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Cebu Province News October 2015

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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.

412 govt facilities in Bohol, Cebu rehabilitated under BEA-DILG project

By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan [(PNA), RMA/CLTC]

MANILA, Oct. 31 (PNA) -- Two years after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the country, a total of 412 key government facilities have already been rehabilitated and completed in the provinces of Bohol and Cebu under the Bohol Earthquake Assistance Project of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (BEA-DILG).

The BEA-DILG Project, one of the components of the Post Great Bohol Earthquake Rehabilitation Plan prepared and approved by the Bohol provincial government, has an initial funding of Php 2.413 billion for the reconstruction/repair/rehabilitation of LGU-owned and managed facilities with due consideration on Build Back Better (BBB) design for disaster resilient public infrastructure.

DILG Secretary Mel Senen S. Sarmiento said that of the 412 completed projects, 404 were in Bohol while eight were in Cebu. These include 339 barangay halls, day care centers, barangay health stations; 23 civic centers; 19 public markets; 18 city/municipal halls; and 13 waterworks projects.

“Masaya tayo na mahigit 400 municipal at barangay LGU facilities na ang napatayong muli at naipasaayos sa pamamagitan ng BEA Project. Dahil dito, binabati natin ang mga LGUs na nakatapos na sa lahat ng BEA projects sa kani-kanilang mga munisipyo,” said Sarmiento.

In the province of Bohol, eight of the 43 LGUs had completed the rehabilitation efforts of all subprojects in their respective municipalities. These are the Municipality of Talibon with 49 subprojects; Valencia with 22 subprojects; Alburquerque with nine subprojects; Sierra Bullones with seven subprojects; Guindulman with six subprojects; Duero with four subprojects; and Dauis and with one subproject each.

Meanwhile, four LGUs in Cebu completed their rehabilitation initiatives which include the Municipality of Alegria with two subprojects; and the LGUs of Carcar City, Moalboal, and Samboan with one subproject each.

The BEA Project covers 1,079 subprojects in 53 cities and municipalities in Bohol and Cebu, two of the provinces which were severely affected by the earthquake. Of the 1,079 subprojects, 412 have been completed, 267 are on-going, 274 are on procurement, 85 have approved technical documents ready for procurement; and 41 are on preparation of initial documents.

“Nakikiusap tayo sa mga LGUs na may mga natitira pang proyekto na hindi pa tapos, bilisan pa natin ng konti para matapos na ang lahat ng mga proyekto at tuluyan nang maibalik sa normal ang ating pagbibigay ng serbisyo publiko sa mga mamamayan,” said Sarmiento.

It is expected that the rehabilitation of all covered LGUs and subprojects in Bohol and Cebu will be completed by the third quarter of 2016.

DENR 7 issues 11,222 land titles in Central Visayas

(PNA), CTB/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY, Oct. 30 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 has issued a total of 11, 222 land titles as of October 23 in Central Visayas, an official said.

DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said of the total number of land titles issued, 9, 408 titles were mainly agricultural lands handed in to farmer owners in four provinces in the region while the other 1, 814 titles were all residential free patents.

Cebu received 1,583 agricultural patents and 358 residential patents; Bohol with 7,174 and 985; Negros Oriental with 360 and 400; and Siquijor with 291 agricultural land titles and 71 residential patents.

Montejo said their accomplishment reached 94 percent against the target of issuing 10,000 agricultural land titles and 70 percent for issuing residential titles against a target of 2,580 2015.

“The patent issuance and distribution is a priority program that the DENR has been putting its energy and resources on aside from the other equally important one like the national greening program (NGP),” Montejo said.

Montejo said he has directed the provincial and community environment and natural resources officers in the four provinces to observe strictly the required time frame in accepting, processing and releasing of the said documents.

“Applications should be acted very promptly in accordance with the existing policies and should not be kept in a drawer and applications with incomplete requirements should be returned immediately with appropriate notifications for the applicant to comply with,” Montejo said.

Montejo also reiterated his call to the public to transact only with authorized personnel .

He said the public should report immediately any abuses or illegal transactions committed by DENR 7 personnel particularly on land titling fixing like soliciting a certain amount outside of the required or legal fees.

DENR 7 exceeds 2015 National Greening Program target

(PNA), LAP/EB/PR/EDS

CEBU CITY, Oct. 29 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 7 has again exceeded its National Greening Program (NGP) plantation target in Central Visayas by three percent for 2015.

DENR-7 Regional Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said the report released by the Conservation and Development Division (CDD) said the DENR 7 has a 103 percent accomplishment in NGP as of October 23.

Montejo said the DENR 7 has established around 15,661.20 hectares of new NGP plantations in the region this year.

He said the DENR takes pride in exceeding its targets on NGP each year starting from 2011 up to 2015 despite the threats brought about by the El Nino phenomenon.

NGP is one of the flagship programs of the Aquino Administration targeted at greening some 1.5 million hectares of degraded forest lands in the country.

Montejo said the completion of the NGP in 2016 will mark another milestone in the continued reforestation efforts in Central Visayas.

In a four-year period, DENR 7 was able to establish a total of 80,703 hectares of NGP plantations in all four provinces in region against its target of 77, 479 hectares for six years.

"With the concerted efforts of the DENR, government agencies, non-government organizations and other private partners, we were able to deliver or in fact exceed our targets," Montejo said.

For 2015, Cebu province has reforested around 4,612 hectares; Bohol with 3,319 hectares; Negros Oriental with 7, 545.20 hectares and Siquijor province with 185 hectares of newly established plantations.

Farm-to-market road bidding starts November

By Oscar C. Pineda

BIDDING of the 141.8-million farm-to-market roads and P1-million small livelihood project funded by World Bank soft loan is set this November, starting in the first week.

Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) project officer Estella Rodriguez said these are the 5.8-km. road from Barangay Anonang, Bogo City to Lambusan in San Remigio; 6-km. road from Barangays Dapdap to Batad, all in San Remigio; 2.7-km. stretch from Barangays Kinawahan to Canagahan, both in San Remigio.

The Anonang-Lambusan road is worth 57.5 million; Dapdap-Batad is P56.3 million and the Kinawahan-Canagahan road is 27.97 million.

The small livelihood project is the cassava production and marketing of the San Francisco Farmers Association in Camotes.

Buyer

Rodriguez said that one of their cassava byproducts already has a buyer, who will use it for animal feeds, and added that the demand is “as much as they can produce.”

She said the cassava project, which was approved by the regional project advisory board (RPAB), already got a no-objection-letter 1 (NOL) from the national project coordinating office, which is needed for the project proceed to public bidding, while its application is being processed for a NOL 2. Once approved with NOL 2, notice to proceed will be issued for the winning bidder to start.

All three roads are almost done in getting NOL 2.

Rodriguez also announced an incoming project, native chicken production in San Remigio.

She said the project proposal is for submission to RPAB for approval.

These projects, at no cost to the local government units, is part of the World Bank’s P27.48-billon soft loan to PRDP. The loan package will be paid by the national government with a 10 percent counterpart fund shouldered by Capitol. The fund is already included in the 2015 annual investment plan, Rodriguez said.

Duration

PRDP is a six-year project (2014-2020) designed to establish a market-oriented agri-fishery sector through priority investments.

Rodriguez said the project will partner with the LGU and private sectors in providing infrastructure, facilities, technologies and information that will improve income, productivity and competitiveness in the countryside.

Central Visayas execs ready safe travel with ‘Oplan Ligtas Biyahe: Undas 2015’

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Oct. 27 (PNA) -- Central Visayas officials ready to implement “Oplan Ligtas Biyahe: Undas 2015” to ensure the public of safe land and sea travel during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Among the agencies involved in the safety of travelers during the holidays are the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Cebu Port Authority (CPA).

Commodore Enrico Evangelista, PCG 7 chief, said all CG units in the region were placed on heightened alert starting Monday in anticipation of the influx of passengers during the weekend.

“Passenger Assistance Centers are activated at CG Stations, sub-stations and ports where increase in the number of passengers is expected,” he said.

He said CG floating assets and rescue personnel are on standby to respond to any emergency.

Evangelista also warned vessel owners and operators against accommodating excess passengers and reminded sea travelers to patronize only legitimate vessels.

LTO 7 Director Arnel Tancinco said they’re coordinating with the Cebu provincial government, which owns the Cebu South Bus Terminal; the Cebu City Police Office; and the LTFRB 7 for the conduct of road safety and road worthiness inspections from Oct. 26 to Oct. 30.

Tancinco said all LTO district and extension offices have been instructed to coordinate with their respective provincial police offices to conduct similar inspections.

Tancinco said all enforcers and deputized agents are directed to provide assistance to all passengers while insuring road safety to all public transport from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3.

LTFRB 7 Director Rey Elnar said they will inspect all terminals in Cebu City on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31.

He said they will also check the documents of public utility vehicles inside terminals to prevent colorums from operating.

CPA Police Chief Glenn Sarador said they’ve deployed personnel in every Port Management Office and three port police officers at the CPA Operations Center, which is open 24 hours.

From Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, the CPA will deploy 44 additional security personnel at the passenger terminals in the Cebu port.

Dust particles in Cebu’s air now beyond safe limits as ‘smaze’ hovers-EMB 7

(PNA), FPV/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Oct. 26 (PNA) -- The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 has said dust particles in Cebu’s air has gone beyond safe limits as “smaze,” a combination of smoke and haze, continues to hover over the central Philippine province.

The smaze has affected parts of Mindanao and the Visayas, including Metro Cebu.

William Cuñado, EMB 7 director, said the amount of small dust particles or particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers in diameter in Cebu’s air reached 85.70 micrograms per cubic meter in a test on Sunday.

The limit is 75 micrograms per cubic meter, according to the National Ambient Air Quality Guideline Values of the Philippine Clean Air Act.

Cuñado said the agency has sent letters to the region’s governors along with the latest ambient air quality monitoring data.

He said the data will guide the governors and mayors and give them a basis to procure N95 masks and protective goggles for constituents, especially those suffering from asthma and other respiratory ailments.

He said the N95 mask is available in pharmacies while the protective goggles can be acquired in hardware stores.

Cunado said those who cannot afford to buy N95 mask may use a wet handkerchief or towel.

He also advised exercise buffs to avoid jogging or exercising outdoors as the smaze persists.

Celebrating Calungsod

By Flornisa M. Gitgano

DEVOTEES in the town of Ginatilan are hoping to pay back for the miracles they believed were granted with the intercession of San Pedro Calungsod, who became the second Filipino saint three years ago.

Plans to construct a San Pedro Calungsod Shrine were discussed last Oct. 21, when the town celebrated the third anniversary of the canonization.

Officials believe that the youth’s greater involvement in religious activities is a lingering effect of having a teenager—someone they believe came from the same town—recognized as a saint.

The celebration has become a yearly activity in the town since Calungsod was canonized in 2012.

A fluvial procession was held early last Wednesday morning from Barangay Palanas to Poblacion. A mass followed in St. Gregory the Great Parish.

Fr. Gerardo dela Victoria, the parish priest, said the fluvial procession was meant to remind people of Calungsod’s decision to travel from Ginatilan to Guam.

A teen, a martyr

Calungsod was a teenager when he went to Guam together with some Spanish Jesuit missionaries to convert the Chamorros people in 1668. He was believed to have been only 13.

Calungsod and the Spanish priest he assisted, Diego Luis de San Vitores, were believed to have died in Guam on April 2, 1672. Their bodies were tossed into the sea and never seen again.

The Roman Catholic Church declared San Vitores a saint in October 1985. Calungsod followed, some 27 years after.

Fr. dela Victoria recalled they were the only town that prepared for the canonization, although there were several other towns that claimed that the teenager was one of their own.

Ginatilan Mayor Dean Michael Singco said he noticed that since Calungsod was declared a saint, the youth have drawn closer to the church.

Role model

“Role model siya sa mga batan-on. Mora’g among feeling taga diri gyud si San Pedro Calungsod (He is a role model to the youth. We feel that Calungsod was originally from our town),” Singco said.

A San Pedro Calungsod Shrine is being planned in a 1.8-hectare lot in Barangay Kagsing, which is located about seven kilometers from Poblacion.

Singco said the lot will be donated by a private owner who is currently in the United States.

The road to the site is being paved.

The mayor said they are just waiting for the owner to come back so that the necessary papers can be secured and they can start building the shrine.

Although they do not have funds yet for the construction of the shrine, Fr. dela Victoria said he believes that there will be more donations to help them.

A chapel in honor of San Pedro Calungsod is also located in Kagsing, where many Calungsod families live.

Based on records kept in the church, at least 94 Calungsod families lived in the town from 1849 to 1925.

Several people with the same last name were also recorded in the church’s baptismal, marriage and death records from 1815 to 1842.

Dela Victoria recalled that they did not expect that the canonization last Oct. 21, 2012 would inspire a big gathering in Ginatilan.

He said when they asked a chopper to throw petals during the day of the young martyr’s canonization in Poblacion, he wondered why the pilot threw the flowers into the sea. The same thing happened during a second pass.

It was only when the pilot threw confetti for the third time when the petals reached the Poblacion, where the people were gathered.

“The pilot said that there was a strong wind that kept him from reaching Poblacion when he threw the petals. Maybe, it was the saint’s will to throw the petals into the sea because when he died, he was thrown into the ocean,” Dela Victoria said.

The parish priest said that since the canonization, the elementary and high school students have actively participated during the “holy hour” every Friday.

“We encourage the youth to practice pagkakugihan, pagkamaampoon ug pagkamaisugon (to be industrious, prayerful and brave) just like San Pedro Calungsod,” he said.

Since Calungsod was canonized, Dela Victoria also noticed that several visitors from different towns and provinces have come to their town. He heard from devotees that their wishes were granted, including passing the exam or landing a good job.

Last Oct. 21, the town held its first San Pedro Calungsod Festival. It was participated in by six clusters, including Guiwanon-Looc, Sitio Guilungsuran, Proper Poblacion, San Roque and Palanas.

Singco said they decided not to choose a winner from the participating contingents because what they wanted was not to compete, but to show their devotion to San Pedro Calungsod.

APEC calls for implementation of intelligent transport systems by member economies

(PNA/APEC Communications Group), RMA/PND/RSM

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu, Oct. 24 (PNA) -- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies are encouraged to implement the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of transport infrastructures, especially recognizing the significant safety and environmental benefits that may be realized simultaneously.

The ministers responsible for transportation in the APEC region made the call in their joint statement issued at the conclusion of the 2015 APEC Transportation Ministerial Meeting held here earlier this month.

"The development of ITS is essential to the improvement of the transportation system in the APEC region," the APEC ministers declared.

The ITS are advanced applications that aim to provide innovative services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management and enable various users to be better informed and make safer, more coordinated, and "smarter" use of transport networks.

Such systems vary in technologies applied, from basic management systems such as car navigation; traffic signal control systems; container management systems; variable message signs; automatic number plate recognition or speed cameras to monitor applications, such as security CCTV systems; and to more advanced applications that integrate live data and feedback from a number of other sources.

"We encourage economies to cooperate with the relevant authorities or organizations to ensure data protection and system integration and integrity," the APEC ministers said in their joint statement. "In addition, security measures need to be put in place and actively maintained to support the use of big data in ITS applications."

Consistent with initiatives to promote inclusive, user-friendly mobility, they also recommended that economies explore how ITS can make transportation networks more accessible to persons with disabilities, older people, women, children and students, low-income populations, and other vulnerable groups.

Furthermore, the transportation ministers expressed their support for the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Implementation Team and stress the importance of the application of GNSS technologies in achieving seamless and green intermodal transportation to enhance safety, security and sustainability.

In view of this, they encourage economies to continue to promote and adopt GNSS technologies, especially those that will contribute to the improvement of supply chain connectivity as well as to the enhancement of capabilities for preparedness to natural disasters and emergency response.

The 21-member economies of APEC are also encouraged to support a task force established by the APEC Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) to explore the benefits and challenges of APEC-wide Transport Cards.

Last year, Korean President Park Geun-hye proposed the introduction of a transportation card that could be used anywhere in the member economies of APEC.

The card proposed by the South Korean leader needs a standardized system of public transport fare technology. It would allow people to use any type of public transport, railroad or expressway with one card, anywhere within APEC. This is similar to Korea’s national “One Card All Pass” system.

Park proposed the plan as a measure to enhance regional connectivity and promote the liberalization of trade and investment across APEC countries. Her proposal is reflected in the implementation report of the APEC Connectivity Blueprint.

South Cebu town health officer turns patients’ records into digital files

(PNA), CTB/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY, Oct. 23 (PNA) -- The new municipal health officer of Samboan town in southern Cebu has turned the records of patients in the town into digital files.

Dr. Ianne Jireh Ramos said she revamped the operations of its Municipal Health Office by adopting an open-source health management system called Shine OS+.

Shine stands for Secured Health Information Network and Exchange.

An initiative of wireless leader Smart Communications and the Ateneo de Manila University’s Java Wireless Competency Center (AJWCC), Shine OS+ allows digital recording of patient notes; referrals to connected clinics, doctors and medical facilities; reminders through email or text; and report compilations.

Samboan Mayor Raymond Joseph Calderon said the computerization of patients’ records will be a big help to the town and enable the local health personnel to provide them the services they need.

“We are implementing in Samboan a very important project with Smart and Ateneo. I thank Smart for all the programs it has initiated in the town,” he said.

Ramos said that when she took over as Samboan’s health officer in January 2015, patient records were written down on paper that are cut into quarters and deposited in one large box.

“The notes that concern one patient were not even stapled together.To get a background on the condition of my patients, I only rely on what they tell me about prior check-ups and prescribed medications,” said Ramos.

Smart, in partnership with Cebu-based startup InnoPub Media, earlier launched its Digital Tourism initiative in Samboan, one of the towns south of Cebu that have been benefiting from community ecotourism.

Cebu named one of best islands

By Mia A. Aznar , Katlene O. Cacho

READERS of an international travel and lifestyle magazine have named three Philippine islands, including Cebu, as among the 20 best islands in the world.

Conde Nast Traveler’s 28th Reader’s Choice Awards ranked Cebu 19th among the best islands in the world, with a score of 80.404. Palawan ranked first with a score of 85.937, the second time it was named the best island, while Boracay ranked 15th with a score of 80.856. The results were announced Tuesday.

Cebu was described as the most densely populated island in the Philippines and famous for its beaches “on the mainland, as well as around many surrounding islands.”

“Not as wild as Phuket in Thailand, Cebu City is more personal, with plenty of up and coming restaurants and shopping,” the magazine said.

It also recommended a trip to the Camotes Islands “to get a true taste of island life.”

Other islands that made the list were Bora Bora and Moorea in French Polynesia, Waiheke in New Zealand, Bermuda, Whidbey Island and Tasmania in Australia, Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Bali in Indonesia, Santorini and Mykonos in Greece, Cook Islands, British Virgin Islands, St. John in the US Virgin Islands, Maldives, Orkney Islands in Scotland and Hvar and Dalmatian Islands in Croatia.

The annual survey had 128,000 participants, the most since it was started.

Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa was also named one of 100 best hotels in the world. It ranked 51st with a score of 94.916.

Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu president Cenelyn Manguilimotan welcomed the news and hopes Cebu will remain on the list consistently. “We need the hype. And the timing is right since we just finished hosting APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) and we got very good feedback from foreign delegates. Then the IEC (International Eucharistic Congress) is just around the corner,” she told Sun.Star Cebu.

For tour operator Alice Queblatin, Cebu has met criteria of foreign tourists. “The perception is Cebu has met the needs and expectations of majority of travelers. This is a common remark we get from our guests,” she said.

Queblatin, who operates Southwinds Travel and Tours, said inconveniences such as traffic, poor infrastructure and images of poor security have not dampened their experiences. However, she believes these still need to be addressed.

“Better traffic management, prioritization of infrastructure for tourist destinations should help make better tourist experiences,” she said.

DPWH 7 proposes P16.96B for 2016

By Jeandie O. Galolo

THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways 7 has proposed a P16.96 billion budget for 2016.

The figures came from DPWH 7 Director Ador Canlas, in an interview yesterday at the sidelines of the 2015 Cebu Housing Summit at the Grand Convention Center of Cebu.

The proposed budget has already been approved by the House of Representatives, the official said. Of the amount, P9 billion will be for Cebu.

He expects this to be approved within the year.

DPWH allocation for Central Visayas this year stands at P12.9 billion, and P7 billion of this was for Cebu, used mostly for road rehabilitation and road widening.

The amount for the entire 2015 budget is for 42 major projects, said Canlas.

Some of the projects include road rehabilitation and/or widening in Natalio Bacalso Ave., Cebu North Road, Mactan Circumferential Road, Mactan First Bridge, Marcelo Fernan Bridge and Ouano Road.

By end of 2015, Canlas said he expects that at least 85 percent of these projects should be completed.

There were delays in the road works this year because of the recently concluded meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Cebu.

Slow public spending of the Philippine government has been cited as one major factor affecting the growth of the country’s economy.

The national government is targeting a seven to eight percent GDP growth this year, but this is seen impossible as the first half growth only reached 5.3 percent.

Canlas said DPWH spending has always been higher year-on-year. But economists label it “underspending” when the agency is unable to utilize the allocated funds in a prescribed period of time.

He said one problem faced by the agency is the limited number of contractors that can accommodate projects.

“There are fewer players (contractors) because of the very big demand from the public and private sector,” Canlas said.

Last month, international debt watcher Moody’s Investors Services downgraded its growth target for the Philippines’ GDP in 2015 from six percent to 5.7 percent.

Three PHL airports ranked among Asia's Best

By Azer N. Parrocha [(PNA), RMA/ANP]

MANILA, Oct 20 (PNA) -- Three Philippine airports have made it to the top 30 ‘Best Airports in Asia’ list conducted by interactive website “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports.”

These are the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Iloilo International Airport, and the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

Sleeping in Airports is the same site which ranked the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 as 8th in the ‘Worst Airports in Asia’ list this year. The results were released over the weekend.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport ranked 18th in the top 30 Best Airports in Asia list, the Iloilo International Airport ranked 21st, and the Clark International Airport ranked 24th.

This is a rundown of the top 30 Best Airports in Asia:

(1) Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore (SIN)

(2) Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea (ICN)

(3) Tokyo Haneda International Airport, Japan (HND)

(4) Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan (TPE)

(5) Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong (HKG)

(6) Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia (KUL)

(7) Osaka Kansai International Airport, Japan (KIX)

(8) New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, India (DEL)

(9) Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, India (HYD)

(10) Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, India (BOM)

(11) Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok (BKK)

(12) Tokyo Narita International Airport, Japan (NRT)

(13) Koh Samui Airport, Thailand (USM)

(14) Trivandrum International Airport, India (TRV)

(15) Cochin International Airport, India (COK)

(16) Lahore Allama Iqbal International Airport, Pakistan (LHE)

(17) Bangalore Bengaluru International Airport, India (BLR)

(18) Mactan–Cebu International Airport, Philippines (CEB)

(19) Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, India (CCU)

(20) Karachi Jinnah International Airport, Pakistan (KHI)

(21) Iloilo International Airport, Philippines (ILO)

(22) Kualanamu International Airport, Indonesia (KNO)

(23) Da Nang International Airport, Vietnam (DAD)

(24) Clark International Airport, Philippines (CRK)

(25) Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Azerbaijan (GYD)

(26) Surabaya Juanda International Airport, Indonesia (SUB)

(27) Penang International Airport, Malaysia (PEN)

(28) Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam (HAN)

(29) Beijing Capital International Airport, China (PEK)

(30) Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Malaysia (BKI)

Sleeping in Airports’ lists of worst and best airports are based on online surveys conducted by travelers from all over the world. They have been rating airports since 1996.

Ranking of airports depends on their "sleep-ability" factor, the services, amenities and features offered to layover passengers. Those taking the survey are asked to consider the four C’s of airport travel: comfort, conveniences, cleanliness and customer service.

P133M 2016 fund for PDRRMO ok’d

By Michael Vencynth H. Braga/NSA (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Development Council (PDC) approved the proposed budget of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) for next year amounting to P133 million, higher than this year’s P121 million.

Governor Hilario Davide III said the PDRRMO budget is part of the executive’s proposed 2016 spending plan which will be submitted to the Provincial Board today for its deliberation and approval.

Of the P133 million, at least P27 million was set aside for insurance premiums of buildings, crops and volunteers for Cebu Province as well as risk insurance of the World Bank.

Another P25 million of the total PDRRM fund is allocated for prevention and mitigation.

PDRRMO head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said the bulk of the P25 million will be spent for the mainstreaming of DRR in the land use plan of the LGUs. The budget also covers the construction and repair or rehabilitation of dams and embankments or impounding.

Other allocations in the disaster fund include procurement of disaster equipment for disaster response activities at P17.5 million and rehabilitation and recovery at P10 million.

The province’s quick response fund (QRF), on the other hand, is P39.9 million, representing 30 percent of the total PDRRM fund.

The disaster law provides that at least 70 percent of the total amount of DRRM fund would be earmarked for disaster preparedness programs, while the remaining 30 percent would be allocated as quick response fund.

As of this month, the PDRRMO has around P47 million unexpended budget, including the P20 million plus unexpended balance in the years 2013 and 2014.

Tribunalo said during the PDC meeting last week that the unexpended fund is projected to lessen to around P15 million. The PDC suggested to the disaster office to utilize the amount to augment its draining QRF, which only has P2 million left due to the interventions extended by the Capitol to the El Niño-affected farmers and areas in the province.

PDRRMO pushed for the increase of the amount to fund the creation of the province’s contingency plan and mitigation measures, especially for the prevailing El Niño phenomenon which was predicted by PAGASA to persist until second quarter of next year.

Shangri-la pioneers Soap for Hope in Cebu

(Sun.Star Cebu)

WITH the mission to create a more sustainable community, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa Cebu held the first leg of its Soap for Hope program last Sept. 16 at its adopted community, Barangay Tingo, a small coastal town on a neighboring island.

The launch was graced by the program’s founder, Stefan Phang of Sealed Air Corp., who demonstrated to the staff volunteers and community members how leftover soap bars can be reprocessed.

More than an act of recycling, the program aims to offer a new form of livelihood to members of the community and improve their hygiene practices by providing access to soap.

Over 10 kilograms of discarded soap were collected and used at the launch. Colleagues and community members learned Phang’s innovative way of recycling the used soap into fresh bars. It involves mixing the used soap with fruit zests then solidifying it through a cold-press method. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes.

Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa Cebu’s corporate social responsibility manager Dangee Delgado said the resort pledged its commitment to Soap for Hope, and it will be included in the resort’s lineup of activities in Barangay Tingo.

A pressing machine was donated to the beneficiary community.

APEC energy ministers urge member economies to support green energy finance initiative

(PNA), RMA/PND/APEC COMMUNICATIONS GROUP/SSC

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu, Oct. 17 (PNA) -- Energy ministers throughout the Asia Pacific rim have called on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies to increase their investments in green economy through an initiative that aims to provide a framework and platform for dialogue and cooperation specifically for green energy finance in the region, as well as endeavors to promote the public private partnership in green energy finance.

Reporting on the outcome of the recently concluded 12th APEC Energy Ministers' Meeting held here earlier this week, Philippine Energy officer-in-charge Zenaida Monsada said the energy ministers have adopted to improve energy trade and investment in the APEC community emphasizing increasing investment in green economy through Green Energy Finance among others.

The call was issued even as a rebound of green energy investment worldwide was noted the previous year with a surge of a solid 17 percent to USD 270 billion (around Php 12.4 trillion), even with sharply lower crude oil prices.

This was mainly driven by the promotion of green energy in the Asia-Pacific region, especially by investments in solar and wind energy.

In addition, according to data issued by the International Energy Agency (IEA), investments in energy efficiency market is worth at least USD 360 billion (around Php 16.6 trillion) in 2012, which was higher than that in renewable energy and traditional fossil fuel power generation sector. This confirms the position of energy efficiency as the world’s “first fuel.”

In recent years, APEC has also made great efforts in green energy trade and investment issues by conducting various workshops and dialogues on green energy industries. However, green energy financing issue, which involve cross-cutting expertise of public policy, energy technology and industry, and financing were less addressed in the fora.

This has led to the conclusion that despite most APEC economies actively investing in green growth, there are still a lot of difficulties to maintain the growth pace of low carbon energy investment and to realize the investment level that satisfying the needs of green economy.

High upfront costs, the nature of capital intensiveness, the use of fossil fuel subsidy, and policy and regulatory factors were identified as having an impact on the sustainability of renewable energy investment.

To overcome the barriers in either developed or developing economies to ensure the financial sustainability in renewable energy and energy efficiency fields, which will be positive for regional energy security, energy officials and experts pointed out the need for more supportive and stable policy and regulatory framework are needed

In addition to sound public policy and effective regulatory system, flexible financing markets can nourish sustainable green energy investment while banks serve as important channels for investment in green economy from private sectors.

On the other hand, to continue the momentum of energy trade and investment issues promoted in APEC, the Green Energy Finance initiative was established this year, following its proposal by Chinese Taipei.

The initiative aims to provide a framework and platform for dialogue and cooperation specifically for green energy finance in the APEC region, as well as endeavors to promote the public private partnership in green energy finance.

It will promote the experience sharing and knowledge dissemination with regard to the governance that improve the participation of banks and capital market in green energy finance, and the formulation of clear, stable and consistent policies and regulatory system.

In addition, this initiative will seek dialogue with related international organizations and multilateral financial institutions to expand the scope of APEC cross-organizational cooperation to the development of green energy finance.

Likewise, it will also strengthen the capacity building of green energy finance by means of exchange of experts, technology, product and services, in order to meet the needs of increasing green energy finance programs and related risk assessment.

The ultimate goal of this initiative is to support the financial sustainability of renewable energy and energy efficiency to further ensure regional energy security and success of transformation to low carbon economy in the APEC region.

PHP4.5-B investment to kick off 20-hectare waterfront township in Mandaue

(PNA), LAP/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY, Oct. 16 (PNA) -- An initial investment of PHP4.5 billion will kick off the multi-billion peso 20-hectare Mandani Bay township project, the first waterfront township project along Zuellig Ave. in Mandaue City.

The township project, named after Mandaue’s old name, is a joint venture between Hongkong Land and Taft Properties.

Taft Properties is part of the Vicsal Development Corp., known for its Metro Gaisano retail stores.

Hongkong Land, one of Asia’s property investment, management and development groups, owns and manages almost 800,000 square meters of prime office and luxury retail property in key Asian cities, principally in Hong Kong and Singapore.

The first phase will cover the construction of two condominium towers that will have a total of 1,200 units in a 1.1-hectare area starting next year.

Theodore Gilbert Ang, project director of Mandani Bay, said the project will be constructed in eight phases and expected to be completed in 10 years starting 2016.

The joint venture HT Land is still developing its sales gallery, which is slated for completion in January next year.

Ang said the integrated development will be primarily residential.

It will have 25 towers with a total of 18,000 condominium units intended for the middle to high-end market.

On top of the residential component, the project, which is located in a waterfront site, will also have retail, office, recreational and marina components.

Ang said the vision of the company is to shift Mandaue City’s perception as an industrial and manufacturing hub into a desirable mixed-use and a premier lifestyle hub.

“We will integrate culture, commerce and community in one area,” said Ang.

“There is plenty of potential in Cebu because this is a place where people from Luzon and Mindanao converge,” Ang said.

Vicsal, affiliates mark Int’l Coastal Clean-up Day

(Sun.Star Cebu)

VICSAL Foundation Inc. (VSF) joined in the global celebration of International Coastal Clean-up Day on Sept. 19 by tapping its partners and volunteers in a clean-up drive in different areas in Cebu.

The activity was held in coordination with the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the participation of Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI), Wealth Development Bank, Taft Property Venture Development Corp. and employees of Global Group Investment and Property Holdings Inc. Philippines.

Some 100 volunteers from Vicsal affiliates were mobilized for the simultaneous clean-up assigned on the following locations: l MRSGI and Wealthbank volunteers cleaned the Butuanon River in Mandaue City. Close to 30 segregated sacks of trash mostly plastic wrappers, pieces of clothes, Styrofoam and broken glass were collected;

l Volunteers from Taft Property Venture cleared the streets of Gen. Maxilom Avenue and Cogon-Ramos areas in Cebu City while volunteers from Global Group collected garbage from the coastal area of Cordova, Cebu.

It has been the commitment of Vicsal Foundation to take action in making the environment cleaner, more livable and sustainable. The foundation has been constantly partnering with the DENR in attaining its vision-“A nation enjoying and sustaining its natural resources and a clean and healthy environment.”

APEC sets connectivity blueprint for member states

By Juzel L. Danganan [(PNA), LAM/JLD]

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu, Oct. 14 (PNA) -- The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is setting the connectivity blueprint for energy access among its member states.

Dr. Alan Bollard, executive director of the APEC Secretariat, said that “APEC has a connectivity blueprint put in place, building infrastructure. Some of them drawing to different examples around the different APEC communities, with some big, some small, some developed and some developing.”

At a press conference at the sidelines of the APEC Energy Ministers Meeting, Bollard noted the group is also considering to tap smart technologies and ways to bridge energy access to impoverished areas.

For his part, Joshua Frydenberg, Member of Parliament (MP) Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia, pointed out that energy access is important, as more than a billion in the globe is still without electricity access.

He added the group is sharing best practices of regulatory frameworks to push the investments in energy infrastructures.

Zenaida Monsada, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE), also said that ministers have adopted to improve energy trade and investment in the APEC community for energy infrastructure planning and development, including regional energy interconnectivity.

Monsada, who also served as the chair of the Energy Ministers Meeting, said the ministers also recognized the APEC Energy Working Group (EWG) recommendation to implement a cost-benefit analysis of available energy efficient technologies.

It will develop minimum energy performance standards and explore the potential adoption of fuel quality and vehicle efficiency standards, including the reduction of energy intensity by 45 percent by 2035.

Monsada added the ministers will explore strategies to catalyze green buildings and push energy eco-tourism development framework.

Aside from setting up an attractive climate for infrastructure, the ministers also agreed to secure both energy and water resources “as they are critically affecting one another.”

The group also agreed to increase investment in green economy through green energy finance.

APEC energy working group signs cooperation agreement

By Juzel L. Danganan (PNA), LGI/JLD

LAPU-LAPU, Cebu (PNA) -- The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Working Group (EWG) on Tuesday signed a cooperation agreement with the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The two parties held the signing ceremony at the Shang-rila Mactan for a Joint Declaration for Future Collaboration with APEC Energy Working Group Lead Shepherd Dr. Phyllis Yoshida and IEA Director Keisuke Sadamori as signatories.

It was witnessed by Philippine Department of Energy OIC-Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada and APEC Secretariat Executive Director Alan Bollard.

With the agreement, APEC and IEA seek to expand cooperation in energy security, energy resilience, energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy data and statistics, among others.

The IEA was established in 1974 and was designed to help countries coordinate a collective response to major disruptions in the supply of oil such as the crisis of 1973 and 1974.

It is also greatly involved in the global dialogue on energy, providing statistics and analysis.

PHL eyes to attract renewable energy investments through APEC hosting

(PNA), JBP/KMC

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu, Oct. 12 (PNA) -- With the goal to triple renewable energy-based capacity by 2030, the Philippines will take advantage of its Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) hosting to promote renewable energy investments here.

Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Loreta Ayson, in a press briefing to kick off the 12th APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting (EMM) here, said the Philippines will convey to other APEC member economies the opportunities in the renewable energy sector in the country.

She said the government has a demand for renewable energy investments as it targets to increase the share of renewable energy in the country.

“We are pushing for renewable energy,” Ayson said.

She added that the DOE is working on for a fuel mix policy targeting for energy resources diversification.

Under the policy, the government aims share of renewable energy to be one-third of the total fuel mix, the DOE official mentioned.

She also noted that the government pushes to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 to 15,300 megawatts from 5,400-MW level in 2010.

Ayson said the country is on track of this target as the DOE has approved 682 service contracts with a total capacity of more than 13,000 MW.

“This means they should do predevelopment activities (and get) lot of permits and clearances. At the point they proven that the resources are to be economically, technically feasible, then we can concede,” she added.

Ayson said that this target is in line with APEC’s goal of doubling the share of renewable energy in the region.

She mentioned that the government continues to promote investments in renewable energy in the country through providing fiscal and non-fiscal incentives and investment promotion activities.

“Through this APEC, we are also able to articulate to investors along this area or in this field, so that they are also aware, for the richer economies or developed economies, be informed that we need these investments for energy,” she said.

Cebu, Russia to ink action plan

By Liv G. Campo /FPL (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - A Russian official is scheduled to visit Cebu for the signing of an action plan with its sister province.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said that St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko will come on March to fulfill what was discussed during his meeting to Russia last week.

Davide said he personally got the chance to talk to his counterpart in St. Petersburg to discuss the friendship and cooperation programs for the two provinces.

“(I had a) fruitful visit, had a chance to meet the governor of St. Petersburg. He is coming this March to sign agreement sa action plan nato,” he told reporters.

Davide and a select team from the Capitol were in Russia from September 27 to October 5.

He said a joint committee composed of members from both provinces will be formed to formulate the action plan, which will reportedly enshrine the friendship and cooperation between St. Petersburg and Cebu.

He said the honorary consuls of Russia and the Philippines will be involved in this project.

Davide said St. Petersburg was “very receptive” to the Cebu delegates when they were there, resulting to the governor’s assurance that he will come to also pay a visit to Cebu next year.


APEC delegates touring Cebu’s heritage spots

By Jean Marvette A. Demecillo / BRP (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation delegates will have a three-hour technical visit to Cebu’s “heritage and new horizons” today.

The delegates will be visiting the Magellan’s Cross, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño, Fort San Pedro, the Pari-an District, the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, Colon Street, the Fuente Osmeña Circle, the SM Seaside square at the South Road Properties, the San Pedro Calungsod Shrine at SRP and the Liberty Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City, among others.

The tour will start at 8:30 a.m. With this, the Cebu City Transportation Office will deploy at least 30 traffic enforcers for the swift and unhampered tour of the delegates.

CCTO Executive Director Rey Gealon said they will field motorized CCTO personnel who will join the convoy for real time updates to their communication base so that routes will be free from obstructions.

“The rest (of the traffic personnel) will vigilantly man the intersections for better traffic flow. CCTO is prepared for this considering our extensive exposure during last month’s APEC meetings. Our personnel have also been trained for any eventuality and can respond appropriately,” he said.

Gealon said the visits will not affect the traffic flow since the delegates will not stay long in an area.

The Department of Tourism’s concept of the tour is that it will feature Cebu’s glorious past from heritage sites and cultural performances, among others.

At the Magellan’s Cross, delegates will be welcomed with the re-enactment of the planting of the cross and the baptism of Queen Juana. Delegates will also experience riding a kalesa from the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño to Fort San Pedro.

At the Pari-an District, guests will be welcomed with a traditional lion dance symbolizing the history of the area. There will also be a reenactment of the Battle of Mactan through a dance drama in Lapu-Lapu City.

SM firm invests Php1-B to field 77 hybrid buses in Metro Cebu by end of November

(PNA), FPV/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY, Oct. 9 (PNA) -- A subsidiary firm of SM Prime Holdings Inc. will field a fleet of 77 hybrid buses plying four cities in Metro Cebu in time for the opening of the SM Seaside City Cebu at the South Road Properties on Nov. 26.

SM Prime Holdings subsidiary Premier Southern Corp. is investing over Php1 billion for the Metro Rapid Transit System Inc. (MRTSI), which will operate the buses called MyBus in the cities of Talisay, Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

Marissa Fernan, vice president of SM Prime Holdings, said the buses will not displace jeepney operators and drivers because the buses will take “underserved” routes, including the South Road Properties (SRP) and the coastal road along the reclamation area of Cebu and Mandaue Cities.

Fernan said the buses will also not add to the heavy traffic since these will ply along routes not served by jeepneys.

Each of the airconditioned buses are 12 meters long, with 42 seats and equipped with WiFi, global positioning system and passenger information system, where estimated time of arrival and other information are flashed in monitors inside the bus.

“It’s really a state-of-the-art bus,” said Fernan.

The proposed fares are Php25, Php40 and Php75, depending on the route, but the rates have yet to be approved by the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Passengers will use the e-PLUS card or tap-to-pay cards that can be bought at the SM malls and at the stations.

Sherry Tuvilla, SM regional operations manager, said they plan to put up 18 bus stations from Talisay City to Lapu-Lapu City, with the buses arriving at each station in an interval of about nine minutes.

Among the identified stations are in the SM Seaside City in the SRP, Parkmall in Mandaue City and in the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

Tuvilla said the construction of the first batch of stations will soon start.

Rico Villaluna, MRTSI general manager, said the estimated time of travel from Talisay City to the Mactan Cebu International Airport is 45 minutes.

Metro Cebu’s air quality remain ‘fair’ to ‘good’ - DENR 7

(PNA), FFC/EB/PR/EDS

CEBU CITY, Oct. 8 (PNA) -- The air quality indices of Metro Cebu continues to be within a range of either ‘fair’ or ‘good', a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 statement released Thursday said.

The Environment Management Bureau (EMB) 7 of DENR 7 issued the report even as portions of Cebu City were experiencing a haze-like episode as a result of forest fires in Indonesia.

In a result of the October 1 and 2 ambient air quality monitoring report, the total suspended particulate (TSP) matter based on a 24-hour average showed 69; 108; 33; and 83 micrograms per normal cubic meter (µg/Ncm).

This means that the air is safe, clean and healthy and does not reach the unhealthy or hazardous levels, the statement said.

The DENR 24-hour guideline value is 230 µg/Ncm with air quality indices ranging from 81 to 230 µg/Ncm which is considered ‘fair.’

The region has five monitoring stations for the ambient air quality specific on the measurement of TSP and particulate matter (PM10) using manual methods once every six days with a minimum of 48 sampling days in a year.

The five monitoring stations include DENR 7 Compound, Greenplains Subdivision, Banilad, Mandaue City and Cornilla Lao Residence, a boundary between Barangays Inuburan and Langtad, Naga City for TSP measurement.

The other monitoring stations are the Mabolo Police Station in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, and Cebu Business Park (CBP), Cebu City for PM10 measurement, and Crown Regency in Osmena Boulevard, Cebu City.

The results for the CBP and Mabolo stations revealed ‘good’ air quality status as they recorded an annual geometric mean of 37 µg/Ncm, and 50 µg/Ncm for PM10.

The DENR 7 said public awareness and participation remain key factors in achieving and maintaining a level of air quality that protects the environment and human health, especially in most densely populated area.

The DENR 7 through the EMB7 has been regularly monitoring the situation by getting samples as they assure the public that the air quality is within standards set forth in the Philippine Clean Air Act.

TSPs refer to the amount of solid pollutants such as dust and soot in the air, with the guideline level at 90 µg/Ncm.

TSP’s natural sources include soil, bacteria and sources, fungi, molds and yeast, pollen, salt particles from evaporating sea water.

Human sources include combustion products from space heating, industrial processes, and power generation.

Gov. Davide says Cebu ready for second round of APEC meetings

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Oct. 7 (PNA) -- Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III Wednesday said the province is all set for the second round of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) senior ministerial meetings which will start Thursday, October 8 and run until October 14.

Davide, who heads the local APEC organizing committee, said the provincial government will host a dinner for the delegates.

Davide said the security preparations for the international event are also in place.

He said they made sure that the venues and the hotels where the delegates stay will be secured.

The meetings will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City and Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

Some 700 delegates are expected to attend these meetings.

Earlier, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said it has deployed more than 2,000 officers Monday to secure the APEC venues.

Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, PRO 7 deputy director, said they also beefed up the security of malls where some of the 700 delegates will possibly visit for entertainment and refreshment.

Lawas said mall security heads were called for a meeting Tuesday at the PRO 7 on how to deal with delegates and their contingents.

Lawas said tourist spots in Cebu and other parts in Central Visayas are already secured, as some delegates are expected to visit these areas.

PRO 7 Director Prudencio Tom Bañas has declared a full alert status in Cebu, suspending leaves of absence of police personnel.

Davide said the Cebu-based Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command, the navy and coast guard personnel will also augment the police.

2,000 cops to secure venues of another APEC meet in Cebu

(PNA), LAP/JSV/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Oct. 6 (PNA) - - The Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said more than 2,000 police personnel will be deployed to secure some 700 delegates who will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, which will again be held in this province starting on Thursday, October 8.

PRO 7 Director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas said they cut the number of police personnel who will secure the venues from the more than 3,000 deployed during the APEC meetings last August.

He attributed this to lower number of venues namely the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City and Shangri-La in Lapu-Lapu City.

He said the security plan for the event has been mapped out by PRO 7 and the APEC national organizing committee.

On Monday, PRO 7 raised a full alert status in Cebu, prohibiting any police officer from taking a leave of absence.

Bañas said there will be no major traffic rerouting in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu since traffic will not be disrupted unless a convoy of APEC delegates will pass by.

The second wave of APEC meetings will end on October 14.

Foreign firm eyes 520MW solar project in proposed PHP80B Cebu trans-axial highway

(PNA), FFC/EB/EBP

CEBU CITY, Oct. 5 (PNA) -- A foreign company which has expressed interest to fund the construction of the proposed PHP80-billion Cebu transaxial highway has proposed to build a 520-megawatt solar project in the province.

In a press statement, YEC International Engineering Services said it will fully fund and handle the engineering, procurement and construction of the solar project.

“Each of the 52 municipalities and cities of the whole Province of Cebu shall be allocated 10 megawatts and these shall be duly interconnected. The solar project is deemed to address the Cebu power crisis by 2016,” the press statement reads.

YEC International is proposing to fund the 300-kilometer transaxial highway which traverses the whole length of Cebu island from Daanbantayan town in the north to Santander town in the south.

The highway has other strategic built-in components including water supply, agro-environmental developments, preservation and management of watershed areas, development of economic zones and reclamation areas.

The initial total project cost estimated at PHP80 billion will also cover urban and master planning, architectural design, and the subsequent procurement of road-right-of-way, construction, and operations in partnership with the Cebu provincial government.

YEC International will partner with KMV Creation, a Philippine-based architectural company, and Barons Singapore to handle urban and master planning.

Adolf Yankee Calijan Genis, president of YEC International, partnered with UK-based international firm for this massive undertaking.

Cebu Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez said solar power is one of the built-in project components of the transaxial highway, a pet project of her late father, former Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez.

Sanchez said the transaxial highway will be built at no cost to the Cebu provincial government through the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

DepEd exec says country needs ‘new literacy’ in digital age

(PNA), CTB/EB/SSC

CEBU CITY, Oct. 4 (PNA) -- An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) said the country needs a “new literacy” in this digital age.

DepEd undersecretary Dina Ocampo said that while majority of the country’s population can now read and write, around 60 to 70 percent are not well-versed in “new types of literacy” which allow learners to become more competitive.

Ocampo, who was in Cebu over the weekend to attend a three-day National Literacy Conference, said there is a growing focus on new literacy due to the emergence of digital technology.

But she said there are still people who refuse to adapt to new technologies.

“There are still some people who think that technology is the enemy. Technology is a tool for learning,” Ocampo said.

But even with emerging technologies, critical thinking is still needed to adapt to new ways of learning, she said.

Ocampo said new literacy will help learners, especially young ones, to prepare for the future.

“Aside from learning basic reading and writing, learners must be educated when it comes to how they would manage their finances, to learn history and culture, how to handle social media and even how to decide properly when it comes to politics,” she said.

Ocampo believes DepEd and all other sectors, whether government or non-government, must help teach this type of new literacy to the public.

CCCI aims to synchronize Cebu promotion with LGUs

By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced yesterday that it is going to institutionalize its partnership with the Cebu City and Cebu provincial governments to effectively host a growing number of international inbound trade missions.

CCCI president Ma. Teresa B. Chan said that the chamber will also allocate a small budget and a team for trade mission hostings considering that "the entire world is now looking at the Philippines, including Cebu."

"If there was no need for this focus before, now we have to join hands with the government [city and province] because international trade missions with serious intent to explore Cebu, is growing," said Chan in an interview yesterday.

CCCI will closely coordinate with the Cebu City and Cebu Province, and other local government units within the province, to set up a more organized investment and promotion system and procedure.

Recently, Chan said Cebu hosted different international trade missions such as from Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Israel, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Spain, among others.

"More are coming, so we have to be well prepared. We have to synchronize our promotion of Cebu with the LGUs," she said.

Earlier, Chan announced that the Chamber will build an official partnership link with the International of Chamber Commerce in Asia, opening higher chance for members to enter the core of Asian trade trail.

Chan recently met with Lee Ju Song, Regional Director, International Chamber of Commerce Asia, during one of the APEC Summit meetings participated by the private sector.

"We discussed about the official affiliation of CCCI to the International Chamber, that may soon happen," said Chan.

According to Chan, although the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is already affiliated with this Singapore-based global business organization, it is still important for CCCI to make a specific partnership link to provide its members clearer, easier linkage pathway amid the pressure of globalization.

This move, Chan said is part of the chamber's active entry to the international business landscape, even beyond the "premises" of ASEAN region.

Asean youth experience ‘fun in the Philippines’

By Katlene O. Cacho

MALAYSIAN tourism student Noor Zahidah Jamalus, 26, had a great time exploring Cebu and Bohol in the past days.

She and 42 delegates from 10 countries in Southeast Asia toured the countryside attractions of Bohol and Cebu’s historical sites as part of the Philippines’ first hosting of the six-day ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Youth Summit, which started Monday.

A first time visitor to the Philippines, Jamalus said she was pleased with the country’s hosting—warmth hospitality, wonderful attractions, great food and more importantly smiling people.

“I’ve been dreaming of coming to the Philippines. So when I was invited to join the summit, without second thoughts I said yes. True enough, I had so much fun. Your tourism campaign ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ is really evident in everything from people, places and products,” Jamalus told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.

She added that what pleased her the most was how the tourism stakeholders in the province took care of them—being Muslims. “I am well-pleased at how they handled our stay here, such that everything is all in place, from food to Qibla, the direction we should face when we pray during salat (the ritual prayer of Muslims performed five times daily in a set form). We no longer took out our compass because everything was already in place,” Jamalus said.

In Bohol, the delegates visited the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary. They also had lunch at the Loboc River Cruise, which was the first green river she saw in her life. The delegates also had tree planting activity at the Bohol Biodiversity Complex and experienced an adrenalin-rush at the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park.

Last Thursday, the group arrived in Cebu and toured the University of San Carlos and went around Cebu’s historical sites.

The ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Youth Summit is an offshoot of the Asean Plus Three Tourism Coooperation Work Plan 2013-2017 adopted during the 12th meeting of ASEAN+ China, Japan and Korea Tourism Ministers in January 2013 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Philippines and Thailand were selected as lead country coordinators on the convening of the Asean Plus Three Tourism Students Summit.

The past two tourism student summits were held in Bangkok and Pattaya, Thailand.

Jamalus believes the youth plays a critical role in enhancing Asean’s potential as a single tourism destination. She said summits like this help them understand each member-country’s culture better and determine which aspects in tourism that need to be raised in the higher level.

“It is really possible to come together as one and discuss the many pressing concerns of the tourism sector as one regional bloc. Although, we each concentrate on developing our own tourism potentials we also need to work as one as we market our destinations as a one united region,” said Jamalus.

During their group presentation, Jamalus group presented the need to create standards in home-stay programs, theme-parks and Asean Mice venues. They also saw the need to come up with a collective tourism campaign for the entire Asean community; connect all countries in Asean to facilitate seamless travel; deploy money changers and automated teller machines; and creation of Asean passport and Asean-lane priority to Asean members; increase exposure in the travel mart, among others.

While he welcomed the proposed initiatives of the students, Alex Macatuno, chief Policy Formulation and International Relations Division of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Asean already has a campaign called “The Southeast Asia: feel the warmth” that positions the 10 Southeast Asian countries collectively as a highly desirable tourism region.

Travelling through these 10 Asean nations offers “unlimited variety in terms of culture, landscape, people, flora and fauna, food, handicrafts, entertainment, shopping, recreation and excitement.”

Likewise, each member countries, according to Macatuno, contributes $30,000 to support and sustain the tourism campaign. He pointed out though that he will raise the proposal to create standards for theme-parks to higher officials.

Asked how the youth can help in marketing the Asean as a tourism destination, Jamalus urged the youth to explore the Asean region first before crossing other international borders.

“We’ve got plenty of interesting sites and experiences in the Asean which you can’t find in other foreign countries. Say, for example the balut, you have here. You surely can’t find that one in the US,” she said. “There are plenty of things that a tourist can do in the Asean. The region as well has a lot of offerings.”

And when exploring the Asean region, Jamalus also encouraged young travelers to take photos and blog or write stories about the interesting sites they visited, food they tasted, people they met and activities they did and post them all in social media platforms so people around the globe would know more about the Asean region.

Data obtained from the website of Asean Tourism, international tourists visiting Asean member states reached 97.2 million in 2014 up by three percent from 2013.

Likewise, intra-Asean travel, the main growth engine of tourism in the region, recorded over 50 percent share of total international tourists visiting Asean, which is attributed to the operationalization of the Asean Open Skies Agreement.

DOT 7 Director Rowena Montecillo hopes that the tourism youth summit attended by 13 delegates from the Philippines will create more interest among the youth and will make them more active in participating in the tourism programs of the government.

“Number shows that there is an increase in the number of youth travelers and Asean saw the need to in making them aware that they are an important sector not only as travelers but involving them in the region and their respective country’s tourism programs,” said Montecillo.

As for Jamalus, she said she will definitely come back to the Philippines. “The Philippines is a wonder. I’m not satisfied with my short-stay here, I want to see more places. I want to experience other parts of your country,” she said.

Cebu Capitol funds PHP33.28M worth of projects in southern Cebu

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Oct. 1 (PNA) -- The Cebu provincial government has funded some PHP33.28 million worth of infrastructure projects in southern Cebu, an official said.

Engr. Bobby Lim of the Cebu Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) said the projects included school buildings, water supply system and roads.

Lim said the projects are expected to be completed before July 2016.

Of the total amount, PHP20.5 million went to the concreting of roads in the towns of San Fernando, Argao, Alegria and Alcoy.

The roads, Lim said, will be seven meters wide.

The projects also included the construction of two-classroom school buildings in six schools.

The new school buildings, which cost a total of PHP8.55 million, will rise in Kagsing Elementary School and Mangaco Elementary School in Ginatilan, Calangcang Primary School in Badian, El Pardo Elementary School in Boljoon, Zaragosa National High School in Badian and Cansaloay High School in Oslob.

The projects also include the PHP2.24-million water supply project in Argao’s Barangay Gutlang and the PHP1.99-million Farmers Trading and Multi-Purpose Center in Barangay Tumalog, Oslob.

The provincial government has also funded PHP88.55 million worth of in-road works and school buildings worth PHP7.23 million in northern Cebu.

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