Cebu Province News May 2017

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Province of Cebu - Archived News

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
Cebu metro.jpg
Aerial View of Metro Cebu

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

K to 12 good for IT/BPM talent pool

By Katlene O. Cacho

THE Cebu IT/BPM Organization (CIB.O), formerly Cedf-it, is taking advantage of the first products of the K to 12 education system to supply the talent requirements of the information technology-business process management industry in Cebu.

CIB.O president Gregg Gabison said that while they will transform into a full-time organization addressing the high-value service requirements of the industry, they will remain as the industry’s linkage to the academe in terms of talent development.

“We are taking advantage of the K to 12 phenomenon,” said Gabison. “CIB.O will work closely with the academe sector to help introduce or infuse specialization tracks that suit the requirements of the outsourcing sector.”

These specialization tracks include business analytics, information and security, and data mining and analytics.

Gabison believes equipping the K to 12 students with these special courses will allow them to gain better employability in an industry that is moving up to offer high-value services or the so-called knowledge process outsourcing, such as finance and accounting, creative services, billing and collections, document digitization and search engines, engineering design, financial and legal research, human resource management, medical transcription and coding, and publishing.

Under the K to 12 program, students may enter the workforce after finishing senior high school, or pursue college education. The additional two years in high school will be equivalent to two years of college in the old curriculum.

The Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (Ibpap) strongly supports the K to 12 program, saying it is going to boost the country’s IT-BPM industry. Ibpap has partnered with some educational institutions in the country to develop a curriculum for students who want to pursue a career in the business process outsourcing industry.

At the end of 2016, a total of 130,260 workers were employed in the IT-BPM sector in Cebu City, and P3.8 billion in salaries was given out per month.

Cleanup drive held in Mandaue

(SunStar Cebu)

THE Int’l WeLoveU Foundation (IWLUF) recently held its annual clean world movement to celebrate May 22 as a clean day, with the theme, “2017 Clean World Movement to Cope with Climate Change.”

Over 80 volunteers represented the local branch in Cebu who cleaned the outskirts of Ouano Ave., Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

A total of 40 sacks and trash bags filled with garbage were gathered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The foundation was founded in 2001 by chairwoman Zhang Gil-jah in South Korea.

It focuses on serving others by providing volunteer services, such as blood drives, relief operations during disasters, cleanup drives, among other environmental-related initiatives.

“I know that joining our cleanup movement would add awareness to our fellow residents in Mandaue. I hope this could encourage the people to assist the barangay officials in their pursuit to make Subangdaku a better and cleaner place,” said Atty. Charity Fernandez, IWLUF volunteer since 2011.

Cebu’s SMEs, BPOs eyed

By Norman V. Mendoza

Payoneer gives stakeholders in 2 sectors an alternative to go global.

A global cross-border payments company, Payoneer, is trying to tap into Cebu’s growing small medium enterprises (SMEs) and the booming business process outsourcing industry as they introduce their services to stakeholders in both sectors in last week’s forum.

“The Philippines is one of the top 5 online outsourcing countries globally,” said Miguel Warren, Payoneer Philippines country manager.

“We see many opportunities to work with cross border service providers, freelancers and start-up entrepreneurs, and to help them grow their business internationally,” Warren said.

Through their cross border payments services, Warren said Payoneer can empower people and firms in these industries by helping them enter the global market.

Warren also cited the reasons for their interest in Cebu’s SME and IT-BPM sectors.

He said that this is the 15 to 18 percent growth of the information technology-business process management industry in 2016 and Cebu’s large population with the growing BPO sector that pays them well.

Warren also tagged Cebu as a haven for SMEs with close to 3,000 SMEs earning at least P5.5 billion in sales and employing about 180,000 workers.

Warren said that Payoneer, which was launched last year in Manila, and recently its country office in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, had been serving 200 countries since 2005.

“Small BPOs and SEO agencies in the Philippines have long used other options to receive funds from international clients. Payoneer can help them receive more pesos through lower fees and higher foreign exchange rates; thus offering additional ways to receive cross-border payments,’ said Warren.

State college eyed in Consolacion

By Gregg M. Rubio,with Diana Rose Ompad and Dulcelyn Insong (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Representative Jonas Cortes is seeking for the establishment of Consolacion State College and Cordova National High School, both in the sixth district of the Province of Cebu.

Cortes has filed House Bill No. 5306 which seeks the conversion of Consolacion Public College (CPC) in the municipality of Consolacion into a state college.

He also filed House Bill No. 5307 which seeks the conversion of Cabangahan NHS-Cordova Annex in the municipality of Cordova into an independent NHS to be called as the Cordova NHS. The school’s main campus is in Consolacion town.

Cortes said converting CPC into Consolacion State College will ensure its fiscal autonomy, enhance its academic standards, and provide accessible and affordable but quality education to poor but deserving students.

The local government of Consolacion established the CPC with the objective of providing accessible and affordable tertiary, vocational, and technical education to the youth in the municipality.

“With the conversion of the Consolacion Public College into a state college, the author seeks to secure adequate support and appropriate funds from the national budget to ensure that the institution as the necessary facility, personnel and instructional materials which area at par with other tertiary learning institutions,” Cortes said.

On the other hand, Cabangahan NHS-Cordova Annex has experienced a surge in enrolment since it started more than a decade ago with just 198 enrollees giving the town’s youth access to free secondary education.

Cortes said the resources of the school are now found to be inadequate to meet its growing needs especially that it is only an extension of the Cabangahan NHS in Consolacion.

“Converting the school into a separate national high school independent from its mother school would certainly provide a regular source of funds for the school to meet its growing needs,” Cortes said.

HB 5306 is now pending before the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, while HB 5307 is pending before the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture.

“NO EFFECT”

The House Bill 4117, which seeks to establish Mandaue City as a lone district, will not have an effect on the development of the sixth legislative district, according to Governor Hilario Davide III.

The sixth district is composed of Mandaue and the towns of Consolacion and Cordova.

Davide said Consolacion and Cordova towns can stand even without the Mandaue City with their growing economies.

He cited the P9.2-billion Cebu International Container Port project in Tayud, Consolacion, and the P27-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway.

Mandaue City, on the other hand, should be separated from the current sixth district and is in fact long overdue, said Davide.

The city, he said, is dubbed as the industrial capital of the province.

Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado said they support the passage of the bill, which is also advantageous for the town.

Best of Cebu winners share social pointers

By Katlene O. Cacho

BEFORE the reign of smartphones and social media, food businesses largely depended on print advertising, word of mouth, and walk-in traffic to attract customers, generate sales, and promote products.

This, however, benefited only the large companies that had bigger budgets for media advertising. Thanks to the birth of social media, small and local food business owners now have more opportunities to achieve lively sales, enhance their brand reputation, earn more referrals, and attract the high customer traffic that only large businesses used to enjoy.

“Social media reinforces word of mouth and magnifies it on a grander scale. On one hand, it is a good thing as it allows Maco Manok to reach markets in and outside of Cebu. It also makes it easier for us to advertise our offerings and to gain immediate feedback from our customers,” said Christine Joy Lim, owner of Maco Manok, the 2016 SunStar Best of Cebu Winner for Best Native Chicken.

She said hashtags, reviews, and “check-ins” have contributed to the rising popularity of this native chicken inasal place on A.S Fortuna St., which started as a home-based business some seven years ago.

Cebuanos’ favorites

Last Friday night, the Sunstar Media Group, AirAsia and Ssangyong Motor, in cooperation with Arthaland, hosted a party that showcased the Best of Cebu 2016 winners.

A total of 60 establishments, like Maco Manok, received awards. On its fourth year, the Best of Cebu introduced two new sections: the Cebuanos’ Favorites and the Grand Slam winners. Each December and the Sinulog week after that, the Best of Cebu winners are featured in a special edition of SunStar Cebu Weekend magazine.

During Friday’s event, Lim noted that social media has it made it easier for businesses to advertise their offerings and to gain immediate feedback from customers.

Christine and her husband Marc, the chef, used to cook in their house and personally deliver food to friends and relatives. They started selling native chicken with a twist and, over the years, added some pork, beef, and seafood to their menu.

“With the rising popularity of social media, news and reviews of us reached people we never dreamed we could reach at such a fast pace,” said Lim.

The Best of Cebu 2016 Winner for Best Wellness Food Delivery, Diet in a Box, also attracted loyal patrons via social media.

Chime Bell Osabel, business development and marketing specialist, and Angelo Amadeus Go Moreno, the executive chef, took advantage of various media platforms to sell diet food online.

Influence

“Clients learned about us through electronic word-of-mouth, as most people call it. I’ve posted several photos of our products online. I’ve also selected close friends with higher social media influence to try our products first,” said Osabel. These “online influencers” helped the business draw more than a thousand followers on Instagram and thousands more on Facebook.

“You would not believe me if I tell you, but the only effort we have had since then is our Facebook ad boost, and our loyal clients who believe in our food advocacy helped spread the word,” Osabel said.

Diet in a Box debuted in 2015 with the goal of inspiring Cebuanos to switch to a healthier way of eating. They poured P6,000 to jumpstart the online business. Osabel recalled booking their first 10 clients when they started; a week after that, the list grew to 25. Now, they cater to some 350 clients on a daily basis for both Cebu and Mandaue deliveries.

While these two homegrown businesses pin their success on social media, they are also careful about using this powerful tool, which also has the ability to tear down any business.

“Social networks are now a central place for dialogue and exchange, replacing traditional face-to-face discussions,” Osabel said. “As a result, opinions travel much faster than before, and the public image of a business has become more fragile and sensitive than ever before.”

Double-edged sword

Lim believes that while social media help build businesses, these platforms should also be used responsibly.

“Any complaints or negative feedbacks are magnified in social media. At Maco Manok, we strive to always be conscious about our quality and service,” she said.

More than using social media platforms to display their offerings and invite more customers, the couple use it as an information hub for interested and potential customers.

“Unlike other restaurants, we don’t tend to barrage our customers with too many posts and sponsored ads in Facebook and Twitter. We tend to be restrained with what we post,” said Lim.

Osabel also noted that entrepreneurs must know who are positive about their brand and could become potential advocates.

“Listening to customer reviews further strengthens our brand. We’re always keen to address each of our client’s demands and what matters. When you get to address those, they become online influencers or advocates.”

Nissan, Gateway synergy to bring exceptional deals to Cebu

By Jeandie O. Galolo

TWO tough entities in the Philippine car industry have synergized anew to provide a better, more exceptional and affordable vehicles to Cebuanos.

Gateway Motors, a magnate in local car dealership and one of the pioneers in providing affordable and flexible financing options to vehicle buyers, has embarked on a partnership with multinational carmaker Nissan.

Markane Goho, Gateway Group President, noted this partnership with Nissan Philippines as a welcome development to the Cebu market with his company opening a state-of-the-art Nissan showroom and service facility in the southern part of Metro Cebu.

“The goals of Gateway and Nissan are very much aligned. Both companies are hell-bent in exceeding customer expectations, building the Nissan brand value, and providing exceptional service to meet the needs and demands of our local buyers,” said Michael Goho, executive vice president of Gateway Group.

Today, May 25, Gateway Motors opens a Nissan showroom in Lawaan in Talisay City, bringing in the carmarker’s sought after vehicles in the likes of Almera, Navara, X-Trail, Juke, and Urvan, among others, closer to Cebuanos residing in the southern part of the province.

Nevertheless, this is not the first time for the two companies to embark on a partnership. For roughly seven years now, Gateway Motors and Nissan enjoy a mutually beneficial venture when the former opened a Nissan showroom in Puerto Princessa in Palawan in 2011.

“Since then, we had always wanted to cater to a bigger market like Cebu where there is so much potential and room for more growth,” Michael Goho, narrated.

Over the years, Cebu is one of the key markets for vehicle sales in the country. The province is also one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in Southern Philippines that has attracted a number of multinational companies and investors. Similarly, Nissan and Gateway Motors hold bright prospects on their newest venture in Cebu.

“Nissan is a household name and is nothing new. The feedback of local consumers with Nissan has been very positive and the brand has stood the test of time. There is absolutely no doubt regarding its quality or its performance. With exceptional products at reasonable prices, and with flexible options, Nissan will continue to grow in Cebu,” Michael Goho added.

Nissan, a Japanese car brand prominent for “innovation that excites” will have larger presence in the Queen City of the South now that Gateway Motors has included it in its portfolio. “Gateway will look after Nissan on the local level and do its best in delivering the international standard Nissan experience that is expected,” Michael Goho said.

Akin to the Japanese car brand, Gateway Motors is also an innovative player in the car dealership business. At a time when car ownership required a significant sum of money or “downpayment” to own one, the homegrown car dealer disrupted this common belief. Instead, it made cars more accessible to everyone.

“Gateway Motors has always been known for its innovation. We constantly think of creative ways to satisfy our customers and make it as easy and convenient as possible to owning a car. In addition, we are known for our flexibility and approachability with deals,” the company official said.

Above all, it is the five-star quality service of Gateway Motors and Nissan which customers can always expect from these two reputable institutions.

“They (buyers) can expect five-star quality service with parts readily available and priced very reasonably. Gateway Motors has made big investment in building a very beautiful showroom along with a complete service center equipped with all the diagnostic tools and equipment that come along with it to make sure we not just deliver but exceed on the expectations of our customers,” assured Michael Goho.

Over the years, Gateway Motors has contributed greatly to Cebu’s car industry as a multi-brand car dealership which offers different vehicle brands to a wide range of customer profile.

Cebu province named most disaster-prepared LGU in CV

By Jeaselle Villalobos (Xavier University Intern)

The Cebu provincial government won this year’s Gawad Kalasag regional award for employing disaster personnel and for preparing a well-defined disaster plan, and will now advance to the national competition.

Cebu province bested the provinces of Bohol and Siquior in Central Visayas and will now qualify for the national awards scheduled in July.

Gawad Kalasag (KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan) award is an initiative of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD).

The search for the best Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Councils in Local Government Units (LGUs) is now on its 18th year. Last year’s best DRRM Council award went to Isabela province.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., head of the Cebu Provincial Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), said this is the first time that Cebu province won the Gawad Kalasag regional award.

Tribunalo said he is now excited to attend the awarding ceremonies in Manila in July.

He said the recognition is a confirmation of the hard work that PDRRMO personnel have invested in making sure that the office is properly staffed and prepared to respond to calamities.

“Base sa report sa OCD kita ang the best PDRRMO. Ang rason kay because naa na tay regular department head, assistant department head, division heads og klaro atong report. In other words naa tay sakto nga staff og klaro nga annual plan, so that’s good news (The OCD report chose us as the best PDRRMO (in Central Visayas). The reason is we have a regular department head, assistant department head, division heads and we produce a well-prepared (disaster) reports. In other words, we have well-identified personnel and a well-prepared annual plan, so that’s good news),” Tribunalo said during an interview on Monday.

Tribunalo said he received a telephone call from OCD last week informing him of the provincial government’s selection as Gawad Kalasag Central Visayas winner.

Award winners are expected to receive a plaque of recognition and a cash prize.

CHED continues scholarship grants for tertiary faculty members

(jsme/PIA7-Cebu/asv)

CEBU CITY (PIA) --- With the K to 12 implementation displacing some faculty members, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) continues to push for institution development and offer scholarship grants for graduate studies.

Dr. Freddie Bernal, CHED-7 and Negros Island Region Director, highlights the opportunity for the displaced faculty to avail of the K to 12 Transition Programs such as the scholarships and research grants.

According to Dr. Josefino Ronquillo, Supervising Education Program Specialist in Region 7, only 42 percent of college and university faculty members are master’s degree holders.

“It’s not enough,” he said, adding that the rounds of allocation for scholarships are being increased.

Dr. Ronquillo also hopes that by 2018, faculty members with master’s degrees will increase to 70 percent.

A master’s degree is the minimum requirement to teach in tertiary schools.

Existing college and university faculty members without master’s degree are welcome to apply for scholarship grants offered by CHED.

As of academic year 2016-2017, a total of 164 scholarship grants for local graduate studies and one for abroad were given under CHED’s K to 12 Transition Program.

The deadline of submission of requirements to CHED-7 office is on June 30, 2017.

CCCI to host Digital confab

(PR)

THE month-long Cebu Business Month (CBM) celebration will kick off with a two-day Cebu Digital Innovation Summit this June 2 and 3 at Summit Galleria Cebu.

Inspired by CBM 2017’s theme “STEP Up Cebu” (“Stepping Up Technology, Entrepreneurship and Productivity for the Upliftment of Cebu”), the event will be an avenue to provide a knowledge-sharing platform on: how digital innovation is critical for one’s success; how to prepare one’s company for the constant developments in technology; and disruptive innovation

Notable speakers at the summit include Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary, Atty. Rodolfo Salalima, who will deliver a keynote address; a talk on “Innovations in the World” by Google’s CEO for Marketing Solutions Platform/Tech Innovation, Jorge Cohen; a panel discussion on “Going Digital” by First Circle, Google’s Ian Macariola, PLDT SME Nation and Payoneer Philippines’ country manager, Miguel Warren. Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will also induct the officers of the newly organized Innovation Council of Cebu.

Waste plastic recycling plant inaugurated in Consolacion

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (JBB, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - A waste plastic recycling plant was recently inaugurated in Sitio Sun-ok, Barangay Tayud, Consolacion town.

The plant is owned by Yokohama-based Guun Corporation (formerly Mansei Recycle Systems Co., LTD) which invested P200 million for the development of the 2,400 square meter plant.

Using Japanese technology, these plastic wastes are converted into fluff fuel or shredded waste plastics which can be used as replacement for coal as currently practiced by cement and steel companies in Japan.

In a statement, the company said that the recycling plant in Consolacion can recycle up to four tons of garbage per hour or about 80 tons per day.

The company added that at present, Guun Philippines has tapped Apo Cement based in Naga City, Cebu for this initiative as it hopes other cement factories will also follow.

It said this is one of Guun's commitments as it aligns with the Mega Cebu vision to share and participate in the cycle of sustainable growth in the region.

"Create a sound, competitive, resilient society and realize development of Metro Cebu through the waste plastic recycling plant," the statement reads.

The inauguration was attended by Shigeo Kohno, General Manager of Guun Corporation, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, and Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado.

Alegado said that this recycling plant can help Cebu province manage its plastic waste.

Cebu triathlon to raise funds for indigent kids' heart surgery

By Mars G. Alison

The Cebu Rotary Club aims to raise P3.5 million at its 1st Rotary Corporate Triathlon slated for June 11

CEBU CITY, Philippines - Everything seems normal with Angelo Sequilles, a 5-year-old lively boy with an easy smile. However, 6 months ago, life wasn’t a walk in the park for Sequilles as even the normal activity of playing left him gasping for breath. That's because Sequilles suffered from Tetralogy of Fallot, a Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), which explains why at age 5, he has the frame of a 2-year-old.

Sequilles, who hails from Dumanjug, a southern town in Cebu, received a new lease on life when he underwent a heart surgery back in October as a beneficiary of the Gift of Life program of the Cebu Rotary Club Foundation, Inc.

Sequilles is not the only indigent kid with that story to tell. Some 18 indigent kids suffering from CHD are currently lined up with the program waiting to get their own surgical treatment, the cost of which ranges from P100,000 to P700,000 per child, certainly an amount that no under-privileged family could afford.

1st Rotary Corporate Triathlon

The Cebu Rotary Club has come up with a fundraiser to address the medical needs of these children via the 1st Rotary Corporate Triathlon slated for June 11 in Lapu-Lapu City and which aims to raise about P3.5 million.

Current club president Bernard Vonn Sia, a triathlete, assured that all funds raised by the event will be used for the surgery of the 18 kids.

The club is also going all out for the event by tapping the services of the Cornerstone 8080 Events Inc, which is known to come up with quality races, to handle the event.

The race, which is open to all triathletes all over the Philippines, will be an irregular distance triathlon with participants having to conquer a 1.6-kilometer swim in the same area as the swim out of the Ironman 70.3 this August, a 50-kilometer bike route and a 10-kilometer run, all within the city of Lapu-Lapu.

Categories are Elite/Open, Age-Group (male and female division), Relay and the Team Challenge.

Participants for the Team Challenge can either register individually or as a team of 6 members but with only 4 team members’ time to count—particularly 3 male and one female. None of them should also be an elite.

Steffan Maniquis of Cornerstone said that they are flexible about the team challenge registration rate of P20,000 for 6 members. They can either opt to race under the Team Challenge category or race individually.

If they decide to register individually, there will be no extra fee should they decide to also be listed for the Team Challenge.

Quinito Moras, also of Cornerstone, added that they are targeting the corporates or businesses for this event because the more funds the event brings in, the more kids will get operated on.

Moras added that joining the event could also be a good vehicle for a business’ corporate social responsibility.

“They will not just be racing for themselves but they will be racing for these kids,” Moras said.

Registration fees for other categories are as follows—P4,000 for the individual participant and P8,000 for the relay teams.

Organizers are targeting about 300 participants with 15 relay teams. A top 3 overall male and female winner will be declared, as well as top 3 in the age-group categories, relay and team challenge.

The Cebu Rotary Club will award the Elite category top 3 with P10,000, P7,000 and P3,000, respectively.

For the age-group categories, top 3 winners will get trophies and medals.

Gift of Life Program

The Cebu Rotary Club started their Gift of Life program, currently headed by Edward Tan Ting, about 10 years ago and have so far helped some 40 indigent children undergo surgical treatment. Most of them suffer from the congenital heart defect Tetralogy of Fallot.

According to Hannah Amora of Let it Echo, the Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common complex CHD. It involves 4 abnormalities occurring together, including a defective septum between the ventricles and narrowing of the pulmonary artery, and accompanied by cyanosis. Kids having these condition often have a blue pallor.

Let it Echo is a support group for families of children with CHD and which refers a lot of children to the Gift of Life program.

Amora, whose child has also undergone surgery for Tetralogy of Fallot, said that there are still many more indigent children suffering from CHD and who are waiting to be operated on.

According to Tan Ting, between 1,700 to 3,500 kids suffer from CHD every year so there are still a lot of children from decades ago who needs surgery.

Amora said they are very grateful to the Gift of Life program because there are not many foundations which helps children with CHD undergo heart surgeries.

Tan Ting said that they are also planning to equip the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center so complex heart surgeries on children could be done here in Cebu and they will not have to go to as far as the U.S. or Manila which is the case of their past beneficiaries.

Sia said that they are hoping to make this event an annual one so they could help more children. He added that being able to help one is already quite an accomplishment and that they are using it as a motivation to help more.

According to Sia, they are using the sport of triathlon as a vehicle because they see a synergy between the kids suffering from CHD and those training for a triathlon. Everything is hard and dangerous for both.

Payoneer to hold biz forum for SMEs and BPO in Cebu

(PR)

SOME 300 small and medium entrepreneurs (SME) and business processing outsourcing (BPO) professionals in Cebu are expected to convene at the Payoneer Forum in Cebu on May 27.

Payoneer Forum Cebu will bring together freelance professionals, online sellers, tech entrepreneurs and SME operators who want to go global. The forum will cover topics such as global opportunities for going online. It will also discuss cross- border payments to help them power their businesses internationally.

Speakers at the event include performance 360 Solutions founder and CEO Michael Cubos, Purple Click Philippines CEO and president Piccina Alvarez, Kinder Fluff CEO Yasi Herbich, freelancer Jason Dulay, and Payoneer Philippines country manager Miguel Warren.

“The Philippines is one of the top five online outsourcing countries globally,” said Warren. “We see many opportunities to work with cross-border service providers, freelancers and start-up entrepreneurs, and to help them grow their business internationally.”

Cebu’s Information Technology-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry saw 15 to 18 percent expansion in 2016.

Cebu, with a large population and a growing BPO sector that pays well, is considered a haven for SMEs. Cebu has already close to 3,000 SMEs and total employment of about 180,000 workers.

“Small BPOs and SEO agencies in the Philippines have long used other options to receive funds from international clients. Payoneer can help them receive more pesos through lower fees and higher foreign exchange rates, whilst offering additional ways to receive cross-border payments,” said Warren.

More to Bantayan than its beaches, CCCI believes

(KOC)

PLANS to make Bantayan Island more than a destination known for its white-sand beaches will be among the highlights during the Cebu Business Month’s Tourism Congress next month.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Executive Director May Elizabeth Ybañez said that the chamber has initiated discussions among Bantayan’s tourism stakeholders to develop the island’s other potential tourism attractions.

The CCCI has a chapter that covers the island’s three towns of Bantayan, Sta. Fe, and Madridejos. Bantayan Island, Ybañez pointed out, has other equally interesting tourism jewels just waiting to be discovered.

For instance, the island can also be developed as a pilgrimage and heritage destination.

“There are other refreshing sites to offer to tourists in Bantayan,” said Ybañez.

The CCCI executive director vowed that the tourism committee of the chamber would continually look into the tourism potentials of other towns in the province. She noted that the industry shouldn’t stop developing more tourism products so tourists would continue to keep coming back to Cebu.

“We want tourists to keep coming back and we want them to spend more time here,” she also said.

The Tourism Congress will also discuss key concerns such as safety and security. At least 579, 178 tourists arrived in the country in February 2017, about 5.4 percent higher than the arrivals in February 2016, the tourism department has reported, citing the latest available figures.

Cebu served as the port of entry for 111,314 or nearly 20 percent of all tourist arrivals in February this year. Most of the arrivals, at 63 percent, were recorded in Manila.

Travel advisories issued last April that mentioned Bohol and Cebu have affected the tourism business in Bohol, although the continued surge in domestic tourism in Bohol has offset losses from foreign markets.

Last May 11, the British Embassy in Manila mentioned southern Cebu in another advisory. It urged its nationals to avoid traveling to southern Cebu, particularly the towns of Badian and Dalaguete, due to alleged threats of kidnapping by terrorists.

Cebu Provincial Board supports, recognizes CPPO project

(JOB)

THE Cebu Provincial Board (PB) commended the Random Acts of Kindness (Raks) project of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).

In an approved resolution, the PB expressed their support for the project and said that it “should be emulated and duplicated in the different offices and instrumentalities of the government.”

Raks encourages police officers to do good deeds every day, which will then be recorded by the police in their notebooks.

Their good deeds are reviewed by their chiefs of police during CPPO’s flag-raising ceremony every Monday.

PSE approves homegrown developers’ Php3.8-B IPO

(PR/PNA)

MANILA -- Cebu Landmasters Inc., Metro Cebu's leading housing developer, got the Philippine Stock Exchange’s (PSE) nod for its Php3.8-billion initial public offering.

Cebu Landmasters plans to sell 505 million shares for up to Php6.56 per common share, with an over-allotment option of another 75 million secondary shares to raise funds for its Visayas-Mindanao expansion.

The float will be up to 33.84 percent of the company's total outstanding shares after the IPO, with a market capitalization of up to Php 11.25 billion.

BDO Capital & Investment Corp. is the issue manager. BDO Capital and BPI Capital Corp are the joint lead underwriters and joint bookrunners.

Cebu Landmasters, founded in 2003 by real estate veteran Jose Soberano III, its president and chief executive officer, is a Cebu-based developer that is aggressively expanding to the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

Cebu Landmasters is an expert in horizontal and vertical residential projects, mixed-use and office developments and covers a wide segment of the property market.

With over 28 projects in its portfolio, it has now become the number one local housing developer in Metro Cebu with an 11 percent market share, next to Ayala Land who has 17 percent, according to CBRE Philippines (now Frank Santos Knight).

It has 13 projects under different stages of development and construction and six more projects being planned for development in the near future.

Japanese firm invests in recycling plant

By Jeandie O. Galolo

AIMING to address the problem on plastic wastes in Cebu and transform these into useful byproducts, a Yokohama-based Japanese firm has invested P220 million for a waste plastic recycling facility in the town of Consolacion—said to be the first in Cebu.

GUUUN Corp., formerly Mansei Recycle Systems (MRS) in Japan, formally inaugurated yesterday a 2,400-square-meter recycling plant in Sitio Sun-ok in Barangay Tayud.

Using Japanese technology, plastic wastes are converted into “fluff fuel,” or shredded waste plastics, which can be used as as replacement for coal that is now being used by cement and steel companies in Japan. Shigeo Kohno, GUUUN Philippines general manager, said fluff fuel is more environment-friendly than coal. In addition, the process of recycling plastics in itself is a pressing need nowadays.

For Cebu City alone, Kohno said, a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted in 2012, showed that 870,000 of its population generated 500 tons of garbage per day. Of this, 11 percent, or approximately 55 tons of plastics are thrown daily.

“Sadly, these plastics are just thrown in the landfill and plastics do not decompose easily,” Kohno said.

The Japanese firm was supposed to build the plant in Cebu City, but the official said they could not find a place. Yokohama City and Cebu City, represented by then-mayor Michael Rama, were in talks on this since 2012. Rama also visited the Guuun headquarters in Japan on March of the same year.

The Consolacion plant can recycle up to four tons of garbage per hour, or about 80 tons per day, with 18 local employees on board. As demand for fluff fuel increases over time, the company plans to add around 15 to 20 people.

At present, GUUUN Philippines has tapped Apo Cement Corp. based in the City of Naga to supply the cement company with fluff fuel. Kohno, however, said there is no agreement yet as to the amount of fluff fuel his company will supply to Apo Cement.

In addition, the Japanese firm is also hoping that Holcim will join the initiative of using fluff fuel to process cement.

GUUUN Philippines sources plastic wastes from industrial companies or factories directly, or through local hauling companies .

“In the near future, we will get the waste plastics from household when segregation of waste plastics at home is practically performed,” said Kohno.

The company obtained a portion of its investment for the Consolacion plant from Japan’s government, Ministry of the Environment (MoE) under the “Financing Programme to Demonstrate Advanced Low-Carbon Technology Innovation for Further Deployment in Developing Countries” project budgeted under the Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM) scheme based on bilateral agreement with Japan and a host country.

The Japanese firm has entered into a lease agreement for a 6,600-square-meter private property for 15 years in Consolacion where it currently operates.

Capitol workers to get midyear bonus next week

By Le Phyllis F. Antojado (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - At least 1,500 officials and employees of the Cebu provincial government will get their midyear bonus, equivalent to their one month pay, next week, according to a Capitol official.

Danilo Rodas, the provincial budget officer, said all employees who rendered four months of service, whether continuous or aggregate and ending last May 15, are entitled to a full midyear bonus.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Budget Circular No. 2017-2 issued on May 8 states that the midyear bonus would be given to personnel not earlier than May 15.

Rodas said the documents are now being processed by the accounting department to release the bonus on time.

He said the Capitol has allotted P30 million for this year’s midyear bonus.

The grant of a midyear bonus or “14th-month pay,” equivalent to one month basic salary, is mandated by Executive Order (EO) No. 201 that President Aquino signed last year.

EO 201 raised the salaries of civilian personnel and granted military and uniformed personnel new and increased allowances.

DOH 7, partners launch 3-day summer camp for children with diabetes

By Kate F. Parilla (CNU Intern)

TO help curb juvenile diabetes, the Department of Health (DOH) 7, together with Insulin for Life Australia and Global and Sweet Alert Society Inc., yesterday launched a three-day summer camp for children with type 1 diabetes.

Dr. Ruben Siapno, DOH 7 assistant regional director, said the activity will help children with diabetes interact with others and to better understand themselves.

“This one is like a support group where they (diabetic children) get to build their confidence because they are with people who are also like them, so they can relate better. And this makes them feel important,” said Siapno.

The Juvenile Diabetes Summer Camp will last until Friday, May 12, with 15 participants from Central Visayas. The youngest participant is nine-year-old.

The summer camp includes lectures on how to check blood sugar and inject insulin, and other activities like aquatic exercises and a fellowship.

“It is important for these kids to know that there is hope even with diabetes. It is important for them to know that they are loved and cared for,” said Armi Garcia, Russian Federation honorary consul and head of Sweet Alert Society.

Dr. Marian K. Dinopol, head of Diabetes Clinic at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), said that the trend of juvenile diabetes in the region is increasing.

The DOH 7 has been allocating an annual budget for the camp. This year, the agency allotted P150,000 for the summer activity.

Type 1 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes mellitus in people under 20 years old, and it is rather hereditary than caused by lifestyle.

Three-year investment plan for Cebu pushed

By Victor Anthony V. Silva
CIPO ACTS TO SUSTAIN ECONOMIC GROWTH

As Cebu province anticipates greater economic opportunities amid interest from investors, the Cebu Investment Promotions Office (CIPO) is set to come up with a plan to support this growth.

Roy Soledad, the Cebu provincial government’s investment czar, said his priority at present is to craft a medium-term strategic plan for investment promotions.

“This will be important so the office will be guided no matter who sits as its head. Since the CIPO was established, all we had was an annual plan. But we need at least three years, to be broken down into annual plans,” Soledad told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview.

Soledad was referring to having annual plans for the next three years instead of having only an annual plan for the year.

Soledad said they were targeting to complete the three-year plan by June this year so it could be approved by the Cebu Provincial Board and Gov. Hilario Davide III.

CIPO

Established in October 2014 through the Provincial Ordinance 2014-08, CIPO is mandated to “attract, promote and encourage domestic and foreign investments in the Province of Cebu, as well as develop a business environment that keeps and sustains said investments.”

Soledad took over the reins of the office on February 1 this year, filling in the position left by Benjamin Joseph Yap.

On his first month, Soledad said he had to learn about existing plans as well as some of the work left behind by his predecessor.

Status quo, review

The investment chief is bent on sticking to the status quo in terms of the office’s activities, but he is also considering to improve existing programs, among which is the creation of a three-year plan.

To match the strategic plan, he said he also called for a review on the office’s organizational structure and proposed to add more staff to his department.

Soledad said he was hoping to have four units under his office which would each focus on investment promotion, marketing and advertising, research and project management, as well as administration.

Investors’ inquiries

“We have been receiving inquiries from many potential investors, so that is what we seek to improve. Hopefully, that will materialize within the year,” he said.

One investor asked where to put up a manufacturing plant for steel bars while other foreign investors were interested in the proposed trans-axial highway, a road which seeks to link the northern and southern parts of the province, said Soledad.

He also said that some were also asking about the inter-island bridges that would connect Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Island.

Economic zones

Soledad said the CIPO is also busy finalizing the physical framework plan for proposed economic zones in Cebu, in partnership with the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO).

“We are currently working on the complete profile of the proposed ecozones in the province. That way, when prospective investors ask us where they can set up their business, we have information to give them right away,” he added.

The PPDO has identified 17 potential ecozones across the province, based on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of each of the local governments hosting these sites. (See table)

LEIPO

Lastly, the CIPO, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Board of Investments (BoI), is conducting trainings to build the capacity of local economic incentives and promotion officers (LEIPO).

Soledad said his office already wrapped up trainings for town in central and northern Cebu while seminars in local governments in southern Cebu are expected to be finished this month.

The value of BoI-registered projects in Cebu was pegged at P720.58 million in the first quarter of 2017 from P7.65 billion during the same period in 2016.

Projects logged with BoI as of March this year include two mass housing projects by 77 Living Spaces, Inc. (Malibu by Aldea Premier in Talisay City) and Kenrich Development Corp. (Villa Melissa in Liloan) as well as three small-scale solar power projects by Solar Pacific Citysun Corporation in Cebu City and Consolacion town.

All five projects were seen to generate 234 jobs, still lower than the 498 jobs generated from six projects in the first quarter of 2016.

DPWH 7: P420M allocated for Metro Cebu flood control projects

(JKV)

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 is set to implement P3.7 billion worth of infrastructure projects that aim to reduce flooding in some areas in Central Visayas.

Of the P3.7 billion, P420 million is being allocated for flood control projects in Metro Cebu.

This, as a local water expert urged local government units to implement measures to prevent urban flooding in Metro Cebu.

During the Water Challenge Forum earlier last Thursday, Engr. Emman Rey Quimson of DPWH 7’s Planning and Design Division said that of the total P16.3 billion allocated for infrastructure projects in Central Visayas this year, around P3.7 billion is for flood management services.

Of the amount, around P420 million worth of flood control projects are ongoing construction, particularly in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.

These include flood control and drainage improvements in the Bulacao, Kinalumsan, Guadalupe and Subangdaku River Basins in Cebu City and Mandaue City.

The flood control and drainage improvement projects worth P420 million are a continuation of the projects being implemented by DPWH 7 in the five river basins last year.

Last year, the national government allocated P720 million for the rehabilitation of the flood control and drainage improvement projects for the five river basins in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.

In the same forum, Dr. Fe Walag of the University of San Carlos (USC) urged LGUs to implement measures against improper garbage disposal, clogged-up esteros and the presence of informal settlers in waterways due to their contributions to the increasing flooding problem in Metro Cebu.

Walag, executive director of USC’s Water Resources Center Foundation Inc. (USC-WRCFI), said that natural waterways in Metro Cebu are getting clogged up because of houses being built there, particularly those owned by illegal settlers.

She lamented that some private and public establishments are neglecting natural waterways in favor of building infrastructure. Walag also lamented the lack of river maintenance and drainage conveyance that could help address these problems.

She called upon LGUs and the National Government to come up with a drainage code that can be followed by private and public establishment owners.

The Water Challenge Forum, held at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Cebu City, was organized by the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP).

Coca-Cola STAR program gathers 1,000 women entrepreneurs in Cebu

(PR/PNA)

MANILA -- The economic empowerment program of Coca-Cola Philippines for women micro-entrepreneurs is one of the most responsive and inclusive advocacies in the Asia Pacific region.

To date, the Coca-Cola Sari-sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) Program has impacted the lives of more than 80,000 women.

“The STAR Program in the Philippines is a model program on how Coca-Cola can create a more direct and positive contribution to the development of the communities where we are present,” said John Murphy, The Coca-Cola Company Asia Pacific Group president.

The STAR Program has expanded to include women in agriculture, distressed and repatriated women overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through the Overseas Workers Welfare Association of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), beneficiaries of the government conditional cash transfer program or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region, women micro-entrepreneurs under the Kapatid Program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and GoNegosyo, and women in disaster-stricken areas.

“This year, we are doubling our efforts to bring the STAR Program to more women by partnering with various government agencies and local government units, said Gilda Maquilan, 5by20 Lead and Sustainability Manager of Coca-Cola Philippines.

During a visit to Cebu, Murphy interacted with around 1,000 women micro-entrepreneurs — some of whom are STAR scholars while others are members of the Philippine Association of Store and Carinderia Owners (PASCO). The event enjoined the women in a day of learning, entertainment, and prizes.

Coca-Cola Philippines launched the STAR Program in 2011, in line with the 5by20 global initiative of The Coca-Cola Company to economically empower 5 million women within its value chain by 2020.

The Coca-Cola 5by20 STAR Program was implemented in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The STAR Program is designed for women micro-entrepreneurs who own and manage sari-sari stores or carinderias. It hopes to address the barriers these women face by helping them achieve business success. The STAR Program has three components: access to training, access to resources, and access to peer mentoring.

To date, the STAR Program has 390 accredited facilitators teaching and training women retailers to become better entrepreneurs. The Program is being implemented in over 47 locations nationwide and has reached more than 80,000 women.

Aside from TESDA, partners also include Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Alay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. (ASKI), First Community Cooperative (FICCO), Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, Inc. (NWTF), ASA Philippines, and National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO).

Coca-Cola, with its 19 manufacturing facilities in the Philippines, and over 10,000-strong labor force, is proactive in promoting women empowerment through 5by20.

USD 341-M integated resort-casino to rise in Cebu

(PR/PNA)

MANILA -- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) granted Udenna Development Corp. (UDC) – a group of companies engaged in petroleum, shipping, logistic and real estate – the provisional license to construct a USD341-million integrated resort and casino in Cebu.

The UDC, which is owned by businessman Dennis Uy, will build the first-ever integrated resort-casino outside Luzon. The 12.5-hectare world-class attraction will be named Lapu-Lapu Leisure Mactan as it will rise on a prime beachfront at Mactan Island in Lapu-Lapu City.

Once constructed, the resort-casino is set to make the Philippines at par with other premier regional destinations designed for leisure, gaming, MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) and other commercial and residential investments.

“We are grateful for the confidence and opportunity given to us by PAGCOR. This approval is accepted with our commitment to the integrity and transparency demanded by the Duterte administration, our regulators, and the broader gaming industry. This significant event is only the beginning of our vision of a globally competitive leisure, residential and commercial destination in Central Visayas,” Uy said.

Lapu-Lapu Leisure Mactan is a six-kilometer, or 20-minute drive from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, with views of Hilutungan Channel to the south and Magellan Bay to the north. The master-planned property will feature iconic modern buildings surrounded by lush greens and infinity pools.

It will also have a skydiving center on a pier, a commercial retail complex, convention center, luxury hotels, condotels, villas and plush private residences.

The development is seen to give residents and guests access to the longest stretch of beachfront in Mactan, making it an ideal business and holiday destination of locals and guests.

“We’re very bullish on the tourism and hospitality prospects in the Philippines. As shown by the leadership of the President, it’s high time that we invest in tourism and gaming,” Uy noted.

He added that with the huge demand for manpower to be generated by the project, employment opportunities will be aplenty for the locals. “We’ll open at least 800 jobs and we’ll do it in two phases,” he stated.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo said that the grant of provisional license for the project will not only boost Mactan’s reputation as a prime tourist destination but will also serve as a key economic growth driver in Central Visayas and a major revenue contributor for the government.

“With its huge potential to become a world-class tourist and entertainment destination, this project will greatly benefit not only Central Visayas but the country as a whole,” Domingo said.

Lapu-Lapu Leisure Mactan is slated to begin operations in 2019 with target completion in 2022.

Central Visayas grows 8.8%

By Jeandie O. Galolo

CENTRAL Visayas’ economy is back on track towards higher growth, with its economy expanding by 8.8 percent that amounted to P525 billion in 2016, after growing by only 4.9 percent the year before.

In a news conference yesterday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 7 revealed the industry sector as posting the highest growth of 14.6 percent among the three major sectors. The services sector grew 5.9 percent but agriculture retracted 0.6 percent.

“This performance continued to place the Central Visayas economy as among the top performing regions in the country, this time placing us as the fourth fastest after Region 8 (Eastern Visayas with 12.4 percent), Region 3 (Central Luzon with 9.5 percent), and Region 11 (Davao Region with 9.4 percent),” said Efren Carreon, director of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) 7.

Central Visayas also surpassed the growth target for 2016, which was at 8.6 percent. Election spending last year also contributed to a higher GRDP, said Carreon.

“With the 8.8 percent growth rate, the seven-year moving average GRDP growth rate stands at 8.2 percent, still the highest ever recorded. This is even higher than the national seven-year moving average GDP growth rate of 6.3 percent,” he continued.

Carreon expressed delight over Eastern Visayas’ performance, which bested all the regions in the country. He said this signals more developments have arrived in the Yolanda-hit region.

Service-oriented

For Central Visayas, the PSA results, which came out two and half months ahead of the regular July schedule, showed that the region remained a service-oriented economy, with the services sector accounting for the largest share of the region’s economic output at 55.5 percent in 2016, lower than the 57 percent share recorded in the previous year.

Industry followed at 39.1 percent leaving behind agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing (AHFF) with 5.4 percent share.

Carreon said Central Visayas is also the fourth largest economy in the country, after National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon. Central Visayas contributed 6.4 percent to the country’s GDP in 2016.

As a breakdown for the industry sector, PSA 7 Director Ronaldo Taghap said Central Visayas’ industry group posted a 14.6 percent growth in 2016, much faster compared to the 0.02 percent decline recorded the previous year. One of its subsectors, construction, rebounded by 40.4 percent in 2016.

Meawhile, manufacturing and electricity, gas, and water supply (EGWS) grew by 5.9 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively. However, mining and quarrying declined by one percent from the growth of three percent in the previous year.

Subsectors

On the other hand, services declined to 5.9 percent in 2016, which was lower than the 8.7 percent growth last year. The PSA said the decelaration was due to the slowing down of transporation, storage and communication (TSC), with 5.1 percent in 2016 compared to the 10.9 percent in 2015; trade and repair with 4.6 percent; financial intermediation with 3.8 percent, and “other services” with 8.1 percent.

Also under services, public administration and defense accelerated to 7.9 percent, higher than the 1.4 percent growth the subsector registered in 2015. Real estate, renting, and business activities maintained its steady pace at 7.1 percent in 2016.

Agriculture declined from the 2.3 percent growth it registered the other year. Taghap said this reversal was due to the turnaround of agriculture and forestry, which pulled down the growth by 1.4 percent. In contrast, fishing recovered in 2016, as it grew by 4.4 percent from a decline of 0.7 percent in 2015.

PHP50-B Metro Cebu Expressway to start next year

(EB/PNA)

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will start the construction of the PHP50-billion Metro Cebu Expressway next year, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said Wednesday.

Villar said the 74-kilometer expressway would link Danao City in the north to Carcar City in the south.

The expressway will reduce travel time from Danao City to Carcar City to only one hour, Villar said.

The whole length of the island of Cebu, from Daanbantayan town in the north to Santander town in the south, is linked by the existing national highway.

The national highway consists of only two lanes, but some portions from Danao to Carcar have been widened to four lanes.

Heavy traffic have also been reported on some congested portions of the national highway such as on Consolacion town and Mandaue City in the north and in the cities of Talisay and Carcar and the town of Minglanilla in the south.

Villar said the Metro Cebu Expressway would be the biggest ever infrastructure project in the history of Cebu.

He said the project would be implemented in three phases and expected to be completed in 2022.

More jobs await IT graduates

(PR)

JOB openings for young professionals, especially graduates of information technology (IT)-related courses, are up on account of the law that requires government agencies and private firms to employ data protection officers (DPOs) and compliance officers for privacy (COPs), House deputy majority leader and Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. said Monday.

“Establishments that control or process the personal information of individuals living within and outside the country now have the legal obligation to engage the services of DPOs, and if the entities have branches or multiple offices, they may also have to hire extra COPs,” Gullas said.

He said DPOs and COPs are now as indispensable as an accountant or a finance officer in every organization that handles the personal records of individuals.

“We are now well into the digital age. It is very easy to store and transfer large amounts of personal data through computers and the Internet, and even by means of small electronic devices such as USB flash drives. Without adequate controls, the risk is great that whole systems of personal information may be stolen, lost and misused,” Gullas said.

The lawmaker cited the case of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which lost the personal files of voters in one of the largest information system security breaches in government.

Congress passed the Data Privacy Act, which aligns the country’s personal data protection policies with global standards, in 2012.

However, enforcement of the law was delayed extensively because Malacañang constituted the three-member National Privacy Commission (NPC) – the implementing authority – only on Mar. 7, 2016.

The law’s implementing rules and regulations took effect only on Sept. 9, 2016, and the NPC finally issued on Mar. 14, 2017 Advisory No. 2017-01, which sets the guidelines for the designation of DPOs and COPs.

According to the NPC advisory, every DPO should have expertise in relevant privacy or data protection policies and practices, and sufficient understanding of the processing operations being carried out by the agency or firm, including the latter’s information systems and data security needs.

Knowledge by the DPO of the section or field of the agency or firm, and the latter’s internal structure, policies and processes is also useful, the NPC advisory said.

In the private sector, Gullas said all firms that manage the personal data of consumers or customers are duty-bound to employ DPOs and COPs.

These include banks, credit card issuers, insurers, pre-need providers, health maintenance organizations, water and electric utilities, telecommunications, cable and satellite TV firms, schools, hospitals, and the like.

Business process outsourcing (BPO) firms that usually deal with the personal data of the customers of their foreign clients are likewise covered.

Holy Land relics on display at SM

(SunStar Cebu)

SACRED relics from the Holy Land are on display at SM City Consolacion starting today, May 1, until May 14.

Last month, the exhibit was held in SM City Cebu.

The Tour of Holy Land Relics is an exhibit of the sacred relics of the Jesus Christ, biblical saints, and stones from the holy sites.

This tour of the relics provided an experience to all those who wish to experience the Holy Land in a unique way. In the exhibit, visitors will discover Israel, along with its Christian history, by exploring the relics related to the life and death of Jesus Christ.

In religion, a relic usually consists of the physical remains of a saint or the personal effects of the saint or venerated person preserved for purposes of veneration as a tangible memorial.

Relics are an important aspect of some forms of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Shamanism, and many other religions.

Relics are classified as first class–a part of the person’s body, such as blood, hair, or bones; second class–an article touched by the person or touched directly to part of his or her body; and third class–something touched indirectly to the person, that is, to a first or second class relic, to the tomb, etc.

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