Cebu Province News April 2017

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Province of Cebu - Archived News

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.
Cebu metro.jpg
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.

13 more negosyo centers in Cebu

By Jeandie O. Galolo

To encourage entepreneurship among Cebuanos, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu has pledged to open 13 more Negosyo Centers in the province, bringing the total to 24 before the year ends.

With Northern Cebu chosen as the priority this year, DTI CebuDirector Maria Elena Arbon said 11 out of the 13 will be in the Yolanda-devastated towns, while the other two will be in Moalboal and Balamban.

“We want to have more Negosyo Centers in Cebu,” said Arbon, during the opening of the Yolanda Business Unit yesterday, a 39-square-meter office consisting of a four-person team who will roll out the Negosyo Centers and other projects in Northern Cebu.

Arbon said that with the presence of more Negosyo Centers, DTI Cebu will have a wider reach in the community. Likewise, she said entrepreneurs can conveniently register their businesses with DTI, which will help legitimize businesses in the informal sector.

Under Republic Act 10644, there should be one Negosyo Center in every municipality and city. Cebu has 53 municipalities and cities combined.

This means DTI Cebu has to build 29 more Negosyo Centers from 2018 onward.

Meanwhile, the creation of the Yolanda Business Unit meant the allocation of P73 million in funds for projects in 16 towns in Northern Cebu.

Arbon said P10 million will be used to build Negosyo Centers, including the salary of the business counselors as well as purchase of computers and necessary equipment; P1 million will be spent for livelihood trainings; P9 million for DTI green projects; and P53 million for shared service facilities (SSF).

With the SSF, Arbon said the trade department will give out fish dryer equipment to organized groups or cooperatives.

Call center partners with DTI

By Katlene O. Cacho

PERFORMANCE 360 Call Center and BPO Services and the Department of Trade and Industry-Cebu have collaborated to promote impact sourcing in Cebu.

The partnership covers job creation, workforce preparation, and the creation of small BPO businesses in the countryside through internet cafès, said Performance 360 Call Center and BPO Services founder Michael Cubos.

Cubos said they aim to train people in the towns and cities of Cebu on online work and freelancing, English as Second Language (ESL), virtual assistance, call center work and customer service.

They are also looking at convincing internet cafè owners to convert their facilities into outsourcing hubs or centers for BPO work.

“Cybercafé patronage in the country is already declining. In fact, it is already a dwindling business. A better way to still make use of these facilities is to convert them into businesses that have high revenue potential and can generate employment in the community,” said Cubos, who is also the president of Innovation Council of Cebu (ICC).

There at least 30 internet cafès in each town of Cebu. The province has about 44 municipalities and six component cities.

Church to mark ‘Kaplag’ at Basilica today

By Ador Vincent S. Mayol

THE Catholic Church in Cebu will celebrate today the 450th anniversary of the discovery of the image of the Sto. Niño — the oldest religious icon and the symbol of Catholicism in the country.

The event will be highlighted by a Eucharistic celebration to be held at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño’s Pilgrim Center at 5:30 p.m. Winners of Wednesday’s Huniño or songwriting contest will render their pieces during the Mass.

At 1 p.m. today, the pilgrim image of the Sto. Niño will be brought back to the Basilica from the Birhen sa Lindogon Church in Sibonga town, northern Cebu.

The image was first brought to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center last Monday and was transferred to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral before visiting the San Nicolas Church in Cebu City.

As part of the Kaplag celebration, the icon was transported to Simala, Sibonga, and will return to the Basilica today.

“Kaplag” recalls the discovery of the Sto. Niño icon by Spanish soldier Juan Camus on April 28, 1565.

He found the icon in the remains of a burned nipa hut after Spanish forces set the village on fire.

Camus was part of the Spanish expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi to reclaim the islands after Magellan’s first visit in 1521.

The original image of the Holy Child Jesus is housed in a glass-enclosed marble aedicula beside the main altar of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.

Health department marks World Immunization Day

By Jecel M. Condinato and Rosemarie P. Tordillo (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) - 7 marked the World Immunization Week by assisting the local government units in the region in immunizing children to prevent diseases.

The activity will run from yesterday until April 29.

Dr. Jeanette Pauline Arellano-Cortes has urged the parents to have their children immunized to prevent diseases like polio; measles; hepatitis; tuberculosis; meningitis; pneumonia; diphtheria; pertussis and; tetanus.

“Kung dili mabakunahan imong anak dako kaayo ka’g risk nga magkasakit sila ani, so maong taas pod ang atong morbidity and mortality ,meaning masakit ang mga bata kay tungod wala sila nabakunahan,” Cortes said.

The immunization covers children less than one year for Fully Immunize Child (FIC) and less than two years for Completely Immunize Child (CIC). Cortes explained that the vaccine will last until adulthood. Once a child is given vaccination it develops their full immune system that protects from various diseases.

“The World Immunization Week is free to all, all people can avail this program,” Cortes said. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:

The DOH said they are expecting 153,411 children to be vaccinated in the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental. They are also targeting 50, 863 in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu.

PCSO donates four ambulance units to Cebu Province

(The Manila Times)

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz led the turnover of four ambulance units to recipients in the Province of Cebu (Municipalities of Aloguinsan, Tabogon, Daanbantayan and Tudela).

The turnover ceremony was held at the PCSO Cebu Branch Office Ground, Cebu City on March 10. Present during the ceremony were PSWDO Assistant Department Head Evelyn Deguit, PCSO Assistant General Manager Julieta Aseo, Assets and Supply Department Manager Reena Yumina San Agustin, Visayas Department Manager Federico Damole and Cebu OIC-Branch Manager Glen Jesus Rada.

Chairman Corpuz mentioned during his speech that the ambulance turnover is part of the Agency’s “Ambulance Donation Program” to benefit more Filipinos.

He encouraged the people of Cebu to patronize PCSO innovative games especially the Small Town Lottery (STL). He reiterated that STL is the only legal numbers game in the country and its expansion is the response of PCSO to President Duterte’s marching order to eliminate the illegal gambling and stop corruption.

The STL expansion also aims to increase the revenue of the Agency to more than P27 billion in 2017 from the P4.7 billion in 2015 and P6.4 billion in 2016.

The increase in revenue will generate more funds for the various health and charitable programs of PCSO.

Furthermore, 56 PCSO Provincial Branch Offices are now open in pursuit of its commitment to promote equitable medical assistance particularly to people from poor areas.

Six more PCSO Provincial Offices will be opened in 2017 in Lanao del Norte, Biliran, Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Ifugao and either in Sultan Kudarat or Davao del Norte.

PHP1-B infra project to help ease traffic in Mandaue City

(EB/PNA)

CEBU CITY, April 24 -- A PHP1 billion infrastructure project is expected to help ease traffic congestion in Mandaue City, particularly the roads leading to the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Cansaga Bridge, an official said.

Lawyer Jamaal James Calipayan, chief of staff of Rep. Jonas Cortes (Cebu, 6th district), said the project would include a tunnel, a flyover and a road on United Nations (UN) Avenue and DM Cortes St. in Mandaue City.

The UN Avenue leads to the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, the second bridge linking the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, while D.M. Cortes St. leads to the Cansaga Bridge to the Cebu North Coastal Road.

The intersection is considered a traffic bottleneck, especially during rush hours.

Calipayan said funding for the project was included in the annual national budgets in 2016 and 2017.

He said the project, which was endorsed by both Cortes and Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing, would be implemented in two phases, with a budget of PHP500 million for each phase.

He said Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) signed the terms of reference for the design and construction of the project.

The bidding for the project is expected to be held in June or July.

He said the project is expected to be completed in one year and six months to two years.

ASEAN ministers collaborate to end malnutrition

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nation are collaborating to end all forms of malnutrition in the region.

Despite achieving impressive economic growth, the region is still beset with malnutrition, undernutrition and obesity.

"Prevalence of stunting (low height-for-age) and wasting (low weight-for-age) among children under five remains a severe public health problem in ASEAN Member States," said the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in a statement.

According to the 2016 Regional Report on Nutrition Security in ASEAN, Volume 2 published by the ASEAN, United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization, in eight out of the 10 ASEAN Member States, an estimated 5.4 million children suffer wasting and 17.9 million children are stunted.

While undernutrition is a major contributing factor to child's illness, overnutrition or obesity among children under five years is also high at 10 percent with an increasing trend.

Here in Cebu, the World Vision Development Foundation Incorporated with the help of the Cebu Provincial Nutrition Council conducted a three-day Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) program for barangay officials and health workers of Moalboal town. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:

The three-day exercise was conducted by World Vision to help reduce the number of underweight children in the municipality.

Based on the 2016 Operation Timbang Plus, Moalboal ranked number one in prevalence of undernutrition among children aged 0 to 71 months old in the province of Cebu.

"Undernutrition is one of the forms of malnutrition. Other forms are overnutrition and micro nutrient deficiencies," said Parolita Mission, Nutrition Program Coordinator of the National Nutrition Council-7.

NNC-7 in a statement said that with the training, World Vision sees that there will be significant reduction of undernutrition in the town.

Topics discussed during training included introduction to IYCF, breastfeeding, proper baby positioning during breastfeeding, complementary feeding and feeding during illness and low birth weight babies, as well as community organization of breast feeding support groups.

iTech-RAR sees growth with 8990 partnership

By Jeandie O. Galolo

FOLLOWING its first partnership in 2014, local technology company iTech-RAR Solutions Inc. sees its business growing as national developer 8990 Housing Development Corp. eyes more medium-rise condominiums moving forward.

iTech-RAR president Andres Ralota Jr. said the company, which provides internet and cable services to some of Deca Homes subdivisions, is gearing up for the expansions of 8990 Housing Development Corp.

Early this year, 8990 Holdings president and chief executive officer Januario Jesus B. Atencio said the company is set to launch eight projects within the year and hit P12 billion in revenue.

“We will go with the developments of 8990. We have already serviced three Deca Homes communities in Cebu and five in Manila,” said Ralota in Cebuano.

In Cebu, the IT company, through the Fiber to Deca Homes (FTDH) project, has installed fiber technology to Deca Home projects in Barangay Tipolo and Barangay Tisa in Cebu City, as well as the Urban Deca Homes along Hernan Cortes St. in Mandaue City.

“The FTDH is a unique amenity for a developer like 8990. As we know, most developers’ amenities are swimming pool, basketball court, club house, etc. But for Deca Homes, they include connectivity,” Ralota added.

Through FTDH, Deca Homes homeowners have ready access to internet and cable TV services. Ralota said homeowners no longer have to apply for a connection with internet service providers, and can pay their bills through iTech-RAR Solutions.

ITech-RAR partners with third party suppliers to provide the bandwidth and cable connectivity for the exclusive rollout to the unit owners in Urban Deca Home projects.

DENR 7 to plant 40,000 mangroves, hold coastal cleanup on Earth Day

(PNA), EB

CEBU CITY, April 21 -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 is set to plant more than 40,000 mangrove propagules and conduct clean-up in various coastal areas in Central Visayas as the country joins the rest of the world in observing Earth Day on Saturday.

DENR 7 Regional Director Emma E. Melana, in a statement on Friday, said establishment of more mangrove forests in coastal areas is extremely important because majority of country’s population lives in that area and most communities depend on local coastal resources for their livelihood.

Mangroves provide nursery grounds for fish, prawns and crabs and support fisheries production in coastal waters.

“Aside from planting mangroves and cleaning up of our coastal sites, we also want to make sure that our coastal communities are completely aware of the significance of Earth Day celebration by making them appreciate the importance of protecting our coastal and marine ecosystems” Melana said.

Mangroves protect the environment by protecting coastal areas and communities from storm surges, waves, tidal currents and typhoons and produce organic biomass (carbon) and reduce organic pollution in nearshore areas by trapping or absorption.

The simultaneous mangrove planting event and cleaning up of coastal areas is expected to gather over 1,000 volunteers from DENR 7, partner local government units, people’s organizations, schools and private partners.

Among the coastal areas eyed for mangrove propagules are Barangay Dunguan, Danao City and Barangay Taluot, Argao in Cebu province; Upper de la Paz, Cortes, Poblacion Dimiao, Poblacion Talibon, all in Bohol; and in Barangay Binuongan, Enrique Villanueva in Siquijor.

This year’s Earth Day celebration theme, “Our Changing Climate,” aims to emphasize the need to act against the threats brought about by climate change.

Then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared April 22 as the “Philippines’ Earth Day” through Presidential Proclamation No. 1481 amending Presidential Proclamation Nos. 553 and 1276 making Earth Day a permanent environmental holiday in the country.

Earth Day is the single biggest environmental celebration in the world participated in by more than 150 countries and over a billion people worldwide.

Digital innovation summit in June

By Katlene O. Cacho

ABOUT 300 participants composed of industry stakeholders and business owners are expected to convene in the Cebu Digital Innovation Summit slated in June this year.

The summit, which is part of the month-long Cebu Business Month (CBM) 2017, will feature innovative ideas, technologies and practices that will help prepare businesses step up to the next level.

Cebu Digital Innovation Summit chairman Christian Paro-an said the summit will focus on how digital innovation in today’s era will play a critical role in attaining and sustaining success in business.

He stressed that business owners, especially those from the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) category, need to watch out for the proliferation of disruptive technologies that could make or break their businesses.

The summit is scheduled on June 2 to 3 and will be held at the Summit Galleria Hotel Cebu.

Officers of the newly-formed Innovation Council of Cebu (ICC) will also be formally inducted during the summit. ICC is an organization created by CCCI. It was established to become the voice of smaller players from Cebu’s local ICT scene.

CCCI president Melanie Ng said the summit will serve as a venue for networking, collaboration and exchange of industry updates. She said the Cebu private sector is committed to get ahead and support Cebu’s digital innovators and players.

Measures that will provide support for innovative startups is one of the priority programs of Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, the chairman of the Senate committee on science and technology.

He said he will also push for the passage of Senate Bill No. 175 or the Innovative Startup Act.

“Maraming startup sa ating bansa na magagaling. They have very good ideas pero nasasayang dahil nahihirapan magsimula ng negosyo at nahihirapan sa mga regulasyon (There are many good startups in the country. But their ideas are going to waste because they find it hard to start a business and the regulations tedious),” said the senator in a statement.

The Innovative Startup Act seeks to provide necessary support for business startups to help them thrive and compete in the market.

If enacted into law, Aquino said the Innovative Startup Act will make it easier for technology startups to set up and build successful businesses in the country.

DOST regional scientific meeting focuses on aquatic and fisheries industries potentials

(PNA), MA. CRISTINA C. ARAYATA

CEBU CITY, April 18 (PNA) – About 300 scientists, researchers, and other stakeholders from the government, academe sectors gathered here on Tuesday for the Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) Regional Scientific Meeting (RSM).

The RSM, slated from April 18-19, aims to highlight the opportunities and issues in the aquatic and fisheries industries.

With the theme, “Attaining Sustainable Development Goals: Philippine Fisheries and Other Aquatic Resources 20/20”, this RSM was organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) as a prelude to its 39th Annual Scientific Meeting slated on July 12-13.

NAST said the RSMs it organized adopt to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), focusing on SDG No. 14 (Life Below Water), while also focusing on SDG No. 1 (No Poverty), SDG No. 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG No. 3 (Good Health and Well-Being).

Furthermore, NAST emphasized that the RSMs are in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's goal of reducing inequality and creating opportunities in the regions.

The first RSM was held in Davao City last month. Experts from various fields in fisheries, as well as players from the tuna industry and other marine resources shared their research studies and discussed the industry outlook in relation to its contribution to the economy.

The Visayas leg, on other hand, will have forums, dialogues, and presentations of research studies on various fields in fisheries and aquatic resources.

Among the speakers invited are representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to discuss climate change.

Attendees can also look forward to dialogues on disaster resiliency.

Making ends meet by selling miniature trucks

By Jessa May Bidong and Chirley Mae Binanlao (CNU Communication Arts Interns, SunStar Philippines)

SOME bright miniature heavy equipment along Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City has attracted pedestrians lately.

These wooden replicas are not just for display, but are for sale to those who are fond of the craft.

These miniature heavy equipment are the handiwork of a construction worker and his "father-in-law" who wanted to make ends meet for their family.

Because of his unstable job working as a construction worker, Joemar Salira Gempisao sells these wooden truck replicas to have an alternative income. He sells them for P150 to P1,200. The price depends on the size of the replica.

He said he earns P4,000 on regular days.

"Ako ning gibuhat aron tabangan akong papa ug ang akong ginikanan", Joemar said.

Gempisao, 26, who is a resident of M. Velez Street, has a live-in partner, whose father was the one who initiated the idea of creating and selling miniature trucks.

The idea started in 2015, but they decided to sell their wooden trucks just this year, not realizing that their craft would attract various customers like engineers and constructors.

Joemar is dedicated to sell their craft to show that Filipinos are talented and hardworking.

"Talentado ang Pinoy ug kugihan pud mangita ug negosyo sama ani," he said.

'Kadaugan sa Mactan Festival' to include Dragon Boat race

(PNA), EB

LAPU-LAPU CITY, April 17 (PNA) -- A Dragon Boat race will be the latest addition to the series of activities lined up for the "Kadaugan sa Mactan (Victory in Mactan) Festival" which started Monday and will conclude on April 30, organizers said.

Lapu-Lapu City Acting Vice Mayor Harry Don Radaza said the Dragon Boat race will be held from April 28 to 30 at the Mactan Channel.

Radaza said some 80 boats from 37 teams and foreign participants have confirmed to take part in the race.

Radaza said a total of 60 activities have been lined up for the Kadaugan sa Mactan Festival, but there would be no road closures in Lapu-Lapu City because these events would be held in six different venues in the city.

The venues include the Lapu-Lapu City Hall grounds, the Hoops Dome area, the MEPZ Soccer Field, Cebu Yacht Club and Kasamahan Wharf, the City Auditorium and the Liberty Shrine.

Radaza said the Kadaugan Street Party, to be held at the Hoops Dome from April 21 to 29, will be highlighted by the “Rampada,” a Brazilian style street dancing competition.

Some PHP2 million in prizes await the winners from among the nine participating groups for each of the Barangay and Open categories, he said.

Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Officer Hembler Mendoza said some 51 hotels and restaurants in the city would participate in a food festival where food, beverages and desserts would be on sale at prices lower than those being sold in their establishments.

Mendoza said the festival's highlight would be the Kadaugan sa Mactan, a re-enactment of the April 27, 1521 Battle of Mactan between Mactan chieftain Datu Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan, on April 30.

Magellan, who was killed in the battle, will be portrayed by James Ryan Cesena, a Pinoy Boy Band Superstar contestant from California.

Datu Lapu-Lapu will be played by Tony Labrusca, Pinoy Boy Band Superstar finalist of ABS-CBN, while Kris Bernal, a GMA Kapuso star, will play Lapu-Lapu’s queen Reyna Bulakna, Mendoza said.

CEB-UNICEF program expanded to Iloilo, Cebu

By Emmie Abadilla

Cebu Pacific (CEB) has expanded its Change for Good partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to Iloilo and Cebu to reach millions of vulnerable Filipino children.

The program collects spare change from passengers on board flights of partner airlines worldwide to benefit millions of children in over 150 countries and has raised over US$70 Million since it was established 30 years ago.

About four million Filipino children become stunted, with body and brain development impaired, due to malnutrition in the first 1,000 days of their lives, UNICEF estimated.

However, Change for Good only began operating in the Philippines last year, with CEB as its first and only partner in Southeast Asia.

Other airlines running Change for Good collections on their international and domestic flights include Aer Lingus, Alitalia, All Nippon Airways (ANA), American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, JAL, and QANTAS.

So far, donations of CEB passengers to and from Manila have already provided nutritional supplements to over 31,000 poor households with pregnant mothers and over 27,500 children, 6-23 months of age at risk of developing micronutrient deficiencies in the Philippines this year.

A portion of the funds also supports barangay-level information drives on nutrition in UNICEF’s focus areas in Northern Samar, Zamboanga and Maguindanao.

At the beginning of this month, CEB cabin crew for all Cebu Pacific flights began encouraging passengers to donate loose change and spare foreign currency to help children receive proper nutrition in the first 1,000 days of their lives.

“This allows more passengers the chance to help our efforts to promote good nutrition for all Filipino children,” says UNICEF Deputy Representative Julia Rees.

“In barely a year, Change for Good reached thousands of children,” confirmed CEB vice president for Corporate Affairs Atty. JR Mantaring.

“The program is a practical way to put spare foreign currency or loose change to good use, rather than letting them become clutter. As we roll out to more flights, we hope that our passengers can continue to share what they can to help children in need,” he added.

CEB currently offers flights to a total of 37 domestic and 29 international destinations, operating an extensive network across Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and USA.

Its 59-strong fleet is comprised of four Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320, seven Airbus A330, eight ATR 72-500, and four ATR 72-600 aircraft. Between 2017 and 2021, CEB expects delivery of one more brand-new Airbus A330, 32 Airbus A321neo, and 12 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

CVIRAA football irons out kinks

Edri K. Aznar

THE Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Cviraa) secondary and elementary football squads are just ironing out a few kinks ahead of their campaign in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa on April 23 to 29 in Antique.

“We have to develop our communication more. We also have to work on our defense, attacks, finishing and weather fitness. We also need to work on our team spirit and attitude,” Cviraa head coach Glen Ramos told SunStar Cebu.

The Cviraa high school squad was impressive in its two exhibition matches this week. The team beat Prisaa-bound University of San Carlos (USC) twice, 1-0 and 2-0.

“We had our team-building and our new players from Bohol and Lapu-Lapu are still learning our system,” Ramos said of the elementary squad.

The Cviraa elementary squad had an exhibition match with Warshockz Under-14 team the other day and against Talisay Under-14 team on Tuesday (April 11).

Ramos will mentor the rookie elementary squad, while Ray Calo will coach the high school team.

Both Cviraa squads joined the 1st Mayor’s Invitational Football Tournament last month as part of their preparation for the Palarong Pambansa.

The Cviraa high school team was up against Men’s Open clubs, while the elementary squad had an impressive campaign, finishing first runner-up after losing to an older Don Bosco Technology Center team.

The Cviraa teams are set to leave for Antique on April 17.

Cebu is 2nd ‘Friendliest’ Island

By Katlene O. Cacho

CEBU ranked second as the World’s Friendliest Islands in 2016, according to New York-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure.

“Cebu is a former Spanish colony, and people still travel to see the remaining architecture. Of course, the helpful locals are one of the island’s greatest qualities,” said the travel magazine.

Three other islands in the Philippines cornered the top posts of the survey. Palawan was named the World’s Friendliest Island 2016 while Luzon and Boracay landed the third and fourth spots, respectively.

“People are very welcoming, respectful, and friendly,” said one thrilled T+L reader about their experience in Palawan.

“The island’s green-and-turquoise lagoons have long put it on the bucket lists of travelers around the world, and this year it is also the world’s most convivial island destination,” the magazine said.

In good company

Luzon was described as an island that is “extremely diverse, making it a dynamic destination for travelers seeking a rich cultural experience.”

Boracay, on the other hand, was also described “as beloved for its welcoming people as it is for its undeniable beauty.”

The list which was posted last March 31, also named Waiheke, New Zealand (5th); Ischia, Italy (6th); Tasmania, Australia (7th); Fiji, Islands (8th); Bali, Indonesia (9th); Great Barrier Reef Islands (10th); Moorea (11th); Paros, Greece (12th); Bora Bora (13th); Exhumas, Bahamas (14th); and Caye Caulker, Belize (15th).

In July last year, Travel + Leisure, also named Cebu the sixth Best Island in the World.

Another travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, has also recognized Cebu as among the best island destinations.

Bogo City to host open water swim in May

By Richiel S. Chavez

SWIMMERS will have something to look forward to as the Cornerstone Group and the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) bring the 10K Capitancillo Oceanic Swim in Bogo City on May 13.

The swimming event will feature three categories—the 10-kilometer, 5K and 2K.

All the categories will have the men’s and women’s divisions.

“The open water swim is a new Olympic sport as it was included in the Summer Games in 2008. The event in Bogo City will be a simulation of the Olympic standard. The PSC supports this event and they will be identifying prospect swimmers,” the vice-chairman of Cornerstone Group Quinito Moras told SunStar Cebu.

Cebu province winners in CVIRAA receive incentives

By Kelvin Canizares (Contributor)

AFTER BRINGING pride to Cebu province, it was the athletes’ turn to reap their reward.

At least 136 athletes who earned a medal in the recent Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet received cash incentives from the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC) in a ceremony held last Tuesday at the Eco-Tech Center in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, CPSC executive director lawyer Ramil Abing and Provincial Board member Christopher Baricuatro led the distribution of incentives together with some mayors and top officials of the Department of Education in the province.

Gold medalists received P1,000 cash while the silver and bronze medalists got P800 and P600, respectively.

Coaches were also given cash incentives, with the amounts depending on the number of medals won by the athletes they trained. The CPSC also handed out medals in recognition of the athletes’ efforts and hard work in training.

Full support

“Your provincial government is so proud of you. I’m sure your coaches, schools and parents are also so proud of you. This is the best finish for Cebu province in the history of CVIRAA so far, ” Davide said in his speech.

“Next year, we will try our best to become number one.”

This year’s meet saw the Cebu province finished second with 43 gold, 46 silver and 47 bronze medals, improving their lackluster performance in 2016, where they wound up fourth place in the final tally.

The governor assured the athletes that the provincial government would give full support to the province’s sports program.

Davide also tossed some words of encouragement to athletes who will be part of the Central Visayas team for the Palarong Pambansa in Antique later this month.

“I’m confident that the athletes from the province who will be sent to participate in the Palarong Pambansa will shine. To all of you who will see action in the Palarong Pambansa, bring home the bacon, bring home more gold medals for Cebu,” he said.

Danny Perino, a 13-year-old elementary student of Daanbantayan who won a javelin gold medal in athletics, said he is excited to compete in the Palarong Pambansa.

“I will train hard,” he said in Cebuano, adding that he will be unfazed and ready to be pitted against other regions’ top athletes.

Abing, for his part, attributed the CPSC’s intensified grassroots programs as one of the reasons of the strong showing of Cebu province in this year’s meet.

3T joins youth day, jamboree in Cebu

By Justin K. Vestil

AROUND 3,000 young Catholics from different parishes in Cebu attended the 31st Local World Youth Day (LWYD) and Vocation Jamboree, which opened earlier this week.

Although they are different events, the LWYD and jamboree were merged by the Archdiocese of Cebu this year.

The Family of United and Empowered Leaders (Fuel) or District 8 of the Archdiocese’s Commission on Youth, in coordination with the Directors of Vocation Cebu Chapter, is hosting the four-day event with the theme “Go Forth…Build Communities.”

In his letter to the delegates, Archbishop Jose Palma urged young Catholics to join the event’s activities.

“I encourage you to participate in this joyful occasion and discover through it the beauty of our Christian calling and of community-building as well as the beauty of the Archdiocese,” he said.

Tonight, the archbishop will be at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) campus in Barangay Basak, Cebu City to talk to the youth.

He said that the activity, dubbed as “Dialogue with Archbishop Palma,” will serve as a chance for the youth to ask him about the issues and concerns hounding them.

The dialogue is one of the highlights of this year’s LWYD and jamboree.

Push to promote alternative med

By Katlene O. Cacho

ASIDE from modern medical services, there is also a growing interest in alternative medicine and wellness treatments among foreign medical tourists.

Clarissa Jane Pe, vice chair for the dental sector of Cebu Health and Wellness Council (CHWC), said this is an area Cebu should also look into in terms of marketing and promotion, citing the rising number of yoga studios, acupuncture clinics, massage outlets and detox centers already in the province.

Pe said that promoting Cebu as a legitimate medical tourism destination entails holistic availability of wellness products and services, which includes spiritual healing options and other practices that are beyond science.

“All these ancient forms of healing also excite tourists,” said Pe.

She noted that when foreign medical tourists come to the Philippines, they would also want to try indigenous massages and other activities that would make them familiar with the destination’s culture aside from exploring tourism sites.

Cosmetic surgery, wellness treatments and dentistry are just some of the specialty care that the Philippines currently offers. However, Pe said the presence of alternative medicine and other indigenous wellness traditions are also plus factors that attract medical travelers to come to the country.

Mystical attractions, on the other hand, are also gaining popularity among medical tourists.

According to Pe, aside from the usual beach destinations, wealthy foreigners are also interested in exploring exotic destinations in the country like Siquijor, an island in Central Visayas that is commonly associated with mystic traditions.

Siquijor is known for its festivals that focus on healing rituals where incantations are sung while the old folks make potions out of herbs, roots, insects and tree bark.

Help desks set up in ports, terminals

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Coast Guard Station has started setting up help desks in different ports to assist travelers during the Holy Week.

Commander Dionelitt Ampil said they started the preparation early because they are expecting that the volume of passengers will start to surge next week.

"Naglagay na tayo ng ng help desk lalo sa stations namin sa Olango, Bantayan, Hagnaya at sa Cebu City para kung sino ang mag queries about their travel, may matatanungan," said Ampil.

Ampil said that by next week they will start putting up the Oplan Ligtas Biyahe: Semana Santa 2017 streamers.

Ahmed Cuizon, regional director of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7, said they will also start within the week the random inspection in all terminals to ensure the safety of the riding public.

He said they will check whether bus companies are complying with their franchise agreement.

"Magbutang sad gihapon og mga help desk sa mga terminal aron sa issuance sa mga special permits," he said.

As of yesterday, at least 10 buses were given special permits to ply to Oslob and Toledo City.

Cuizon, however, explained that special permits will be limited only to 25 percent the operator's fleet and must have a minimum of four buses.

Cuizon emphasized that special permit for buses will be limited only for pick-up and drop-off while pakyaw for jeepneys.

Cebu hosting 12th ASEAN Finance Ministers Investors Forum

(DOF)

MANILA, April 5 -- The island of Mactan in the province of Cebu is hosting this week the 12th ASEAN Finance Ministers Investors Seminar (AFMIS), which aims to tackle ways of further harnessing investment opportunities within the 10-member regional bloc that has emerged as a key driver of global growth amid the current risks to the world economy.

The whole-day event will commence in Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday (April 6) with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III of the Philippines, this year’s ASEAN host, and ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Lim Hong Hin delivering their respective welcome remarks.

Finance Ministers Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Ibrahim of Brunei Darussalam; Sri Mulyani Indrawati of Indonesia; Johari Abdul Ghani of Malaysia; Apisak Tantivorawong of Thailand; and Secretary of State Sokha Nguon of Cambodia are expected to attend the AFMIS and the series of high-level meetings at the Shangrila Mactan Hotel.

The 2017 AFMIS will also focus on updates on regional connectivity and the progress of the ASEAN Economic Community, which is designed to create a single market and production base within ASEAN through the free flow of goods, skilled labor, services and investments among its 10 member-states.

A plenary session of the ASEAN finance ministers will be held on Thursdaymorning, followed by a networking lunch with global financial institutions and multilateral companies that have a strong presence in the region.

The afternoon will be devoted to AFMIS breakout sessions to discuss, among others, prospects for e-commerce as a new business frontier for ASEAN and infrastructure investments as a vehicle for sustainable growth in the region amid current global market volatilities.

Founded 50 years ago, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam into one regional bloc.

ASEAN established the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which officially commenced on Dec. 31, 2015, comprising a combined market of 600 million people or about eight percent of the world’s population.

ASEAN is the seventh largest economy in the world with a combined GDP of US$ 2.4 trillion US$ 2.5 trillion as of 2015. It also has the third largest labor pool and is the world’s fourth largest exporting region.

This year marks a milestone for the ASEAN, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary with the Philippines as host. The 2017 ASEAN theme is “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.”

The ASEAN finance ministers and central bank governors are set to discuss ways to strengthen ASEAN’s commitments to financial integration and cooperation against the backdrop of a new wave of protectionism and other uncertainties in the global economy when they meet this week in Cebu.

To be hosted by Dominguez and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., the conferences will include separate meetings of the ASEAN finance ministers and the central bank governors and the third Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Joint Meeting on Friday (April 7).

Agreements on the ASEAN Banking Integration Framework are expected to be signed on the sidelines of the ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meetings.

A joint press conference by the finance ministers of the immediate past (Lao Republic), present (Philippines) and future (Singapore) ASEAN chairs will be held after the April 7 Joint Meeting.

The official gatherings of the ASEAN finance ministers and central bank governors was preceded by this week's series of meetings and forums among the ASEAN finance deputies and central bank deputies.

An ASEAN + 3 Finance and Central Deputies Meeting with China, Japan and Korea and a separate ASEAN-US Treasury Deputies Meeting is set on April 5.

Before the ASEAN finance and central bank chiefs buckle down to work, Tetangco is set to host a dinner reception on April 5, followed by a gala dinner hosted by Dominguez on April 6 for them, their deputies and other delegates.

DTI to launch second run of e-commerce training

By Katlene O. Cacho

SOME 40 mentees composed of small and medium enterprises and employees of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have enrolled in the second run of the agency’s e-commerce mentorship program.

DTI Cebu Director Ma. Elena Arbon said the training will start on the third week of April and end on June. Of the total mentees, half are from Cebu while the rest are from Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

Fourteen participants from food, furniture and home accessories, among others, were the first graduates of the program which was mentored by Janette Toral of Digital Filipino.

“It’s a successful program. We were able to meet our objective of stirring the interest of local MSMEs, as well as pushing them into the e-commerce space,” said Arbon.

DTI’s e-commerce and digital marketing mentoring program aims to usher in a new breed of businesses that will thrive in the innovation and digital economy and create an enabling environment that supports the growth of the number of SMEs doing digital marketing.

Arbon believes capacitating the MSMES with e-commerce technology and tools would make them competitive.

According to Hope Melgar, chief trade and industry development specialist of DTI Cebu, said 12 of the first batch have working websites and social media accounts. For the second batch, Melgar said some DTI employees will join the program to capacitate them so they could provide counseling to SMES at Negosyo Centers after.

The e-commerce mentoring program will essentially adopt a hands-on methodology wherein selected MSMEs will be guided through the various steps of setting up an e-commerce presence.

There will be 12 sessions that will be conducted over a six-week period. Participants will meet twice a week. Among the topics of the program include website creation, e-payment services and digital marketing.

The graduation of the second batch is slated on June 13.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is urging developing nations to integrate digital payments into their economies, which are keys to boosting e-commerce important for growth and development.

WTO director general Roberto Azevedo considered digital payments as entry points for financial inclusion.

“Technological advances, especially in mobile technology, have provided alternative solutions - and they have been advancing at a tremendous speed,” Azevedo said in a Philexport report. He noted developing countries can be at the forefront of new ideas and solutions.

DSWD-7: 4Ps beneficiaries start receiving rice subsidy this year

By Juju Empuerto (rmn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu/DSWD-7)

CEBU CITY (PIA) --- The PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in Central Visayas have started receiving the monthly P600 rice assistance/subsidy for January 2017, according to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 Information Officer for Pantawid Pamilya, Phoebe Jen Indino.

According to Indino, the rice subsidy is a commitment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte made during his first State of the Nation Address in 2016, ensuring all Filipinos to be free from hunger and poverty in the amount of P600, which shall be given to all beneficiaries of PantawidPamilya.

Since January 2017, 213,502 active households in Central Visayas received the rice subsidy.

The rice subsidy will be paid bi-monthly along with the education and health grants.

Of the total active beneficiaries in CentalVisayas, 148,805 are from Cebu province, 60,858 from Bohol Province and 3,839 from Siquijor.

“These beneficiaries have started receiving the rice subsidy last March 9, 2017 while there is an on-going pay-out all throughout Central Visayas region,” said DSWD-7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre.

PantawidPamilya is a social protection program of the national government and invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 18 and below.

Households shall receive their cash grant provided that they comply with the program conditions.

These conditions include school attendance of at least 85% per month for children enrolled in the elementary or high school.

Children aged five and below would need to undergo preventive check-up as mandated by the Department of Health (DoH), while children enrolled in the elementary must receive deworming pills twice within the school year.

On the other hand, pregnant women must receive pre and post-natal care based on DoH’s protocol.

Lastly, parent/s or guardians are required to attend the monthly Family Development Session (FDS).

“We are hopeful that the additional cash grant will be used for its intended purpose. We will use FDS to ensure that the beneficiaries are informed of the relevant provision on rice subsidy,” Macapobre reiterated.

The additional cash grant as Rice Assistance/Subsidy is included as part of the P72,115,230 cash grant budget approved for calendar year 2017, said Macapobre.

Terminal workers undergo life-saving training

By Kristine B. Quintas (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The personnel of the Cebu South Bus Terminal underwent life-saving training programs in preparation for the expected influx of passengers who will spend the Holy Week in the provinces.

The three-day training conducted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Provincial Health Office last week aimed to capacitate the employees so they can immediately respond to emergency incidents at the terminal, CSBT Manager Joey Herrera said.

The CSBT management is expecting thousands of passengers from April 12 to April 16.

Herrera earlier said that the regular weekend trips have 650 bus trips with at least 29,250 passengers. Each bus trip has at least 45 passengers. CSBT has 300 buses in a regular day.

“Importante kaayo nga gi-train personnel about emergency response to immediately attend to those nakuyapan or naa’y disgrasya,” Herrera said.

PDRRMO Chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said Governor Hilario Davide III saw the need to prepare employees for crisis situation at the province-run terminal, especially during the Lenten season when passengers will troop to CSBT.

“After our inspection and assessment in CSBT, the governor saw the need of having responders in the terminal so when the need arises, we already have the people to respond,” Tribunalo said.

The training, Tribunalo said, follows a ladderized module on Basic Life Support (BLS) and Basic First Aid (BFA) trainings, which are in line with the standards set by the Department of Health.

BLS outlines management of a number of conditions, such as cardiac arrest, choking and drowning.

The first aid, on the other hand, includes courses on initial intervention in a serious condition prior to professional medical help, such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while waiting for a rescue vehicle.

Qualified trainers from PDRRMO and CPHO will be evaluating the trainees’ performance.

PDRRMO Trainer Crista Hermosa said once the trainee passes the written and practical exam, they will be given a certification and identification card.

Prior to the training, participants underwent medical and physical examinations at the CPHO.

Aside from CSBT personnel, PDRRMO will also be training more employee-responders to achieve the target responders-to-population ratio.

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