Cebu Province News March 2019

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DOLE-7 now has special GAD desk

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (/BRP, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — As the whole nation unites to salute, pay tribute to, and honor women, the Department of Labor and Employment-7 opened their Gender and Development (GAD) Corner as one way of recognizing the strength and empowerment of every single woman regardless of age, status, preferences, affiliations, and orientation.

The unveiling of the DOLE-7’s GAD Corner the other day also signaled the start of the region’s month-long celebration of the National Women’s Month.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Salome Siaton said the corner will aid women and in some way give premium to the value and contributions of every woman in the country, in the community, and in each respective family.

“Every woman has a very vital role to play wherever she is planted by God. May it be as a leader, as a housewife, as a worker, as an employer, as a sister, or as a mother, among many other things,” said Siaton in a statement.

The GAD Corner has a separate table apart from the usual Public Assistance Desk, where all women clients are accommodated and provided with special attention.

Siaton also cited the importance of women, especially as the mother of a household, in guiding each child as he or she grows up to become a citizen who is productive in the community and in the country as a whole.

“I personally want this celebration to transcend beyond what is considered conventional and what society normally expects from a woman. Sometimes, it is when women deviate from and do not conform to what societal standards and norms usually require that they begin to feel empowered individuals,” said Siaton.

She admitted that leading a big regional government agency like DOLE-7 is already in itself something that would test a woman’s worth in a field that is mostly dominated by men.

DOLE-7 Assistant Regional Director Lilia Estillore also said that the celebration of the National Women’s Month does not mean they want to pit the female and male genders against each other.

“This celebration just reinforces the fact that women, with all their potentials, talents and capabilities, complement with men. There is no force equal to a woman determined to rise. And if all women would be putting their acts together for a common cause, most definitely, nothing, not even bullying, could shatter them apart,” Estillore said.

Apart from the unveiling of its GAD Corner, the DOLE-7 also showcased its women-livelihood beneficiaries in a livelihood fair where an array of goods and products were offered for sale.

Chief Maria Nancy Abad of the Technical Support Services Division-Employment Workers’ Welfare said that the DOLE-7 closely coordinated with the University of San Carlos-Kapamilya Negosyo Na (USC-KNN, Inc.), which is one of the department’s accredited co-partners in the implementation of its livelihood programs.

There are 19 women-exhibitors from the USC-KNN, who are participating in the livelihood fair every Monday at the ground floor of the DOLE-7 Building.

Exhibitors, who are all beneficiaries of the DOLE’s Livelihood Program, sell products like cakes, pastries, kakanin, peanut butter, pan bisaya, siomai, herbal liniment, soap, detergent bars, chicharon, health drinks, dried danggit, and many more.

Learning sessions also formed part of the celebration, which takes place every Monday for the entire month along with the livelihood fair.

New terminal 1 to boost MCIA capacity by 16M

By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — Passenger capacity of Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will increase to 16 million per year once the renovation of domestic Terminal 1 is completed.

Ravishankar Saravu, chief commercial advisor at GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., said renovation of T1 is scheduled to be completed this year.

Saravu said the airport operator has remained optimistic on growth prospects as it aims to expand the country’s second busiest air hub in the future.

He said that both Terminal 1 and 2 will be expanded by 2024 to hit its target of 28 million passengers.

Terminal 2 officially opened last year, catering to international flights and passengers.

The private operator had previously planned to get a concession to build a third terminal projected to start by 2035, as part of its long-term development plan for the airport.

In June 2017, GMR-Megawide had submitted a P208-billion unsolicited proposal to the government to further develop MCIA.

Saravu noted the airport’s long-term target is to increase its capacity to at least 50 million passengers per year.

Under the proposal, the expansion will be undertaken in three phases, with the first involving the rehabilitation of MCIA’s existing runway and taxiways; construction of an additional parallel taxiway to serve as emergency runway; and the development of additional rapid exit taxiways and runway holding positions, upon takeover of the airside facilities.

The second phase will involve the construction of a second parallel and independent runway, while the third and final phase is the building of a third terminal for additional passengers.

Based on the study by the company, passenger traffic in Cebu will reach about 28 million passenger per year in 2039, a projected traffic similar to major Asian airports such as Singapore, New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur, among others.

Once completed, MCIA will emerge as the first Philippine airport with two parallel independent runways.

Talisay strengthens measure to protect Lagundi Reef

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

CEBU, Philippines — The Talisay City government reinforces its existing measure that protects and conserves its Lagundi Reef Marine Sanctuary in Barangay Poblacion.

Through an ordinance, the City Council drafted an amendment to an old measure, particularly City Ordinance No. 2006-04, “an ordinance regulating the activities within the Lagundi Reef Marine Sanctuary...”

The new measure or City Ordinance No. 93, supported through a resolution, seeks to make more “effective and appropriate” the managing body and enforcement team looking after the Lagundi Reef.

Under the amended ordinance approved on January 29, the City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (C-FARMC) will now have the shared control together with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) with regard to planning, administration and management of the marine sanctuary, thus the creation of a special management body.

C-FARMC will be under the supervision of the city mayor, through CENRO.

Moreover, an advisory group, which will be under the umbrella of C-FARMC, should also be formed whose primary task is to provide technical input and other advice for the management of the sanctuary.

The composition of which has to be laid down through an executive order of the city mayor upon the recommendation of the C-FARMC, which also has to author its own resolution.

Earlier, the City Council found it necessary to amend the old ordinance (City Ordinance 2006-04) because it “runs opposite” to the spirit of City Ordinance 2006-01 or the Talisay City Fisheries Code; and Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

RA 8550 was recently amended by RA 10654, which stipulated for the mandatory creation of the municipal or city FARMC in every coastal local government unit.

FARMC serves as the overall body authorized and mandated to oversee fishery concerns.

According to the amended measure, the C-FARMC, the Bantay Dagat, and among other cause-oriented organizations, including the deployed policemen and trained barangay tanods, will be deputized to enforce the ordinance and the other relative national laws and local policies.

With the deputation powers of the city mayor, they will be tasked to apprehend violators and issue citation tickets.

CCCI app aims inclusivity

By Ehda M. Dagooc (/JMD, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is set to launch an app that will enable its members to do businesses pushing the development of inclusive growth.

Newly-installed chamber president Virgilio “Nonoy” G. Espeleta told reporters that an app will be introduced by June this year to be used by chamber members to do business within, instead of importing or sourcing supplies or services from outside.

This is one of the flagship programs that will be pushed by Espeleta in his leadership, apart from other initiatives he will be proposing to the CCCI board in during his entire term.

The app will serve as a digital marketplace for the growing 800 members so that, sourcing, as well as digital payment, will be done online.

“We will encourage members to buy from each other,” said Espeleta, who owns Famcor Franchise Management and Executive Development Corporation.

According to Espeleta, this is also part of pushing local companies to support a “self-sufficient” Philippine economy minimizing the dependence to imports.

The app will also provide a digital wallet for each member company so that payment will be done digitally.

Aside launching the app, Espeleta also mentioned his plan to propose other programs such as strengthening the business mentorship program in the chamber in coordination the government, teaching local innovators to monetize innovations, among others.

In one his visits to Cebu recently, Jesus Pilapil Estanislao, the country’s renowned economist and governance thought leader, urged the business sector here to adopt a mindset of self-sufficiency.

“The Philippines should be self-sufficient. The world is not going to grow. The opportunities (outside) is limited,” Estanislao told Cebu business sector.

Espeleta, the 37th CCCI president, said he is committed to start implementing this “self-sufficiency” challenge, starting with the member-companies.

DSWD-7 continues 4Ps cash cards distribution

By Luel Galarpe (PNA)

CEBU CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) continued its distribution of cash cards to “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” (4Ps) beneficiaries at the Land Bank of the Philippines’ (LBP) Cebu and Argao branches on Thursday.

Social Welfare regional information officer Kerwin Macopia said the distribution of cash cards to 4Ps beneficiaries from Minglanilla and Argao, Cebu started Monday and will end Friday.

“We actually started the distribution of cash cards in Region 7 last month to make it easier for beneficiaries to claim their 4Ps benefits,” Macopia said.

The distribution, which is done by clusters and by batch, will continue until the end of April, he added.

Jessa Conde, 35, married with three children and resident of Minglanilla town – about 40 minutes drive from Cebu City – told the Philippine News Agency that she is glad to be issued a cash card as she will no longer have to line up to claim her subsidy from the government over the counter.

“Me and my neighbors came here (to LBP Cebu) as early as 7:30 a.m. Although there’s still a long queue, it’s just okay as hopefully this will be the last time for us to be lining up like this,” Conde said jovially in Cebuano.

Conde said she is currently receiving a monthly subsidy of PHP600 for rice, PHP500 for health care, and another PHP600 for the education of her two children in the elementary level.

Macopia said Conde is one of the 1,573 4Ps beneficiaries from Minglanilla, while there are 2,474 recipients in the municipality of Argao, 70.5 kilometers south of Cebu City.

The DSWD-7 has also scheduled distribution of cash cards in Cebu City, in the towns of Barili and Oslob, Cebu, and in some parts of Bohol on Saturday, March 9.

Sofronio Tabigue Jr., DSWD-7 financial analyst, said they will distribute the last batch of cash cards to Cebu City beneficiaries this weekend at the DSWD Regional Office 7 compound here, where 2,637 recipients are expected to converge.

More than 3,630 and 1,391 beneficiaries are also set to claim their cash cards in Barili and Oslob, respectively, Tabigue said.

In Bohol, there will be four distribution sites on Saturday – in Batuan, Maribojoc, Tubigon, and Talibon.

Tabigue said 4Ps beneficiaries from Batuan, Bilar, Pilar, Sierra Bullones, Loboc, Loon, Maribojoc, Calape, Tubigon, Clarin, Talibon, Bien Unido, and Trinidad towns in Bohol may go to the above-mentioned sites nearest them and claim their cash cards.

Next week, from March 11 to 15, will be the turn of 2,650 beneficiaries from Sibonga, Cebu to get their cash cards at the LBP Carcar City branch.

Japanese consultants push construction of 4th Mactan bridge

By John Rey Saavedra (PNA)

CEBU CITY — Japanese consultants from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Wednesday presented to the planning office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-7 (Central Visayas) the preparatory survey for the new Mactan bridge construction project.

DPWH-7 planning officer Nonato Paylado said JICA recommended the construction of the bridge in order to “mitigate traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.”

Hiroyuki Morimoto, JICA project team head, said the JICA master plan 2019 includes the proposal to construct the bridge that will connect the cities of Lapu-Lapu on Mactan Island and Mandaue in mainland Cebu.

The fourth bridge is needed “to meet the expanding traffic capacity between the two islands generated by the booming Cebu’s industry and tourism,” Hiroyuki said.

Part of the bridge project will be the Mandaue coastal road project, which will be “constructed as an extension of the proposed Metro Cebu circumferential road or proposed Mandaue-Liloan diversion road to divert traffic from the city center through a bypass road,” he said.

The project has a total length of 6.78 kilometers, with a 0.58-kilometer bridge component and a 6.20-kilometer coastal road component, covering both the bridge approach and viaduct.

Spanning over the Mactan channel, the bridge project with four lanes and a 22.2-meter wide roadway will affect Barangays Ibo and Pusok in Lapu-Lapu City and Umapad and Opao in Mandaue City.

It will adopt two interchanges, according to Hiroyuki’s presentation.

The Japanese consultants started the master plan study last December through a series of preparatory meetings, collection of project background data, and site survey.

The consultants are now conducting traffic survey and traffic demand forecast, as well as bridge location and coastal road alignment after their successful two-month long natural condition survey that started last January.

According to the study, JICA experts and stakeholders will address the issue of resettlement for 50 to 70 informal settlers near the landfill in Barangay Umapad in Mandaue City.

It, however, said that the resettlement action plan for the families to be displaced by the project is ongoing.

On Wednesday afternoon, the consultants conducted direct coordination with the managers of different industrial establishments in Mandaue City that may get affected by the construction of the fourth bridge.

Hiroyuki’s presentation, however, said “tenurial instrument” of affected lots and the authority of DPWH-7 to develop them still need to be confirmed.

Presently, the third bridge project called Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway is under construction. Spanning Cordova and Cebu City, it is a public-private partnership (PPP) project undertaken by Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC).

CCLEC is a joint venture of Acciona Construction of Spain, First Balfour Inc. and D.M. Consunji Inc. of the Philippines. The company is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., which will operate the third bridge for a period of 35 years.

CCLEC president and general manager Allan Alfon said the company is confident about finishing the third bridge by 2021, in time for the commemoration of the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines.

The first Mactan bridge was constructed in 1970 and finished in 1972, while the second, the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, was constructed in 1996 and opened to traffic in 1999.

CCCI trains Cebu farmers on organic farming and independent certification

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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.

DOLE-7 now has special GAD desk

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (/BRP, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — As the whole nation unites to salute, pay tribute to, and honor women, the Department of Labor and Employment-7 opened their Gender and Development (GAD) Corner as one way of recognizing the strength and empowerment of every single woman regardless of age, status, preferences, affiliations, and orientation.

The unveiling of the DOLE-7’s GAD Corner the other day also signaled the start of the region’s month-long celebration of the National Women’s Month.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Salome Siaton said the corner will aid women and in some way give premium to the value and contributions of every woman in the country, in the community, and in each respective family.

“Every woman has a very vital role to play wherever she is planted by God. May it be as a leader, as a housewife, as a worker, as an employer, as a sister, or as a mother, among many other things,” said Siaton in a statement.

The GAD Corner has a separate table apart from the usual Public Assistance Desk, where all women clients are accommodated and provided with special attention.

Siaton also cited the importance of women, especially as the mother of a household, in guiding each child as he or she grows up to become a citizen who is productive in the community and in the country as a whole.

“I personally want this celebration to transcend beyond what is considered conventional and what society normally expects from a woman. Sometimes, it is when women deviate from and do not conform to what societal standards and norms usually require that they begin to feel empowered individuals,” said Siaton.

She admitted that leading a big regional government agency like DOLE-7 is already in itself something that would test a woman’s worth in a field that is mostly dominated by men.

DOLE-7 Assistant Regional Director Lilia Estillore also said that the celebration of the National Women’s Month does not mean they want to pit the female and male genders against each other.

“This celebration just reinforces the fact that women, with all their potentials, talents and capabilities, complement with men. There is no force equal to a woman determined to rise. And if all women would be putting their acts together for a common cause, most definitely, nothing, not even bullying, could shatter them apart,” Estillore said.

Apart from the unveiling of its GAD Corner, the DOLE-7 also showcased its women-livelihood beneficiaries in a livelihood fair where an array of goods and products were offered for sale.

Chief Maria Nancy Abad of the Technical Support Services Division-Employment Workers’ Welfare said that the DOLE-7 closely coordinated with the University of San Carlos-Kapamilya Negosyo Na (USC-KNN, Inc.), which is one of the department’s accredited co-partners in the implementation of its livelihood programs.

There are 19 women-exhibitors from the USC-KNN, who are participating in the livelihood fair every Monday at the ground floor of the DOLE-7 Building.

Exhibitors, who are all beneficiaries of the DOLE’s Livelihood Program, sell products like cakes, pastries, kakanin, peanut butter, pan bisaya, siomai, herbal liniment, soap, detergent bars, chicharon, health drinks, dried danggit, and many more.

Learning sessions also formed part of the celebration, which takes place every Monday for the entire month along with the livelihood fair.

New terminal 1 to boost MCIA capacity by 16M

By Carlo S. Lorenciana (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — Passenger capacity of Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will increase to 16 million per year once the renovation of domestic Terminal 1 is completed.

Ravishankar Saravu, chief commercial advisor at GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp., said renovation of T1 is scheduled to be completed this year.

Saravu said the airport operator has remained optimistic on growth prospects as it aims to expand the country’s second busiest air hub in the future.

He said that both Terminal 1 and 2 will be expanded by 2024 to hit its target of 28 million passengers.

Terminal 2 officially opened last year, catering to international flights and passengers.

The private operator had previously planned to get a concession to build a third terminal projected to start by 2035, as part of its long-term development plan for the airport.

In June 2017, GMR-Megawide had submitted a P208-billion unsolicited proposal to the government to further develop MCIA.

Saravu noted the airport’s long-term target is to increase its capacity to at least 50 million passengers per year.

Under the proposal, the expansion will be undertaken in three phases, with the first involving the rehabilitation of MCIA’s existing runway and taxiways; construction of an additional parallel taxiway to serve as emergency runway; and the development of additional rapid exit taxiways and runway holding positions, upon takeover of the airside facilities.

The second phase will involve the construction of a second parallel and independent runway, while the third and final phase is the building of a third terminal for additional passengers.

Based on the study by the company, passenger traffic in Cebu will reach about 28 million passenger per year in 2039, a projected traffic similar to major Asian airports such as Singapore, New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur, among others.

Once completed, MCIA will emerge as the first Philippine airport with two parallel independent runways.

Talisay strengthens measure to protect Lagundi Reef

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

CEBU, Philippines — The Talisay City government reinforces its existing measure that protects and conserves its Lagundi Reef Marine Sanctuary in Barangay Poblacion.

Through an ordinance, the City Council drafted an amendment to an old measure, particularly City Ordinance No. 2006-04, “an ordinance regulating the activities within the Lagundi Reef Marine Sanctuary...”

The new measure or City Ordinance No. 93, supported through a resolution, seeks to make more “effective and appropriate” the managing body and enforcement team looking after the Lagundi Reef.

Under the amended ordinance approved on January 29, the City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (C-FARMC) will now have the shared control together with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) with regard to planning, administration and management of the marine sanctuary, thus the creation of a special management body.

C-FARMC will be under the supervision of the city mayor, through CENRO.

Moreover, an advisory group, which will be under the umbrella of C-FARMC, should also be formed whose primary task is to provide technical input and other advice for the management of the sanctuary.

The composition of which has to be laid down through an executive order of the city mayor upon the recommendation of the C-FARMC, which also has to author its own resolution.

Earlier, the City Council found it necessary to amend the old ordinance (City Ordinance 2006-04) because it “runs opposite” to the spirit of City Ordinance 2006-01 or the Talisay City Fisheries Code; and Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

RA 8550 was recently amended by RA 10654, which stipulated for the mandatory creation of the municipal or city FARMC in every coastal local government unit.

FARMC serves as the overall body authorized and mandated to oversee fishery concerns.

According to the amended measure, the C-FARMC, the Bantay Dagat, and among other cause-oriented organizations, including the deployed policemen and trained barangay tanods, will be deputized to enforce the ordinance and the other relative national laws and local policies.

With the deputation powers of the city mayor, they will be tasked to apprehend violators and issue citation tickets.

CCCI app aims inclusivity

By Ehda M. Dagooc (/JMD, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is set to launch an app that will enable its members to do businesses pushing the development of inclusive growth.

Newly-installed chamber president Virgilio “Nonoy” G. Espeleta told reporters that an app will be introduced by June this year to be used by chamber members to do business within, instead of importing or sourcing supplies or services from outside.

This is one of the flagship programs that will be pushed by Espeleta in his leadership, apart from other initiatives he will be proposing to the CCCI board in during his entire term.

The app will serve as a digital marketplace for the growing 800 members so that, sourcing, as well as digital payment, will be done online.

“We will encourage members to buy from each other,” said Espeleta, who owns Famcor Franchise Management and Executive Development Corporation.

According to Espeleta, this is also part of pushing local companies to support a “self-sufficient” Philippine economy minimizing the dependence to imports.

The app will also provide a digital wallet for each member company so that payment will be done digitally.

Aside launching the app, Espeleta also mentioned his plan to propose other programs such as strengthening the business mentorship program in the chamber in coordination the government, teaching local innovators to monetize innovations, among others.

In one his visits to Cebu recently, Jesus Pilapil Estanislao, the country’s renowned economist and governance thought leader, urged the business sector here to adopt a mindset of self-sufficiency.

“The Philippines should be self-sufficient. The world is not going to grow. The opportunities (outside) is limited,” Estanislao told Cebu business sector.

Espeleta, the 37th CCCI president, said he is committed to start implementing this “self-sufficiency” challenge, starting with the member-companies.

DSWD-7 continues 4Ps cash cards distribution

By Luel Galarpe (PNA)

CEBU CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) continued its distribution of cash cards to “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” (4Ps) beneficiaries at the Land Bank of the Philippines’ (LBP) Cebu and Argao branches on Thursday.

Social Welfare regional information officer Kerwin Macopia said the distribution of cash cards to 4Ps beneficiaries from Minglanilla and Argao, Cebu started Monday and will end Friday.

“We actually started the distribution of cash cards in Region 7 last month to make it easier for beneficiaries to claim their 4Ps benefits,” Macopia said.

The distribution, which is done by clusters and by batch, will continue until the end of April, he added.

Jessa Conde, 35, married with three children and resident of Minglanilla town – about 40 minutes drive from Cebu City – told the Philippine News Agency that she is glad to be issued a cash card as she will no longer have to line up to claim her subsidy from the government over the counter.

“Me and my neighbors came here (to LBP Cebu) as early as 7:30 a.m. Although there’s still a long queue, it’s just okay as hopefully this will be the last time for us to be lining up like this,” Conde said jovially in Cebuano.

Conde said she is currently receiving a monthly subsidy of PHP600 for rice, PHP500 for health care, and another PHP600 for the education of her two children in the elementary level.

Macopia said Conde is one of the 1,573 4Ps beneficiaries from Minglanilla, while there are 2,474 recipients in the municipality of Argao, 70.5 kilometers south of Cebu City.

The DSWD-7 has also scheduled distribution of cash cards in Cebu City, in the towns of Barili and Oslob, Cebu, and in some parts of Bohol on Saturday, March 9.

Sofronio Tabigue Jr., DSWD-7 financial analyst, said they will distribute the last batch of cash cards to Cebu City beneficiaries this weekend at the DSWD Regional Office 7 compound here, where 2,637 recipients are expected to converge.

More than 3,630 and 1,391 beneficiaries are also set to claim their cash cards in Barili and Oslob, respectively, Tabigue said.

In Bohol, there will be four distribution sites on Saturday – in Batuan, Maribojoc, Tubigon, and Talibon.

Tabigue said 4Ps beneficiaries from Batuan, Bilar, Pilar, Sierra Bullones, Loboc, Loon, Maribojoc, Calape, Tubigon, Clarin, Talibon, Bien Unido, and Trinidad towns in Bohol may go to the above-mentioned sites nearest them and claim their cash cards.

Next week, from March 11 to 15, will be the turn of 2,650 beneficiaries from Sibonga, Cebu to get their cash cards at the LBP Carcar City branch.

Japanese consultants push construction of 4th Mactan bridge

By John Rey Saavedra (PNA)

CEBU CITY — Japanese consultants from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Wednesday presented to the planning office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-7 (Central Visayas) the preparatory survey for the new Mactan bridge construction project.

DPWH-7 planning officer Nonato Paylado said JICA recommended the construction of the bridge in order to “mitigate traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.”

Hiroyuki Morimoto, JICA project team head, said the JICA master plan 2019 includes the proposal to construct the bridge that will connect the cities of Lapu-Lapu on Mactan Island and Mandaue in mainland Cebu.

The fourth bridge is needed “to meet the expanding traffic capacity between the two islands generated by the booming Cebu’s industry and tourism,” Hiroyuki said.

Part of the bridge project will be the Mandaue coastal road project, which will be “constructed as an extension of the proposed Metro Cebu circumferential road or proposed Mandaue-Liloan diversion road to divert traffic from the city center through a bypass road,” he said.

The project has a total length of 6.78 kilometers, with a 0.58-kilometer bridge component and a 6.20-kilometer coastal road component, covering both the bridge approach and viaduct.

Spanning over the Mactan channel, the bridge project with four lanes and a 22.2-meter wide roadway will affect Barangays Ibo and Pusok in Lapu-Lapu City and Umapad and Opao in Mandaue City.

It will adopt two interchanges, according to Hiroyuki’s presentation.

The Japanese consultants started the master plan study last December through a series of preparatory meetings, collection of project background data, and site survey.

The consultants are now conducting traffic survey and traffic demand forecast, as well as bridge location and coastal road alignment after their successful two-month long natural condition survey that started last January.

According to the study, JICA experts and stakeholders will address the issue of resettlement for 50 to 70 informal settlers near the landfill in Barangay Umapad in Mandaue City.

It, however, said that the resettlement action plan for the families to be displaced by the project is ongoing.

On Wednesday afternoon, the consultants conducted direct coordination with the managers of different industrial establishments in Mandaue City that may get affected by the construction of the fourth bridge.

Hiroyuki’s presentation, however, said “tenurial instrument” of affected lots and the authority of DPWH-7 to develop them still need to be confirmed.

Presently, the third bridge project called Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway is under construction. Spanning Cordova and Cebu City, it is a public-private partnership (PPP) project undertaken by Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC).

CCLEC is a joint venture of Acciona Construction of Spain, First Balfour Inc. and D.M. Consunji Inc. of the Philippines. The company is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., which will operate the third bridge for a period of 35 years.

CCLEC president and general manager Allan Alfon said the company is confident about finishing the third bridge by 2021, in time for the commemoration of the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines.

The first Mactan bridge was constructed in 1970 and finished in 1972, while the second, the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, was constructed in 1996 and opened to traffic in 1999.

CCCI trains Cebu farmers on organic farming and independent certification

(The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) conducted a two-day training on Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) on February 26 and 27 at the Training Room of the newly renovated Chamber Centre.

A total of 30 participants comprised of farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and advocates of healthy food from Cebu province attended the training. The objective of the training was to heighten the interest of the participants to promote and expand the outreach of organic agriculture in Cebu.

The trainers were Ms. Rowena Buena and Ms. Carmen Cabling, two senior officers of PGS Pilipinas, a network of PGS practitioners based in Los Baños, Laguna which supports the different PGS throughout the Philippines.

The training highlighted the differences between organic and conventional agriculture and the organizational framework of PGS. According to the trainers many PGS have already been established in the last years in Luzon, Mindanao and Western Visayas, but Cebu was a “white spot on the PGS map” so far.

PGS are locally focused quality assurance systems. They certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders, such as farmers, consumers, institutional buyers or independent actors such as the academe or local chambers.

The systems are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange. They are based on the national organic standards, but unlike third party international certification schemes, the costs of the PGS are very low and products thus remain affordable to consumers.

Strengthening the sustainability of Cebu’s agriculture sector is a key interest of CCCI to achieve sustainable economic development and inclusive growth in the province. Active participation of different stakeholders of the often-complex agriculture value chains is thus crucial.

“Many farmers want to produce organically and sell their products locally, especially to health-conscious consumers. But either the farmers cannot afford the high costs of an independent certification, or the products become very expensive for consumers. That’s why a PGS is a good solution to promote organic farming at low costs”, said May Elizabeth Ybañez, Executive Director of CCCI.

CCCI welcomes University’s Educational Tour request

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) gladly received the educational tour request of 4th year Business Administration students from the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), last March 1 at the new training room of CCCI.

ESSU is the very first university to visit the Chamber after its office had undergone a six-month renovation. CCCI, on its part, is in delight to accommodate the request and to provide enough knowledge to university students to enhance a clear picture of the theoretical things they have learnt so far.

ESSU students came in four (4) batches along with some of the University’s faculty members. During the educational tour, the students had been imparted with in-depth learnings and knowledge about CCCI –its history and Quality Management System (QMS) through a short program. Students also had the chance to gain deeper understanding of the services offered by the chamber, which the CCCI staff shared generously and passionately.

For those interested to visit the chamber for an educational tour, one may call CCCI thru 232-1421 or email us at cebuchamber@gmail.com.

Cebu seeks UN ‘Creative City of Design’ status

By Minerva Newman

CEBU CITY – Cebu wants to raise and reassert its desire to become a “Creative City of Design” as it sponsors a bid for a UNESCO nomination, relying on its vaunted creative design reputation in the furniture design, manufacturing, and other creative crafts.

“We want to raise to the whole world how good Cebu is and the Cebu Design Week 2019 is a wonderful platform to take off for our application bid to UNESCO,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) regional director Asteria Caberte told media in a press conference over the weekend during the launching of the Cebu Design Week (CDW) 2019 at Seda hotel here.

Why a nomination bid for UNESCO? Caberte asked. With the advent of animation and the digital technology, the creative industry here is difficult to lose, we would like to put creative design of the Cebuanos at the forefront, she said.

City of design is the bragging rights for Cebu. Part of the bid is a five-year plan for the creative design industry which starts with mounting the Cebu Design Week 2019 on September 8-15 which is a fully-packed weeklong event to include exhibits, makers’ market, Design summit, workshops, speed networking, daily live performances, Blue Mango Awards & Creative festival, among others, according to Butch Carungay CDW Affiliate and Blue Mango Awards Chair.

Cebu Design Week 2019 launching

According to Mari Booth, CDW 2019 overall chair that the Cebu Design Week is an annual event spearheaded by the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc. (CFIF) with the support of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) and the Province of Cebu.

Booth said the CDW aims to connect, create, and cultivate the business and design sectors in Central Visayas. The event targets the province’s creative ecosystem to strengthen its design industries and reassert its position as the country’s premier destination for creativity and innovation.

CDW 2019 opens on September 8-15 at the IC3 Pavilion, VisMin’s biggest convention center at Cardinal Rosales Ave, Cebu City. It is expected to gather around 15,000 people composed of government representatives, business owners, industry professionals, start-ups, artists, creatives and university students.

UNESCO estimates the creative industries represent three percent or some $2.2 trillion of the world’s GDP and employ 30 million people worldwide and experts say the creative design is resistant to automation, Caberte stated.

Josefin Hey, CDW marketing co-chair, said CDW 2019 is a launch pad to prove that Cebu has a deeply rooted and flourishing creative ecosystem and that “we deserve a place in the world’s design map.”

“For the Philippines to be able to catch up with the global economy we have to innovate and CDW 2019 can fuel innovation through creativity and help Cebu to leapfrog over other similar economies,” Hey said.

Eco-tourism to set Cebu apart

By KATLENE O. CACHO

PRESERVATION of the country’s eco-tourism sites could differentiate Cebu from the world, a business leader said.

Fresh from attending the 2019 Gulfood, the largest annual food, beverage and hospitality exhibition in Dubai, Stanley Go, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) said many of the participating countries during the expo have showcased distinct products to offer to the world market, making him think what could be Cebu’s offering that would truly stand out.

“We have dried mangoes, but other countries are producing that too. I think we need to reassess, look for that unique selling point that we can develop,” said Go.

He said the country has to work on developing high-value products or initiate sustainable efforts to be known globally, rather than just be known for sending its labor force abroad.

Go said the Boracay Island rehabilitation, which caught the attention of the world, along with the Save Manila Bay project could be the country’s powerful marketing asset.

According to Go, the Philippines, particularly Cebu, is known for being a tropical paradise with plenty of natural resources to boast of.

“We can be a leader in preserving our eco-tourism destinations,” he said. “Maybe this could be our unique selling point.” Robert Lim Joseph of The Manila Yacht Club earlier tapped the Rotary Club of Metro Cebu to replicate the Manila Bay cleanup in Cebu City.

Joseph, who is chairman emeritus of Network of Independent Travel Agencies, said Cebu needs to be aggressive in saving and preserving its natural resources because of its high tourism potential.

“We need to replicate the same efforts in Cebu because this island is one of the country’s biggest tourism drawers,” he said.

A total of eight million tourists visited Cebu in 2018, 3.6 million of which were foreign tourists.

Joseph stressed though that the cleanup is just part of the big plan, and that the long-term project is to encourage all establishments to set up their own sewage treatment facilities.

“I am urging my fellow Rotarians to call on our officials in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to get samples of water in all outflows of Cebu City and check for presence of fecal coliform bacteria,” said Joseph.

This way, Joseph said, efforts in sustainable tourism can be sped up.

The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in aquatic environments indicates that the water has been contaminated with the fecal material of humans or other animals.

Joseph already expects bad results of fecal coliform levels, but said this is the only way Cebu can determine the next steps to protect its pristine beaches and other tourism attractions.

Cebu gaining ground among Mideast tourists

By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — Aside from India, Cebu is now starting to gain interest from the wide Middle Eastern market, as wedding and leisure destination.

Tour operators in Cebu noted the increasing number of specialty tours from Middle Eastern countries like Israel, Turkey, among others for wedding ceremonies, experiential and leisure tours, and also increasing bookings for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibits (MICE) related events, reported Tour Operations Specialists (CATOS) president Alice Queblatin.

In fact, Israeli travel agents have already made its initial ocular visits in Cebu and touching base with local tour operators here to respond to the strong interest of Israeli nationals to explore Cebu, Queblatin said.

Cebu has been one of the favorite destinations for luxurious Indian weddings for some time. This niche, Queblatin said, has expanded and gain interest from other non-Christian countries like Israel.

Queblatin said while Cebu is ready to accommodate specialty tours like weddings, direct access is seen to be the hindrance of exploiting this emerging market.

“Direct access from Cebu to Israel is very important. While a lot of us are doing pilgrimage tours to Israel, people from Israel are also looking at Cebu as their destination. We need direct flight,” Queblatin said explaining that if these tourists are transported via Manila “it is difficult. They like to travel via Saudi air space.”

Meanwhile, Turkish travel agents have also made initial tours to Cebu in the last few months, to see interesting activities and destinations to lure tourists from Turkey to experience Cebu, she said.

Queblatin added that the Cebu tourism stakeholders are also working closely with authorities, including the Mactan Cebu Airport operator GMR Megawide to convince airlines to open up routes in these countries.

RCBC leads Metro Cebu tollway project

By James A. Loyola

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation is taking the lead in funding the P19-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), one of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects.

RCBC is extending P6 billion of the P19 billion project finance facility of CCLEC where a total of six lenders participated.

The project is an 8.5km toll bridge that will connect mainland Cebu and the island of Mactan via Cebu City and Cordova, Province of Cebu. It is envisioned to become an iconic infrastructure project under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement with the local governments of Cebu City and Cordova Municipality.

Proceeds from the facility will partially finance the first public-private partnership (PPP) outside Metro Manila and the first bridge venture of the MPIC Group.

With RCBC Capital as the Co-Lead Arranger and RCBC Trust and Investment group as the mandated Facility Agent and Security Trustee, CCLEX is expected to be completed by 2021 to decongest traffic conditions in the existing bridge connections of Marcelo Fernan and Mandaue Bridges.

With improved traffic flow, the project is seen to spur economic growth in the regions traversed.

“We are excited about this opportunity to be involved in a financially viable project that will bring significant impact in the economy of Cebu,” RCBC Deputy CEO Eugene Acevedo said.

BFP-7 event kicks off Fire Prevention Month

By Via Moira Beatrice A. Zamora (USC Intern BRP, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — The Bureau of Fire Protection-7 welcomed the month of March, Fire Prevention Month, with a kickoff xx event held in SM Seaside City Cebu.

The theme of this year's activity was "Ligtas na Pilipinas Ating Kamtin, Bawat Pamilya ay Sanayin, Kaalaman sa Sunog ay Palawakin."

The activity started with a unity walk at 5:30 a.m. from the BFP regional compound to SM Seaside, followed by a Mass and the opening ceremony. This was followed by a demonstration of firefighting capabilities, and a motorcade.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Dolot, BFP-7 director, said that this year's activities will focus on raising awareness about fire prevention, alongside “Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan” wherein they will conduct trainings to educate and prepare communities to be disaster resilient.

He said that cases of fire are on the rise, making them alarmed, which is why they have the need to engage the communities. Dolot also urged barangay officials and local government units to consider the option of providing communities with firefighting equipment.

Based on their records, worn-out and loose electrical connection, electrical short circuit, unattended cooking, lighted candles are the most common causes of fire in most non-fire safety conscious communities.

Dolot said they will also have simultaneous drills before the end of March all throughout the region, as well as an open house for children to be educated on the importance and purpose of firefighters.

Condo tower to rise on Sikatuna

By KATLENE O. CACHO

CEBU-based 858 Mega Properties is earmarking P800 million to finance four real estate projects in Cebu.

Of these four projects, two are already in various stages of construction -- Vistana Pearl Residences and Vistana Diamond Townhouses -- while the two other -- Vistana Emerald Tower and Gold Island Resort and Residences -- are still in the pipeline.

On Thursday, February 28, the company formally launched Vistana Pearl Residences, an eight-story, mid-rise condominium tower on Sikatuna St., Cebu City. Vistana Pearl is positioned to attract the student market as its location is within Cebu’s university belt.

It features 65 studio units priced at P2.3 million to P3.1 million and five one- bedroom units priced at P4.5 million.

Vistana Pearl broke ground in June 2017 and is slated for completion by 2021.

Vistana Diamond Townhouses, on the other hand, is a nine-unit, high-end townhouse development located in Peace Valley, Capitol Site, Cebu City.

Each townhouse unit of this pocket development has four floors and is expected to be completed this year.

Moreover, Vistana Emerald Tower is an 18-story condominium to be erected in Capitol Site, Cebu City. It will have studio and one-bedroom units.

Vistana Gold Island Resort and Residences is located in Olango Island, Lapu-Lapu City.

This project features 16-unit duplex villa residences with pools, two units of presidential villas with pool, and eight units of two-storey townhouses with a common pool.

These green concept vacation houses are designed for retirees and business owners.

The Vistana brand is exclusively marketed by BG Summit Realty Inc.

Butch Guillen, president and chief executive officer of BG Summit Realty, said the company’s aggressive expansion was buoyed by the booming growth in the real estate industry, particularly in the residential segment.

“The demand for housing remains high,” said Guillen.

858 Mega Properties is owned by the Uy family, which has been in the business of construction for 23 years through MegaPlus Construction.

The family also owns Goldfin Construction and Development Corp. and Pearl Medical Aesthetic and Laser Center Inc.

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