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Cebu Province News March 2014 (view source)

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==BFAR turns over P33M to Cebu Capitol for north Cebu seaweed, aqua farm rehab==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=627552
*Thursday, March 20, 2014
:By Eddie O. Barrita [(PNA), CTB/EB/]
CEBU CITY, March 20 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has turned over P33 million to the Cebu Provincial Government as financial assistance for the rehabilitation of seaweed and aqua farms in northern Cebu towns that were damaged by super typhoon Yolanda last year.
BFAR 7 director Andres Bojos handed over the check Wednesday to Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale at the Cebu Capitol.
The amount would be used to purchase seaweed seedlings.
Bojos said that they would have to source the seaweed seedlings from Zamboanga since there is not enough supply in the region.
The Cebu Provincial Government and the BFAR signed an agreement in December last year to assist the local government units in the rehabilitation of the aquaculture industry and enhance the livelihood of fish farmers.
Of the P33 million, P15 million is for seaweeds rehabilitation, P12 million for fish cage and fishpens and fingerlings, P6 million for fishing gears and “payaw.”
Under the agreement, the provincial government will provide a 20 percent counterpart fund to cover administrative operations and other incidental expenses, in cash or in kind.
Bojos said BFAR has already identified 2,500 beneficiaries of the fishing materials.
There are also more than 200 new boats that are set to be distributed in northern Cebu.
At least 250 fishing boats were initially distributed to the fisherfolk in Bantayan Island during the recent visit of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
==Danao set to host Cebu leg of NAGT Series==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-sports/2014/03/19/1302615/danao-set-host-cebu-leg-nagt-series
*Wednesday, March 19, 2014 12:00 am
:By Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines -  Cebuano triathletes take another shot to be part of the national team with the staging of the third leg of the National Age-Group Triathlon (NAGT) Series on April 6 in Danao City's Boardwalk.
It's the first time in five years that Danao hosted an NAGT leg, said Danao City Administrator and sports commisison chairman Oscar "Boying" Rodriguez, Jr. in a press conference yesterday at Irie Gastropubliko.
The race features an adult and kids category plus a duathlon for those who don't know how to swim or opt not to swim.
Adult triathletes will deal with a one-kilometer swim, 30km bike and 7.5km run.
There will also be a relay competition.
For the supertrikids, the age groups to be contested are the under-7, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-15.
The duathlon, on the other hand, has been included upon the prodding of the locals led by no less than Danao Mayor Ramon "Nito" Durano III.
Aside from medals, cash prizes will also be given away to the top three overall finishers in the men's and women's open.
Non-winners will  have something to look forward as exciting items such as Rudy Project watches, sungglasses and bags will be raffled off.
Registration fee is pegged at P1,000 for the triathlon and P500 for the supertrikids and duathlon.
Entry forms are available at Rudy Project in Ayala and SM and The Brick Tri Shop.
==BFP 7 eyes more fire stations in Central Visayas==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=626552
*Tuesday, March 18, 2014
: (PNA), FFC/EB
CEBU CITY, March 18 (PNA) -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 7 is planning to establish more fire stations in Central Visayas, an official said.
Senior Supt. Ma. Luisa Hadjula, BFP 7 regional director, said she has recently conducted a survey of local government units (LGUs) in the region that have yet to establish their own fire stations.
“I was ordered by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas and our national director to conduct this survey. I was given the list of municipalities which are the target of this program,” Hadjula said.
Under the plan, the DILG will finance P2 million for the construction of the fire station as well as providing one fire truck of 1,000 gallon capacity.
Hadjula said the LGUs will have to donate at least 400 square meters of lot where the fire station will be built and a fire truck with a capacity of 2,500 gallons as their counterpart.
Hadjula said the LGUs can buy the fire truck using their calamity fund.
She said the municipalities of Alcoy and Samboan in Cebu have signified strong interest in this program.
“Most of the mayors I talked to over the phone were positive and said they are willing to donate the lot for the fire stations. Some said they will consult the Sangguniang Bayan to get the consensus before finally agreeing to take part in this program of the national government,” she said.
Of the total six component cities and 44 municipalities in Cebu, data from BFP 7 showed that 13 towns have yet to establish their own fire stations.
These include Ronda, Alcantara, Alegria, Badian, Santander, Samboan, Alcoy, Asturias, Tabogon, Borbon, Pilar in Camotes Island, Sta. Fe and Madridejos in Bantayan Island.
Cebu has a total of 37 fire stations and 73 fire trucks, of which 58 are serviceable, three are for repair and two are beyond economical repair condition.
==Megawide, GMR press DOTC on P17.5-B Cebu airport project==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/business/2014/03/17/1301711/megawide-gmr-press-dotc-p17.5-b-cebu-airport-project
*Monday, March 17, 2014 12:00 am
:By Lawrence Agcaoili (The Philippine Star)
MANILA, Philippines - The tandem of Filipino-owned Megawide Construction Corp. and Bangalore-based GMR Airports has asked the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to resolve the issues delaying the award of the P17.5-billion contract for the expansion of the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
In a statement, Megawide chief marketing officer Louie Ferrer said the DOTC should proceed with the awarding of the project that was auctioned by the government through the public private partnership (PPP) program last Dec. 12.
Ferrer reiterated that the accusations hurdled by the Filinvest Group of taipan Andrew Gotianun are baseless.
“The DOTC should proceed with the awarding because there is no ground for anyone, particularly Filinvest, to question GMR’s financial capability as we are confident that this is a non-issue with respect to the results of this bid,” he said.
The Megawide-GMR Group submitted the highest bid of P14.404 billion for the project last Dec. 12 followed by the Filinvest – CAI Consortium with P13.999 billion, and Premier Airport Group of SM Group of retail magnate Henry Sy with P12.5 billion.
The MPIC-JGS Airport consortium led by infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and JG Summit Holdings submitted a bid of P11.23 billion while AAA Airport Partners led by the conglomerate Ayala Group and Cebu-based Aboitiz Land forwarded a bid of P11.088 billion.
The San Miguel Corp.-Incheon Airport consortium submitted a bid of P9.05 billion while the Lopez groups’ First Philippine Airports submitted the lowest bid of P4.7 billion.
However, the awarding of the project has been delayed due to the allegations made by the Filinvest Group on the alleged conflict of interest committed by the Megawide-GMR Group in violation of the bidding rules.
During a Senate hearing last week, the Megawide-GMR Group informed Sen. Serge Osmeña about the group’s unequivocal commitment to the project for 25 years and in building a world-class airport that all Filipinos will be proud of, and Cebuanos can call their own.
The group informed the Osmeña committee that the company maintains that it is in a financially healthy position and that the company makes operational and cash profits as it has done for the past six years.
The GMR-Megawide consortium also denied GMR’s finances took a hit after the Maldives project fell through. It cited GMR’s latest audited financial statements as of September 2013 that showed it has consolidated net worth of $1.68 billion and gross assets of $10 billion.
“The events in the Maldives do not have a material impact on GMR... Presently, GMR enjoys the following credit ratings: Long Term Bank Facilities – BBB+, Short Term Bank Facilities – A2,” Ferrer said.
On the issue of GMR’s “questionable” long-term commitment for the development of the Cebu airport, the consortium emphasized the Indian company’s track record in developing airports all over the world, including in New Delhi, Hyderabad and Istanbul.
==Funds ready for DOJ building in Cebu==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/03/16/1301496/funds-ready-doj-building-cebu
*Sunday, March 16, 2014 12:00 am
:By Mylen P. Manto, FPL (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Justice now has available funds for the construction of its own building, says Cebu provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba.
Petralba said the availability of the funds was relayed to her by prosecutor general Claro Arellano.
Petralba said they are set to meet with Governor Hilario Davide III next week to ask for a lot where the DOJ building will be constructed. The DOJ offices in Cebu shared with the courts at the Marcelo B. Fernan Hall of Justice.
However, the building was declared unsafe by the Office of the Building Officials following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Cebu and its neighboring provinces in Central Visayas last year.
The Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and the Regional State Prosecutor’s Office were forced to rent a building at the Taft Commercial Center along Osmeña Boulevard. The City Prosecutor’s Office continues to occupy the left wing of the ground floor of  the Palace of Justice despite the recommendation to abandon the building.
The provincial prosecutor’s office also continue to hold inquest proceedings at the  Integrated Bar of the Philippines building at the Capitol compound.
“Inquest and filing of cases here at IBP building but pwede sad if regular filing pwede i-file sa Taft Commercial Center nga office,” Petralba said.
Petralba said they hope to finish the construction of the DOJ building within 10 months if  there is already lot available.
The new building will house the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor, Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office, Parole and Probation and the Public Attorney’s Office.
Petralba admitted that the situation has affected the disposal of cases.
“Daghang pending  naglisud ta’g plastar sa mga records, most especially sa city,” Petralba added.
==New ambassadors acknowledge Cebu’s vibrant economy==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/03/15/1301100/new-ambassadors-acknowledge-cebus-vibrant-economy
*Saturday, March 15, 2014 12:00 am
:By Michael H. Braga and Kristine B. Quintas /JMO (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Newly appointed Philippine Ambassadors and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs were in Cebu to cap their two-week Economic Diplomacy Strategic Planning Workshop.
The workshop was started in Manila.
“Kining mga bag-ong appointed nga ambassador, nag-training mig duha ka semana sa lainlain nga aspeto. Kining Cebu mao ra ni among out of town trip. Gipili ang Cebu kay naglihok man gud ang economy diri (The newly-appointed ambassadors trained in different aspects. The visit to Cebu is our only out-of-town trip. Cebu was chosen because of its vibrant economy),” said Ambassador Victoriano Lecaros, spokesperson of the delegation.
The newly-appointed diplomats include Ambassador to Iraq (Baghdad) Edsel Barba; Ambassador to China (Beijing) Antonio Morales; Ambassador to Bangladesh (Dhaka) Vicente Vivencio Bandillo with concurrent jurisdiction over Sri Lanka and Maldives; Ambassador to the United Mexican States (Mexico) Catalino Dilem Jr. with concurrent jurisdiction over Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Cuba; Ambassador to Oman (Muscat) Narciso Castaneda; Ambassador to the Czech Republic (Prague) Victoriano Lecaros; Ambassador to Iran (Tehran) Eduardo Martin Menez; and Ambassador to the Netherlands (The Hague) Jaime Victor Ledda.
Lecaros said it is a thrust of the new ambassadors to encourage investors to consider establishing businesses here. This way, Filipinos would no longer need to seek employment abroad.
“Aron ang mga trabaho anhi na diri. Di na kinahanglan molangyaw ang mga Pilipino aron mangita og kabuhian (So that there will be jobs here. Filipinos would no longer need to leave the country to seek employment),” he said.
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They are also helping in rehabilitation efforts for typhoon-stricken areas in northern Cebu. Assistant Secretary Melita Sta. Maria – Thomeczek has reportedly asked for the status of the province’s rehabilitation efforts.
“We are willing to help,” Lecaros said.
Governor Hilario Davide III, for his part, said at least P10 billion more is needed to rebuild homes. “There are already private organizations helping us. But we still need funds. Homes and buildings were destroyed,” he said.
As part of their visit here, the new ambassadors paid courtesy calls to Davide, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes. They also visited local landmarks.
At the Cebu City Hall, Rama said he asked the ambassadors to help promote the city. He also gave them a piece of advice: “I reminded them the importance of practicing human relations considering that an embassy is an extension of your country. They should always smile,” Rama, known for his charismatic ways, said.
==Phl envoys visit export oriented sites in Cebu==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2014/03/14/1300739/phl-envoys-visit-export-oriented-sites-cebu
*Friday, March 14, 2014 12:00 am
:By Ehda M. Dagooc (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Twenty-seven prospective Philippine Ambassadors visited different export oriented sites in Cebu yesterday to get a glimpse of the economic vibrancy of the province.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA-7) regional director Nikka Fernandez said that Cebu was chosen as the only location outside of Manila for this special program to equip Philippine diplomats with strategic and tactical information useful for conducting economic diplomacy overseas.
Fernandez said these newly deployed and currently trained Philippine diplomats are assigned to countries like Czech Republic, Singapore, South Africa, Hong Kong, Milan, and Middle East, among others.
The Economic Diplomacy Strategic Management Workshop includes a planned trip to Cebu visiting the "TindahangPinoy", economic zones, and other manufacturing and export enterprises in Cebu, said Fernandez.
The Philippine envoys visited the OTOP (One-Town-One-Product) store called "TindahangPinoy" located in Mandaue City yesterday to see the different world-class, Filipino-made products that have huge potential to sell in their respective country of assignments.
The "TindahangPinoy", which is a 500-square-meter space where OTOP products are displayed and sold, is one of the most successful OTOP stores nationwide.
It is a depot that showcases the world-class, export quality products in Cebu. It is managed by the Cebu-GTH (Gifts, Toys and Housewares Exporters Foundation), in cooperation with the DTI.
The OTOP store was originally conceptualized as a mechanism to help exporters and traders tap the influx of tourists so they can find products in an accessible venue.
As part of the economic diplomacy subject, newly assigned diplomats will be able to promote Philippine products, and export potential to their countries of assignment, Fernandez said.
Around 70 percent of products sold in the facility are sourced from Central Visayas region, while 30 percent comes from other regions in the country.
Products under OTOP program of the DTI are also being made available to buyers.
The establishment of the facility is considered as one of the exporters' saviors, while the sector is still suffering from slack demand from the overseas market.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) regional director Asteria Caberte said that this move is good for Cebu and the export sector, as these Philippine Ambassadors can help promote Philippine productsand "their endorsements is a good and effective sales blitz."
==Capitol donates lot to Crime Lab-7 ==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2014/03/13/1300337/capitol-donates-lot-crime-lab-7
*Thursday, March 13, 2014 12:00 am
:By Gregg M. Rubio/FPL (The Philippine Star)
CEBU, Philippines - The province of Cebu and the Philippine National Police Regional Crime Laboratory-7 have signed a Deed of Donation for a 1,000-square meter property in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City that the Capitol is donating to the police.
The signing was led by Governor Hilario Davide III and PNP Crime Lab-7 director, Senior Supt. Nestor Sator.
The donation is subject to a condition that if the PNP Crime Lab fails to construct the facility within one year from the execution of the instrument, the provincial government shall take possession of the property.
In the event the PNP Crime Lab abandons the portion or shall no longer use the donated lot for the purpose intended, the same shall be reverted to the province of Cebu without need of legal proceedings.
Sator said that the deed of donation is needed to process the release of fund amounting to around P25 million.
“It’s a great privilege for us nga gisuportahan mi ni Gov for the creation of the new building,” Sator said.
Earlier, the Provincial Board has authorized Davide to enter into and sign a Deed of Donation with the PNP Crime Lab-7 following the latter’s request for a 1,000-square meter lot near the Cebu Provincial Police Office.
The Police Regional Office-7 is reportedly among the recipients of financial support from Camp Crame for a modern crime laboratory in Cebu.
Once established, the new facility will not only benefit Cebu but the entire Central Visayas.
Sator earlier said that certain requirements pertaining to space and ownership of the property need to be resolved in order for the support to push through.
The current crime laboratory is located inside the Cebu City Police Office compound along Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City. The present location is reportedly not enough to meet the needs of a modern crime laboratory.
The crime laboratory is tasked to provide scientific investigation services and other technical support to the PNP offices and other agencies through fieldwork, scene of the crime operations, forensic laboratory service, criminalistics training and research.
==Hundreds get rights to city housing plan==
*Source:http://www.philstar.com/metro-cebu/2014/03/12/1299868/hundreds-get-rights-city-housing-plan
*Wednesday, March 12, 2014 12:00 am
:By Flor Z. Perolina (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines -  More than 300 beneficiaries in Barangays Guizo, Mantuyong and Tipolo in Mandaue City received their certificates of validation and qualified for the socialized housing project in a 9.2-hectare lot of the city government.
Their certificates were personally handed to them by Mayor Jonas Cortes in a simple ceremony yesterday in Barangay Guizo.
Cortes yesterday said that he was looking forward to the fast completion of the validation process undertaken by the four-man committee composed of representatives from the Philippine Commission on Urban Poor, National Housing Association, HUDO and City Social Welfare Services Office so the city government can eventually start their urban poor subdivision in the said area next year.
The mayor cited the success of the Lower Tipolo Homeowners Association wherein the beneficiaries have left their permanent home in the slums and moved in an urban poor subdivision built through "sweat equity" through the help of the beneficiaries.
"Ang pagpanag-iya og shelter di lang katungdanan kun dili katungod sab sa mga less fortunate," Cortes said.
During yesterday's ceremony, the mayor also urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate government's efforts through cooperating and setting aside personal interests.
Yesterday's activity was witnessed by PCUP area head Clemens Quiros, Grace Solis of NHA, Guizo Barangay Captain Jesus Neri , Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and the rest of  the city council.
==RDC 7 endorses P20.2-B projects for Central Visayas in 2015==
*Source:http://http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=2&rid=624404
*Tuesday, March  11, 2014
:(PNA), JBP/EB
CEBU CITY, March 11 (PNA) -- The Infrastructure Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (IDC-RDC) 7 has endorsed the proposed P20.2 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Central Visayas in 2015.
Engr. Nonie Paylado, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 planning and design chief, said the proposed projects will form part of the agency’s budget for next year and the national budget for 2015.
Paylado said the proposed projects still needs the approval of the RDC Full Council.
Paylado said the IDC-RDC 7 endorsement will only be submitted to the RDC Full Council if DPWH 7 submits the endorsements from different local development councils all over the region, as mandated by law.
The RDC Full Council will meet on March 20.
He said the amount covers 602 projects all over Central Visayas.
But Paylado said only Bohol local government units (LGUs) have submitted endorsements for their projects.
He said they are waiting for endorsements from Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
The DPWH 7 must submit all endorsements by March 17.
==Carcar City seeks Cebuanos’ support for advocacy video, photo==
==Carcar City seeks Cebuanos’ support for advocacy video, photo==
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=623989
*Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=623989
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