Cebu Province News December 2014

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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.

2 northern towns win top awards

(FMG)

THE towns of Liloan in mainland Cebu and San Francisco in Camotes Island bagged the most number of awards during the Our Cebu Program awarding ceremony at the Capitol Social Hall last Monday.

The awardees received trophies and cash prizes for the categories in outstanding barangays, top performing local government units (LGUs), emerging LGUs, outstanding central schools and special awards for the towns and cities.

Our Cebu Program, which is a joint project of the Cebu Provincial Government and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., aims to improve each town and city in the Province by making LGUs “attractive places to live, work, play, invest and do business.”

The program’s scorecard system is anchored on the development agenda of the Provincial Government, including good governance; health, education and basic services; agriculture and food security; livelihood, business development, infrastructure; and environmental protection and enhancement.

San Francisco won the first prize for the top performing LGUs. The town also received special awards for green champion LGU, most livable (model community) and most resilient.

Liloan won second place for the top performing LGU category; the town landed third place in 2012. The town also received the special awards for green champion and being outstanding in good governance.

Liloan Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco said the town’s achievements are a product of the consistent and dedicated implementation of the program, as well as the cooperation of the Liloanons in every purok and barangay.

The top performing LGUs received P1 million for the first prize, P750,000 for the second prize, P500,000 for the third prize and P200,000 each for the rest of the awardees. For the special awards and emerging LGUs, the winners received P100,000 each.

Our Cebu program started in 2007 under the administration of former governor and now Third District Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia. It was formerly known as the Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment or eGwen project.

DENR 7 plants 1T artificial reefs

(JKV)

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported it has deployed more than 1,000 artificial coral reefs in various areas in Central Visayas to help rehabilitate natural reefs.

Through the DENR 7’s Protected Areas, Wildlife, Coastal Zone Management Services (PAWCZMS) and under the agency’s Sustainable Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Program (SCREMP), a total of 1,065 artificial coral reef houses were planted in some 35.5 hectares of coral reef areas in the region.

Of the total number of coral reef houses, 345 of these were distributed to the towns of Tuburan, Barili, Aloguinsan and Asturias in Cebu Province.

Around 420 reef houses were also distributed to the municipalities of Bindoy, Tayasan, Manjuyod and Ayungon in Negros Oriental; 300 reef houses were given to the municipalities of Alburquerque, Panglao, Loay and Talibon in Bohol Province; and in Lazi and Maria in Siquijor Province.

The coral reef project in Central Visayas has a total allocation of over P2.8 million.

The materials used in making the artificial coral reef houses included cement, sand, crushed limestone, corrugated steel bar, PVC pipe, fish nets, cable tie, tie wire, nylon and bamboo baskets, which serve as the base shape of each reef house.

Each reef house has an estimated cost of P808.33, including the labor provided by the partner people’s organizations.

Dr. Isabelo Montejo, DENR 7 director, said that they have prioritized areas where coral resources have been degraded.

Montejo said that placing artificial coral reef houses in the identified areas will allow the natural reefs to recover and improve a solid and rough bottom habitat, which will help increase the productivity of edible fish species.

The DENR 7 launched the program in 2012. It is expected to see results in 2020.

SCREMP is a national program of the DENR that aims to conduct a strategic, sustainable and ecosystem-based approach in protecting and rehabilitating the coral reef ecosystem.

Organizers: Sinulog 2015 will be bigger; parade longer

By Razel V. Cuizon

THE Sinulog Foundation Inc. promised that next year’s festival would be bigger and grander to mark its 35th year.

SFI executive director Ricky Ballesteros said the Sinulog Grand Parade would be longer than in the previous years.

“It will be something that the crowd will look forward to,” he said during the press launch of the Sinulog 2015 celebration.

Ballesteros said, though, that the Sinulog will not compete with the visit of Pope Francis in Tacloban and Manila.

Pope Francis will be in Tacloban City on Jan. 17 to meet survivors of typhoon Yolanda and the magnitude 7.2 earthquake. The disasters also affected Cebu, but the Pope will not be coming here.

The Pope’s visit in Tacloban coincides with the fluvial procession of the image of the Sr. Sto. Niño in Cebu, which will begin early in the morning and will be followed by a foot procession.

Papal visit

During the Sinulog Grand Parade, Pope Francis will be in Manila to meet church leaders and will celebrate mass at the Rizal Park before leaving the country.

Ballesteros dismissed talks that the Pope’s visit would reduce the number of visitors during the Sinulog.

He said that Sinulog 2015 will complement the Pope’s visit because it will showcase Cebu’s role in the spread of Christianity in the Philippines.

He said the Sinulog Foundation is planning to put up projector screens in some portions of the parade route and at the Cebu City Sports Center to show a telecast of the Pope saying mass in Manila.

Church-related

To celebrate its 35th year, the foundation chose a festival theme that focuses on the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino and pays tribute to the Augustinian community, which is celebrating its 450 years of presence in the Philippines.

It will be the first time for the cultural and religious aspects of the Sinulog to have the same theme.

“It will be a celebration of faith in the form of dance,” Ballesteros said.

The foundation is almost done with preparations for the Sinulog 2015, including the stage where the contingents will showcase their final dance during the grand parade.

Ballesteros said the Sinulog 2015 stage will be the biggest so far. It will feature the facade of Basilica del Sto. Nino.

Around a thousand dancers and performers from different schools in the city will also join the grand finale.

The grand finale, Ballesteros said, will let the audience see the beginnings of Christianity in Cebu. “It will be the most exciting performance for Sinulog,” he added.

Compostela lines up 2015 projects

By Jose P. Sollano (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines – Compostela Mayor Joel Quino yesterday announced that three big projects will be implemented by the municipal government next year.

The projects, according to Mayor Quino, are listed as top priority by the municipal government and that funds for the project were already included in next year's annual budget.

The construction of the new slaughterhouse, construction of the new public market and improvement of barangay roads are listed as priority projects under his administration.

Mayor Quino informed businessmen in Compostela town that the construction of new slaughterhouse is important this time.

The mayor said under the current setup, businessmen in Compostela go to Danao City and Liloan town to avail of the services of a public slaughterhouse.

He said other businessmen avail of the services of some private slaughterhouses.

With the said situation, Mayor Quino said they cannot exactly monitor the meat products sold in the market.

The construction of the new public market is also important to give way for the construction of the new port at the place.

Mayor Quino said the realization of the construction of the town's port will play a vital role in the economic development of Compostela.

On the other hand, the improvement of barangay roads will also help farmers in transporting their products to the market.

Schools take part in Dagitab Festival

By Liv G. Campo/ATO (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - For the second year in a row, the Professionals Academy of the Philippines (PAP) bagged the grand prize in the 7th Dagitab Festival in the City of Naga, December 23 at the city’s Ocean Park.

The PAP students presented a “Christmas around the world” theme with their colorful costumes, dazzling lights and synchronized dance moves which wowed the audience all throughout their 5-minute performance. They bested seven other participating contingents from different schools in the city.

PAP bagged the grand prize in three categories: audio van, street dancing and final showdown competition.

In the showdown category, Uling National High School came second, while Tuyan National High School, with its nature-inspired performance, came third.

In street dancing, which came before the actual showdown, Uling NHS also came second to PAP while Siena School of Naga was third. The same winners also bagged the Best in Audio Van awards.

The grand prize winner in the showdown competition took home P55,000, while the second and third placers got P40,000 and P30,000, respectively.

For his part, Mayor Valdemar Chiong thanked the teachers and the people of the City of Naga for participating in the annual event which he started in 2007. He said he hopes it would still be around when his term ends in 2016, as he said the unity of the people is a benchmark for a progressive city. Thousands came to witness the three-hour event.

“Kita taga Naga, be proud of being a Nagahanon. On our part as public officials, we try our best nga di mapakauwawan ang Naga. Let’s take care of Naga, let’s be united for Naga as this will all redown to a progressive Naga,” he said.

Other participating schools in last week’s Dagitab Festival were Balirong NHS, Placido L Señor Memorial NHS, Naga NHS and Don Emilio Canonigo MNHS.

The event was capped with a fireworks display.

Chiong said the festival cost a portion of theP4 milion budget earmarked for the city’s Christmas festivities.

‘A challenging year’

By Mia A. Aznar

ALTHOUGH two big disasters that hit the region occurred in 2013, their effects were mostly felt in the early part of 2014. But in spite of it all, those in the business community believe 2014 was still a good year for business.

For National Economic Development Authority (Neda) 7 Director Efren Carreon, 2014 was a “challenging but rewarding year” for Central Visayas.

“We experienced disasters, but it was still rewarding because we were able to manage despite the calamities,” Carreon said. He said that aside from the Caraga region, only Central Visayas has consistently been able to rank in the top five of highest-growing regions in the country, something he and his staff is proud of.

And while the final growth numbers are not officially determined until July next year, Carreon sees no reason for Central Visayas to perform differently, citing the fact that it consistently outperforms the national average and that its economy is the fourth largest in the Philippines.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Ma. Teresa Chan believes growth this year has been slower, but remained stable. She said real estate may have peaked in 2013 and that 2014 was “just okay.” She added that the expected US recovery did not materialize soon enough and that important markets like Japan and China experienced slowdowns of their own. Still, she said the future is bright for the Philippines because of its good economic fundamentals.

She was glad that the chamber was able to co-organize a seminar on public-private partnerships with Neda so that local government officials could learn how to fund critical projects that could spur economic growth in their localities.

Urgent issues

Chan said the chamber has succeeded in its mission of becoming the engine of Cebu’s growth this year, having hosted national and international groups in their missions to Cebu. They also held trade missions with Nigeria, Sabah, Turkey, Canada, Israel, Vietnam and Indonesia. It has also attended meetings and forums and presented its position as representatives of the business community on issues like importation, port congestion, port development, power, taxation, development of the international airport, waste management and flood control.

Cebu Business Club president Gordon Alan Joseph shares Chan’s view of slower growth.

He doesn’t attribute this to the magnitude 7.2 earthquake or super typhoon Yolanda, pointing out that the areas affected were not large contributors to the economy, most of which were agricultural areas.

A report prepared by the Neda 7 found the agricultural sector missing its output targets for the last two years and Carreon said they expect they will also miss their two to 2.5 percent target for 2014 as well.

For the first half of 2014, agriculture already dropped 4.82 percent. He said that aside from being affected by Yolanda, 2014 ended with storms Queenie and Ruby, which were less powerful but still caused enough damage to the sector. For Joseph, it only means there is not enough investment in agriculture if its output is always dependent on the weather.

On the other hand, he acknowledged that 2014 was a good year for business due to much economic activity.

Joseph, however, worries that there would come a time when Cebu’s economy will be unable to expand further. He said the economy cannot rely on real estate, overseas remittances and business process outsourcing, and noted several problems Cebu has to solve if it wants to continue its progress.

Room to grow

He said more space needs to be made for factories and economic zones while solutions to the worsening traffic need to be made. Development for business process outsourcing should also be spread outside of Cebu City.

Although Cebu has higher tourism numbers than most provinces, he believes there has been a lack of effort for this sector. “I think we are missing the tourism boat. There has been so much emphasis on industry,” he noted. Joseph said Cebu seems to be confused about its identity, with some areas having tourist spots sitting next to factories.

Joseph stressed the need for proper planning before all the problems that come with progress come crashing down. He said not everything is the government’s fault, pointing out that the private sector should also be blamed for paying their way to get around regulatory requirements and violating building codes by building over waterways and not providing enough setbacks for sidewalks.

For their part, the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry believes the government reforms and the country’s macroeconomic developments have brought on investors’ confidence. In a statement, they expressed their support for the recommendations given by the World Bank in August, citing the need for reforms to focus on policies that boost prosperity. These include lessening corporate and personal income taxes, simplifying the tax system for micro and small enterprises and consolidating all laws and regulations for tax incentives into one code.

This year, the chamber has been working with the Mandaue City Government to complete its performance governance system and professionalize some of its processes to make them ISO-compliant and eventually become ISO-certified. The chamber has also accepted the City’s proposal to reevaluate the value of lands and buildings and implement the new rates by 2016. They agreed to implement the new rate increases in five equal installments for for five years.

Carreon presented to Sun.Star Cebu what most of the first half of 2014 looked like, as the latest figures were not yet made available to them.

The first half of the year showed a dismal performance for tourism, with just 0.2 percent growth for the region and 0.3 percent growth for Cebu. Bohol suffered an 8.51 percent drop in tourist arrivals. Carreon said it was the early part of 2014 that the effects of Yolanda were felt, especially for this sector. However, other provinces may have benefitted as Negros Oriental found a rise of 7.05 percent while Siquijor saw an increase of 15.58 percent.

Seeing no signs of slowing is the sector for information and communications technology and business process management, having directly employed 65,303 the first half of the year. The industry, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, exported $411 million in services and imported $6.3 million.

Manufacturing employed 120,000 workers and exported $1.8 billion worth of goods. The sector imported $1.2 billion.

Neda 7 also tracked the construction industry, seeing 5,659 construction permits issued throughout the region, most of which were for residential projects. Although Bohol had the most permits issued for the period, Carreon said the projects in Cebu have a higher value. Carreon said most of projects for Bohol were for residential purposes and that many have been for the repair of damaged buildings. Total value of Bohol construction projects for the first half was at P1.2 billion for 2,702 projects.

There were 1,760 construction permits issued in Cebu for the first half of 2014, 1,430 of which were for residential buildings. The total value was placed at P8.98 billion. The huge value of the projects are attributed to the large office and commercial buildings, valued at a total of P4.9 billion for 330 projects. Cebu’s residential permits also have high value at P4 billion, with many of these condominium buildings.

Carreon believes Central Visayas will still register high growth when official results come out in July next year, saying it has always been able to outperform the country even when faced with calamities.

Cebu inmates offer dance for Pope

By Carine Asutilla (ABS-CBN News Central Visayas)

CEBU - The dancing Inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) will offer a dance number to Pope Francis days before the Pope will visit the country.

They hope that their dance will urge the Pope to come and visit Cebu.

Vince Rosales, the choreographer of the CPDRC Dancing Inmates, told ABS-CBN News that he is already conceptualizing the choreography for their special dance number which they will offer to Pope Francis.

"We will perform before the Pope will arrive in the country, we will upload our video on YouTube. Who knows, the pope views it and he will be convinced to come to Cebu and meet the inmates," said Rosales.

Members of the dancing inmates are excited to perform for the pope.

"This is going to be a once in a lifetime experience," said one of the inmates.

Rosales said that the Pope's presence in CPDRC can really do good for the inmates. He said that the Pope can be the inmates' inspiration for them to repent and to strive to become good Christians.

"Our dance will be something solemn. It will have a lot of formations, in the end, we will show the Pope's face," said Rosales.

The dancing inmates' latest performance was an attempt to break the world record for the biggest human Christmas tree.

IN 2015 Iskolar ng Bayan law to aid 4T students in Cebu

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/ATO (The Philippine Star)

CEBU, Philippines - Over 4,000 top fourth year high school students in Cebu will be the first to benefit from the Iskolar ng Bayan Act of 2014 after it was recently signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who was in Cebu yesterday, said that initially, 80,000 high school graduates who belong to the top ten in their class will benefit from the law, which will be implemented next school year.

Out of the 80,000, 4,190 students from Cebu and 8,010 from Central Visayas will go to college as scholars with the passage of the law.

"Automatically the top ten graduates magiging scholar na, hindi na kailangang pumasa pa ng entrance examination," the senator said.

Cayetano said this is one step closer towards the goal of providing Filipinos, particularly the poorest of the poor, free access to quality education that will serve as their tool to fight off poverty and unemployment.

The senator said that according to the Department of Education's latest data, 419 of the total 7,913 public high schools operating for school year 2013 to 2014 are located in Cebu.

"This is good news to Filipino families who are having difficulties sending their children to college. The passage of this law will definitely change the lives of almost 80,000 Filipino youths who are dreaming of a better future for their families. 80,000 families will finally be able to feel the benefits of our growing economy," he said.

The newly-approved law mandates all state universities and colleges to give automatic admission and provide scholarship grants to the top ten public high school students of their respective graduating classes.

Under the measure, SUCs are expected to grant free tuition and other school fees to the Iskolar ng Bayan in all SUCs.

Meanwhile, as part of the campaign to discourage small-time cooperatives to resort to loan sharks that charge high interest rates, Cayetano gave P100,000 financial assistance to the Minglanilla New Market Vendors Association yesterday.

The senator also gave another P100,000 to the Nagkahiusang Drivers sa Alegria in Alegria town, Cebu.

Dubbed the "Kontra 5-6 Program," the senator's program is part of his Presyo, Trabaho, Kita platform, which he launched during his 2013 reelection campaign in the hope of addressing problems related to high prices of goods, lack of jobs and low income.

Dole awards 505 firms compliance certificates

By Justin K. Vestil

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) awarded companies in Central Visayas for complying with labor laws and standards.

In a formal ceremony yesterday, officials of the Dole led by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz gave certificates of compliance (COC) to 505 companies in the region.

Of the 505 companies, 356 received certificates for passing general labor standards (GLS). The same number of companies also received certificates for compliance with the Child Labor Law.

About 233 companies received certificates for passing the occupational safety and health standards (OSHS).

Four companies received certificates for observing practices related to labor relations.

Priceless

In her speech, Baldoz said the COCs received by establishments are considered “priceless” due to their usefulness to investors, especially those from outside the country.

Baldoz said that international investors put value on labor compliance above all else. She added that the issuance of COCs also stops the practice of corruption within the Dole.

Baldoz said the Dole is now practicing developmental assessment of companies that have not been complying with labor laws.

“We are no longer policing against erring companies. Instead, we will help and assist you until you get your certificate of compliance,” Baldoz said.

She urged companies to not fear the agency and urged them to inquire to secure their COCs.

The conduct of labor compliance assessments is based on Department Order 131, series of 2013, as a way to protect workers by allowing their employers to comply with labor laws and standards.

Requirement

Through the order, labor law compliance Officers (LLCOs) would conduct joint assessment, compliance visits and occupational safety and health standards investigation on small, medium and large establishments in their jurisdiction.

The assessment will determine if an establishment has complied with the general labor laws, occupational safety and health standards and labor relations, among others.

If they pass the assessment, an establishment will be awarded with a certificate of compliance (COC).

If found failing on some standards, the establishment will get Dole’s help in improving its performance.

Home town bets rule age group tennis tournament in Naga City

(PNA), CTB/EB/MP/

CEBU CITY, Dec. 22 (PNA) -- Home town bets ruled the Palawan Pawnshop age group tennis tournaments in Naga City in southern Cebu, with local netters winning five of the nine division titles at the Naga City Country Club over the weekend.

Youth tennis veteran Zethley Mae Alferez was the brightest star among the locals as she capped the year with two titles in the Girls 16-Under and 18-Under divisions, her second straight sweep of the two divisions in an age group tournament.

"I am happy that I won two titles again," said Alferez, who studies at Bright Academy in Cebu City.

In both finals, Alferez defeated Shyne Villareal, who is also from Naga City and her teammate at Bright Academy.

In the 16-Under final, Alferez won easily, 6-3, 6-3, and in the 18-Under final, she bagged the crown, 7-6, 6-2.

Two weeks ago, Alferez also swept the 16-Under and 18-Under divisions in the Cebuana Lhuillier age group tournament in Minglanilla.

In the Palawan tournament, Alferez defeated Kristin Salimbangon, 4-1, 4-1, in the 18-Under semifinals, and Elsie Abarquez, 5-4, 4-0, in the 16-Under semifinals.

Eleven-year-old Lyrah Mae Repollo also got her second title for the year with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Pherl Bless Coderos.

The student of the National Power Corporation Elementary School, who started tennis just two years ago, said she was elated to win her second title for the year.

Repollo got into the sport due to the influence of her grandfather and honed her skills under the free tennis clinics conducted by Naga City Mayor Val Chiong.

Another local netter, Venz Alforque also got a title with a 6-2, 6-1 rout of Cesar Salimbangon in the 12-Under division.

It was Alforque's ninth title for the year.

On the other hand, the youngest age group division, the 10-Under unisex, had the most thrilling finals match with local bet Eric Louise Longakit overcoming second seed Tiffany Nocos, 1-4, 4-1, 4-2.

"I made it and finally won my first title," said Longakit, a 10-year-old student of Naga Central Elementary School.

The local bets were thankful for the hosting of the event in their city.

"This is the first time that our city has hosted a prestigious tournament and we are all overwhelemed by Mayor Chiong's support for tennis and for bringing this event here," said Alferez.

The Palawan tennis pawnshop is a Group 2 sanctioned tournament of the Philippine Tennis Association.

Meanwhile, John Godfrey Seno capped his year with two titles in the 16-Under and 18-Under divisions, beating Earl Cagampang twice and giving up only three games in both finals.

Seno, who improved his play with a brief stint in the US this year, showed his fine form with a 6-0, 6-3, win in 45 minutes for the 16-Under crown and was even more ruthless in the 18-Under finalm winning, 6-0, 6-0.

"I'm happy that I was able to win two more titles before the year ends," said Seno, who beat John Laquio in the 16-Under semifinals, 4-2, 4-1, and Norman Joseph Enriquez in the 18-Under semis, 4-0, 5-4 (4).

After losing in the semis of the 18-Under division, Abarquez didn't go home empty-handed as she won the Girls 14-Under finals, 6-3, 6-0 over top seed Salimbangon, while Francis Lambayan got the Boys 14-Under crown with a 6-3, 6-3, win over Naga City's Francis Hidalgo.

Disaster preparation tops LGU plans in 2015

By Flornisa M. Gitgano and Rebelander S. Basilan (Sun.Star Cebu)

CEBU - The Mandaue City Government plans to build a facility where equipment for disaster response can be placed and residents in danger zones can take shelter during typhoons and other disasters.

For its part, Cebu Province intends to buy heavy equipment that towns and barangays may use, especially after calamities, when roads have to be cleared quickly for help to go where it’s needed.

A year after the twin calamities of 2013—a powerful earthquake last October 15 and typhoon Yolanda less than a month later—Cebu’s local government units (LGUs) are giving disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) large shares of their 2015 plans and budgets.

In Mandaue City, Mayor Jonas Cortes said the City is looking for a site where the building can be constructed. It should be built in an elevated area so it will not be reached by flood.

Being low-lying and a recipient of rainwater runoff from Cebu City, the city is prone to flooding, Cortes said.

No design of the building has been made yet, he said, as they have to find a location yet. He added they have yet to determine how much the City will spend to construct the facility.

The City runs a command center equipped with modern communication gadgets, TV screens for monitoring of streets and other equipment.

Cortes said he hopes the building, which may also house the DRRM office and an evacuation center, can be constructed next year.

The City has been using classrooms as evacuation centers. Cortes said there are risks in placing evacuees in classrooms especially in old Gabaldon buildings.

Evacuees have to cook inside the classroom sometimes, creating a risk of fire. He added that some schools are not located in safe areas, like an elementary school in Barangay Looc that gets inundated during high tide.

Governor Hilario Davide III, meanwhile, wants to rehabilitate and construct new roads, starting in the first quarter of the year.

A P110-million loan is being planned for the acquisition of heavy equipment, which is also the largest item in the 2015 Annual Investment Plan (AIP).

Davide said he will secure an authorization from the Provincial Board to enter into the loan agreement for heavy equipment.

He also thanked Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, the Provincial Board members, department heads and Capitol employees for their support of the administration’s programs and their work in response to the calamities that have struck since 2013.

At least 152,746 families were affected by typhoon Yolanda last November 8, 2013, based on the Province’s rehabilitation plan.

This year, tropical depression Queenie and typhoon Ruby also caused damage in some towns.

“Maybe my biggest accomplishment is that I managed to keep my feet on the ground. There were challenges, of course, and I can say with all modesty that we got by well,” Davide said.

The governor said that the Province hoped to collect more taxes and fees so that the Capitol can fund more projects next year.

Earlier, the Provincial Treasurer projected to collect P2.416 billion in revenues this year compared to last year’s P2.216 billion. If the projected collection materializes, the increase alone will be almost half of this year’s P407-million AIP.


CH to buy more equipment to deal with disaster

By Rebelander S. Basilan

TO BE better prepared for typhoons, the Lapu-Lapu City Government intends to get more equipment and implement a more systematic way of evacuating residents.

Mayor Paz Radaza said the City needs more machinery like chainsaws, rubber boats, generator sets and communication gadgets. Needs improvement

Radaza said she will also ask barangay officials to set aside funds to get more equipment, as the City continues to take measures against disasters.

Disaster responders from City Hall and barangays recently received training from the Metro Manila Development Authority. More than 40 disaster responders learned search-and-rescue skills in water and collapsed buildings.

Radaza said barangay officials were able to handle the evacuation of residents well during typhoon Ruby, but she added a more efficient way of moving people to safer places can be done.

“The City will work with barangay officials and the Department of Education Lapu-Lapu City Division to develop mechanisms for evacuating residents in risky areas,” she said in a recent press conference.

No casualty

Radaza also pointed out the need to upgrade their communication facilities. When typhoon Ruby hit the country two weeks ago, personnel at the City’s command center had difficulty contacting officials in island barangays.

The City and barangays carried out massive evacuations during typhoon Ruby. About 14,000 people living near the shores were taken to elementary schools.

No casualties and major damages were reported in the city in the wake of the typhoon.

Mandaue to give 14th month pay

By Flor Z.Perolina / ATO (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City Council is hoping to release an additional bonus for City Hall personnel as their performance enhancement incentives (PEI) although it would still find a way to finance the incentive.

The City Council, during its Wednesday’s session, approved in mass motion an ordinance granting the PEI to all regular employees of the Mandaue City Hall.

The approval though has no certain amount yet but the City Council tasked city treasurer Regal Oliva to check if the city has available funds to give at least P20,000 to each employee.

Around 700 regular employees will receive the additional benefit aside from their 14th month bonus which is now being processed.

The employees’ 14th month pay will be released before Christmas. Employees with a basic pay below P10,000 will receive a P10,000 bonus while those who have a basic salary of more than P10,00 will receive an amount equivalent to their monthly pay.

Oliva said that they also hope to release the PEI before Christmas. He said the city will need around P14 million to grant the additional P20,000.

Last December 2, the Department of Budget and Management issued a memorandum circular setting the guidelines in the granting of PEI.

Oliva also said that job order employees will not receive the PEI to avoid disallowances from the Commission on Audit.

But the city’s job order employees will get a calamity assistance of P5,000 each. Oliva said the payroll is already being prepared for the distribution of the cash assistance.

Oliva earlier defended that the giving of calamity assistance to the city’s job orders is just appropriate as they were the frontliners during the preparation of typhoon Ruby.

Group distributes medical kits to ‘trained’ LGUs

By Oscar C. Pineda

DIRECT Relief, an international non-government organization (NGO,) turned over 18 Emergency Medical Technician kits for first-aid treatments to Cebu LGUs.

This is just the initial first batch, as more trainings and distribution will follow.

“Kung layo og ospital ang atong mga lungsod, first aid pwede ni magamit, kung adunay bangga, adunay napusilan (If the towns are from the hospitals, first aid is useful, for vehicular accidents, or someone being shot),” said Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) information officer Jules Regner.

Each big backpack contains, among others, a sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure, stethoscope, suction devise, tampon, cotton and gauze, medicines and even condoms.

Condoms, Regner explained, is to keep small items dry even in extreme wet conditions or when immersed in water.

Before the turn-over, Direct Relief personnel demonstrate the uses of items inside the kit.

These kits are used, Regner said, as first aid treatment to injuries sustained during natural calamities and other emergency situations said Regner.

Each kit is worth P37,000, Regner said.

Four representatives from Minglanilla, Barili, Liloan and Bantayan were present during the turn-over yesterday at the PDRRMO in Capitol compound.

Direct Relief first distributed Medical Kits to 18 LGUs that underwent PDRRMO ERT training said Regner.

“Dili ra ni siya anhi ra kutob, naa pay additional second batch ani (There will be a second batch),” said Regner.

Lapu-Lapu City opens another eco-tourism attraction

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu, Dec. 17 (PNA) -- The Lapu-Lapu City government has opened another eco-tourism attraction in Olango Island off Mactan Island.

The Eco-Tourism Park in Sitio Asinan in Barangay Sabang will benefit at least 24 families.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said the park does not only attract tourists since it also provides income to the residents in Asinan.

"Tourism is the backbone of our local economy. It is one of the prime movers of our city towards development," Radaza said.

Jimmy Gloma, office-in-charge of Lapu-Lapu City Cooperative and Livelihood Resource Center, said that women are trained to cook and prepare food for the guests while men are trained to tour tourists while riding on a boat.

Last year, the city government had launched its first tourist spot dubbed the "Olango My Getaway."

Gloma said families under the community-based eco-tourism program were educated about the importance of protecting the environment.

"We are closely coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to make sure no environmental law is violated as we go on with the eco-tourism project," Gloma said.

The park has an entrance fee of P15, according to Gloma, while guests can avail of the tour of the mangrove area on board a boat for P30 for 30 minutes.

Gloma said that guests are encouraged to plant mangroves at the newly opened Eco-Tourism Park.

He added that if tourists decide to stay overnight at the park, they can rent a tent for P100 for eight hours.

"We are charging low rates because we want local and foreigners to visit the community and help the residents and environments," Gloma said.

The city has allocated P130,000 to set up souvenir shops where tourists can buy local products.

One of the features at the park is the bamboo bridge.

"Residents wade through the seawater during high tide to get to the main road," Gloma said.

Tourist arrivals in CV to hit past 200T – DOT

By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - More local and foreign tourists are expected to visit Central Visayas provinces throughout the end of year as the peak Christmas season approaches, said the regional Department of Tourism.

According to DOT-7, it is expecting an average of 252,260 tourist arrivals in the region for the December period.

In a previous interview, DOT-7 Director Rowena Montecillo said the peak season has started since November. More tourists are also expected to visit Cebu early next year in time for the Sinulog Festival.

“We are monitoring the arrivals especially that I still would want to see the specific tourist arrivals in [the islands of] Bantayan and Malapascua,” Montecillo said, noting the two islands have continued to recover from the previous disasters.

The tourism agency said that from January to September, it already recorded 2,830,768 tourists which account for 77.31 percent of its total target of visitors this year. In the same period last year, the region had 2,675,957 tourists.

Its 2014 goal of tourist influx was raised to 3.6 million, up from the initial target of 3.3 million.

The director expressed optimism the agency would be able to achieve its target, considering that tourist places in the region have slowly regained the confidence among tourists after the major calamities.

She pointed out figures on tourist arrivals are very important as they show to the people how the local tourism sector has been performing amid the challenges that affect the industry.

The tourism department also needs the help of the private sector and various tourism offices of local government units in collating tourism data, she added.

Tourists

During the 2014 January-September period, Cebu received 2,083,046 tourists, the biggest among the region’s four provinces. Bohol had 334,899 visitors; Negros Oriental recorded 381,204 arrivals; and Siquijor had 31,619 tourists.

During the said period, local tourists reached to 1,696,670 posting a 4.45 percent growth rate while foreign arrivals increased to 1,124,854 having a growth of 7.58 percent, data furnished to The FREEMAN further showed.

Visiting overseas Filipino workers also grew by 55.10 percent during the first nine months of this year to 9,244, up from 5,960 during the same period last year.

Top markets

Korea remains as Central Visayas’ top tourism market with 434,141 Koreans who visited the region during the nine-month period; it increased by 2.65 percent from 422,927 last year.

It is respectively followed by Japan, USA, China, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, France and Singapore.

Of all these nations, only Canadian tourists dropped by -20.09 percent to 17,386 this year, lower than 21,758 in 2013.

The total number of tourists from the said markets grew by 8.91 percent to 964,830 during the nine-month period this year from 885,886 in 2013.

DSWD-7 set to give relief goods today

By Ria Mae Y. Booc/NSA (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 will be sending out relief goods to Eastern Samar today.

Around 10,000 sacks of rice, at least 33,334 boxes of noodles, 12,000 boxes of canned meat, 10,000 boxes of coffee, and 12,000 boxes of sardines are currently stocked in two relief warehouses in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue, said the agency.

The goods will be transported through the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu.

DSWD-7 disaster focal person Jenny Abastillas said they will also tap the assistance of commercial vessels in delivering the goods.

“Bisan asa nga point of entry like Palompon or Hilongos, duna mi kontakon nga maoy musugat didto informing them of the number of items being sent,” said Abastillas, saying the DSWD-7 will pay for the shipment through commercial vessels.

Following typhoon Ruby, which hit northern Cebu and Eastern Samar in Region 8, the national government released P300 million-budget for DSWD’s relief goods and operations.

The agency finished packing food packs yesterday. It has so far dispatched at least 50,000 food packs to Eastern Samar and around 36,000 to northern Cebu. The agency is yet to send some 10,600 food packs to the towns of Poro, Tudela, Sta. Fe, and Medellin in Cebu.

Some of the food packs for northern Cebu were distributed to the different municipalities while the rest were personally brought by the DSWD.

Tides opens in Lapu-Lapu; Maryland pianist-pedagogue mounts homecoming recital

By Jaime Picornell (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa held a grand opening of its new main outlet, Tides, with a record attendance by Cebu’s luminaries. Presiding the dressy event was the resort’s general manager Marco Vazzoler who welcomed the guest of honor, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza.

Jude Bacalso hosted the program, a highlight of which was a demonstration by sand artist Brian Crespo who invited Mayor Radaza to try her hand at it, literally.

The new Tides offers a comprehensive array of international cuisine with special focus on local specialties. The Cebu lechon is roasted right before your eyes. Mainstay at the dessert area is the chocolate fountain.

Seen at the event were Shangri-La Mactan’s director for sales and marketing Albert Lafuente, Charley Magubo and Luwela Griño also from the sales department. Communications executive Monica Tan, human resources manager Rowena Villasencio, food and beverage director Ben Matlew, executive chef Mark Mulder, and chef de cuisine Alvin Lee.

Radisson Blu

Shortly after this it was the turn for the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City to host a grand event to relaunch its Feria outlet, likewise attended by a record crowd. Doing the honors was general manager Nishan Silva who introduced the hotel’s five main chefs who henceforth have showcased their gastronomic prowess.

Executive chef Frederic Cyr is French-Canadian, born in Quebec, where at age 12 he learned how to cook with his famous father, Renaud Cyr, at the family restaurant.

Executive pastry chief Allan Barrios comes from a family of pastry chefs. His father and four brothers are into baking. He is responsible for the scrumptious desserts at Feria, featured on a ferris wheel. Try his famed croissant pudding.

Chef Peter Yeung is master of Cantonese cuisine. Born in Hong Kong, for 20 years he has churned out wonders from a stack of recipes that have been in his family for generations.

Indian chef Nira Tiwari has introduced his country’s culinary fare to Cebu. It is flavorful, colorful and definitely spicy though he has toned down some dishes, which means less hot and more edible.

Executive sous chef Randy Origenes learned to cook from observing as he washed dishes. His contribution to the Feria buffet ranges from delicious Filipino dishes to imaginative Italian fare.

Afternoon musicale

Cielito Obiña Elliott entertained friends at her well appointed apartment at Buenaventura Place in Guadalupe, Cebu City, in what turned out to be a delightful afternoon musicale. Present were Amelia La O, Tina Ebrada, Chinggay Utzurrum and Maida Veloso.

Celi was born in Cebu and learned how to play the piano from her sister Angeling O. Bernedo. She studied Music at University of Santo Tomas and later further studied in United States.

She embarked on a career as a concert pianist, and also as a teacher at an exclusive girls’ school in Baltimore, Maryland. She married Don Elliott who also taught at the same school.

During the 1970s and 1980s Celi frequently came to Cebu performing solo or in duo recitals with Reynaldo Reyes who was also based in Maryland. Those were unforgettable performances at the auditorium of Colegio de la Inmaculada Conception under the patronage of Esperanza Labucay Cabahug.

Celi retired some years ago and her visits to Cebu became more frequent, touching base with relatives and a legion of dear friends. She took up residence at Buenaventura Place and got herself a piano where she rehearses daily. It has a room all to itself.

At this exclusive gathering she told them she’d play compositions by Chopin, one of her favorite composers. She told them why.

“Chopin wrote mostly for piano,” she said. “Well, the piano is enough. It is everything!”

The first piece was Ballade No. 1. “There are actually four,” Celi explained, adding, “It evokes a tale, giving life to the knights at King Arthur’s round table.”

Then she played some “etudes,” written by Chopin for students. “Thy are that not easy at all, “noted Celi,” as a matter of fact they can be challengingly difficult.”

From Book I of the etudes she played No. 5, known as the Black Keys Etude; No. 12, the Revolutionary; and No. 3 which as Celi says, was named “No Other Love” by Hollywood. Celi said we could hum or sing along as she played.

From Book II she played the Butterfly Etude; one that was a favorite of her late husband Don; and the “Ocean Prelude,” considered as the hardest of all.

For an encore she obliged with a work written by her late sister who died quite young. ” I had to play a Cebuano air,” Celi said, and went into a relation of memories that stretched back to prewar days of her childhood.

“Tina, why don’t you play something?” Celi asked Tina Ebrada who protested that lack of practice prevent her fingers from playing classical works. But accomplished as she is, Tina sat at the piano, and tinkled away a score-perfect jazzy “It Had to be You.”

How does one say it in Cebuano? Some one asked. The answer: “Ikaw g’yud!”

Cash for Mandaue workers approved

By Flor Z. Perolina (NSA, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City Council has approved an ordinance granting yearend cash incentives in a form of calamity assistance amounting to P5,000 to all job order employees and traffic enforcers in the city and another P3,000 cash incentives to Clean and Green personnel and barangay health nutrition workers.

Section 2 of the ordinance states that job orders and traffic enforcers who have rendered at least a four months service preceding November 30, 2014 shall receive the full P5,000 amount while the P3,000 will be given to Clean and Green workers and BHNW who have rendered the same.

On the other hand, personnel who have rendered less than four months of service as of November 30, 2014 shall only be entitled to a pro-rated calamity assistance, wherein those who have a length of service of three months but less than four months will receive 50 percent of the calamity assistance; two months but less than three months will receive 40 percent ; one month but less than two months 40 percent ; and for those who have served the city for less than a month will receive 20 percent .

City Treasurer Regal Oliva, in a press conference yesterday, defended that the giving of the cash aid, saying it is just appropriate considering that these workers were the frontliners during the preparations for typhoon Ruby last week.

The typhoon did not cause any casualty and damage to the city.

Oliva clarified that the budget for the cash incentives will not be taken from the city's calamity fund but from the surplus of the Maintenance and Operating Expenses of the departments where they are assigned.

Pope to watch Sinulog dance

By Justin K. Vestil

SINCE Pope Francis will not be dropping by Cebu, a dance group hopes to bring a dash of Cebu to the pope when he visits the country next year.

The Sandiego Dance Company has been chosen to present a traditional Sinulog dance before Pope Francis in a mass at the Quirino Grandstand on January 18, the pope's last day in the country.

The performance will coincide with the feast of the Santo Niño in Cebu.

Valentino "Val" Sandiego, the founder of the multi-awarded dance troupe, said that he and his family, along with about 60 dancers will go to Manila.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma informed Sandiego about the performance two months ago.

"Since Cebu is not part of the pope's itinerary, we hope to bring Cebu to the pope," Sandiego said.

Sandiego said that the dance will be Sinulog-based and will be centered on how Filipinos value family.

"It's been my tradition to dance with my family. We are sending this message to everybody that the Filipinos are family-oriented,"said Sandiego.

The dance troupe will start practicing tomorrow.

Sandiego is still waiting for commitments from the dancers who usually dance in the Sinulog.

Most of his dancers are devotees of the Santo Nino.

Sandiego said that despite the papal visit, the dance company will still dance during the feast of the Santo Niño, which has become a tradition and a show of devotion to the child Jesus.

Sandiego explained that the dance troupe will present after the fluvial procession and then fly to Manila.

The fluvial procession happens on the eve of the feast day.

Pope Francis will visit the Philippines on January 15 to 18, his first since becoming pope in 2013.

LGUs ‘learned preparedness’

By Elias O. Baquero and Justin K. Vestil

THE Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) praised Cebu’s local government units (LGUs) on their preparations for typhoon Ruby.

“They are more focused on what they need to do,” said Roberto Aboitiz, co-chairman of the MCDCB. He commended the mayors for putting their constituents at the top of their disaster preparedness plans and said the LGUs’ preparations were “a product of past lessons learned.”

For its part, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 called for more volunteers to report to the old Sacred Heart School for Boys campus on Gen. Maxilom Ave., Cebu City.

“We are running out of manpower to help us meet our target of 50,000 family food packs a day,” said Assistant Director Shalaine Maria Lucero.

As of yesterday afternoon, the DSWD has sent 13,848 family food packs to Region 8, using the military’s C-130 planes.

The national disaster council reported as of 8 last night that Ruby affected more than 2.7 persons in nine regions. Of that group, 1.41 million remained in evacuation centers.

It also reported P3.18 billion worth of crops and infrastructure damaged, and said that the typhoon had destroyed 8,192 houses and damaged 35,110 others. The assessments are still ongoing.

Assessment

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), of which Aboitiz is president, immediately sent assessment teams to areas in Cebu Province that were hit by the typhoon.

Assessment teams led by Dominica Chua, RAFI chief operating officer, are checking how Northern Cebu towns and Bogo City coped with the typhoon.

Initially, Chua observe, the mayors took control of the command centers and saw to it that all preparations were being carried out and all measures were observed, including stockpiling and distributing food and other items in evacuation centers.

Local officials have cited the preemptive evacuations by LGUs as one reason the casualty count remained low.

After seeing the positive effects of good preparation, Chua said, the next challenge is for disaster preparedness to be institutionalized not only by the LGUs, but by households also.

“A change of mindset is very important, to be prepared rather than complacent, knowing that this (the threat of stronger typhoons) is the new normal,” Chua said.

“We must make disaster preparedness and readiness part of our culture, because as you can see, it made the difference,” she added.

This year, RAFI, though the Eduardo Aboitiz Studies Center, hosted a series of discussions on “the new normal” especially on building disaster-resilient communities and infrastructure, assessing risks, and understanding vulnerability. Lessons One thing the DSWD learned was that private donors who want to send help to disaster-affected communities must coordinate with mayors and local officials.

“This will prevent over-serving and under-serving of those affected just like what happened in the aftermath of Yolanda, when those along the road got the big share of donations while those living in mountain barangays got nothing at all,” Lucero said.

After Ruby struck, Lucero said, the World Food Program has provided rice and high-energy biscuits. The International Office for Migration (IOM) has pledged to ship soon the hygiene kits and tents.

The DSWD, aside from receiving volunteers, also accepts donations like food.

“I am calling the media to help us invite people to help pack in the old Sacred Heart School. I am also inviting the media people to also pack after their duties,” Lucero said.

As of yesterday, the DSWD also sent 575 sacks of relief goods to Camotes Island, through four vessels provided by the Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) of the Philippine Navy.

Sorties

Typhoon survivors in Camotes, which is composed of the towns of San Francisco, Tudela, Poro and Pilar, failed to receive food assistance right away from the DSWD because regular trips to the island were cancelled, on account of the rough weather.

But as of yesterday, Navforcen spokesman Lt. James Reyes said that the 575 sacks, weighing some 92,000 kilos, were delivered to Camotes by four vessels, including one named Alberto Navarrete.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) also transported about 165,909 packs of DSWD relief goods to Eastern Samar, where Ruby first made landfall last Saturday night.

Major Glen Cabalquinto, spokesperson of the PAF 2nd Air Division, said their C-130 planes completed eight sorties or flights to transport relief goods to Eastern Samar through Catarman and Borongan.

For his part, Cebu Port Authority (CPA) General Manager Edmund Tan reported that the CPA Relief Operations Team headed by Port Management Department Manager Oscar Lopez is coordinating with other agencies.

“Our relief team is coordinating with DSWD, Marina (Maritime Industry Authority) and other agencies to facilitate cargo handling and sea transport of relief goods,” Tan said.

Casualty

The Province, working with nongovernment and civil society organizations, is still assessing how Ruby affected communities in Cebu, especially those in the north who are still recovering from Yolanda.

But an official of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) maintained that Cebu had “zero casualty” during the tyhoon, despite reports of two deaths.

During the media briefing on Climate Change mitigation yesterday, PDRRMO head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said that the two people who died during Ruby’s onslaught did not succumb to typhoon-related injuries.

Jimmy Cardente, a 14-year-old from Malabuyoc, was electrocuted after touching a power line, while a man from Bogo City died from hypothermia after he refused to evacuate.

(Cardente was also listed in the national disaster council’s list of deaths caused by Ruby, as of 8 last night.)

Olivia Luces, Office of Civil Defense 7 chief, said they will justify their report to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

But the Department of Health’s Health Emergency Management Staff, in their report, classified the two deaths in Bogo City and Malabuyoc as typhoon-related.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council were still consolidating yesterday all of their reports regarding typhoon Ruby.

‘Specialympics’ kicks off sans students from storm-hit areas

By Flor Z. Perolina / JRS (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines – The 2014 Regional Special Olympics hosted by the Department of Educaton in Mandaue City kicked off yesterday but without delegations from the cities of Tacloban and Bacolod.

Students with special needs coming from region 6 and 7 are supposed to compete in athletic, ball games, aquatic and unified bowling last December 4, 5 and 6.

Education officials moved the regional meet after Assistant Division Head Dr. Estela Susvilla learned from PAGASA-Mactan Director Oscar Tabada about super typhoon Ruby that hit eastern Visayas, including northern Cebu last week.

Around 600 students and 100 coaches were supposed to join in this year’s regional olympics for students with special needs. As of yesterday, only delegates from Iloilo, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran and the province of Cebu, Cebu City and Mandaue City were able to make it to the opening for the two-day Olympics at the Sacred Heart School - Ateneo de Cebu in Barangay Canduman, Mandaue City.

Participants were billeted at the Mandaue City Central School, where classes are still suspended until today (Wednesday).

Special Olympics National President Roberto Galvin said he was surprised why representatives from Bacolod City was not able to make it in the competition considering that they were not badly hit by the super typhoon Ruby.

He however said that he did expect that Tacloban will send delegates as their special students are yet to complete their training for the event.

Only 300 students were able to join the opening ceremony yesterday, he said.

Galvin added that the competition will help improve intellectually-challenged students in terms of skills, discipline and social interaction.

The competition will also develop the participants’ sense of camaraderie and self-confidence.

This is the first time for Mandaue City to host the competition.

The City Government of Mandaue allocated P700,000 from special education fund for the said event.

Cebu one of six areas to establish 1st Negosyo Center in PH

(mbcn/FCR/PIA-7)

CEBU CITY, December 9 (PIA) --- Cebu is one of six areas in the country that has been identified to initially establish the Negosyo Center aimed at pushing for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) amid the full implementation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) integration by 2015.

Trade Undersecretary Zenaida C. Maglaya said the passage of the RA 10644 otherwise known as the ‘Go Negosyo Act’ of 2014 is a very significant development that aims to boost the development of SMEs. Under the law, every province, city and municipality in the country is required to put up a Negosyo Center, seen to bring government services closer to small businesses.

Maglaya said the Negosyo Center can be housed either at the regional or provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or in the building of the local government unit.

“By next year, we hope to establish 100 Negosyo Centers,” said Maglaya following the establishment of the six priority areas.

According to the DTI, the Negosyo Center is designed to promote ease of doing business and facilitating access to services for micro, small and medium enterprises. The center is also responsible in providing assistance to MSMEs in the areas of technology transfer, production and management training programs and marketing assistance from the DTI and other concerned government agencies

Maglaya said the development of the SMEs would open more job opportunities and translate to inclusive growth. Over 99 percent of the establishments in the country comprised of MSMEs, which accounts for 66 percent of the total employment in the private sector, according to the DTI.

Developing MSMEs can make them more competitive amid the AEC integration, claimed Maglaya during a recent multi-sectoral briefing on the country’s AEC Game Plan and Industry Roadmap in Cebu attended by over 200 participants.

According to Maglaya, the AEC seeks to create a single market and a single production base within the Asean region, and become fully integrated with the global market.

“We need to work together to deal with the challenges and opportunities of the Asean Economic Community and identify interventions and initiatives to upgrade industries,” said Maglaya adding that there is a need to strengthen the competitiveness of our regional economies.

Maglaya said since January 2010, more than 99.65 percent of goods have been traded at zero tariffs among Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. Only very few products remain protected by tariffs within the Asean and in the Philippines, these are primarily agricultural products like rice, sugar, cassava and sweet potatoes, maize, chicken and swine.

Maglaya said the Philippines stands to enjoy the vast promises and strong growth potentials of the AEC integration with an access to a 600 million people market and receive the benefits of a dynamic competition.

DA-7 distributes tractors to northern Cebu LGUs

By Edna C. Gerona (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture RFO (DA-7) recently turned over a tractor each to the municipalities of Sogod, Tabogon, Medellin, San Remegio, and Tuburan at the DA 7 Complex in Mandaue City.

The assistance is part of the rehabilitation efforts for Yolanda affected municipalities. The municipalities were among those hit by the strong typhoon Yolanda last year.

The five tractors, which cost Php11M, were turned over by DA OIC-Regional Director Angel Enriquez and Technical Directors Joel Elumba and Marina Hermoso.

The ceremonial turnover was attended by Congressman Benhur Salimbangon, Mayor Lissa Marie Streegan (LGU Sogod), Mayor Zigfred Duterte (LGU Tabogon), Municipal Agriculturist Aida Mamanao (LGU San Remigio), Municipal Agriculturist Edward Baring (LGU Medellin), and OIC-Municipal Agriculturist Esterlita Andales (LGU Tuburan) among others.

DSWD readies 100T food packs

By Ria Mae Y. Booc and Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento/FPL (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - At least 100,000 food packs are being readied by the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 for distribution to areas that will be affected by typhoon Ruby.

DSWD-7 will again serve as relief operation hub for Eastern Visayas.

Information officer Leah Quintana said they have now 30,000 available food packs ready for distribution. Aside from the food packs there is also P1 million cash assistance ready.

Each food pack consists six kilos of rice, 10 assorted canned goods, coffee, noodles, and powdered drinks. Quintana said that, so far, only the town of Liloan has gotten at least 500 food packs. There were, however, requests from the towns of Sogod, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, Tabuelan, San Francisco, Santa Fe, and Borbon.

"Among paningkamutan nga mahatud namo ang sa Camotes kay lisud na pud kung kusog na ang hangin," Quintana told The FREEMAN.

She said their priority is the island towns because of the transportation problem.

Jenny Abastillas, DSWD disaster focal person, is also calling for volunteers to help them pack relief goods at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.

"All our employees are now at the CICC packing foods and we also encourage others if they could help us," Abastillas said.

"We can help but we can no longer distribute the food packs so we have to tap other agencies like the Philippine Navy to help us distribute food packs," she added.

Meanwhile, Navy Lieutenant Commander Joel Villarosa, who serves as operations officer of the Joint Task Force-7 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command, said they already received a call from DSWD-7 yesterday asking for assistance in sending food items for the residents in the islets of Bantayan.

These residents were reportedly not able to leave the islets and transfer to safer areas due to rough sea conditions.

Villarosa, however, said that they cannot yet send the food packs because sea travels are not allowed.

"Naka-ready naman ang ating mga assets pero due to the storm, we cannot still operate for now. We cannot risk the safety ng personnel natin," he said.

He added that for now, they have to wait until it is already advised to venture out over the seaboards so they can send the food items to the islets.

Villarosa said they have prepared mobility assets for the land, sea, and air including 12 naval assets and three helicopters for the entire Visayas.

There are also 8,000 soldiers ready to conduct search, rescue, and retrieval operations across the Visayas region.

Cebu LGUs to get satellite phones in preparation for Ruby

By Joel Locsin / JDS, (GMA News)

Local officials in Cebu will be issued satellite phones so they can be reached easily even after Typhoon Ruby hits, the province announced Friday.

In posts on its Facebook page, the Cebu provincial government said the phones were to be delivered to the capitol Friday afternoon and would be sent to the LGUs on Saturday morning.

Last year, communication went down in parts of the Visayas as Typhoon Yolanda damaged several cell sites there.

The provincial government also said it has prepositioned food supplies in Bogo City to speed up the distribution of food for possible evacuees in the northern towns.

For its part, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industries mobilized 175 volunteers to prepare for emergency relief operations in Bantayan Island (Bantayan, Madridejos and Sta. Fe).

PH-Korea group trains PWDs, mothers

By Oscar C. Pineda

PHILIPPINE-KOREA Culture and Educational Exchange Center (PKCEC) and the Cebu Provincial Government is conducting free livelihood training program to people with disabilities (PWD), single mothers and the public.

Dubbed the “Livelihood Skills Enhancement Project,” Korean volunteers will be teaching nail art, a form of manicure and pedicure decoration, quilting, flower arrangement, and Korean language, said Dr. Choi Hoon Young, the PKCEC founder.

In his letter to Gov. Hilario Davide III. he stated that the joint livelihood skills enhancement projects aims to empower single women, the youth and people with special needs.

Dr. Young also expressed his interest to the governor in building a link between Cebu and Chungnam Province of South Korea, which is under Gov. Ann Hee Jung.

“We believe that the said linkage and exchange would bring mutual gains and help address emerging needs of our respective provinces, such as the previous linkage between the Chungnam Korean Police and the Police Regional Office VII in 2008,” read Young’s letter to Davide.

He said that on Dec. 9, Tuesday, they will be having a demonstration in the making of kimchi, hot pickled mustard leaves, and he is inviting everyone to watch.

Marina Aviar, executive assistant at the Vice Governor’s Office, said the training started last Dec. 1 at the Provincial Board lounge.

P13 Cola to form part of floor wage

By Justin K. Vestil

WAGE earners working in Central Visayas communities affected by recent calamities will be given an increase of P13 per day in their basic pay, starting on Dec. 14.

In a press conference, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Central Visayas announced that the increase will apply to workers in 16 areas in northern Cebu that typhoon Yolanda hit, as well as those in Bohol Province, where communities are recovering from the earthquake that struck last Oct. 15, 2013.

Grace Carreon, RTWPB 7 secretary, said that workers in the city of Bogo and the towns of Tuburan, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remegio, Borbon, Sogod, Bantayan, Sta. Fe, Madridejos, San Francisco, Pilar, Poro and Tudela are entitled to the increase.

Exequiel Sarcauga, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Central Visayas director, said the basic pay increase was implemented based on Wage Order No. 18, which entitled workers to a P13 cost of living allowance (COLA).

But in the case of those affected by calamities, the COLA is now being incorporated in the basic pay.

Based on the increase, the minimum wage is now P340 for Class A areas like the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Danao, Talisay, Naga and Carcar.

Workers in Class B areas (the rest of Cebu Province, except Camotes and Bantayan) will earn P320 per day.

One year

Workers in Class C areas (the provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental) will earn P310. Those in Class D areas (the province of Siquijor and the islands of Camotes and Bantayan) will earn P295.

Sarcauga said that for establishments that still have to recover from calamities, they can apply for an exemption before the RTWPB 7.

Sarcauga said that an establishment can prove that it is in distress if their capital was impaired by 25 percent months after the calamity.

Establishments that want to apply for an exemption can do so starting on Dec. 14 and will get 75 days to file it before the RTWPB.

Firms that are granted an exemption by the RTWPB 7 will not have to enforce the new wage rates for a year. But if firms fail to file for an exemption after 75 days, they will be obligated to implement the wage increase.

U.S. Navy, AFP engineers build classrooms in Cebu

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Classrooms that are resistant to earthquakes and typhoons are now being constructed in Cebu by the engineers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command and a U.S. Navy Construction Civic Action Detail Philippines (CCAD-P or SEABEES).

According to a statement sent by U.S. Embassy Manila-Information Office, the construction of these classrooms will benefit more than 1,300 school children, and 150 civilians in Cebu.

The U.S. Pacific Command has invested more than P14 million for the construction of a five-classroom building for the Poog Elementary School in Toledo City and a three-classroom building and comfort room at the Aloguinsan Central Elementary School in Aloguinsan.

Aside from the eight classrooms, part of the amount will also be used for the repair of the living, cooking, laundry and educational facilities of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 rehabilitation center in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.

The new classrooms are being built according to typhoon- and earthquake-resistant designs required by the Department of Education.

“These projects support the local economy though the purchase of building materials, lodging and food from local businesses,” the statement read.

CCAD Philippines is a unit of 28 U.S. Navy Seabees and sailors who have teamed up with the AFP to complete humanitarian assistance construction in hard-to-access and disaster-affected areas in the Philippines.

It was the Philippine government that invited CCAD Philippines here and the projects underway were chosen through a joint process by the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Navy’s 30th Naval Construction Regiment, the respective AFP Unified Command, and regional, city and barangay offices.

CCAD Philippines has been working on the ground in Cebu since February 2014 to complete these and other projects, rotating units in and out every few months.

CCAD Philippines’ goals are to increase teamwork between AFP and U.S. Navy military engineers, strengthen people-to-people ties between U.S. military, AFP and the Filipino people as well as an improved infrastructure for community education, health services, sanitation and disaster preparedness, the statement added.

4P beneficiaries sell products

By Elias O. Baquero

A TOTAL of 30 beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) showcased their merchandise and food items in a Christmas Bazaar at White Gold Club grounds yesterday.

DSWD 7 Assistant Director for Operations Shalaine Marie Lucero said this is the first time their department is holding the “Paskujuan: Salu-salo sa Pagbabago” festival and bazaar where SLP and Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries displayed their products.

Lucero said the DSWD, through SLP, provides livelihood skills training and capital to empower and help improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries. This is also in response to the public’s call to “teach them how to fish rather than just providing the fish.”

Businessman Joseph David Gaisano Jr., the chief executive officer (CEO) of White Gold Club, allowed DSWD and its beneficiaries to conduct their bazaar at the parking lot of the establishment.

The Christmas holiday festival and bazaar was held nationwide yesterday.

Perfect gifts

In a press statement, DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said the merchandise and food items that the SLP and 4Ps beneficiaries made are perfect gifts and orders this Yuletide season.

“This is part of the livelihood initiatives under the SLP, which empowers poor families by equipping them with livelihood skills to achieve self-sufficiency,” Soliman said.

Nenita Brandares or Dalaguete, Roche Robles of Inayawan, Cebu City and Arlene Dagatan made testimonies during a short program that they made extra income for their families because of SLP supporting by DSWD and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“We encourage the public to do your Christmas shopping in the bazaar. By patronizing their products, you will be helping our beneficiaries moving closer to their dreams of achieving self-sufficiency,” Soliman added.

Encouragement

Lucero, on the other hand, said that a bazaar that was held yesterday will encourage the beneficiaries to become better entrepreneurs especially in increasing sales and customers.

“Determination is one element for a business success. You have to wake up early.

Creativity is another element of success. Think it well and package is well. And to top it all you should be honest in business,” Lucero said.

Among the products which were showcased in the bazaar were bebingka made of dawa from Asturias, vegetables pickles from Dalaguete. Souvenir items from the City of Naga, coconut brooms from Tuburan, Lampalay baskets from Tabuelan, wedding giveaways from Cordova, native bags from Bohol, fashion accessories from Mambaling (Cebu City), belts and bags made of Macrami from Inayawan (Cebu City), pastillas and dried mango from Kalunasan (Cebu City), chicharon and ampaw from Carcar City, among others.

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