Cebu Province News July 2018

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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.

Contact Center confab opens in Cebu

By Luel Galarpe (PNA)

LAPU-LAPU CITY -- The Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) opened its two-day 2018 Contact Islands conference at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa here on Wednesday.

Jojo Uligan, CCAP president, said Contact Islands is the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry’s flagship event, which allows CCAP member company executives and industry partners to discuss issues affecting the industry in the country.

“Contact Islands 2018 is a follow-up of our conversation from last year’s conference on emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and innovations,” Uligan said in a press conference. “This year, we’ll be focusing on how to apply these technologies to enhance customer experiences (CX) and their increasing impact on our industry in this digital age.”

With the theme “Leading with CX in the Digital World,” the two-day conference delves on the dynamics of empowered customers, hybrid workforce, jobs of the future, new service delivery models, and other insightful topics.

It also highlights the continued success of the contact center sector, which is part of the broader BPO industry, from the past recent years up to the present.

“At Contact Islands 2018, empowered customers will share their vision for an outstanding Customer Experience. We will also explore new ways of strengthening Customer Experience that will make companies more responsive to customer needs in the new digital economy,” Uligan said.

Benedict Hernandez, CCAP chairman of the board, said the BPO is the only industry in the country with continuous growth.

“The Philippines continues to be the biggest source of voice services worldwide. The country accounts for 16 to 18 percent of the aggregated outsourced services globally, based on the data from the Everest Group,” Hernandez said.

The research data also showed that the revenue generated by local call centers reached USD13 billion last year, which is projected to grow by seven to nine percent in 2018.

Hernandez said they are aiming to add another US$1 billion in revenues this year, and this translates to 70,000 more job openings.

Uligan and Hernandez are also among the speakers in the conference. Also tapped as resource persons were Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Monchito Ibrahim, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines president Dr. Antonio del Carmen, PLDT Enterprise senior vice president Jovy Hernandez, and Sitel APAC chief operating officer Craig Harold Reines, among many others.

More than 420 delegates are participating in this year’s conference including contact center professionals, information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) employees, local and foreign investors, potential customers, service providers, retailers, entrepreneurs, IT companies, government agencies, and stakeholders from the academe and the media.

CCAP is the umbrella organization of the country’s contact center industry. It serves as the focal point of sectors that enable the Philippines to sustain its leadership in the global contact center market.

As a non-profit organization, CCAP promotes awareness as well as the active exchange of ideas, new technologies, best practices and innovations in the contact center industry.

Cebu Doc to stage 13th university run

(RSC)

THE 13th edition of the University Run (UR) is expected to be bigger and more lively with about 3,000 projected participants to converge in front of Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital (CDUH) in the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City on Aug. 26.

The sporting event organized by Run For Sight Foundation will be a tribute run for the late CDUH president Dr. Potenciano Larrazabal Jr., who passed away in June last year. This is the second tribute run for him.

“We will continue with the tribute run for my father that we started last year. We expect 3,000 participants compared to our 2,000 runners last year,” said organizer Dr. Potenciano “Yong” Larrazabal III in yesterday’s press conference at the Run For Sight office.

He said that the entry of the first year college student this school year is a factor in the rise of the target number of participants. Grade 11 and 12 student under the K-12 Program are also invited to join.

Proceeds of the run will still benefit the Run For Sight Foundation for its medical missions and outreach programs. This year, the organizers are thinking about extending their help to Luzon.

“The weather in Luzon right now is really bad. There are a lot of flood victims. We will see what we could do to help,” said Larrazabal, referring to the flooding in parts of Luzon due to rain from the southwest monsoon.

The run this year will feature the 10-kilometer, 5K and 3K categories. It will have the men’s and women’s open, alumni and students divisions. All the finishers in the 10K and 5K will each receive a finisher’s medal that has the engraved image of Larrazabal Jr.

Cebu Doctors’ University president Dr. Philip Anthony Larrazabal said that the run usually opens the school’s Intramurals. “The students are looking forward to this. It will be lively since there are side events and competitions for students,” he said.

Technical head Joel Juarez said the route will be the same as that of last year. The 10K will have two loops of the 5K route.

Registration fee is at P600 for the 10K, P500 for the 5K, and P300 for the 3K. Registration opened last July 18.

CCENRO to monitor dev’t in Cebu’s protected areas

By Odessa O. Leyson (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) will be inspecting all ongoing developments in the mountain barangays, specifically on those lands identified as protected areas.

This, after the Central Cebu Protected Landscape-Protected Area Management Board (CCPL-PAMB) of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources-7 (DENR) received reports that there are numerous developments in the city’s protected areas without the necessary permits.

The CCPL-PAMB has directed the CCENRO to conduct an inspection and to ensure that these developments within the protected areas have complied with the necessary requirements before any construction was done.

Records show that there are 23 protected areas in the city that includes Barangays Adlaon, Agsungot, Babag, Bonbon, Buhisan, Buot, Cambinocot, Guba, Lusaran, Mabini, Malubog, Pamutan, and Paril.

Other barangays are Pung-ol Sibugay, Sapangdaku, Sinsin, Sirao, Sudlon I, Sudlon II, Tabunan, Tagba-o, Taptap and Toong.

CCENRO Head Nida Cabrera told reporters that they will check if the ongoing developments in the mountain barangays are constructed within the protected areas.

Those projects within the protected areas will be required to ask clearance and secure necessary permits from the city government and from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as provided under the Central Cebu Landscape Act of 2007.

This Act provides “for the protection, conservation, maintenance, rehabilitation and sustainable development of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL), especially for its crucial role and significance.”

“Expected nato tourism na gyud, ngadto na gyud paingon. Naay mga gi-develop mga resorts, naa tay duha sa Bonbon karon pero walay permits,” Cabrera said.

She said that if a certain development is already done, CCENRO will order for the stoppage of operation of the business.

“Ang problema nato sa siyudad, naa didto ang source of water. Gani, naay mga reports nga highly contaminated na ang atong tubig, so kinahanglan tagaan og proper protections gyud,” Cabrera added.

However, as of press time, she has no idea yet on the numbers of ongoing developments in the protected areas.

Cabrera said the city government is closely working with the CCPL-PAMB so that they can properly address the issue.

City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, for his part, has issued a memorandum informing all department heads to coordinate with CCENRO on the development projects within the protected areas in the city.

“All departments and offices with proposed projects situated in protected areas of Cebu City are hereby directed to coordinate with CCENRO for proper permitting,” read a portion of the memorandum dated July 5.

Mandaue City underpass: Construction a go

By Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (/BRP, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — The construction of phase 1 of the P711.9-million underpass along UN Avenue, in Mandaue City is set to start tomorrow, and motorists and commuters are advised to take alternative roads to avoid traffic.

Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing said the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are coordinating in terms of traffic flow in the area.

DPWH-7 regional director Ador Canlas said in a recent report that they will not close any lanes for phase 1 of the project, which includes barricading or fencing off of the area and the deployment of heavy equipment.

While the DPWH assured there will be no traffic congestion resulting from phase 1, Quisumbing said they will not take chances and look for an access road to ease up possible traffic buildup.

"Mao lagi na, ang atong TEAM enforcers and the DPWH are coordinating. We will try to soften the blow as much as possible and we are looking for alternative routes that we might be able to utilize while the project is ongoing," Quisumbing said.

However, TEAM chief of operations Glenn Antigua said they did not prepare much since the DPWH told them they will first start their clearing operation intended for the service road of the project.

Antigua said the traffic flow along UN Avenue will not be affected as the contractors will work on the sides of the said area. The DPWH will also remove electrical posts in the area as part of their clearing operation.

In an earlier report, Canlas said Visayas Electric Company chief operating officer Anton Perdices told them that the utility corridors holding the lines of various utility and telecommunication firms will be transferred on July 23.

Quisumbing said big projects like this one, which is being funded by the national government, always come with a little inconvenience.

"Whether we like it or not, any infrastructure development is inconvenient. Panagsa ra g’yud ta makahimo’g project nga walay inconvenience sa public. That's just the way it is," Quisumbing explained.

Quisumbing added that the underpass will become a big help to the public commuters soon. He said it is not just Mandaue that will benefit from this project but other neighboring cities as well.

"Kahibaw g’yud mi dunay inconvenience on the part of the commuting public. Once the structure is finished, we are sure that there will be more efficient traffic flow," he explained.

In all, the project is about 952 meters long, about 680 meters of it will be for the underpass alone from the Flying V gas station until before Wilcon Depot.

Canlas said the duration of the project is about 910 days, including the design phase which started last December, carried out by their contractor B.M. Marketing, a Leyte-based company.

Firm eyes ad deal to promote Capitol’s projects

(JKV)

A FIRM has expressed interest in the Cebu Provincial Government’s plan to hire an advertising agency to produce ads showcasing the Capitol’s programs and projects.

Jone Siegfried Sepe, acting Provincial Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman, told SunStar Cebu that representatives of JDS Media Services, a Cebu-based company, attended the second pre-bidding conference held in their office yesterday afternoon.

JDS Media Services was represented by its owner, Joselito del Socorro.

Sepe, however, believes that more parties will attend the actual bidding, which is set on Aug. 1.

BAC declared a failure of bidding last June after no company submitted a bid for handling the Capitol’s advertising needs.

But during the pre-bidding conference last month, two firms, namely Sonshine Radio and Ideaz Solutions and Advertising, showed up.

Based on Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act, Sepe said that if two subsequent biddings of government programs or projects fail, the local government concerned has the option to resort to a negotiated procurement.

Under the law, negotiated procurement can only be done under “extraordinary circumstances”; in it, the procuring entity directly negotiates a contract with a “technically, legally and financially capable” contractor or consultant.

'Botika ng Bayan' launched in Cebu

By Luel Galarpe (With report from Bebie Jane Casipong/PNA)

SAN REMIGIO, Cebu -- The Department of Health (DOH) launched here Friday the first "Botika ng Bayan" (BNB) in the Visayas, aimed at helping the poor avail of essential medicines for free.

DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana congratulated the San Remigio Municipal Health Office for meeting the requirements set for the establishment of a Botika ng Bayan.

"We would like to commend our municipal health officer Dr. (Urleta) Ursal, her team, the Cebu province, and municipality of San Remigio for really making BNB a success. You were the first to comply with all the standard requirements set by our Pharmacy Division (PD) in Central Visayas for creating BNB. Congratulations to all of you,” she said.

Laxamana said the Botika ng Bayan in San Remegio is the third to be established in the country when the DOH revived the BNB program.

The first BNB in Luzon was launched in San Mariano, Isabela last week on July 13, while the second was launched in Davao City for Mindanao. San Mariano, Davao, and San Remegio are the three pilot sites for the revival of the program.

The Botika ng Bayan will provide access to free essential medicines for common diseases in the community, such as infections, skin ailments, asthma, and chronic non-communicable diseases -- targeting indigents and the marginalized sectors of the population.

The Botika ng Bayan, formerly Botika ng Barangay, was temporarily stopped in 2011 because of insufficient supplies of medicine and lack of supervising pharmacists.

Laxamana assured that the revived BNB will provide free medicines to the public 24/7.

"Every month, we will have an inventory, which Rural Health Units (RHU) will forward to the regional offices. We will ensure that there will always be sufficient supply of medicines in the BNB. I assure you that free medicines will be available anytime of the day, 24/7," she said.

According to the DOH, the new BNB will not just provide medicines but there will also be licensed pharmacists and trained pharmacy assistants who will educate and counsel the patients about their medications.

Patients who wish to avail of the free medicines from BNB must first consult with the RHU or a private doctor and bring their prescription to the BNB.

San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez, meanwhile, clarified that the BNB is for residents of the town only, and encouraged other local government units (LGU) to comply with the requirements and put up their own BNBs.

To create their own BNBs, LGUs should have a license to run a pharmacy, sufficient and air-conditioned space for the medicines, and a licensed pharmacist.

The launch was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for joint implementation between the DOH and local officials of San Remigio.

The MOA was signed by Laxamana, Martinez, DOH-Central Visayas Director Dr. Jaime S. Bernadas, Local Health Support Division chief Dr. Jonathan Niel Erasmo, and Ursal.

DOH-7 intensifies campaign to advance PWD welfare

By Amorganda Y. Saludar (ays/PIA 7)

CEBU (PIA) --- The Department of Health (DOH-7) continues to intensify its effort for the welfare of the Persons with Disability (PWDs).

In a recent Association of Government Information Officer –Philippine Information Agency (AGIO-PIA 7) Forum, Erika Datan Nurse III in charge of the Health and Wellness for PWDs of DOH-7 said they have set activities for the welfare of the PWDs.

“We have conducted trainings inclusive for PWDs and we have trained doctors and rural health workers to be PWD friendly,” Datan said.

Datan added that they will also accept invitation for talks on the welfare of PWDs, capability building seminars and topics related to PWDs.

It is then clarified under Republic Act 9442 that a person can be classified as PWDs if he/she display these characteristics: impairment in body structure; limitation of activities; restriction in the social participation and community activities and limitation in the activities due to chronic illness.

Cebu LGUs urged to set up local AIDS councils

By Luel Galarpe , Bebie Jane Casipong (PNA)

CEBU CITY -- The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Wednesday urged local government units (LGUs) in Cebu to establish their own Local AIDS Council (LAC) and help spread awareness of the disease in the province.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-Cebu media officer Greggy Senados said during the “Kapihan sa PIA” that a functional LAC is one of the keys in effective information dissemination about the alarming state of HIV cases in Cebu.

Out of 54 LGUs in Cebu province, Senados said only five cities -- Cebu, Danao, Naga, Toledo, and Carcar -- and two municipalities -- Minglanilla and Compostela -- have functional LACs, including the Cebu provincial government.

“We need to have more LACs to help spread awareness about HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) in Cebu province,” Senados said. “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is now reaching out to the remaining 47 LGUs to establish their Local AIDS Councils.”

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have conducted several projects in Cebu including providing technical assistance and trainings on the prevention, awareness, and information dissemination about HIV/AIDS. They also trained LGUs to help them establish their functional LACs.

“We are also conducting trainings for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials which we've piloted in Talisay City last June 2 this year," Senados said.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has also partnered with Bisdak Pride Cebu to spread HIV/AIDS awareness through theater arts.

The group has already performed and talked about HIV in Argao town and is set to bring the campaign to Santander, Moalboal, Balamban, Toledo, Danao, Consolacion, Bogo City, Bantayan Island, and Daanbantayan next month.

DENR updates hazard exposure maps in Central Visayas

By Luel Galarpe

CEBU CITY -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’s office in Central Visayas (DENR-7) has begun updating the Vulnerability Risk Assessment or the Hazard Exposure Maps for the region.

Al Emil Berador, chief geologist of DENR-7’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), said Tuesday the main purpose of updating the hazard exposure maps is to identify the risks that may be encountered by the population of a local government unit (LGU).

“Our main purpose for this is to know the risks that the people, including infrastructures, may face in times of natural calamities,” Berador told his audience at the Association of Government Information Officers-Philippine Information Agency (AGIO-PIA 7) forum here.

He said the hazard exposure maps, which can determine the percentage of the population in a barangay exposed to a particular type of hazard, for instance a landslide, can help the LGUs with their Risk Reduction Management Plans because they can already identify the areas which are vulnerable to subsidence hazards, or areas where there are underlying limestones.

“We have already updated the mapping for some LGUs -- one in Guihulngan City (Negros Oriental), one in Siquijor, and three municipalities in Bohol. This week, we are going to update the maps of three more LGUs in Bohol,” Berador said.

He added they are prioritizing LGUs with high vulnerabilities but will “ultimately update all hazard exposure maps in Central Visayas because they are very useful to LGUs.”

The DENR will also use the information provided by the newly-launched Metro Cebu Earthquake Model Atlas of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology as reference for their mapping, said Berada. (With Bebie Jane Casipong/PNA)

DENR expands inspection of foreshore areas in Cebu

By May B. Miasco (/GAN, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 has expanded its foreshore inspection and inventory in Cebu, from Mactan Island now extending to key sites or coastal areas along Tañon Strait, the country's largest protected seascape that lies in between Cebu and Negros.

The Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) is one of the more than 100 legislated protected areas covered under the newly-approved Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas Systems (ENIPAS) Act.

Jose Cleo Cary Colis, officer-in-charge of Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office PENRO in Cebu, said the Tañon Strait indeed has to be preserved since it is one of the richest concentrations of marine life across the globe.

Colis is now seated as the new Protected Area Superintendent, as the DENR-7 intends to streamline its programs.

For the regional office's foreshore assessment, Colis said the towns and cities in Cebu are being clustered and all deployed personnel are using standard application to harmonize all data.

The TSPS Protected Area Office, an arm of DENR-7 that oversees operations within Tañon Strait, is tasked initially to conduct an inventory and inspection at the so called Cebu southwest cluster.

Under this cluster are the towns of Badian, Dumanjug, Moalboal, Ronda, and Alcantara.

Steve Vincent Larona, legal assistant of DENR-7’s TSPS, said at least 275 structures in Badian alone were identified encroaching on the 20-meter easement zone, and most of them are residential structures.

Assistant Protected Area Superintendent Am Prospero Lendio said the inventory teams will move to the next town once the task for a certain locality is completed.

For now, only Badian town was finished with the inventory while others are still ongoing.

Lendio said the task for this cluster may be done by September or October.

The TSPS will go beyond foreshore inventory. Since these areas are along Tañon Strait, the teams will also conduct a biophysical assessment of the nearby mangroves, seagrass reefs, and coral reefs to also examine their condition.

The results of these inventories and surveys will be presented to the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), the policy making body that may formulate rules or guidelines and agree on how to address the problems that may be found, said Lendio.

But Colis said that, at any time, the LGUs may individually implement removal of structures or any action as they hold police power. Inspections along coastal areas, especially in top destination sites, had been ongoing after the controversy in Boracay Island broke out.

The DENR has initiated massive efforts to curb environmental violations such as encroachment on the standard easement zone.

World-class terminal to make Cebu major int’l gateway

By James Loyola

GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) opened on July 1 the second terminal of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) — the country’s first world-class gateway to the world — envisioned to promote both business and tourism in Cebu and the surrounding islands in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport terminal 2 was openned to a tour for the Members of the media and to the public yesterday as GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) showed some of the terminal’s features including the Glulam roof structure, link bridge canopy drop off area of departing passengers,check-in counters glowing lanterns, the pearl flooring, and F and B retail options. The Terminal 2 will fully operate with its first flight to and from Shanghai China on July 1. (Photo by: Juan Carlo de Vela) mbnewspictures / mbnewspix

The first airport under the Public-Private Partnership program of the government, MCIA is the second largest airport facility in the country with a growing number of passengers.

In 2017, 11 million passengers used the airport.

With 22 international destinations, 33 domestic destinations and with 24 partner airline carriers, Mactan-Cebu Airport is no longer just a secondary airport. It is a viable choice that connects Cebu to the rest of the Philippines and to the world.

It has flights to other top Philippine tourist destinations like Boracay in Aklan, Palawan, Bohol, Davao, Camiguin and Camarines Sur, making it an ideal entry point for island-hopping visitors.

GMCAC envisions Mactan-Cebu Airport to become the “friendliest gateway destination” and the company’s brand image is firmly tied to Cebu’s global reputation as a resort destination.

Envisioned with a unique design that demonstrates the warmth and friendliness of the local culture, Terminal 2 is set to transform the local airport into a world-class facility and resort-gateway.

The most prominent aspect of the terminal is the roof. It is composed of an array of glulam arches, which form the roof curvature and define its geometry and modularity.

There will be 48 check-in counters that are expandable to 72. It has provisions for seven passenger boarding bridges, which can be expanded to 12 boarding bridges serving wide and narrow body aircraft. It will also be equipped with 12 escalators and 15 elevators for easy movement of passengers, especially for persons with disabilities.

A car parking facility will be constructed that can accommodate 550 cars and expandable to 750 cars as needed. There will also be food stalls and retail shops, a mall, casino, and a hotel.

The opening of Terminal 2 is meant to drive further growth in passenger traffic, which translates to a more robust tourism industry for the region. Terminal 2 will increase passenger capacity to 12.5 million. The new terminal, spanning 65,500 square meters, will not only ease congestion but will offer an exciting and wide-ranging retail environment.

To make it truly world class, GMCAC is making sure the terminal is not only aesthetically-pleasing but, more importantly, it should operate efficiently and at par with the world’s best airports.

The efficiency benchmarks for MCIA include the 15-minute-maximum check-in time for 95 percent of economy passengers; 10 minute maximum waiting time at immigration counters for 90 percent of passengers; ensuring that the first checked-in baggage comes out in 10 minutes after the flight lands and that the last bag is out in 35 minutes, while the first international flight bag is out in 15 minutes and the last bag in 45 minutes; and a waiting time of no more than 10 minutes for pre-booked wheelchairs.

In the next two years, new routes connecting Cebu to Europe, Australia and other ASEAN countries will be in the works. In 2016, discussions and meetings with airport operators in Sweden, Australia, and Japan were held to market Cebu as a destination and to showcase MCIA as an ideal gateway to the Philippines.

Expanding connections to China, Japan and South Korea are also being studied.

With the opening of the Terminal 2 and the launch of new flights out of Cebu, Mactan Cebu International Airport is eyeing an 11.2-million passenger traffic in 2018.

This is 12 percent higher than 2017’s passenger count of 10 million.

MCIA reached a total of 10 million passengers in 2017, up 11.72 percent from 8.93 million in 2016. Air traffic movement also grew 20.62 percent to 87,570 in 2017 from 72,600 in 2016.

MCIA recorded a total of 66,120 domestic flights, up 17.64 percent from the 56,210 in 2016. International flights rose 30.84 percent to 21,440 from 16,390.

MCIA welcomed six new airlines – Air Juan, Juneyao Air, OK Air, Lucky Air, Sichuan Airlines, and Pan Pacific Airlines – in 2017. True to its commitment of expanding connections from Cebu, GMCAC welcomed more Chinese carriers to Cebu and launched direct flights to six destinations in China: Beijing, Chongqing, Fuzhou, Kunming, Shanghai, and Xian.

According to GMCAC President Louie Ferrer, China is emerging as the world’s highest spending tourist market and is one of GMCAC’s highest priorities.

“We are looking to promote Cebu to other untapped markets and this includes other provinces in China. We want to bring this high-spending Chinese market to Cebu,” said Ferrer.

DOE, PIA hold forum on Alternative Fuels, Emerging Technologies in Toledo City

By Juju Manubag-Empuerto (jsme/PIA-7/Cebu)

TOLEDO CITY, Cebu (PIA) – The Department of Energy (DOE) in collaboration with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) held on July 3 a forum on Alternative Fuels and Emerging Technologies (AFET) at Days Hotel in Toledo City, Cebu.

The forum was attended by heads of transport groups in the area, barangay officials, academe, representatives from Toledo City local government unit (LGU) and nearby LGUs with the pursuit of improving the country’s energy security as well as to contribute in mitigating the adverse environmental effects of energy utilization.

One of the resource persons, DOE Senior Science Research Specialist Jorge Vincent Bitoon, said that in line with the government’s long-term goal to reduce the oil import under the alternative fuels program, DOE is embarking an aggressive promotion campaign on the use of AFET.

“There are 9.2 million registered motor vehicles but this figure does not include the colorum ones. This alone necessitates the need to scout for alternative fuels that are cheaper and to maximize technology to make it more sustainable,” said Bitoon.

He enumerated the various initiatives of the AFET Program for the transport sector which are now ongoing, namely: the LPG in public utility vehicles (PUV), the Tricycle Modernization Program (TMP), and the Introduction of the Next Generation Vehicles.

“The transportation sector consumes the biggest chunk of the country’s energy requirement at 35 percent followed by the household/residential sector at 26 percent and industry at 23 percent,” Bitoon said.

As for DOE’s initiatives for the promotion of emerging energy technologies, Bitoon added that the ongoing programs of DOE are the Promotion of Emerging Energy Technologies for Agricultural, Household, Industrial & Commercial Applications and the Partnership with State Universities, DOST and other Research Institutions.

In the same forum, DOE Senior Science Research Specialist Roselle Ibuna discussed the financing of the commercialization of emerging energy technologies.

According to Ibuna, emerging technologies are technologies that are perceived as capable of changing the status quo or technologies that are generally new but include older technologies that are still controversial and relatively undeveloped in potential.

Emerging technologies are those technical innovations which represent progressive developments within a field for competitive advantage.

She shared about achieving energy security while meeting environmental challenges through the utilization of alternative fuels and emerging energy technologies like vehicles using the compressed natural gas, the auto-LPG taxis, electronic and hybrid vehicles, auto-LPG and electric jeepneys.

“On financing the commercialization of emerging energy technologies, it is the government who is the first adopter. As government, we are the first to care about technology innovations because this will propel the country’s economy,” Ibuna said.

Other financing available are the Technology funds, Asian Green Bonds, Venture Capital, Intellectual Property/Royalty, Angel Investors, Green Loan Portfolio, and Commercial Loan.

Meanwhile, DOE Supervising Science Research Specialist Federico Domingo shared tips on the smart use of energy for residential electricity consumption covering the use of cellphones, lights, washing machine, and many other household appliances.

Domingo said that lowering the consumption of electricity at the hoesehold level will not only help save money but also help address the limited supply of fuel and government resources.

He said that the major considerations to reduce electricity consumption at home is to limit the number of units that are being used; use low electricity consuming appliances; shorten the operating hours or frequency of use of electrical appliances; choose appliances with higher efficiency rating; invest in energy smart appliance and gadgets; and install smart energy control system.

OCD 7: Central Visayas ready for disasters

By Hazel F. Gloria (hfg with report from Jan Karla Madrio/PIA7)

CEBU CITY (PIA) --- Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Central Visayas assures its residents that Central Visayas is prepared in case natural disasters like typhoon and earthquake hit the region.

During the Association of Government Information Officers' (AGIO) Forum last July 3, OCD 7 Regional Director Concepcion Ornopia discussed the importance of the observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM), following the Executive Order (EO 29) signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Last week, NDRM-related activities such as the theme writing and mobile photography contests were held.

"We have also conducted a community-based resilience caravan in Talisay, in-line of our celebration of the National Disaster Resilience Month," Ornopia said.

Information, education and communication materials containing disaster resilience tips were distributed during the caravan, she added.

Also present during the forum were Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 7 Director Edilberto Paradelaga and Disaster Risk Reduction Management-Climate Change Focal Person James Andaya, of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

According to Dir. Ornopia, the NDRM, formerly known as the National Disaster Consciousness Month, was changed since the Philippines as a whole, is already aware and conscious of our vulnerability to disaster.

Andaya also said, "Before, we focused on how to respond to calamities, now we have shifted to disaster preparedness.

In terms of the disaster resilience and preparedness of Central Visayas, he said that DILG has made sure that disaster preparedness management is localized from the national government down to the puroks.

"So far, local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas have been very supportive of the disaster resilience management," Andaya shared.

"The DILG has also strengthened the rules when it comes to the compliance of disaster management plans by the LGUs," he added.

DILG has also lined up mandatory trainings to barangay officials, considering the changes following the recent barangay election.

Dir. Paradela also lauds the launching of the Metro Cebu Earthquake Model (MCEM) Atlas.

The MCEM-Atlas is a seismic ground motion hazard assessment specific for Metro Cebu, considering various earthquake sources including the Central Cebu Fault System. It may be used as reference in the seismic design of buildings and structures, DOST said.

The launching of MCEM-Atlas is aimed to aid disaster preparedness for the whole of Metro Cebu.

DOST Dir. Paradela also promised that the DOST will work on expanding this model.

GSIS to bring pensioners caravan to North Cebu

By Luel Galarpe (With Bebie Jane Casipong, PNA)

CEBU CITY -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will set up its Annual Pensioners Information Revalidation (APIR) Caravan in Northern Cebu to bring its services closer to pensioners starting this weekend.

Newly-installed GSIS-Cebu branch manager Atty. Mercedes Enriquez announced this during the Kapihan sa PIA at the Philippine Information Agency 7 (Central Visayas) office here Wednesday.

“We are going to have the APIR Caravan in Bogo City and Danao City to serve all pensioners who are 79 years old and below in the revalidation of their pensions,” Enriquez said.

The APIR Caravan will be brought to Bogo on Saturday and to Danao on Monday. It will start as early as 6 a.m.

The APIR program requires all GSIS old-age and survivorship pensioners to appear personally at any GSIS office or use the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosk to activate their status and ensure the continuous receipt of their pension.

Enriquez said they will set up a GWAPS kiosk in Bogo and Danao to easily check the data of all pensioners, who will come on the scheduled date.

The Caravan will not only serve residents of Bogo and Danao but also pensioners from neighboring municipalities, who will no longer need to appear personally at the GSIS office in Cebu City.

Enriquez said they are not limiting the number of pensioners availing of the service, but this will depend on how many people they can serve in a day.

She said many pensioners aged 79 years and below have had their pensions suspended because they did not reactivate their status before July 1 this year.

“We are calling on our suspended pensioners to revalidate their status through our APIR Caravan. We will be in Bogo this Saturday and in Danao on Monday. Hope to see them there,” Enriquez said.

She also reminded pensioners to renew their status during their birth month every year.

NCCA allocates P95M as grants

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — The National Commission for Culture and the Arts has announced the annual Call for Project Proposals for the year 2019.

Lawrence Charles Salazar, head of Cultural Heritage Section of the NCAA, said that a total of P95 million has been allocated for the competitive grants programs. Depending on the proposal, Salazar said they can grant from P100,000 up to P1 million.

The call was issued as NCCA continues to fulfill its mandate to preserve, develop, and promote Philippine arts and culture, encourage artistic creation and empower artists and cultural workers by giving grants to arts and cultural projects.

Section 13 of Republic Act 7356 or the NCAA Charter, the Commission is authorized to give grants for the development, protection, preservation and dissemination of Philippine culture and the arts through the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts (NEFCA).

Through NEFCA, the NCCA provides assistance to various arts and culture projects spearheaded by the Civil Society Organizations, Peoples Organizations, Indigenous Peoples Organizations, Individuals, Local Government Units, Government Agencies, State Universities/Colleges and Public Schools through its NCCA Competitive Grants Program. Filipino individuals engaged in research are also encouraged to apply.

Projects are categorized into arts, heritage dissemination, cultural dissemination, cultural communities and traditional arts. Project briefs as well as the guidelines and requirements for the grants can be viewed and downloaded at the NCCA website.

Aside from the competitive grants, NCCA also accepts applications for the Commission’s Institutional Programs such as the Outreach Program, Resource Persons and Experts Bureau Program, and the Technical Assistance Program.

Filipino individuals as well as civil society organizations, indigenous peoples’ organizations/groups, local government units, government agencies, state universities/colleges and public schools are all encouraged to apply. Deadline of submissions of letters of intent and proposals is on July 31, 2018.

Meanwhile, NCAA said that they have been supporting some cultural events in Cebu including the Gabi-i sa Kabilin, Kaplag, among others.

Salazar added that for sure NCAA has a role to play in the upcoming 500 years of Christianity celebration which will happen in Cebu.

A National Steering Committee was already created by President Rodrigo Duterte for the said momentous event wherein the Pope maybe invited by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to attend.

Cebu naval base ideal for PN’s frigates, large ships

By Priam Nepomuceno (PNA)

MANILA -- Once operational and with all the proposed improvements done, Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu would be an ideal and strategic location for the Philippine Navy (PN) as ships based there could be deployed south or north easily.

"Maganda kasi strategic ang location since ang Cebu nasa gitna siya ng Pilipinas (Its location being in Cebu is strategic since it is at the center of the Philippines). Within one (day) pag galing ng Cebu (makakapunta siya) sa Norte, makapunta sa South tapos medyo tago pa siya (Within one day from Cebu, it can travel to the north, and then to the south and its location is also secluded). It's a very strategic location," PN spokesperson Cmdr. Jonathan Zata said Monday.

Naval Base Rafael Ramos is the projected home of the PN's present and future frigates once upgrades consisting of dredging, primary and secondary roads, drainage systems, proposed slope protections, a 152-meter by 12-meter wharf, a 105-meter by 165-meter beaching ramp, and 225-meter by 20-meter berthing area among others, are completed.

Zata admitted that the improvements are intended to address the basing needs of the Navy's two 2,500 gross-ton missile-firing frigates, now undergoing construction in South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries, and expected to be delivered in 2020 and 2021.

These ships are expected to augment the three 3,200 gross-ton Del Pilar-class frigates (formerly the US Hamilton-class cutters) now in PN service. Other large ships in the PN inventory are the two strategic sealift vessels, the 7,000-gross ton BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602).

Dredging is needed as the waters in the facility are quite shallow for vessels with large drafts.

The improvements have a budget of PHP1 billion and bidding process have started last week.

Zata said there is a pressing need for the PN to upgrade the Cebu naval base as its frigates and other large ships in the fleet have no home port to speak of.

At present, these large Navy ships are anchoring off Subic Bay and Pier 13, Manila South Harbor.

And once these upgrades are completed, the PN spokesperson said Naval Base Rafael Ramos will be the first-ever facility capable of handling large vessels.

Navy base in Cebu due for upgrade to handle bigger ships

By Priam Nepomuceno (PNA)

MANILA -- The government has allocated PHP1 billion for the upgrading and other improvements of Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu to make it accessible to the present and future frigates that will be acquired by the Philippine Navy (PN).

In an interview Monday, PN spokesperson Cmdr. Jonathan Zata said the bidding process for the project started last week.

"Kaya naman in-undertake yang project na ‘yan, although matagal na ‘yan kung tutuusin (The project was undertaken, although it was long overdue), (it) is intended for our frigates. We're expecting our frigates to be here by 2020, para na s’yang, meron na tayong pier or wharf na madidikitan para sa bagong frigates natin (so that we will have a pier or wharf for our new frigates)," he added.

The improvements eyed for Naval Base Rafael Ramos include dredging, primary and secondary roads, drainage systems, proposed slope protections, a 152 meter by 12 meter wharf, a 105 meter by 165 meter beaching ramp, and 225 meter by 20 meter berthing area among others.

The PN is expecting the delivery of the first of 2,500 gross-ton two-missile-armed frigates from Hyundai Heavy Industries by 2020 with the second scheduled to be delivered by 2021.

These ships are expected to augment the three 3,200 gross-ton Del Pilar-class frigates (formerly the US Hamilton-class cutters) now in PN service.

Other large ships in the PN inventory are the two strategic sealift vessels, the 7,000-gross ton BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602).

Zata said there is a pressing need for the PN to improve the above-mentioned naval base as its frigates and other large ships in the fleet have no home port to speak of.

At present, these large Navy ships are anchoring off Subic Bay and Pier 13, Manila South Harbor.

Once these upgrades are completed, the PN spokesperson said Naval Base Rafael Ramos will be the first-ever facility capable of handling large vessels.

DOST PHIVOLCS-7 launches earthquake impact assessment tool for Metro Cebu

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu and Bridgette May Bayhon (PIA7)

CEBU CITY (PIA)–Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) launched an earthquake impact assessment tool, the Metro Cebu Earthquake Model (MCEM) Atlas on July 4, 2018 at DepEdEcotech Center, Ecotech Rd., Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.

The MCEM Atlas is a probabilistic seismic ground motion hazard assessment specific for Metro Cebu, considering that Metro Cebu has an existing faulty system that could be a source of a huge tremor.

The Central Cebu Fault System runs through the mountain ridges of Danao City in the north to San Fernando in the south.

It is an earthquake impact assessment tool to support risk reduction efforts of government agencies and local government units in Metro Cebu, PHIVOLCS Usec Renatoi Solidum said.

It aims to help communities minimize the damage to buildings and infrastructure in case of an earthquake, he added.

The Atlas includes seismicity map of Metro Cebu and neighboring cities – Cebu City, Lapu-lapu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City, Naga City, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, and San Fernando.

“Kung mapapagtibay natin ang mga bahay, gusali, at imprastraktura, hindi na natin kailangan mag responde ng malaki (If we can strengthen houses, buildings and infrastructures, we no longer need a massive response effort),” said DOST-PHIVOLCS Usec. Renato Solidum, Jr. on the positive impact of Atlas in relation to disaster risk reduction management.

“Science is telling us that while we cannot control earthquake, but we can actually prepare for it,” added Director Evelyn Nacario Castro of Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB).

Meanwhile, Mr. Baltazar S. Tribunalo, Head of Cebu Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office, pushes for localized version of Atlas to further information dissemination to the masses.

In January 2018, DOST-PHIVOLCS launched Philippine Earthquake Model (PEM)covering the whole country. Next will be Metro Davao.

DOH-7 to institutionalize platform for emergency response

By May B. Miasco (/KBQ, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — In time for the observance of National Disaster Resilience Month, the health department has introduced a program to boost its disaster response capabilities.

The program is called Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H), formerly the Help Emergency Response Plan (HER-Plan).

Department of Health in Central Visayas through its Health Emergency Management Staff (HEMS) seeks to integrate health aspect into DRRM.

Doctor Shelbay Blanco, DOH-7 HEMS cluster head, said the agency plans to institutionalize the disaster-control platform in every community.

Though a mechanism is already in place with the previous program, the DRRM-H provides a more improved approach and strategies, he said.

Blanco said one of the primary strategies is to form DRRM-H teams in every local government units through the respective DRRM offices.

Currently, DOH-7 is holding DRRM-H workshops participated by personnel from health offices, DRRM units, and other stakeholders.

Blanco, however, said DOH-7 does not only aim to capacitate the LGUs but also households by training them on basic life support, such as hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

He said the regional health personnel will be training disaster managers, who, in turn, will train household members.

Aside from creating local DRRM-H teams, he said, an operational center should also be established for planning, gathering of resources, and setting up communication networks, among others.

Both of these are seen to enhance the capabilities and competencies of every stakeholder, said Blanco.

He said the country is highly vulnerable to natural calamities so mitigating measures must be set up and intensified to casualties.

The month of July is declared as the National Disaster Consciousness Month by virtue of Executive Order 137 signed by former President Joseph Estrada in 1999. Later, it was renamed National Disaster Resilience Month-a shift from a mere awareness campaign to a more active disaster response at the community level.

DOLE, NRCO launch 2018 seafarers' business plan competition

By Hazel F. Gloria (hfg with report from Jan Karla Madrio/PIA7).

CEBU CITY (PIA) --- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in partnership with the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), launches the regional-leg of the 4th Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines (ISP) Business Plan Competition.

The Central Visayas launching was held last June 27 at the SM City Cebu Activity Center with the theme, "Harnessing Seafarers' Capacities for Business Enterprises Development".

The competition which has been running for four years, is an opportunity for Filipino seafarers, who wish to venture into business.

By converting their ideas into business plan and proposal, seafarers may win cash prizes that they may use as capital to start their own business.

In addition, the competition is also aimed not just as a practical tool for building the business capacity of qualified seafarers, it is also geared towards creating job opportunities, according to DOLE.

Last year, two Cebuanos made it as national finalists of the NRCO-ISP business plan competition.

According to OWWA, this competition is targeting seafarers since this workforce have the capability to produce business capital, but are in need of guidance in their financial management.

The competition is open to Filipino seafarers who are at least 25 years old and may be active or inactive in duty.

Participants may also join either solo, in pairs or by group with a maximum of three.

Submission of business plans and proposals are accepted until September 07, 2018.

Participants must complete an entry form, which is downloadable at the NRCO website (www.nrco.dole.gov.ph) to enter the competition.

Bridge construction works to start today

By Gregg M. Rubio (/Banat News Copy Editor/ KBQ, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — Construction works on the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) project, the third bridge connecting Mactan Island to mainland Cebu, are set to start today.

The construction plan will include bored piling works for the foundation of the project.

A short program to be held in front of Compania Maritima Building at the South Road Properties in Cebu City will kick off the construction works.

Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), is expected to deliver a keynote speech, while Julio Ruiz Cabrero, project director of Cebu Link Joint Venture, will give a project brief during today’s program at 10 in the morning.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Cordova, Cebu Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho are also expected to grace the event.

After the program, guests will board a yacht and proceed to the piling area at the Cebu-Mactan Channel near Shell Island (CCLEX Tower 2) for the blessing ceremony to be led by Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo.

“The event marks the start of civil works at the site for the construction of CCLEX, an 8.5 kilometers toll bridge and road project,” said Allan Alfon, president and general manager of Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC).

CCLEC, a subsidiary of MPTC, will undertake the P22.6 billion CCLEX project in partnership with the Cebu City and the Cordova municipal governments under a public-private partnership arrangement.

The project is expected to be finished by 2021.

The CCLEX is envisioned to help decongest the two existing bridges between Cebu and Mactan Island.

“It will help complement the solutions being undertaken by the government to ease traffic congestion in mainland Cebu and Mactan. The project will likewise bring progress not only to Cebu province but the entire Visayas region,” Alfon said.

The civil works contractor for the CCLEX project is the CLJV, a consortium of Spain-based Acciona Construction S.A. and Philippine-based First Balfour Inc. and D. M. Consunji Inc.

The CCLEX project supports the “Build, Build, Build” program, the centerpiece of the economic development face of the Duterte administration, said Alfon.

NNC-7 pushes for sustainable home food production in Cebu Province

By Juju Manubag-Empuerto (jsme/PIA-Cebu)

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) --- The National Nutrition Council (NNC-7) is pushing for Home and Community Food Production (HCFP) activities in Cebu Province, particularly in the local government units of Sta. Fe, Camotes, Dalaguete, and Tuburan.

This aims to improve sustainable food accessibility and have improved complementary feeding practices in said target areas, according to NNC-7 Provincial Coordinator Retz O. Pol Pacalioga in an interview.

The HCFP activities that are being pushed for sustainable food accessibility is part of the program component of the Early Childhood Care and Development in the First 1000 Days (ECCD F1K) program implementation in Cebu Province, said Pacalioga.

Based on records from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), only 15.5 percent of children ages six to 23 months old are consuming the minimal acceptable diet.

The minimal acceptable diet is based on frequency of feeding and diet diversity which encompasses intake of four out of the seven food groups.

“Pushing for HCFP empowers communities to produce their own food and ensure food security in the household,” said Tuburan Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Carmina Jemma C. Faunillan during a seedling distribution activity in Tuburan town.

Pacalioga said that Tuburan is a pilot ECCD area.

Among the activities conducted in the ECCD F1K target areas include distribution of gardening tools and materials, lectures on basic gardening techniques, and establishment of home and community gardens.

To date, all three municipalities of Dalaguete, Santa Fe, and Tuburan have distributed gardening tools and materials and have started establishing home and community gardens.

The HCFC component was also included in the ongoing nutrition education classes in the barangays.

The project targets malnourished children ages zero to 23 months old, Pacalioga said.

He added that 3,500 children are targeted in Dalaguete, 1,580 in Sta. Fe and Camotes, and 3,321 in Tuburan.

According to Pacalioga, the program has a budget of P40,000 each for the 97 barangays in the three LGUs.

The ECCD F1K Program covers 1,784 families with 8,401 malnourished children distributed in the three pilot areas with the goal of improving maternal and child health and nutrition outcomes.

DOLE-7 launches ‘Serbisyo, Now Na!’

By Rachelle Nessia and Luchel S. Taniza (DOLE-7)

CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) --- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) launched their own branding for the provision of on-time, fast, and quality service to clients dubbed as “Serbisyo, Now Na!” which was attended by all its employees of DOLE field offices, divisions and units, said DOLE-7 Labor Information Officer III Luchel Senarlo-Taniza.

According to Taniza, DOLE-7 Regional Director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor emphasized the need for each one to help each other in order to respond to the concerns and needs of DOLE’s clients, be it internal or external.

“There are lots of work to do. What is essential is that no concern or issue should left neglected. It has to be acted upon immediately even if the desired results are not achieved right away. Dapat asikasuhin ka-agad! (It should be acted on right away),” Villamor said.

Serbisyo, Now Na! is DOLE-7’s demonstration and branding of its sincere support to the government’s campaign against red tape or the excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic which hinders action or decision-making.

More than exhibiting compliance to what government requires insofar as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 is concern, the DOLE-7 official envisioned to instill a sense of moral responsibility between employees and value a responsive kind of service to clients thereby addressing each concern, issue or complaint with due attention and utmost care, said Villamor.

“It’s not also okay if we only look at the concerns of our external customers. The concerns of our internal clients, our employees are definitely of equal importance. So I am directing the Department’s Internal Management Support Division, particularly the Human Resource to be proactive and look into the needs and concerns of the employees,” he said.

Villamor challenged all field offices, divisions, and units to implement the systems that have already been put in place and work.

“You can all watch me work and I will also watch you work. I am not running away from this responsibility, which I already embraced wholeheartedly. So, let us be in this together,” he said.

“Serbisyo, Now Na!” underscores and strengthens the way the men and women of DOLE-7 carry out individual tasks and responsibilities giving immediate attention to and acts on the needs and concerns of its clients without bias.

OIC-Assistant Regional Director Atty. Roy L. Buenafe said the initiative encapsulates the kind of service that DOLE delivers, enjoining the DOLE’s workforce to always observe the provision of fast and quality service among its customers.

“In any transaction, the imposition of additional irrelevant items other than those listed in the documentary requirements, for instance, is already tape and that one must be stopped. This is only one of the many things that we want clearly defined and we will not tolerate anybody practicing this kind of inefficiency in the Office,” said Buenafe, who urged all employees to actively incorporate in their everyday work the value that the initiative on “Serbisyo, Now Na!” stands for.

Pins of “Serbisyo, Now Na!” were distributed to the employees to serve as a reminder among the employees of the DOLE-7’s commitment to government in improving the responsiveness of it frontline services and in reducing red tape transactions.

Cebuano bikes around province to pick up trash

By Paula Joy Mendoza (CNU intern)

WHILE “plogging,” or “picking trash while jogging,” may be a fitness trend in 2018 in some countries, a Cebuano picks up trash while biking all around the province of Cebu.

Anthony “Tony” Galon has been a runner for years as part of the Ultra Runners Club and is an active member of the Cebu City and the Cebu Province Environment and Natural Resources Office.

He is also an advocate of the “Basura Run” and the “Run To Donate Blood” projects of Cebu Province to promote healthy living and a clean environment.

However, for him, these events happen only for a specific time and people cannot seem to bring the event’s essence into their daily lives.

He noticed, for instance, all the plastic wastes left on the streets of Cebu.

Sikad Pukaw

So, as he was dealing with the discipline of his new hobby, biking, he developed a trash-picking habit.

Tony called the movement as “SiPuk’’ which means “Sikad Pukaw”. It is a daily habit of picking trash while running or biking in Cebu Province, to raise awareness and to awaken the Cebuanos about the rising level of plastic waste and its ill effects. He picks up five pieces of garbage during each run.

Last June 20, Tony went on his longest bike and trash picking adventure. He started in the Cebu Provincial Capitol going to the southern part of Cebu then taking on the northern parts of the province after that.

Last June 23, he ended his route by biking back to the Capitol. Overall,he covered 46 towns or roughly 584 kilometers and picked up 230 pieces of garbage along the way.

RDC-7 endorses big-ticket projects for Cebu, Bohol

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — The Regional Development Council in Central Visayas has approved and endorsed big-ticket infrastructure projects for the provinces of Cebu and Bohol.

These are the P50-million Compostela Port/Wharf Development, P1.91-billion additional works for Bohol-Panglao International Airport, five priority projects under the Metro Cebu Urban Transport Master Plan Study, and the creation of Metro Cebu Traffic and Transport Management Council, according to Glenn Soco, chairperson of RDC-7’s committee on infrastructure.

During its second full council meeting yesterday in Bohol, the proposed port project was endorsed to the Cebu Port Authority (CPA), while the five priority projects and the international airport were endorsed to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The five priority projects include the Mandaue-Lapu-Lapu Link Bridge with Mandaue Scenic Coastal Road, Metro Cebu Circumferential Road, Urban Mass Rapid Transit Coastal Line, Urban Mass Central Line, and Area Traffic Control System.

RDC-7’s approval is needed before NEDA endorses projects to the national government for funding and implementation.

The creation of a traffic management council, on the other hand, was endorsed to the Department of Transportation (DOTr). It aims to bring in the 13 local government units to work together in addressing Cebu's worsening traffic condition.

"One of the major hindrances for the implementation and development is really the coordination and cooperation of the LGUs of Metro Cebu," Soco said.

Soco said this is an offshoot of President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement during his recent Cebu visit that he will ask DOTr to take over the management of the mass transport system in Metro Cebu.

As for the Compostela Port, Soco said, its funding will be sourced from the CPA.

But the local government units needs first to secure the pertinent clearances and permits from government agencies, such as environmental compliance certificate (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and reclamation permit (Philippine Reclamation Authority), he said.

The project is expected to start next year.

While the P1.91 billion for the Bohol airport covers the construction of a cargo terminal, a fuel depot and hydrant system, and 300-meter extension of the runway and parallel runway.

Soco said the additional works target to prepare the airport for the surge of tourists and for the increased demand for air services.

Moreover, Soco said the five priority projects were endorsed for feasibility study and inclusion of the roadmap for the Central Visayas Regional Development Infrastructure Program.

Soco said the conduct of the master plan study and institutional development on urban transport system in Metro Cebu is ongoing.

The projects, he said, are in consonance with the regional development plan’s objective to accelerate infrastructure development.

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