”
“Most of my sessions happen in my mentee's homes,” he said. “Sometimes at school just meet ups at parks or plazas.”
When he started his venture, his talent and instrument—not money—were only his biggest assets to pursue his passion, adding that helping people who have passion for music was his motivation and that earning was his last priority.
“I dont actually ask for really big amount from my students and sometimes even extend our sessions without pay,” he shared. “Hearing them play is rewarding enough.”
He said: “My students just come, I really don't know why. Maybe my contacts and by word of mouth through my gigs around the city and some outside… Sometimes people see me play and they ask me if I teach.”
While Abay desire to have a stable job in the future, for now he’s thinking of investing in his musical passion and dream to be part of a big time music business.
The violinist said the money that he earns somehow helps him and his family get through although it is not that much.
“Keep up the passion… that is where you start,” Abay advises people who have talents but are frustrated on how to use these for fun and earning. “Just love what you do and do what you love and that will lead you to success and ultimately, to happines.”
Here is The FREEMAN’s compilation of other summer clinics/trainings that creative and enterprising people take advantage of to have fun and earn some extra cash during the summer holiday:
1. Dancesport workshop. There are dance organizations in Cebu that are committed at developing the talents and skills of its members and improving their confidence level through dancing. Like the famous DanceSport Team Cebu City which one of its members has committed to teach dancesport to children in their subdivision.
Recel Niña Mondejar, 18-year-old and a resident of Barangay Tungkil, Minglanilla, Cebu, said a barangay councilor, who is also a dancer, has encouraged her to have an affordable dance workshop for children in their neigborhood.
“Every summer naa gyud dancesport workshop sa amo barangay naay naka-assign nga dance teacher to teach children,” she shared. “The nice thing is that wa pa toy bayad.”
However, she said, the subdivision (Minglanilla Homes) president wanted the parents to pay her even just a little amount of money in exchange for the learning of their  kids.
That’s why this May, most probably, she and her friend, the councilor, will again teach the children for P10 - P20 per session, she added.
“I’m really teaching not just because of money,” she noted, “but also because I want to share my talent to those children.”
The officials in their community decided to do the workshop every summer season so the children there would have a recreational activity at the same the opportunity to learn.
2. Swimming lessons. The Cebu City Sports Center is active again with a lot of workshops and educational summer activities it offers to children and teenagers. For coach Matheus Ceasar, 24, swimming has become his main livelihood and a source of contentment. Since 16, he already started to train kids and teenagers on how to swim, saying “I find joy in this job.”
After all, a person’s skill is key in starting a money making service like swimming training, he said. Trainers like him are paid well, a reason why he believes this is a better work than other jobs around.
Summer is also the peak earning season for coaches and trainers because of the increase in enrolment in summer camps.
3. Sports clinics. A veteran basketball trainer, Giovanni Romarate, also believes that a person can actually turn sports coaching as a source of  money as he has been benefiting from such endeavor.
Aside from it, can help you earn a quick buck, coaching also provides life-long skills and abilities to the trainees.
“Puhonan nimo talent ra gyud ug willingness nga motudlo makakwarta gyud ka,” he noted.
Although he stressed earning should not be the top most priority in this case, but rather the persistence to do more on molding the learner to become a skillful athlete.
“Devoted gyud ka aron mahinumdoman ka nila, kay kung magkakita mo og balik proud na sila nimo,” he concluded.
==Lapu-Lapu City to push sisterhood ties with Magellan’s hometown==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=637769
*Friday, April 25, 2014
:(PNA), FPV/ EB
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu, April 24 (PNA) -- The Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Commission will push through with the earlier plan of former city mayor and congressman Arturo Radaza to establish a sister city agreement with Sabrosa town in Portugal, the hometown of Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan.
Former city councilor Damian Gomez, chairman of the Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Commission, along with Councilor Harry Don Radaza, chairman of the City Council's committee on tourism, issued the statement as the city prepares for the celebration of the Kadaugan sa Mactan (Victory in Mactan) on April 27.
Gomez described the sisterhood agreement with officials of Magellan's hometown as a good idea, as the city government of Lapu-Lapu is eyeing the yearly celebration to be a global event to attract more visitors, especially foreign tourists.
Councilor Radaza shared the observation of Gomez, saying they are now working on making the annual celebration more impactful.
The idea to establish sisterhood ties with Sabrosa town in Portugal was initially discussed when Sabrosa Mayor Jose Manuel de Carvalho Marques visited former city mayor Arturo Radaza 10 years ago.
Mayor Marques was then attending meetings with mayors from different countries at the Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.
Marques personally visited then mayor Radaza at his office at the City Hall and also the Mactan Shrine in Barangay Mactan where the historic battle between Magellan and local chieftain Datu Lapu-Lapu took place on April 27, 1521.
Councilor Radaza said the sisterhood agreement will strengthen the city’s tourism promotions.
Marques, during his visit in Lapu-Lapu City, said Sabrosa wanted Lapu-Lapu to be part of its worldwide network of cities that were part of Magellan's expedition.
Born sometime in 1480 in Sabrosa, a town located some 380 kilometers north of Portugal's capital city of Lisbon, the ancestral house of Magellan still stands in its original location and has become a tourist attraction.
Magellan, also known as Fernao de Magallanes, was the leader of the first sea expedition that circumnavigated the world.
Although he was born in Potugal, Magellan went to Spain because the Portuguese king at that time refused to finance his proposed trip westward to reach the coveted "Spice Islands" in the Moluccas, now part of the Indonesian archipelago.
Magellan was not able to complete the full expedition that was financed by the Spanish King Charles 1 after he was killed in a historic battle against Datu Lapu-Lapu.
The city government of Lapu-Lapu celebrates this "victory" against colonizers every year through reenactment plays at the shores of Barangay Mactan.
==DOH upgrades eight Cebu provincial hospitals to Level 1==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=637740
*Thursday, April 24, 2014
:(PNA), LGI/EB
CEBU CITY, April 24 (PNA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) has upgraded to Level 1 eight hospitals in Cebu which are run by the provincial government.
The DOH 7 licensing office confirmed the accreditation status of the provincial hospitals in the cities of Bogo, Danao and Carcar and the district hospitals in Tuburan, Argao, Barili, Badian and San Francisco in Camotes Island.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said these hospitals will offer caesarian operations and appendectomies, among others, and laboratory examinations like ultrasound and ECG.
This will benefit patients, especially indigents, who cannot afford to go to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City, he said.
Davide said he has also signed 20 consultancy contracts of medical specialists, including medical technicians and nurses.
Earlier, the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) approved a resolution allowing Davide to sign consultancy contracts of specialists in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, internal medicine and general surgeons.
Under Republic Act 4226, also known as the Hospital License Act, and DOH Administrative Order 2012-0012, Level 1 hospitals are required to have medical specialists.
Davide said the upgraded district hospitals have X-ray machines and other equipment, while all eight hospitals already have operating rooms and operating tables.
But, he said the provincial government still has to acquire more equipment like dialysis machines for these facilities.
Cebu Provincial Health Officer Cynthia Genosolango said the upgrade of the eight provincial hospitals to Level 1 will decongest the VSMMC.
“We can deliver more services. We can accept and treat a good number of patients because we now have technical capability with our consultants in place. The rest of the needed equipment will follow,” Genosolango said.
==P14.4B upfront premium paid for airport project==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/04/23/1315054/p14.4b-upfront-premium-paid-airport-project
*Wednesday, April 23, 2014 12:00 am
:By Gregg M. Rubio, JMO (The Freeman)
The signed concession agreement for the Mactan Cebu International Airport is presented by GMR Group Airports Sector Chairman Srinivas Bommidala, Department of Transportation and Communications Undersecretary for Legal and Procurement Jose Perpertuo Lotilla and Megawide Construction Corporation chairman and CEO Michael Cosiquien. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
CEBU, Philippines -  The GMR-Megawide Consortium yesterday paid P14.4 billion to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority as upfront premium for the airport expansion project, which has been awarded to the consortium.
The Department of Transportation and Communications and the MCIAA signed the Concession Agreement with GMR-Megawide following receipt of the payment.
Jose Perpetuo Lotilla, DOTC’s Bids and Awards Committee  chairman and undersecretary for legal affairs, led government officials in signing the agreement.
“The 25-year Concession Agreement was signed following the consortium’s fulfillment of all post-award requirements, including payment to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority of the P14.4-billion premium it offered as its financial bid,” DOTC said in a statement.
The consortium claimed it fulfilled its first major obligation ahead of schedule and reinforces its commitment towards the project.
“By making the upfront payment of P14.4 billion within the stipulated time we have clearly demonstrated our credentials and capabilities to take up this prestigious project. This is just the first step in our endeavor to transform the Mactan Cebu International Airport into a world class airport destination,” said Michael Cosiquien, chairman and chief executive officer of  Megawide Construction Corporation, and Srinivas Bommidala, chairman, Airports Sector of GMR Infrastructure, in a joint statement.
“We will channel our efforts to making MCIA an efficient passenger-oriented and commercially sustainable airport that will truly reflect the culture and heritage of Cebuanos and will make a significant contribution to the economy of Cebu. We wish to place on record our appreciation for DOTC on concluding a fair and transparent bid process, conducted in a highly professional manner,” the statement reads.
MCIAA is set to turn over airport operations and maintenance to GMR-Megawide in the next six months or by October this year.
The consortium is expected to begin construction of the new passenger terminal building by January 2015. Construction is scheduled to be completed in three years or by January 2018.
The new MCIA terminal will be for international flights and will be connected to the existing passenger terminal building, which will also be fully renovated by January 2019. Once renovated, the existing passenger terminal will cater exclusively to domestic passengers.
The signing of the agreement followed the expiration of  the 15-day period to file any motion for reconsideration contesting the award.
In the international bidding process, which culminated in December 2013, GMR-Megawide emerged as the highest bidder for the MCIA project after submitting a bid of  P14.4 billion. DOTC formally issued the Letter of Award to the Consortium on April 4, 2014.
The Consortium’s proposed design for the new terminal at MCIA is a modern expression of traditional Filipino architecture and imbibes the cultural ethos of Cebu without sacrificing efficiency.
==Magsaysay awardee introduces fish condos to Bantayan fisherfolk==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=636949
*Tuesday, April  22, 2014
:(PNA), LAP/EB/
CEBU CITY, April 22 (PNA) -- Fish condominiums copied from high-rise residences mushrooming all over Metro Cebu could reverse the damage on marine resources in the Visayan Sea caused by super typhoon Yolanda and illegal fishing.
Lawyer Antonio Oposa, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee and Visayan Sea Squadron chairman, introduced the fish condominiums to Bantayan fisherfolk on Monday during the 6th Visayan Sea Summit held in Sta. Fe town in Bantayan Island off the northernmost tip of Cebu mainland.
Most fishermen in northern Cebu and the Visayan sea reported fewer catch after Yolanda hit the area.
The Visayan sea covers the territorial waters of northern Cebu, northeastern Iloilo, northern Negros and southern Masbate.
The Visayan sea is a sanctuary that has 488 of the 500 endangered coral species and 12,000 seashells in the Philippines.
Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, who attended the event for the first time, said the coral reefs where the fishes stay are now damaged due to illegal fishing.
It worsened when typhoon Yolanda hit the island last November 8, he said.
Oposa said restorative fishing methods like putting fish condominiums in the seas of Bantayan Island will serve as alternative shelter for fish now that coral reefs are damaged.
It will also serve as breeding and nursery areas for marine life.
Oposa, Davide and Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon showed 200 fisherfolks how to make a fish condo.
Oposa said this will only cost P800 to P1,000 including labor.
The three-storey fish condo was made of bamboo and used fish nets.
Davide and Marañon showed the final step in doing the fish condo by covering it with limestone and cement mixture.
Oposa and the officials brought a fish condo to the sea on board a glass-bottomed boat and placed the fish condo in an area where they saw more damaged corals.
Oposa said the glass-bottomed boat will make the fishermen and the people aware of the situation under the sea and why their catch has been small lately.
Oposa said Bantayan Island has the largest biological mass in the Visayan Sea.
But after Yolanda and years of marine abuses, the situation is now different, Oposa said.
The fish condos may be able to reverse the situation as they provide alternative shelter for the fish, he said.
==Generally peaceful in Cebu during Holy Week==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/04/21/1314342/generally-peaceful-cebu-during-holy-week
*Monday, April  21, 2014 12:00 am
:By Ria Mae Y. Booc with Juffer Denn C. Bornales and Lara Praz C. Mayol /GMR (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - The Holy Week celebration in the Province of Cebu was generally peaceful, said Cebu Provincial Police Office Director, Sr. Supt. Noel Gillamac.
Gillamac said the shooting of a British dive shop operator in Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan was an isolated case and the arrest of two suspected pickpockets in Minglanilla town did not create chaos in the Sugat-Kabanhawan celebration yesterday morning.
“I know vigilant na ang publiko aning mga ingon ani maong na-prevent nato ang mga kagubot,” Gillamac told The FREEMAN.
There was also no major vehicular accident reported as a result of the drive safely campaign.
Gillamac said the Hagnaya wharf was also well-secured for passengers going to Bantayan Island.
Supt. Anthony Bagarinao, Northern Cebu area supervisor, said they were also assisting the riding public at the wharfs and ports back to their destinations before he advised his personnel to go back to their respective offices.
“Full blast ang security namo karon ilabi na kay mamauli na kasagaran basin ugma pwede na sila mubalik sa stations ang mga gi-deploy,” Bagarinao said.
For his part, Insp. Welther Grapa, assistant area supervisor in Southern Cebu, estimated around 70,000 people witnesses the Sugat-Kabanhawan in Minglanilla.
Right after the event, the audience mobbed two suspected thieves identified as Bobby Alcanzado, 32, of Bao, City of Naga, and Al Tantay, 27, Tabunoc, Talisay City.
After a man shouted, “Kawatan na!” pointing to Alcanzado and Tantay, the crowd immediately held the suspects who were mauled by some until the arrival of the barangay tanods and the policemen.
There were reports of lost items such as cellular phones and wallets at the Minglanilla Police Station but nothing was recovered from the suspects.
According to police station chief, Senior Insp. Richard Dinopol Gadingan, Alcanzado and Tantay could possibly be working in group and the stolen objects may have been carted away in possession with the other members.
Both suspects have denied any involvement in the incident and insisted they were just in Minglanilla to witness the Sugat-Kabanhawan Festival.
Alcanzado and Tantay are placed under the custody of the Minglanilla police for further investigation and proper disposition.
==Reflection park draws thousands of pilgrims==
==Reflection park draws thousands of pilgrims==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2014/04/20/1314046/reflection-park-draws-thousands-pilgrims
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2014/04/20/1314046/reflection-park-draws-thousands-pilgrims
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