Cebu Province News October 2016

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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.

Tesda offers training to inmates

By Elias O. Baquero

THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will soon start its livelihood training for the inmates in the region.

The agency is now coordinating with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) 7 for the implementation of the program.

Tesda Director General Guiling Mamondiong said they will be visiting jails soon to ask prisoners what livelihood training they want to be on.

“Thousands of inmates are lying and sitting inside their cells and the government is feeding them every day. Why not train them to become productive?” Mamondiong said.

Mamondiong believes not all inmates are guilty of the cases filed against them. Some had just no money to hire good lawyers to defend them in court.

The trainings that the inmates can avail include welding, carpentry, tile setting, massage therapy and computer technology, among others.

The livelihood training is an offshoot to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Tesda 7 Director Florencio Sunico signed with BJMP 7 Director Dennis Yu Rocamora last Oct. 10.

Based on BJMP’s records, there are more than 11,000 inmates in the region who are being fed by the government every day.

Rocamora said the number is still expected to increase, considering President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs and criminality.

Sunico, for his part, said Tesda is coordinating with different agencies in providing the skills training to the inmates.

Rocamora welcomed their partnership with Tesda, saying it is part of their mandate to develop the inmates before they will be released.

Under the MOU, Tesda will allocate funds for the livelihood training, and even provide raw materials for the prisoners’ projects.

Any profit that will be generated from their projects will be divided among the inmates and their share will be sent to their families.

Mall to offer ferry service

By Katlene O. Cacho

TO boost trade and tourism in Mactan, Ozamiz-based mall developer Geege Central Mall Inc. (GCMI) is connecting its six-level mixed-used Island Central Mactan to the Mactan Wharf.

It will be the first mall in the country to incorporate a ferry service with a boardwalk, officials said yesterday.

The company has allocated P1 billion for the development of the mall and P1.5 billion for the development of the Mactan Wharf, which will also have themed developments and a hotel, according to Eugene Erik Lim, GMCI vice president and chief operating officer.

Lim said they target to soft-launch the first two floors of the mall before the end of the year, with roughly 20 to 30 tenants.

It also plans to soft-launch the ferry service next month. Eugene Erik said the company has inked a partnership with Ocean Jet to provide the ferry service from Pier 1 to the Mactan Wharf and vice versa.

“This development is a lifestyle destination mall,” said Edwin Lim, GCMI president and chief executive officer.

He noted that the project, which is situated along the ML Quezon National Highway, is expected to boost the business and tourism activities in the area.

The company is banking on the heavy foot traffic in Mactan Island, being the home of the three economic zones, high-end resorts and the international airport.

GCMI is the developer of the 40-year-old Geege Mall in Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental. Island Central Mactan is the company’s second mall.

The mall’s footprint stands at 8,500 square meters (sq.m), with a gross leasable area of 18,000 sq.m. At present, the mall is already 80 percent leased-out.

Robinsons Supermarket is the mall’s anchor tenant.

The ground floor will house quick service restaurants and the supermarket, among other basic services, while the second level will feature tenants like coffee shops, footwear and apparel. The third level of the mall will house the BPO component, while the fourth floor will house a sky bar and restaurants, traveler’s lounge, and function rooms that can accommodate up to 600 people.

The completion of the mall is set in 2017.

The two-hectare Mactan Wharf, on the other hand, has a development footprint of 20,000 sq.m. It will have a docking area that can accommodate up to eight ferry shuttles. It is set for completion next year.

According to Eugene Erik, the ferry shuttle service is seen to help decongest the traffic going to Mactan Island as it provides alternative route to people working in economic zones and tourists. Travel time going to the mall may take up to 30 minutes.

He added that the mall will also be linked to the Mactan International Airport through a free point-to-point bus transfer.

After Island Central Mactan, the company will be building another community mall in the south of Cebu.

“We are currently doing landbanking now,” said Eugene Erik.

Two years ago, the company disclosed its plan to build five premium community malls in Cebu in the next five years, on the back of the province’s booming retail industry.

“We are quite excited to be expanding our business in Cebu. We are confident to grow here given the vibrant retail landscape in Cebu complemented by our 40-year expertise in mall business. We’ve known that knowing the market, having a good product mix and a good customer service will make us prosper here,” said Edwin in previous interviews.

Two towns in Cebu receive awards

By Oscar C. Pineda

THE accounting offices of two municipalities in Cebu were named “Most Outstanding Accounting Office” in the Philippines for this year.

The awards were given to Asturias and Tabuelan by the Association of Government Accountant of the Philippines (Agap) last Oct. 19 at the Bohol Tropics Hotel in Tagbilaran City.

“Agap is pleased to inform you that in recognition of the quality, timeliness and accuracy of your 2015 financial reports, the Commission on Audit (COA) has chosen your accounting Office as one of this year’s Outstanding Accounting Offices,” read the letter of Agap President Gregorio Rulloda to Asturias Mayor Anto Pintor.

The awardees of the Most Outstanding Accounting Offices are chosen yearly by Agap based on the recommendations made by COA.

Pintor personally received the award together with Municipal Accountant Herminia Suico.

“I am greatly honored with this award considering that there are only five of us in the entire country that were recognized,” he said.

Others who were given the award, according to the Agap website, are the towns of Aurora in Isabela, Aritao in Nueva Viscaya and Gloria in Oriental Mindoro Suico said the state auditors, in its audit report for last year, gave the town an “unqualified opinion.”

It means COA had no negative assessment on the Municipal Government’s operations and transactions for 2015.

She said COA has four types of opinion—unqualified, qualified, adverse and disclaimer—depending on how the local government unit handled the taxpayer’s money.

In her years in service, Suico thanked God as she has not encountered any pressure from his political bosses.

“Akong ingnon nga mo-follow lang mi og auditing rules and regulation ug kung mapasabot nato sila wa may problema. (I always tell them that we just follow the auditing rules and regulations and we won’t have any problems),” she said.

Suico had been with the government for 24 years. She started as an information officer. She entered the accounting office in 1992 and became the municipal accountant in 1996.

Cebu Provincial Capitol receives Seal of Good Local Governance

By Oscar C. Pineda

THE Cebu Provincial Government received the 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for the second year in a row.

The SGLG maintains the primary requirement of meeting the standards of three core areas like financial administration, social protection and disaster preparedness, and at least one of the essential areas.

“The Cebu Provincial Government met the measures for one of the following three essential areas: business friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order and environmental management,” according to the letter of Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueño’s letter.

Upgraded criteria

Gov. Hilario Davide III and Capitol consultant Jing Lachica attended the awarding ceremony in Metro Manila yesterday.

Local governments nationwide were assessed based on upgraded criteria from March to September this year.

The Capitol first received the SGLG award with a check for P7 million on July 14, 2015.

Through the SGLG award, several opportunities await Cebu, according to Sueño’s letter, including entitlement to the Performance Challenge Fund, facilitation of loan approval through the issuance of a “Good Financial Housekeeping Certification,” and other program windows subject to specific program guidelines.

16 Cebu towns to get P73M for business development programs

By Katlene O. Cacho

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has set aside P73 million for business development programs of 16 municipalities in Cebu located inside the “Yolanda corridor” for next year.

Elias Tecson, DTI Cebu business development division chief, yesterday said that of the total amount, P10 million will be used to set up 11 more Negosyo Centers in the province; some P2.2 million to support livelihood programs; P9 million for retrofitting or for green business practices; and P53 million to deploy more Shared Service Facilities (SSF).

At present, there are about 32 SSF projects in Cebu and 12 Negosyo Centers.

The DTI reported that they have established 84 Negosyo Centers, assisting more than 116,000 clients and 55 shared service facilities (SSF) and fabrication laboratories that benefitted 90,247 micro entrepreneurs across the country during the first 100 days of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The SME Roving Academy project, on the other hand, has conducted 400 trainings, producing more than 14,000 trainees. Negosyo, Konsyumer, Atbp. activities and seminars benefited more than 8,000 participants.

Trade fairs and exhibit sales during the period also generated P18.48 million.

Aside from extending physical interventions, Tecson said the agency is also aggressive in giving out free entrepreneurship seminars to help aspiring entrepreneurs learn the basics of doing business.

He said the reason most businesses fail is because business owners, especially those micro and small enterprises, are not equipped with skills to run them or build businesses to last.

“Aspiring entrepreneurs should learn about personal entrepreneurial competencies,” he said.

The same seminar, according to Tecson, is also provided to overseas Filipino workers who wish to set up a business at home. Under a collaboration with Overseas Workers Welfare Association, OFWs are required to attend DTI’s entrepreneurship seminar before they can avail of or access the capital funding of up to P2 million from Land Bank of the Philippines.

Tecson said there are already several OFWs who attended DTI’s seminars.

One success story is an OFW from Alcantara who attended one of DTI’s entrepreneurship development seminars. Tecson said he left his land-based job in Saudi Arabia to open a business in Cebu. The former OFW is now a subcontractor for three export companies that are into handicraft production.

Bantayan Island gets help from Capitol

By Flornisa M. Gitgano

GWEYN Garcia, 28, worked as a bookkeeper in Bantayan Island to raise her son.

Garcia, who has rheumatoid arthritis, had asked the Cebu Provincial Government to provide assistance to persons with disabilities (PWDs) like her since she is just earning P1,500 a month.

She was among the residents in the municipality of Bantayan who sought help from Gov. Hilario Davide III during the meeting held at the Bantayan municipal gym yesterday.

In an interview, Garcia said she submitted a resume to several companies and to the Municipal Hall to apply for a job but she did not get any feedback.

“I just got work recently. Some people think I cannot perform my job because of my disability,” she said in Cebuano.

Garcia eventually got hired at the Christian Life Church in Bantayan but she said her salary is still not enough.

So Garcia and other PWDs in the island will be given financial aid, Davide asked them to form an organization and have it accredited by the Provincial Board.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale offered a scholarship program and livelihood training for them.

But while it is not yet in place, the Province distributed 30 wheelchairs to the PWDs of the three towns of the island. The Church of Latter-day Saints also gave 15 wheelchairs.

Garcia is one of its beneficiaries.

Garcia is pleased she got one, saying that the wheelchair she’s been using since high school has a damaged seat.

During the meeting, Kabac Barangay Capt. Gregorio Santillan also shared the village’s problem on their water system and dilapidated roads.

Bantayan Mayor Art Despi told Santillan that a water system project was included in the municipal’s supplemental budget for this year.

As to the dilapidated roads, Davide directed the provincial engineer to check it.

Town Councilor Leopoldo Umbao also took the opportunity yesterday to hand the resolution requesting Davide to provide 320 solar-powered lampposts for the roads leading to Santa Fe and Madridejos.

Barangay officials, for their part, also asked Capitol to address the lack of birthing center in the island and the protection of its sanctuaries.

After the consultative meeting, Davide and Magpale gave a check worth P5.84 million to Bantayan for the construction of duplex houses for 65 families affected by supertyphoon Yolanda in Sitio Silagon, Barangay Sulangan.

Another P1.07 million was given for the installation of water pipeline and electrical connection for the 75 houses built by Capitol and Islamic Relief Organization in a relocation site in Barangay Sillon.

A total of P573,420 was also given to the town for the operation of their material recovery facility and P2.63 million for the 523 farmers affected by locusts infestation last year.

The consultative meeting yesterday was part of the activities lined up by the Province for the second day of Capitol’s Caravan of Services.

Medical travelers to Cebu draw celebrity doctors

By Katlene O. Cacho

CEBU’s expanding middle class and the Cebuanos’ growing interest in beauty and wellness have prompted Manila-based power couple doctors Manny and Pie Calayan to branch out in Cebu.

The couple opened its first branch outside Manila in SM Seaside City Cebu. Next month the company will open its Davao branch in SM Lanang.

“We have plenty of Cebuano clients who go to Manila to avail of our services, so opening a branch here is a wise business decision,” said Pie Calayan.

Manny and Pie Calayan Clinic occupies a 112-square-meter space at the SM Seaside City. It has one operating and four treatment rooms and a team composed of nurses.

Another factor that attracted the couple to expand their business in Cebu is the province’s high potential to attract high-value medical travelers who visit Cebu for both beauty or wellness procedures and relaxation or recreation purposes, said Calayan.

Calayan said the competitive pricing of health and wellness services, warm hospitality, and well-educated and English-speaking healthcare professionals, are some of the factors that make the country an attractive alternative medical tourism destination in Asia.

Popular services availed of by most Cebuanos at their clinic are more on facial care services like acne treatment and whitening. Foreign clients, on the other hand, are availing procedures like facelift, tummy tuck and liposuction.

The couple comes to Cebu every Monday to perform the medical procedures or surgeries.

While beauty and wellness is a growing industry, Calayan advised the public to be choosy in picking facial care clinics. She said this is a segment in the industry that is not regulated by the health department, unlike in other countries.

She said it is still advisable to consult licensed medical professionals to avoid skin problems or dissatisfaction after.

The Philippines was ranked eighth among the top medical tourism destinations in the world, ahead of countries such as Japan and France, according to the 2015 list of the International Healthcare Research Center and the Medical Tourism Association (MTA).

Clients of the Philippines for medical tourism come from East Asia (China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan), Sri Lanka, the Pacific Islands (Guam, Palau, Marshall Islands, and Micronesia), Australia, North and South America, Europe, and the Gulf States.

Filipino expats and overseas Filipino workers also prefer to have their medical procedures done in the country.

Medical tourism in the Philippines caters to about 80,000 to 250,000 patients or clients annually.

The global health and wellness tourism market is worth $438.6 billion and that the Philippine medical tourism generated $66 million in 2013 and $145 million in 2014, according to the 2014 study by Ian Youngman, a medical tourism author.

According to the Department of Tourism (DOT) 7, the agency’s market development group-medical tourism team are working with the Cebu Health and Wellness Council (CHWC) in putting together attractive packages and linking with medical tourism facilitators from abroad.

“Several groups have visited Cebu to conduct ocular inspection of medical facilities, accommodation establishments and tourist attractions. They have also met with the CHWC stakeholders,” said DOT 7 Director Rowena Montecillo, in previous interviews.

Carcar hospital upgrade eyed

By Oscar C. Pineda

THE Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO) is considering the Carcar Provincial Hospital (CPH) to become a Level II facility and become the Province’s blood collecting unit (BCU), said Dr. Rene Catan.

“Haron ang mga pasyente nato, ikaw operahanan ka sa Balamban, dili na ka padaganon sa gabii padung sa Sotto haron mokuha og blood (So that our patients, if you need to be operated on in Balambam, you don’t need to go so far at night to Sotto hospital just to get blood),” said Provincial Health Office (PHO) Chief Rene Catan.

He said a hospital needs to become Level II to qualify as a BCU.

If the CPH becomes a collecting center, the PHO can invite volunteers to donate blood.

Collected blood will be processed in the regional blood bank then the provincial hospital will collect back processed blood for distribution to its hospitals.

With the rise in dengue cases, blood is important to patients in provincial and district hospitals.

“Ang hospital dili siya maka-exist, dili kita maka-serve kung wa tay blood (Hospitals can’t exist without it, blood is important to we can serve), blood is key to hospital operation,” Catan said in an interview.

Needs

In its recent press release, Catan is optimistic that it can bring two of the four provincial hospitals to attain Level 2 category next year as initial steps in making health services at par with private facilities.

Carcar and Danao Provincial Hospitals are being eyed for a Level 2 accreditation. Under the Level 2 category, a health care facility must have doctors for internal medicine and advance amenities and services for OB-gyne and anesthesiology.

Its press release further stated that Level II standards also require machines for computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment.

In addition, he said in an interview, what they need are additional hospital beds, radiology technicians, medical technicians, surgeons and anesthesiologists, and blood. He is targeting early next year to have all of them.

He said he wanted all four provincial hospitals to become Level II or Level III after three years, but would need P2.5 billion to achieve this goal.

But even without the P2.5 billion, Catan, in an interview, said, “We are a stone’s throw away” to develop Carcar’s hospital to Level II.

DA-7 confers Gawad Saka Award

By Gregg M. Rubio (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture conferred on Thursday (October 20) the Regional Gawad Saka Award to outstanding individuals, associations and employees of DA and local government units in Central Visayas.

There were 13 individual, six groups and seven organic farmers in the region who have been adjudged for their invaluable contributions to the realization of the department's vision of a food secured and food self-sufficient nation.

The awardees each received P30,000 and a plaque, along with their respective assisting agriculture technician.

Leading the awardees was Rosita Quipit who is this year's Outstanding Corn Farmer, making her hometown of Carmen, Bohol a Hall of Famer for being an awardee since 2013.

Carmen Mayor Ricardo Francisco Toribio said the municipal government has been providing Quipit the needed assistance for her dedication to farming.

Other individual awardees were Jose Polinar, as rice farmer of Batuan, Bohol; Bernardino Ruloma for High Value Crops Development Program in Calape, Bohol; Junvic Ando, a small animal raiser in Sagbayan, Bohol; Jessie Ogahayon, an organic farmer of Dumaguete City; Kremlind Catan, a coconut farmer of Dumaguete City; Harris King Omandam, a young farmer of Siquijor; Maria Gimenez, a cassava farmer of Siquijor; Leonides Labrador, an agricultural entrepreneur of Cebu City; Alex Mandin and family, an outstanding farm family of Loboc, Bohol; Teresita Veradio, outstanding rural woman of Siquijor; Van Jimenez for fish capture of Siquijor; and Teresita Juan for fish culture of Getafe, Bohol.

Groups that received recognition were Mandaug Palayamanan as small farmer organization of Calape, Bohol; Healthy 4H Club as young farmer organization in Dumaguete City; San Miguel Municipal Agricultural and Fisheries Council in Bohol; Dumanhog Rural Improvement Club in Siquijor; United Farmers of Tanibag for Barangay Food Terminal in Pinamungajan, Cebu; Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council of Oslob, Cebu; and the Municipality of Alegria, Cebu for organic farming.

Awards were also given to Avelina Pis-an as provincial focal person of Siquijor, Aiza Daligdig as municipal focal person of Maria, Siquijor; Mario Silagan as agriculture extension worker of Tubigon, Bohol; Francisco Manigo as small farmer individual in Tubigon, Bohol; KABOOM as small farmers group in Tagbilaran City, Cesar Baroro and Family as farmer family of Siquijor.

Tranquilino Galbo and Rosendo Ranario, both of Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol, received the Non-Gawad Saka Award while veterinarians, Dr. Alice Utlang of Cebu City, Dr. Janice Togonon for Lapu-Lapu City and Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy of the Province of Cebu, were awarded as rabies prevention implementors.

Ma. Theresa Abella of Cebu, Helen Igot of Bohol; Edgar Anhao, Fidencia Bation, Nida Abada and Vidalita Gom-os, all of Siquijor, were also given citation for assisting the Gawad Saka search.

DA Regional Executive Director Angel Enriquez said the awarding ceremony was a victorious day for the famers who survived despite of El Niño and the rainy season, as the government continues to provide the needed support.

DA Assistant Secretary for Visayas, Atty. Hansel Didulo extended his admiration to the awardees through a speech read by his executive assistant, Cheng Flores.

"May this glorious occasion inspire you to continue your noble task not only of providing for your family and ensuring we have food to eat, but also of inspiring us all to value the fruits of labor, hardwork, and sacrifice - virtues which you perfectly exemplify! Salamat po sa pagpupursige at sakripisyo ninyo. Salamat po sa patuloy na pagpapahalaga ninyo sa biyaya ng tubig at lupa," read the message.

Young farmer, Harris King Omandam of Siquijor, shared that while most of the youth are addicted to modern technology, his passion is farming even if he had finished a degree.

He urged parents to guide the youth to engage in farming which he said is a business.

PHP68-M access road to open beaches in Pilar, Cebu to tourists

(PNA), CVL/FGP/SSC

MANILA, Oct. 22 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed the PHP68.5 million Pilar circumferential road in Camotes Islands, Cebu province.

Director of DPWH-Central Visayas, Ador Canlas, said the completion of the 5.4-km. road will open to travelers the province's best kept secret paradise in the unfrequented town of Pilar.

"With this newly improved road, we expect the growth of the tourism industry of this potentially booming beach destination," Canlas said.

"Furthermore, economic opportunities are seen to open up in this remote town of Cebu,” he said in a statement.

Canlas noted that the state of the road in Pilar had long undermined the tourism potential of the island, which is located east of Cebu Island, southwest of Leyte Island, and north of Bohol Island.

He explained that the improved road condition will not only allow easier access to the town's tourism sites, but it will also open economic opportunities for the people of Pilar.

P583M Capitol dev’t plan okayed

By Elias O. Baquero

THE Cebu Provincial Development Council (PDC) yesterday approved the P583 million Annual Investment Plan (AIP) of the Provincial Government for 2017.

Gov. Hilario Davide III presented the Capitol’s 2017 AIP during the PDC’s full council meeting held at the Capitol Social Hall.

Davide said that the P583 million budget will be taken from the 20 percent development fund of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

The council also approved the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Budget for 2017.

The disaster budget, which amounted to P166 million, was presented for adoption by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Baltazar Tribunalo.

The same budget was approved by the Provincial Risk Reduction Management Council two weeks ago before this was submitted to the PDC.

Tribunalo said that the P166 million will be taken from the five percent calamity fund of the Province.

Of the P583 million Capitol AIP, P131.5 million has been allocated for hospitalization facilities, birthing centers and animal health facilities.

Also included in the AIP are: P12.034 million for water supply development program; P56.4 million for cultural, sports and manpower development; P8.7 million for environmental resource and solid waste management program; P14 million for tourism infrastructure support; P135.132 million for road, bridge and highway program; P33.234 million for food production, livelihood and entrepreneurship support program; P15 million for Philippine Rural Development Program Counterpart Fund; P74 million for amortization of heavy equipment loan; and P103 million for assistance to local government units (LGUs) on investment and capital expenditures.

Of the P131.5 million for hospitalization and health facilities, P18 million will be used for upgrading of building/structure of hospitals; P110.9 million for hospital/medical equipment and furnishing of hospital/health facilities; and P2.6 million to buy an ambulance.

For water supply development, P11.034 million will be used for the construction/rehabilitation of waterworks system; and P1 million for the water catchment facility.

For culture, sports and manpower development, P6 million has been allocated for improvement of Cebu Cultural Center (building furnishing); and P50.4 million for Cebu Provincial Skills Training Center.

For environment/resources and solid waste management, P1.8 million has been allocated for air quality equipment; P3.5 million for coastal resource management floating materials and P3.4 million to buy speedboats.

The P103 million assistance to LGUs will include maintenance of street lighting system, multipurpose halls, city-municipal-barangay roads and similar projects as listed under Joint Memorandum Circular 2011-1 jointly issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Budget and Management.

Cebu is 5th world's best island for 2016

(VLA/Sunnex/PNA)

CEBU ranked fifth in the list of the world's best islands, according to the 2016 Readers' Choice Awards of the international magazine Conde Nast Traveler.

Boracay Island took the first spot after it bumped Palawan Island to the second rank of the world's 20 best islands.

Conde Nast described Cebu "not as wild as Phuket in Thailand," but "is more personal, with plenty of up-and-coming restaurants and shopping."

The international traveller's magazine said Cebu "is famous for its beaches on the mainland as well as across many of the surrounding islands."

Last year, Cebu ranked 19th in the list, Boracay at 15th, and Palawan as first.

The international magazine described Boracay "as close to a tropical idyll as you’ll find in Southeast Asia, with gentle coastlines and transporting sunsets."

It attributed the White Beach "with powdery white sand and shallow azure water ideal for swimming and snorkeling" as Boracay's main draw to attract tourists, making it as one of the country's top tourist destinations.

It described Palawan island as the "home to one of the new seven natural wonders of the world, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River."

Mövenpick Cebu to represent PH in Hotelier Awards Asia

(Sun.Star Cebu)

FILIPINOS are, once again, making waves in the international stage with the announcement of finalists in the BMW Hotelier Awards Asia 2016.

Out of the 600 nominees from 160 properties and 55 hotel brands, a number of Filipino hoteliers have been shortlisted as finalists, including two members of Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu.

Engr. Domingo Belocura, chief engineer, and Ronaldo Dela Cruz, outlet manager of the hotel’s Ibiza Beach Club, joined the small circle of Filipinos who made it to the list, alongside big names and seasoned players in the hotel industry in Asia.

The winners will be announced during the awards night in Macau in December 2016.

The BMW Hotelier Awards is open to any property in Greater China (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) and in the Asean region, these entrants will be carefully judged and examined by a panel of experts who, between them, hold a wide plethora of industry skills and knowledge.

The panel of judges consists of representatives from Forbes Travel Guide, Google, International Luxury Travel Market, Les Roches, Edipresse Media Asia and the China National Hotel Association. The complete list of finalists can be viewed at http://www.hotelierawards.com.

“We couldn’t be any happier or more proud that our team members, Engr. Domingo Belocura and Ronaldo Dela Cruz, have made it to the elusive list of finalists, more so as they are representing the Philippines and the Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts brand,” said the hotel’s general manager Harold Rainfroy.

Rainfroy said that Dela Cruz embodies the hotel brand’s values, not only as an employee, but also as an inspiring citizen in the community, with service and professionalism that speak of a world-class Filipino.

On Belocura, Rainfroy said that the former was born to be a leader because of his unwavering desire to be of service to others and his great respect for teamwork, professionalism and learning.

ID, uniform now a must for bus drivers, dispatchers requires drivers

By Oscar C. Pineda

PUBLIC transport drivers, dispatchers, conductor and vendors will soon be required to wear identification cards and uniform when they go inside the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT).

Joey Herrera, CSBT manager, said this is part of their security measures.

Those who don’t have ID cards will not be allowed to loiter inside the CSBT and will have to stay inside the bus.

“This will help us identify who these people inside the terminal are. So we’re now strictly implementing this. Everybody has been informed as early as last week,” he said.

He warned that those who violate the policy will be banned from the terminal.

The new policy was implemented after several theft cases were reported.

Danilo Yuson and his wife, who are from Cagayan de Oro City, are now stranded in Cebu after they lost their P2,300 boat fare while sleeping in the terminal.

Even the guard was not spared. He lost his bag, which he placed inside the guard house.

Herrera said he already announced this policy when he met with bus operators last July.

“If they don’t have an ID, then they will have to stay inside the bus. They cannot loiter inside the bus terminal,” he said.

Carmen to host Prov’l Meet from Nov 21-26

By John Carlo Villaruel

THE province’s brightest young athletes will be heading up north as they fight for supremacy in the Cebu Provincial Meet slated from November 21 to 26 at the Municipality of Carmen.

In line with the tournament, the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC) conducted an athletics training earlier this week at San Francisco, Camotes where the athletes were taught advanced skills and drills.

Expected to make an impact on the playing field are the defending champions Daanbantayan which is gunning for its second consecutive title, last year’s runner up Liloan and perennial contender, Consolacion.

However, CPSC Executive Director Ramil Abing is worried that some of the best athletes of the province might not be able compete in the annual meet since some will be going to Tagum City for the Batang Pinoy National Championships slated on November 27.

“November 21 to 26 is the meet. Mag-abot sa Batang Pinoy which is Nov 27,” Abing said.

In last year’s competition held in Dalaguete, Cebu, the sporting conclave drew a massive turnout of 12,000 delegates.

The winners of the Provincial Meet will comprise the Cebu Province squad for next year’s Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA) Meet.

Endemic fly, bird spotted in river

By Oscar C. Pineda

TWO endemic species were spotted at the canyoneering river route in the boundary of Alegria and Badian towns, southern Cebu by the assessment team of the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office recently.

The team was on their way to Barangay Matutinao in Badian with a community guide when they chanced upon a black shama, locally known as “Siloy” and the Cebu frill-wing damselfly, which are both endangered.

“We found the Siloy near the entrance in Matutinao where there are settlements,” Provincial Tourism head Boboi Costas said.

The Cebu frill-wing damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but are smaller, have slimmer bodies.

They are beautiful and black with unusual blue eyes.

Policies

Costas said they were not expecting that the bird would be that close to residents.

The team discovered the two endangered species while conducting an eco-socio demographic assessment in Kanlaob river route that passes through the boundaries of Alegria and Badian.

The assessment will help them formulate policies that would govern local tourism activities there and settle the towns’ differences, said Costas.

“We are coming up with an economic profile of the community by asking the people how they are using, exploiting the river; their source of income; type of housing materials; how they treat the forest and the river and how they manage their garbage,” he said.

The data gathered will be used to help the team formulate measures that will be submitted to the Cebu Provincial Board and the governor.

Any measure approved will help the Provincial Government oversee tourism activity in the two towns, which are earning millions in revenues for the residents and the municipal governments.

Revenues

Last Sept. 12, during the Capitol’s Caravan of Services in Badian, Sulsugan Barangay Captain Teofilo Caballero remitted P80,000 in canyoneering revenues for three days alone to the municipality.

Caballero said the town and the barangay have yet to share the money.

The Capitol team conducted an inventory of the birds, vegetation, insects, soil and water and creatures living in the river.

The assessment covered seven barangays namely Lepanto, Guadalupe, Valencia, Compostela, all in Alegria; and Barangays Sulsugan, Balhaan and Matutinao in Badian.

“This will help residents realize how valuable plant and animal species are, so it will be easy for the Province and the community to declare their river a locally protected area,” said Costas.

Learning how they manage their solid waste will also enable the Capitol to regulate and impose measures to preserve and maintain cleanliness in the area.

The team and will present the consolidated data in their next joint meeting on Oct. 21 with Alegria and Badian officials.

The team learned that Kanlaob river, the host of the canyoneering activity, has nine stations, where there are seven “jumps.”

The area being disputed by the two towns is in the third up to the seventh jump stations.

The first and second stations are in Alegria, while the 8th and 9th stations are in Badian.

Alegria’s canyoneering package starts from the first up to the 7th station while Badian’s canyoneering activity starts from the third to 9th station.

“Both parties agreed not to co-manage the river, as they both agreed that it will be the Province who would oversee the canyoneering tourism activity, and each town would sell their tourism package separately,” Costas said after their recent meeting.

He is confident that Capitol will be able to settle the dispute amicably.

CCCI to go on investment mission

By Katlene O. Cacho

THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is scheduled to visit Japan next month for an investment mission.

CCCI president Melanie Ng said the chamber was invited by the Hiroshima Philippines Friendship Society (HPFS) to share investment opportunities in Cebu to Japanese investors in a one-day business forum on Nov. 7 in Hiroshima, Japan.

According to Ng, CCCI will highlight the sunshine industries in Cebu by introducing the various business sectors where Japanese investors can be involved. It would also highlight why Cebu is becoming an investment choice for foreign investors from different countries.

Ng is expected to talk about the various opportunities for doing business with CCCI members, including an overview of the business climate in Cebu, especially for potential investors and partners from Japan.

“Essentially, the presentation is aimed at selling Cebu to companies and investors based in Hiroshima and the surrounding region,” said Ng.

Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture and the largest city in the Chugoku region of western Honshu-the largest island of Japan. Hiroshima is best known as the first city in history to be targeted by a nuclear weapon by US during World War II.

The gross domestic product in Greater Hiroshima, Hiroshima Metropolitan Employment Area is $61.3 billion as of 2010. The city has six overseas sister cites namely, Honolulu, US; Volvograd, Russia; Hanover, Germany; Chongqing, China; Daegu, South Korea; and Montreal, Canada.

CCCI will be joined by representatives from the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo (International Trade Office) who will discuss trade, investment, industrial technology and agribusiness promotion, generation and development in the country as well as the reforms and opportunities for businesses under the Duterte administration.

Another speaker invited is the Japanese country manager of Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Tokyo office) who will also discuss financing and other investment issues.

“We hope that this presentation coupled with those from the banking and government sides will result in an outstanding information seminar package focusing on Cebu that will generate a lot of interest among Japanese businesses based in Hiroshima,” said Ng.

After this forum, HPFS is planning to organize a trade mission to Cebu in 2017.

Growth in trade and tourism is expected to increase following the increased direct flights between Cebu and a number of key cities in Japan.

Japan was the country’s top trading partner in 2015, accounting for trade worth $18.669 billion or 14.4 percent of the country’s total trade.

Exports to Japan totaled $12.301 billion while imports were valued at $6.369 billion, posting a trade surplus of $5.932 billion. Electronic products got a large share of 30.2 percent of the total exports to Japan valued at $3.721 billion, followed by woodcrafts and furniture at $2.853 billion or 23.2 percent.

On the other hand, majority of the imported products from Japan were electronic products billed at $2.193 billion or 34.4 percent and transport equipment with $962.86 million or 15.1 percent.

Aside from Japan, CCCI is also eyeing stronger trade partnerships with Dubai. The chamber also plans to pursue sisterhood deals with some business organizations in Germany through the facilitation of Afos Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation.

“We are exploring the possibility of a sister chamber arrangement with some chambers on Germany, especially in support of our continuing project in the skills development for our K to 12 Industry Academe Linkage program,” said Ng.

Afos was founded by The Federation of Catholic Entrpreneurs-BKU, DEG-Deutsche Investions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft, the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, German International Cooperation (GIZ), and several other German organization committed to support entrepreneurial development in partner countries.

8 Cebu destinations (International Copycats Edition)

By Crischellyn D. Abayon

WHAT international destination is in your bucket list?

Do you turn green with envy every time you see a Facebook friend check-in to places you can only dream of going to? Sure, international travel will cost an arm and a leg but who says you can't capture the perfect "international" selfie here?

Head on to these "international destinations" now. No need for a passport. Promise.

1. Poblacion, Carcar - Spain

The Philippines is a Spanish colony for 400 years, so it isn't a surprise that churches and homes reflect the Spanish Baroque architecture, which is very popular at that time. If you drop by Carcar City, don't forget to have a selfie at the Sta. Catalina Alexandria Church. Built in the 1860, this colonial church has two bell towers and an onion-shaped dome similar to the Greek Orthodox Churches of Eastern Europe.

Complete the Spanish feels with a trip to the Bahay na Tisa, named as such because of the brick roof that is also used in Spanish edifices.

2. Riverstone Castle, Argao and Virgin Mary Shrine, Lindogon - Prague and Belgium

If you've been dreaming of Medieval Europe, then head on to the towns of Sibonga and Argao where the Virgin Mary Shrine of Lindogon and Riverstone Castle are located.

The Virgin Mary Shrine of Lindogon is fast becoming a must-visit place in Cebu not only because of the abundant miracle stories from devotees but also because of the impressive castle it has become. Sitting on top of a hill, the castle also gives a good view of the town of Sibonga.

If you go to the next town of Argao, you can also visit the Riverstone Castle, which is very similar to the Het Steen Schelde of Belgium. This castle has a bar, a pool and rooms where tourists can stay for the night because after all, who doesn't want to wake up in a castle, right?

3. Sirao Flower Farm - Keukenhof, The Netherlands

Although it is called "The Little Amsterdam of Cebu," the Sirao Flower Farm is more comparable to Keukenhof of The Netherlands. Keukenhof is considered the most beautiful garden of the world where tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other flowers cover a good 32-hectare land area. The Sirao Flower Farm has been known for its celosias but the owner of the farm has added gerberas and sunflowers.

4. Bantayan Island - Phuket, Thailand

Why spend a fortune for some sand, sea and sun when you have an abundance of that here in Cebu? Phuket, Thailand is a popular destination because of its beaches but Cebu's Bantayan Island has equally inviting clear water and powdery white sand.

5. Bojo River, Aloguinsan - Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

The Unesco World Heritage Site will make you fall in-love with its water and limestone pillars but do you know that the Bojo River in Aloguinsan town can give you a postcard-perfect view comparable to it? Take the Bojo River cruise and see the reason why it was named a Green Destination.

6. Taoist Temple, Lahug, Cebu City - China

Chinese temples are sacred, which is why taking pictures inside are a big no-no. The facade of these temples, though, are colorful and picturesque. If you've no time and no money to go to China to visit a temple, you can always visit the Cebu Taoist Temple and get the same experience.

The multi-hued and multi-tiered structure's facade is a replica of the Great Wall of China. It also has a chapel, garden, wishing well and souvenir shop.

Trivia:

Do you know that Gloria Diaz dropped by the temple as a Bb. Pilipinas candidate and was told by a monk that she will win the competition? Well, she didn't only win over equally-beautiful Bb. Pilipinas candidates, she even became 1969 Ms. Universe.

7. Temple of Leah - Rome

If India has its Taj Mahal, Cebu has Temple of Leah.

Sitting on a hill in Busay, Cebu, the structure serves as a symbol of Teodorico Adarna's undying love for his wife Leah Villa Albino-Adarna. This temple will take visitors to Rome minus the jetlag.

The intricate structure has prominent pillars and a large view deck. The fountain and statues perfectly accentuate the place.

8. The Maze, Toledo City - United Kingdom

Don't you want to get lost in the Queen's maze garden? You don't have to go to the United Kingdom to do that because the Capilla Santa Ana in Toledo City, Cebu, has a maze, too.

You don't only come to the chapel to take a selfie though because this is a good destination for Lent or for when you need time to nourish your soul. The idea is to walk through the maze in meditation.

BONUS:

Sinulog - Mardi Gras of Brazil

If Brazil has its mardi gras, Cebu has Sinulog. The festival is held every third week of January in honor of the Santo Niño. This is one of the most awaited events in the island-province and is participated by local and national contingents.

The beat that will make you dance and the colorful costumes make this festival known to people all over the world.

So who says your vacation should be expensive? And why go far when Cebu can offer destinations that will make you take a second look?

First wage public consultation in Cebu set for November 10

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-7 scheduled the first wage public consultation in Cebu for November 10.

Metudio Belarmino, spokesperson of the Cebu Labor Center and one of the wage hike petitioners, said the public consultation aims to tackle the two petitions they filed and the one by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

The CLC filed a wage petition last June 16 asking for a P140 increase in the daily wage while the TUCP filed a separate petition last May 3 seeking a raise in private workers' pay in Central Visayas by P161 per day.

Belarmino added that on October 25, all labor groups in Cebu and in Bohol will gather here to tackle the issues on the P125 across-the-board legislated wage increase and the P750 living wage or minimum wage all over the country.

"We will tackle all these issues and iron out all wage-related concerns before the public consultation," he said.

It can be recalled that Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III directed all RTWPBs to conduct nationwide consultations on the legislative measures proposing for a P125 across-the-board general wage increase in the private sector.

Bello added that the nationwide consultations are aimed at studying legislative measures which will be filed in the 17th Congress.

The proposals have been filed since the 13th Congress.

‘Happiest workers in PH’ tag may attract investors to Cebu

By Victor Anthony V. Silva

More investments are seen to pour into an area when its employees are happy, given that happiness in the workplace may be linked to productivity.

Fortunately for Cebu, its employees emerged as the “happiest” in the whole country, according to a report by JobStreet.com.

“We are hoping this situation will continue. If we are happy, we are productive. When we are productive, more companies will come to us to invest,” said Yolanda Buyco, regional marketing operations manager of SEEK Asia, JobStreet’s mother company, in a press conference on Tuesday.

Happiness index report

According to JobStreet.com’s 2016 Job Happiness Index Report released on Tuesday, the average job satisfaction rating among Cebu’s 518 respondents is 6.38 on a 10-point scale.

Cebu surpassed the national average rating of 6.25 and ranked higher than other labor-rich areas such as CALABARZON (6.26), Metro Manila (6.14), and Negros Island Region (6.09).

Cebu’s job happiness index is also higher than the national average of 73, with 76 out of 100 Cebuano employees claiming to be at least neutral to extremely happy with their jobs.

Two months ago, JobStreet announced that the Philippines ranked highest among seven Asian countries surveyed, the rest being Indonesia (6.16), Thailand (5.74), Hongkong (5.54), Vietnam (5.48), Malaysia (5.22), and Singapore (5.09).

Online survey

Buyco said they conducted an online survey from June to July this year, asking 12,796 respondents all over the Philippines whether they are happy with their jobs and if they think their situation will change in the next six months.

She said that since not all companies could conduct engagements with employees, the report would be a way to educate business owners about the labor market and the forces that would drive happiness.

Factors

Angelo Jayno, JobStreet sales supervisor, further explained that Cebuanos who took the survey placed a high premium on good relationships with colleagues, convenient work location, and conducive work schedule when asked which factors caused job happiness.

Meanwhile, he said the top factors that make employees unsatisfied with their jobs are poor salary, lack of benefits, and an uninspiring management and leadership team.

Jayno added that 31 percent of Cebuano respondents said a salary increase would make them happier.

On the other hand, 14 percent would rather resign and take advantage of better opportunities while 8 percent said getting further training and development opportunities would make them happier at work.

Tenure

When it comes to tenure, Cebuano employees who have stayed in their jobs for six months to less than one year claimed to be the happiest, followed by those with three to less than five years’ stay in their present jobs.

This is also reflected in the findings based on position level, with Cebuano fresh graduates averaging highest at 6.49 and an average of 6.41 among those in the supervisory level as second.

Province gov’t workers

Jayno said the province’s government workers are the happiest at 7.57, followed by employees in the retail and banking industries with 7.13 and 6.69, respectively.

Employees specializing in sciences, building and construction, and marketing are the happiest in Cebu, in contrast to education, arts and media, and accounting specialists who take the bottom three averages based on specialization.

This year, JobStreet came out with its third national job happiness index report, second regionally, and the first for Cebu.

Cebu Marathon to mark 10th anniversary with major changes

By Glendale G. Rosal

MAJOR changes will mark next year’s Cebu Marathon, which will be celebrating its 10th anniversary.

For the first time, the race, which will be held on January 8, will be featuring four distances, the 42-kilometer, 21k, 10k and 5k races.

From the Cebu IT Park, the race is also moving to the Cebu Business Park ground as it venue.

The 42k and 21k races will also have new routes that will now cover the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

Participants in the 42k and 21k races will now have to pass the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

John Pages, one of the organizers from the Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC), said they are trying to revive the concept used by one of Cebu’s iconic running events in the past dubbed as the “Tri City Marathon”.

“We want to bring back that concept of the Tri City Marathon because it became one of Cebu’s icons, and we are happy that we will be covering three cities in this race because it’s something new to the participants,” said Pages in a press conference yesterday at the Mooon Café in Cebu IT Park.

Organizers have also decided to change the race’s icon from a Sinulog festival-inspired theme to a simpler concept art with the Marcelo Fernan Bridge as its centerpiece.

CERC has also decided to bring back the awarding of the mango-shaped finishers medal.

“We’re bringing back the mango shaped medal, which was used during the first year of the marathon, but now it comes with a bigger size and a new design,” said CERC official Meyric Jacalan.

Organizers added they will be providing more food and hydration to the participants along the race route and at the finish line.

The race will also feature a new design of the race shirt and finishers’ shirt.

“Although the run’s fee is quite expensive, we will do our best to give value of the participants’ money. We will provide them a very well-organized race,” added Jacalan, who was recently elected as the Vice President of CERC.

CERC’s new president is fun run organizer Kenneth Casquejo. Also present in yesterday’s press conference were former CERC presidents Jesse Taborada, Steve Ferraren, Jacalan, Joel Juarez and Casquejo.

The online registration kicked off last September 26 while the on-site registration will be on Monday at the Active Zone of Ayala Center Cebu.

Early registration fee for the 42k is P1,800, P1,500 for the 21k, P900 for the 10k and P650 for the 5k, Early registration is until October 31.

Registration fee after October 31 will be pegged at P2,100 for the 42k, P1,800 for the 21k, P1,100 for the 10k and P750 for the 5k.


Cebu’s largest solar-power plant gets P4.375-billion loan from DBP

(BusinessMirror)

THE Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has granted a P4.375-billion loan to First Toledo Solar Energy Corp. to partially finance the construction of a 60-megawatt (MW) solar-power plant in Toledo City, Cebu.

The project is currently the largest solar farm the DBP has financed, and is also the largest solar-power plant in Cebu Island.

The grant of the 15-year term loan facility is in line with DBP’s thrust to help the country achieve energy independence through the development of renewable-energy resources.

The project will augment the energy supply in the Visayas grid by 48.96 MW. It is expected to have a multiplier effect on the local economy by stimulating business activities and, ultimately, improve the living condition of the residents of Cebu province.


Located at Barangay Talavera, Toledo City in Cebu, the project will replace more than 157,000 barrels of crude oil equivalent per year from alternative thermal plants during operations. It is also expected to reduce about 38,000 tons of carbon- dioxide emissions.

The project is intended to qualify for the Feed-in- Tariff Program and is already dispatching power to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

DENR adopts Argao as pilot ecological town

(PR)

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has adopted the municipality of Argao as a pilot eco logical town and has expressed commitment to support the town’s initiatives in solid waste management program.

“Among nakita ang Argao nga grabe ka-committed gikan sa mayor ngadto sa barangay, dako na gyud ang iyang nahimo sama niining environmental summit (We have seen that Argao is very committed, from the mayor down to the barangay, it has achieved many things like this),” said Rechale Ybanez, senior environmental management specialist and focal person of the Regional Ecology Center of DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7.

In an interview during the first environmental summit held recently, Ybanez said that Mayor Stanley Caminero is willing to take the challenge.

A total of 300 people participated in the summit held at the town’s training center.

The participants represented the 45 barangays, the government, the academe, the business sector, the religious sector, resort owners and the transport sector, among others.

Ybanez said that Argao by its doings has emerged as a pilot eco-town and has the full support of the DENR central office through Undersecretary for Luzon and Visayas Isabelo Montejo who is an Argaoanon.

Caminero, a surgeon, has implemented a program called, “Doers of Change (DOC),” starting with the market vendors and tricycle drivers.

They initiated the full implementation of the ordinances, like “no smoking, no littering, and the traffic rules and road courtesy.”

As part of the change, the mayor initiated the summit to involve all sectors in the town’s green program.

“There is a problem and the people is part of its solution,” said Caminero.

Funds

Vice Mayor Allan Sesaldo, for his part, said they will come up with a legislation to request for the needed funds.

Ybanez said they have allotted P300,000 for the construction of a material recovery facility (MRF) for clustered barangays and will continue to provide Argao the technical assistance.

They will also facilitate grants and help implement the adopt-a-barangay program and help access grants for the barangays from the Philippine Environmental Foundation.

Meanwhile, Engr. Eliza Madarazo, head of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Davao City said they are also working on a partnership with Argao to replicate their experience in terms of Green governance.

Madrazo shared during the summit the Davao experience and how it took them five years before the residents adopted it as a way of life.

Also, former San Francisco, Camotes mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr., now a member of UN Committee on Resiliency of Cities is confident that Argao can duplicate their success.

“With the dedication of the mayor and the inclusion of all sectors there is no reason why Argao cannot do it,” said Arquillano, one of the speakers at the summit.

The activity culminated with the participants signing their signatures on the commitment wall.

DTI-Cebu exceeds business name registration annual target by 18%

(PNA), LAP/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu has exceeded its annual target in the number of business name registrations by 18 percent, some three months before the year ends.

Official data from the DTI-Cebu showed that there were 11,838 business name registrations from January to September.

This is 18 percent higher than this year’s 10,000 total target.

DTI Cebu Business Welfare Division Chief Zaide Bation said most of the single proprietorship enterprises in Cebu are engaged in food and general mechandise.

Out of the 11,838 business name registrations, new businesses account for 10,199 or 86.2 percent, while renewals are at 1,639 or 13.8 percent.

Total capitalization of these businesses stands at PHP3.39 billion and is expected to generate 19,912 jobs.

The same DTI Cebu data also showed that there were more female business owners, with 6,230 of them.

There were a total of 5,608 male entrepreneurs.

Roadmap for Cebu technology startups in the works-DTI director

By Katlene O. Cacho

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Cebu will now start working with the different industry stakeholders to create a road map for technology startups.

DTI Cebu Director Ma. Elena Arbon said there is a need for Cebu to create one that would chart the direction of the province’s technology startup industry in the short to medium term.

This road map, called the Cebu Startup Ecosystem Development Plan, will be patterned after and aligned with the goals of the National Startup Roadmap.

“We have to understand that Cebu has different requirements. Its dynamics is different and that we need to at least create our own,” said Arbon.

She added that this will build a strong foundation for the province’s innovation-led economy. Arbon said the crafting of the road map will start this year and is expected to be introduced to the public before the year ends.

“We are now reaching out to the different stakeholders—the business chambers, academe, and other tech development organizations for the creation of this road map,” Arbon said.

DTI Cebu already has a preliminary database of local startups. After the completion of the Cebu startup plan, Arbon said in previous interviews that DTI and stakeholders will create the Cebu Innovation Circle, which will consist of Cebu business owners, the academe, industry experts and local startups.

Arbon explained that Cebu has been active in gathering the tech startup community but she emphasized it is about time to bring these tech startups to the next level.

She said linking them to the right people, resources and opportunities will help them grow.

“Our ecosystem is still young. But there’s no doubt we can become our own Silicon Valley,” she said.

By 2020, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) intends to have 500 startups in the country with a total funding of $200 million and valuation of $2 billion.

MCCI plans trade mission next year

By Katlene O. Cacho

EYEING to boost economic ties and learn best practices in business and governance, the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) is staging a trade mission to Australia and New Zealand in 2017.

MCCI president Glenn Anthony Soco said they are already in talks with the Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines (ANZCHAM) about the planned trade mission. They were MCCI’s guests during the Mandaue Investment Forum.

Soco said he is keen on inviting Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing and some city officials to join them in the trade mission. He said Mandaue City could learn from the best practices of governance, especially in New Zealand, which has a processing time for government permits that takes only one day.

“If we are to increase our competitiveness in Mandaue, New Zealand’s system is a good benchmark,” said Soco.

MCCI, though, has yet to finalize the members of the delegation and the exact dates of the trade mission.

Soco added there is also a potential to explore businesses between Cebu and Australia-New Zealand in the field of agriculture, dairy products and electronics, among others.

“I’m personally interested in exploring the business opportunities in dairy products,” said Soco, who is the owner of the Coffee Dream chain.

Aside from good governance, MCCI is also interested to learn about the good business practices of companies there which are ISO certified, as well as their strong micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development programs.

He said they can be good models for MCCI to learn from or replicate in their own businesses.

Cebu firms for ending endo

By Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.

Cebu City — A number of companies in Cebu and from the rest of Central Visayas have responded to the call of the government against “end of contract” (endo) practices, and have regularized at least 600 workers since the campaign was launched.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Visayas said the stop-endo drive has received positive feedback from employers in the region, although the 600 regularized workers are still few compared to the number of contractual workers in Region 7.

DOLE Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga said most of the regularized employees work in malls, agencies, and export processing zones.

The department has launched an orientation and information drive to let the employers in the region know that they have the responsibility to regularize their workers.

DOLE 7 is targeting to have 100 percent regularization of contractual workers before the end of December 2017.

Sarcauga said at least half of the contractual workers in the region should become regular workers before the end of this year.

“The directives of President Duterte necessitated us to transform and change the way we do things. With his marching orders on ending endo, there is a need to treat workers as partners and respect their rights at work all the time,” Sarcauga said.

He enumerated three options for workers who could be terminated with the implementation of endo:

Refer them to other companies for employment;

Provide them livelihood assistance;

Re-train them in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Cebu ports boost security with 117 CCTV cameras

(PNA), CVL/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Oct. 4 (PNA) -- The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) has boosted the security in the city’s ports with the installation of some 117 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, three of which with zooming capability, an official said.

Sr. Supt. Glenn Sarador, Cebu Port Authority (CPA) police chief, said these CCTV cameras have been placed in strategic areas from the Cebu International Port (CIP) to Pier 1 and the passenger terminals.

Sarador, who is concurrently officer-in-charge of the Port Safety and Security, said 69 of these security cameras were purchased for PHP9.072 million.

Sarador said the three cameras with zooming capability, called PanTilt Zoom Television (PTV), costs more than PHP100,000 each.

Sarador said the CPA also allocated PHP10 million to buy more CCTV cameras.

These will be installed in areas near the Qimonda IT Center Complex, which now houses the Palace of Justice, and in exits and entrances leading to the highway, among others.

Aside from the 117 CCTV cameras, 65 other CCTV units were installed in various areas of the CIP by the Oriental Port and Allied Services Corp., a cargo-handling firm in the Cebu port.

Sarador said the installation of the CCTV cameras will also allow them to monitor the entry and exit of criminals to the ports.

Oscar Lopez, CPA port management department manager, said they have also installed CCTV cameras in the ports of Hagnaya and San Remigio and Sta. Fe in Bantayan Island in northern Cebu.

ICC Cabcom approves PHP9.2-B new Cebu international container port

(PNA), LAP/EB/EBP

CEBU CITY, Oct. 3 (PNA) -- The Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-Cabcom) has approved the PHP9.2-billion New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP) project in Tayud, Consolacion town in northern Cebu, an official said.

Cebu Port Authority (CPA) General Manager Edmund Tan said the new international port will allow Cebu to welcome bigger ocean-going vessels.

The NCICP is proposed to be built on a 25-hectare reclaimed site in Tayud, Consolacion, where international port operations will be transferred.

The current Cebu International Port (CIP) in Cebu City occupies 14 hectares, which will then be used for international cruise lines.

Tan said the CIP is already congested and has exceeded its optimal yard utilization rate due to the increased cargo volume arriving in the Cebu Port.

Tan said the ICC-Cabcom chaired by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia has submitted the approved CPA port project for final approval by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Pernia described the project as a modern international container port facility needed to sustain Cebu’s development.

The project will be funded through official development assistance as recommended by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

KOICA reviewed the port feasibility study previously done by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) about 16 years ago.

JICA turns over PHP679-M worth of equipment, software to Cebu water firm

(PNA), SCS/EB/PJN

CEBU CITY, Oct. 2 (PNA) -- The Japanese Government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), turned over on Friday some PHP679 million worth of equipment and software, which monitors the pressure and volume of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) water supply, reservoir and well pump stations.

MCWD general manager Noel Dalena said the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system allows them to quickly respond to those who have water supply problems because it’s an on-site, on-field monitor.

The first full-scale water system in the country, SCADA will help MCWD manage its non-revenue water, or water that has been produced and lost before reaching the consumers.

Dalena said that with the system’s on-site actual checking, which then informs the monitoring personnel on the current status of their pumps, they can immediately send out a team to repair a leak as soon as a sudden drop in water pressure is observed.

Aside from this, the system’s new flow meters, detectors and transmitters have been installed in 53 of the 126 pump stations of the water district.

This would mean that in the event that high pressure or leaking is detected, MCWD will turn on and/or off the pumps even from a distance to save water loss, fuel and transportation cost.

“Although we have a roving team, they can’t immediately respond to those reporting from let’s say for example, Guadalupe if our group’s in Mandaue City tending to a separate case,” Dalena said.

Dalena said the entire project was funded by JICA’s grant and that MCWD only paid for it’s tax.

Takahiro Morita of JICA said MCWD was chosen as it is one of the best water distributor’s in the country.

Although the system has been installed and the personnel are already trained, SCADA is scheduled for official operation in March 2017.

Chinese airline to fly four times a week from Chengdu to Cebu

(PNA), RMA/EB/SSC

CEBU CITY, Oct. 1 (PNA) -- China Eastern Airlines, China’s second largest carrier, will operate a four times a week flights from Chengdu to Cebu at the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in Lapu-Lapu City.

The MCIA, the country’s busiest airport outside Manila, connects to 13 international destinations and 23 domestic destinations.

Chengdu is the capital of China’s southwest Sichuan Province.

The MCIA welcomed on Friday the arrival of the inaugural flight MU5025 of China Eastern Airlines, which carried 112 passengers from Chengdu with a water canon salute.

The Cebu-Chengdu route is the second destination to China from Cebu after Cebu-Xiamen via Xiamen Air last March.

China Eastern Airlines, which used to run chartered flights to Cebu in the past, will now utilize an Airbus 319 with 112 economy and eight business class seats.

The airline leaves Cebu for Chengdu at 2:20 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

China Eastern Airlines has hubs at Shanghai’s Pudong and Hongqiao airports, as well as Kunming Airport in southwest, which serves over 350 domestic routes and 40 international destinations.

Chengdu is the home of giant pandas, the Jiuzhai Valley National Park, the Dujiiangyan Irrigation System, the oldest and only surviving no-dam irrigation system in the world built some 2,000 years ago, and the Sanxingdui Museum, which exhibits the excavations of the ancient Shu Kingdom.

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