Cebu Province News April 2016

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

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.

Southern Cebu town to host off-road duathlon on May 28

(PNA), FFC/EB/MP/EDS

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- The southern Cebu town of Dalaguete, some 90 kilometers from Cebu City, will host the Go Active Marketing and Events (Game Inc.) off-road duathlon race on May 28.

The race dubbed, Duraman Off-Road Duathlon, will have three-kilometer run, a 15K bike and another 6K run in Mantalongon, Dalaguete.

This is the second edition of the race after the road duathlon in 2014.

“We needed something different, so we come up with the off-road race, which is challenging but is manageable to the participants,” event director Jerome Mills said.

Mills said they are aiming for 200 to 300 participants and will be targeting the mountain bikers and trail runners as the primary participants.

Race director Benjoe Gimenez said the route does not have a lot of steep climbs and the difficulty is at average level.

Organizers said they have chosen Mantalungon, Dalaguete as a venue because the place is cool and is fit for an off-road event.

The champion in the men’s division will win PHP7,000, while the second placer gets PHP5,000 and the third placer earns PHP3,000 .

The top performer in the distaff side will pocket PHP5,000, while the second and third placers will get PHP3,000 and PHP2,000, respectively.

The race will kick off at 1 p.m. in Mantalungon, which is approximately 900-meters above sea level.

Registration fee is PHP1,300 for the early birds and PHP1,500 for those who register after May 11.

Mactan airport to emerge as one of PHL’s travel, lifestyle destination

(PNA), LDV/EB/SGP

CEBU CITY, April 29 (PNA) -- The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is emerging as one of the Philippines’ next travel and lifestyle destinations, its private operators said.

In a statement, GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) consortium, which won the Php17.5-billion expansion and 25-year operation and management of the MCIA, said it is pouring more investments for commercial and retail projects at the airport.

GMCAC president Louie Ferrer said the company is now in talks with local and foreign investors for the development of the six-hectare mixed-use property across MCIA’s new passenger terminal building or Terminal 2 (T2).

Ferrer said the consortium is currently in talks with foreign and local investors, among them property developers for the mixed-use project within the airport complex.

The planned mixed-use development will include hotels, a mall complex, and gaming activities including casino.

“The food and beverage (F&B) and retail segments in the airport play a significant role in the airport’s brand image, which is firmly tied to Cebu’s global reputation as a resort destination,” said Ferrer.

He said GMCAC’s objective is to ensure that traveling through MCIA is a leisurely experience for both passengers and visitors through the wide range of activities, F&B and retail offerings found within the airport complex.

The facilities of the mixed-use property should be available by late 2018, in time for the opening of the MCIA T2.

Ferrer said the company is also constructing a 230-meter commercial strip at Terminal 1 arrivals road and an “Airport Village” that will feature an array of F&B and more retail choices.

GMCAC has started work last year on MCIA T2 to increase the airport’s passenger capacity from 4.5 million to 12.5 to 13 million a year by October 2018.

Sto. Niño pilgrims treated to performances from 3 provinces during Kaplag Festival

By Justin K. Vestil

LET us be innocent, fragile, transparent and loving like children.

This was the message of Fr. Alejandro Moral, prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, before pilgrims and devotees during the closing mass of the 450th Kaplag Anniversary at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño yesterday.

After the mass, Moral and pilgrims of the Sto. Niño were treated to various presentations from three provinces, including Cebu, representing festivals in honor of the Child Jesus.

In his homily, Moral told the faithful to be like the Sto. Niño in terms of giving service to others and to God as good Christians.

“The Sto. Niño shows us that children are innocent, fragile, transparent and very loving. He calls us to be transparent as God is. Let us give our service to him as children give their service to their Father,” Moral said.

Preparations

With the Augustinian community in the country preparing for its 500th year anniversary in 2065, the 60-year-old Spanish prior also urged his fellow priests to continue with their mission to bring God’s love to his people.

“For we, in the way of St. Augustine and of the Sto. Nino, may you also be a Church that announced, with openness, the good news of Christ, his blood of life, his message of recollection, reconciliation and pardon. Let us go forth from here, guarding in our hearts the point of being disciples of love,” Moral added.

After the mass, Moral and members of his congregation formally signed a decree formally closing the 450th Kaplag anniversary and to prepare for the 500th year of the Augustinian presence in the country 50 years from now.

Also, dancers of the Sinulog Festival of Cebu, Panagtagbo Festival of Mandaue City, Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City and Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan performed before devotees.

Earlier, Augustinian priests and Cebu City officials unveiled a marker in honor of 450 years of the presence of the Augustinian Order.

Organizers of the 450th Kaplag anniversary also planted a time capsule outside the Basilica, which will be opened during the 500th anniversary. The capsule contains photos, documents and other memorabilia.

17,000 local, overseas jobs at stake in Mandaue City pre-Labor Day job fair

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, April 27 (PNA) -- A total of 17,639 local and overseas jobs are at stake in the pre-Labor Day job fair Wednesday afternoon at the Mandaue City Sports Complex, an official said.

Exequiel Sarcauga, Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7 director, said President Benigno S. Aquino III is set to grace the job fair at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

He said the job fair in Mandaue City is one of 44 such activities nationwide.

Sarcauga said here in Cebu City, 30 local employers and 16 overseas employers are participating in the job fair.

Among the jobs offered are for construction, electronic assembly, masonry, carpentry, welding, tile setting, hotel and restaurant and medical care.

Sarcauga said President Aquino will also honor six former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have come home to be with their families and are now teachers with the Department of Education.

The President will later join a campaign sortie of the Liberal Party with presidential standard bearer Mar Roxas and runningmate Representative Leni Robredo in front of the Cebu Capitol in Cebu City.

More BPOs in Mactan

By Katlene O. Cacho

REAL estate giant Megaworld Corp. is expecting more business process outsourcing (BPO) companies to expand in Cebu with the accelerated developments within The Mactan Newtown, the firm’s 30-hectare integrated urban township in the province.

“We have an exciting BPO sector this year. Yes, we are expecting more outsourcing companies to locate here,” said Noli Hernandez, president of Megaworld Cebu Properties Inc.

Hernandez hinted that Convergys may come in soon but he declined to disclose specific details about it. At present, The Mactan Newtown houses two BPO firms—Manulife and Results Companies—which employ 3,000 to 4,000 workers.

Megaworld breached the P10-billion mark in net core income last year. The company’s core profit reached P10.40 billion, up by 10.58 percent from 2014’s P9.40 billion.

The firm’s leasing business grew the fastest at 23.46 percent. Leasing income from malls, commercial centers, and offices reached P8.73 billion last year.

“Our rental business had been growing exponentially the last five years. We are confident that we will reach P11 billion target by the end of this year as we see continuous growth in consumer spending as well as further expansion of BPO companies, particularly in key growth areas in Visayas and Mindanao, where Megaworld is already present,” said Francis Canuto, Megaworld’s chief finance officer in a statement.

Meanwhile, construction of other projects inside the P30-billion Mactan township is in progress.

Hernandez disclosed that one of the new offerings inside The Mactan Newtown is the wake board park and pavilion and other water sports facilities at the beach.

“The pavilion will be opened by the end of this month. It will have a beach management office that will oversee its operations,” he said.

The pavilion though is a temporary structure until plans are firmed for the construction of the five-star hotels in that area in the coming years.

“We are building the facility so our BPO locators here will have an area to do their team-building activities. It is a growing community here already,” said Hernandez, adding that all stakeholders will have access to the beach and that the facility will give them more reasons to stay in the property.

Aside from building the water sport amenity area, Megaworld will also be building Plaza Magellan, a three to five-level community mall with a restaurant and commercial offerings.

“We don’t have a timeline for the groundbreaking yet, but hopefully within the year,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez said Plaza Magellan is poised to become a major landmark of The Mactan Newtown as the mall will have an “iconic entrance plaza” facing the famous Lapu-Lapu Shrine.

The plaza’s main feature will be the life-sized Spanish Galleon Victoria, a replica of the first vessel that circumnavigated the globe used by Magellan and his men, and the Spanish Steps, which will lead visitors to the mall’s main entrance.

Cebu Capitol spends PHP49M for 25,999 barangay workers’ productivity incentives

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, April 25 (PNA) -- The Cebu Provincial Government has spent some PHP49 million in cash incentives for a total of 25,719 barangay workers in province from 2013 to 2015, a report said.

The Cebu Provincial Accounting Office report said PHP8.2 million was disbursed for the province’s first congressional district, PHP9.3 million in the second district, PHP8.7 million in the thirds district, PHP9.7 million in the fourth district, PHP7.9 million in the fifth district and PHP5.1 milliin in the sixth district.

The number of barangay workers did not include those from the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Cebu which are outside of the jurisdiction of the provincial government as highly-urbanized cities.

Productivity incentives amounting to PHP2,400 were given to barangay health workers, nutrition scholars and day care center workers.

The animal health aides and barangay tanods received cash incentives of PHP1,500 each.

Cebu Governor Hilario P. Davide III, said although barangay workers are classified as volunteers, they deserve the cash incentives for all the services they unselfishly contributed to the community.

These volunteers are a big help in implementing the programs of the government down to the household, especially during calamities and disasters.

REACT Inc. celebrates 34th year in service

By Katriel Gayle Uy Serion (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - In celebration of its 34th year of voluntary service, members of the Regional Emergency Assistance Communications Team Phil. Incorporated (REACT) are gathered in Cebu for a convention to discuss the group’s programs.

Gregorio “Exor” V. Pacifico, REACT national president, said one main purpose of the two-day event, which started yesterday, is for the group to share about the operations and projects for the past two years.

REACT is one of the largest Radio Civic Organizations helping the government during emergencies and calamities.

Since 1982, REACT has been affiliated with the Civil Relations Service AFP, National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), DSWD, OCD, DENR, PNP and other agencies. It has 1,800 regular members and 2,500 extensions all over the Philippines.

One of the highlights of the convention is the symbolic turnover of Pacifico of the presidency to Bon Mark “Braveheart” Uy, incoming national president for 2016 to 2018.

Pacifico shared yesterday about the minor problems he encountered regarding the equipment and trainings. However, because of the tie up of the NDRRMC, Red Cross and other partners, members of REACT were well-trained in responding to emergencies and calamities.

During the first day of the convention at J Centre Convention Hall in Mandaue City, Colonel Edwin Sadang (SC), PA senior military assistant to civil defense assistance, lectured about National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP) and Rapid Emergency Telecommunications Team (RETT) Guidelines.

Pacifico, who emphasized the importance of the roles and responsibilities of REACTors, is set to turn over his position to Uy today.

Eyeing North America, Europe

By Katlene O. Cacho

RADISSON Blu Hotel Cebu is expecting an increase of leisure tourists from North America and Europe to come to Cebu, following the province’s latest connection to the United States and the Middle East.

Although he declined to disclose specific targets, the hotel’s new general manager Laurent Boisdron is confident foreign arrivals will increase as hotel marketing efforts are geared towards wooing these high-spending and long-staying type of tourists.

“We believe we will get more business from Europe and North America as a result of these new connectivity developments for Cebu,” said the French-American national in an interview.

Boisdron was officially introduced to the media Wednesday. A seasoned hotelier, he spent 22 years in the industry, previously holding positions in acclaimed properties and corporate offices of renowned brands in key cities of Europe such as Barcelona, Paris, London, and Brussels to North America in Chicago, Boston, Miami and Dubai.

His most recent role was based in Minneapolis, USA handling corporate responsibilities for the Carlson Rezidor Worldwide Head Office, providing support and strategic leadership for the group’s owned and managed hotels.

According to Boisdron, his familiarity of the culture of North Americans, Europeans and Middle Eastern guests is already an advantage for the hotel to capture a good share of these markets.

He, however, emphasized that the hotel would not limit all its marketing efforts to these new markets but also grow the domestic and Asian markets.

“With all the improvements taking place, from connectivity down to making our hotel competitive, there is a big opportunity for all our markets to grow. We have been enjoying repeat customers, long-staying guests and growing Mice and leisure businesses,” said Boisdron, adding that the quality of service, product, and constant innovation are key elements for a hotel business to sustain its foothold in the midst of tough competition.

Boisdron was instrumental in rolling out the Catering to Go from Blu, a concept he initiated in bringing the five-star catering service of the hotel to its offsite social and corporate events. The project was first introduced in Radisson Blu Aqua in Chicago, USA.

In Cebu, the project was rolled out in March during the Emirates Airlines Cebu-Dubai inaugural flight.

Also last Wednesday, Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu introduced hotel manager Fabien Martinez, a French national a culinary background, having started as an executive chef before serving as director for food and beverage for award-winning resorts and hotels. He was an executive sous chief for Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in 2001.

Cebu Capitol workers plant mangroves to mark Earth Day

(PNA), LAP/EB/NOD

CEBU CITY, April 22 (PNA) -- Officials and workers of the Cebu Provincial government on Friday, April 22, planted mangrove propagules in Barangay Calajo-an, Minglanilla town in southern Cebu to mark the celebration of Earth Day.

The provincial government supported the celebration of Earth Day with a week-long celebration.

Among them is an environmental forum of the Cebu Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and an awareness exhibit at the Capitol Social Hall last April 18.

The forum focused on solid waste management and the continuous damage caused by El Niño.

The conservation and sustainable projects for agriculture, soil management, bio-intensive gardening and insurance program for the farmers and fishermen were also brought up.

Earth Day is a movement founded in the United States of America, which is meant to increase the people's awareness about the environment.

Its aim is to preserve and protect the remaining natural resources and restore the destroyed ones.

“This is more than a lifetime commitment. Months and days count. Everyday must always be an Earth Day,” said Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr..

The exhibit, which ended Friday, featured various projects regarding environment conservation, and images of the current situation in agriculture, water resources and other environmental matters.

Malaysian entrepreneur seeks to grow distribution network in Cebu

By Jeandie O. Galolo

MALAYSIAN company Edmark International plans to have 10,000 Cebuanos distribute its health and wellness products locally.

Edmark International chairman Sam Low was in Cebu last week to meet with potential distributors from Cebu and launched his book, “4 Pillars of Success”.

“We have 300,000 distributors in the Philippines, around 100,000 of them are active. In Cebu, we’re planning to have 10,000 distributors,” Low said.

Edmark International has been in the network marketing business for 17 years in the country. Its products, which the company manufactures in its plant in Sengalor, Malaysia, range from weight management supplements, cooking products, and novelty household products.

Wider reach

Since its incorporation in Malaysia in 1989, Low said Edmark has expanded its business to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

“Globally, there is a strong market for health and wellness products. People are going back to natural and organic,” Low said. He claims that Edmark health products are all natural and organic.

Last Saturday, the company organized the Edmark Expo at the Castle Peak Hotel where it exhibited the company milestones and product lines.

Low first came to Cebu in the 1980s to sell the Super Slicer, a kitchen tool that he single-handedly invented and patented. He began to demonstrate the Super Slicer in major shopping malls which turned out to be a success. The businessman acquired a property in Metro Manila and began expanding their range of products.

His newly-launched book focuses on gratitude, abundance, love and compassion for one another.

President Aquino declares April 27 as a non-working holiday in Lapu-Lapu City

(PNA), RMA/PND/SSC

MANILA (PNA) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III has issued Proclamation No. 1251, declaring April 27 as a special non-working holiday in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu province in celebration of the “Kadaugan sa Mactan” (Battle of Mactan).

“The Battle of Mactan is among the significant events in Philippine history and serves as testimony to the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Filipinos; and it is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Lapu-Lapu be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” read the Proclamation, which was signed last April 12 by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., by authority of President Aquino.

Also signed on April 12 were Proclamation No. 1252, which declared May 23 as a special day in the municipality of Calaca in Batangas province to commemorate the birth anniversary of General Eleuterio Marasigan, a great Calaqueño and a patriot of the libertarian struggle in Batangas; and Proclamation No. 1250, which declared April 21 as a non-working day to celebrate the 15th founding anniversary of Calamba City in Laguna province.

President Aquino also declared special holidays in Batangas and Cotabato, respectively. The proclamations were signed by Executive Secretary Ochoa last April 8.

The President declared May 7 as a non-working day in San Pablo City, Batangas in celebration of the city's 76th Charter Day by virtue of Proclamation No. 1248.

Proclamation No. 1249, on the other hand, declared May 10 as a special holiday in the municipality of President Roxas in Cotabato province.

The Municipality of President Roxas was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 4869 which was approved on May 8,1967. Since May 8 this year falls on a Sunday, the municipality will be marking its 49th founding anniversary on May 10 instead.

Cebu Archdiocese releases special prayer for rain

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- The Archdiocese of Cebu has released the “Oratio Imperata for Rain,” a special prayer to counter the impending heat wave that prompted the Cebu city and provincial governments to declare a state of calamity.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said the “Oratio Imperata for Rain” was made in response to the growing incidence of drought and loss of water in various areas in Cebu.

At least 44 areas in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay and Lapu-Lapu and the town of Liloan have been experiencing low pressure to no water in their taps since last week.

The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) said its water supply dropped by 20,000 cubic meters after two surface water sources, the Jaclopan dam in Talisay City and the Buhisan dam in Cebu City, dried up.

In a circular, Palma said the absence of rain in the past months has pushed Catholics to seek divine intervention.

“Acknowledging our need for divine intervention during this state of calamity brought about by this dry spell, I am issuing an Oratio Imperata on our need for rain,” Palma said.

Palma said that once transmitted to all parishes in Cebu, the special prayer will be recited just before the Post Communion Prayer during all masses.

3-day nat’l. forum set

(Sun.Star Cebu)

THE University of San Carlos Cebuano Studies Center (USC CSC), in cooperation with the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), will host the national conference on Cebuano language and literature on April 25-27 at the USC Gansewinkel Hall.

The conference aims to address the issues and challenges of Cebuano language and literature in the struggle to improve the languages and literatures of the Philippines.

Topics to be discussed are: history of Cebuano literature; Cebuano literature and the formation of the national literature; contemporary Cebuano literature; and Cebuano language/in Central Visayas in line with K-12 and MTB-MLE.

There will be an awarding ceremony for the advocates of Cebuano, namely, Dr. Resil Mojares, Dr. Erlinda Alburo, Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy and Atty. Cesar Kilaton Jr.

Mga Inalisngaw sa akong Tutunlan, the latest poetry collection by multi-awarded writer and editor of Bisaya magazine Richel Dorotan will be launched during the program.

Participants from Central Visayas schools’ principals, teachers in the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels as well as writers and students are all invited to attend this activity.

For interested participants, contact Raphael Dean Polinar at 0927-3627350 or Laurinne Ganados at 0923-4640765 or through landline (032) 406-6079, or by email at cebuanostudies@gmail.com.

Creating a ‘Digital Cebu’

By Jeandie O. Galolo

THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has formally launched Cebu Business Month 2016, which will carry the theme “Digital Cebu.”

The chamber aims to harness the use of digital technologies to uplift small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to make them globally competitive.

“Under the theme Digital Cebu, the CBM 2016 shall inspire local businesses to tap digital technology to boost their competitiveness in the global economy. It shall promote the culture of innovation and grow business through digital strategies and business analytics.

It shall explore new technologies to upgrade business; enhance governance through digital innovation; and leverage digital technology,” said CBM 2016 Chair Christian Paro-an, proprietor and president of RC Goldline, during the launch last Friday.

20th celebration

The 20th Cebu Business Month will be celebrated this June with several activities lined up for the business sector.

The grand opening salvo will be held on June 1 at The Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu. On the same day, there will be a Cebu Digital Transformation Summit in the Radisson Blu Hotel, which will end on the following day. The event aims to widen the awareness and use of digital tools. It will also serve as a venue for suppliers, service providers, and support groups to showcase their products and services.

On June 3, there will be a business-in-golf tournament at the Alta Vista Gold and Country Club.

The fourth Cebu International Film Festival will be held on June 10 at the Robinson’s Galleria Cebu where local and international filmmakers, producers, artists, and film enthusiasts will gather to discuss possible collaborations.

On June 15 and 16, there will be a job fair and tourism forum at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

A Visayan Pop Song Writing Competition will follow on June 18 at the SM Seaside Center Stage. An entrepreneurship technology and innovation expo is also being organized and will be held on June 22 to 24 at the Robinson’s Galleria Cebu.

On June 23 to 24, CCCI will hold a social entrepreneurship conference and a separate public and private CEO networking night at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel.

There will also be a fund-raising campaign for the restoration and rehabilitation of Mahiga creek and Guadalupe river through the fourth Run for the Rivers on June 25, 2016, which will start at 4 a.m. at SM Seaside Mountain Wing.

Cebu Business Month will conclude with the Grand Chamber Awards and Fellowship Night on June 30 at the grand ballroom of Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

The CBM 2016 working team first preparations in September last year. The event’s vice chair is Allan Suarez of A. Suarez Sterling Corp.

CCCI, the organization behind CBM, recently adopted the tagline “Bringing business to the next level” under the leadership of its new president Melanie Ng.

Cebu-Cordova bridge deal signed

By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas

THE proponent of the Cebu-Cordova Bridge project signed yesterday a joint venture agreement (JVA) with Cebu City and Cordova for the implementation of the P27.9-billion toll facility.

The joint venture company can now start securing requirements from national government agencies and meeting other conditions.

Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC) President Rodrigo Franco and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama signed the deal past 4 p.m. in City Hall’s Social Hall yesterday.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy and MPTDC signed the agreement an hour earlier in the same venue.

“We are very happy that the contract was finally signed. After this, we will be able to secure the remaining conditions for the effectivity of the contract,” said Franco when interviewed.

MPTDC can now seek approval from the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) for the P50 to P70 fee they plan to collect from those who will use the bridge, the third one between mainland Cebu and Mactan Island.

Franco said they will also work on the toll concession agreement and submit it to the TRB.

MPTDC also needs approval from the Philippine Reclamation Authority, the Coast Guard and the Philippine Ports Authority for the project.

They need to get an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the approval of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, since the area where the bridge will be constructed is within the flight path of planes leaving or landing at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

Particularly for the ECC, Franco said they have been consulting several concerned stakeholders since it is one of the requirements.

Details

The ECC sets conditions in order to limit a project’s impact on the environment.

Franco further said they will now be able to start working on the specific engineering details for the bridge.

At present, what MPTDC has is the preliminary design of the facility.

He said they will be getting a contractor who will prepare the project details and who will eventually work on the building of the bridge.

They will be bidding out the project toward the fourth quarter of this year.

The JVA was supposed to be signed yesterday morning but Cebu City officials wanted some concerns addressed.

Rama and the City Legal Office asked if the project would not be covered by the public works ban imposed by the Commission on Elections in relation to the May 9 polls.

Election ban

They also would’ve wanted that a parcellary survey be submitted before the agreement was signed. The survey will identify what public lands in the city will be affected by the construction of the bridge.

Under the JVA, the resources of the City as well as that of Cordova will be their contributions, particularly the public lands that will be used for the bridge.

But Franco said the project is not covered by the ban since they are not yet actually building it.

“We are just signing the agreement. So evidently, it wouldn’t be covered by the election ban because there is no public works yet,” he said.

For the survey, Franco explained to the city officials they cannot submit it yet since they can only do it once the bridge’s detailed design is completed.

He said, though, that they submitted yesterday their right-of-way inventory. The parcellary survey is meant to validate that inventory.

“In the end, we were able to clarify things to everyone’s satisfaction,” Franco said.

Review

The mayor signed the JVA yesterday, with with some conditions.

MPTDC should secure a certificate of exemption from Comelec for the project and submit to the City Government along with the final parcellary survey.

A continuing legal review by the City Legal Office should also be in place, particularly for the concession agreement once it the TRB approves it.

He also required a periodic review of the revenue sharing between the parties for possible increases.

Based on the agreement, the City and Cordova will each receive a one-percent share of the gross revenue from the facility.

Proponents of the 8.25-kilometer bridge intend to start construction in late 2017 or early 2018 and finish the project by 2020.

First-ever Cebu Zine Fest unfolds April 16

(Inquirer Lifestyle)

Fest at 856G Gallery in Mandaue City features hands-on workshops, from lino printmaking to zine making and publishing

A 12-hour festival for zines—small handmade booklets, short for fanzines or magazines—will be held in Cebu tomorrow, April 16, showcasing the work of over 50 zine makers from all over the Philippines and around the world.

Participants include designers, artists, musicians, studios, presses, bookshops as well as independent publishers.

The first annual edition of the Cebu Zine Fest 2016 will be held at 856G Gallery in Mandaue City and include several hands-on workshops, from lino printmaking, zine making, and publishing.

There will also be a “DEAR time” (Drop Everything And Read) section, and a “zine wall” for zine makers who were unable to register in time for a place to showcase their zines at the fair.

With a strong regional attendance from the Philippines, there will also be exhibitors from New York, Singapore, Berlin, Kanazawa, London and Seoul.

Participants can experience different mediums and methods for DIY publishing that traverse the themes of expression, disruption, protest, love, hate, disgust, banality, reality, sex, gore, food, music, memories, travel, words, theory, emotion and more.

A linocut workshop will be presided by Cebu-based monoprint artist Jeffrey Sisican in the afternoon, followed by an alternative photography and zine production workshop by photographer Brian Sergio.

Visitors can buy publications directly from publishers, artists, and designers who create handmade publications.

They can also enjoy various events including workshops, panel discussions, live music, great coffee and tasteful snacks.

The Cebu Zine Fest is brought to you by Tropical Futures Institute, which aims to decentralize culture in order to champion other perspectives, stories, ideas, futures and voices.

Cebu Zine Fest is on April 16, 10 a.m. till late, at 856G Gallery, 856 AS Fortuna St., Banilad, Mandaue City, Cebu. For inquiries, call 3443039; or e-mail info@tropicalfutures.institute.

Suroy-Suroy Sugbo in Camotes set, new attractions created

(PNA), LAP/EB/PJN

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- The Cebu Provincial Tourism Office has set the first of the local tour “Suroy-Suroy Sugbo” (Visit Cebu) series this year as an escapade to Camotes on April 22 to 24.

Cebu Provincial Tourism Officer Grace Paulino said Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Camotes escapade will take guests to the municipalities of Poro, San Francisco and Tudela.

Paulino said guests will travel to Camotes by fastcraft, which is quicker and more convenient for travelers, cutting down travel time by an hour.

By fastcraft, the first stop would be Boho Rock resort for guests to experience and feel the sea breeze.

From there, one could see the beauty of Poro. Then it would be off to the famous Lake Danao and Santiago beach resort in San Francisco.

Another first for the upcoming Suroy-Suroy Sugbo is the Sunrise Cruise the management of Lake Danao is offering, but it is optional to guests because only two boats are available which can only accommodate 50 persons.

The lake hosts several bird and duck species.

The Suroy-Suroy Sugbo will include a visit to the Bukilat Cave and Busay Falls in Tudela.

Aside from the tours, the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office also lined up themed dinners that come with games and prizes from sponsors, all designed to forge new friendships among strangers.

2016 Disaster Preparedness forum set in Cebu on April 19

(PNA), LAP/EB/PR/RSM

CEBU CITY, April 13 (PNA) -- The 2016 Disaster Resilience Forum is set on April 19 at the Laguna Garden Café at “The Terraces” at the Ayala Center Cebu.

The forum will tackle the need to protect and empower Filipinos against calamities and build disaster-resilient communities.

Over the past two decades, the Philippines endured a total of 274 natural calamities, making it the fourth most disaster-prone country in the world, a press statement said.

These has affected millions of Filipinos and have exposed impoverished communities to deeper poverty, the statement said.

Officials from the Insurance Commission, Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and other relevant stakeholder agencies will attend the forum.

Officials from Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions will also be present to discuss the micro insurance solutions available for the people of Cebu.

Cebu projects shine at awards

By Katlene O. Cacho, Jeandie O. Galolo

TEN real estate projects in Cebu bagged “Best” and “Highly Commended” accolades in various categories during the recent 2016 Philippine Property Awards (PPA) in Makati City.

A total of 27 trophies were given away to the Philippines’ best developers and projects, covering Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, according to the PPA.

Megaworld’s first residential development at the 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown, 8 Newtown Boulevard, emerged as the Best Condo Development in Cebu.

The four-tower residential cluster also received two “Highly Commended” awards —Best Residential Interior Design and Best Landscape Architectural Design— making it the most awarded residential condo development in Cebu this year.

Booming property market

Megaworld Corp. emerged as the Best Developer in the Philippines. It won four big awards.

“The awards are testament and validation of our commitment to bring Megaworld’s expertise in world-class residential developments and township masterplanning to Cebu,” said Noli Hernandez, president of Megaworld Cebu Properties Inc. in a press conference yesterday.

The awards are a good sign of a booming property market in the country, added Hernandez.

Homegrown property developer, Primary Homes Inc., bagged the Best Housing Development (Cebu) for Solare, a 139-unit Mediterranean-inspired residential project in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.

The firm, likewise, earned recognitions for its other projects — Mabolo Garden Flats and The Courtyards at Brookridge--as Highly Commended for Best Condominium Development and Royal Palms Dos as Highly Commended for Best Housing Development Resort Category.

“It was yet another big night for us...It can be said that we have the most nominations from Cebu and we are very proud of these achievements. This is a testament of the company’s efforts in building dynamic communities and providing top-quality shelter at the best value. Indeed, Primary Homes Incorporated is your reliable partner,” said Ramiro Espina, vice-president for sales and marketing, in a statement.

Last year, PHI won four recognitions from the Philippine Property Awards with Argao Royal Palms winning the Best Housing Development in Cebu.

A new category for Best Boutique Developer, won by Cebu-based AppleOne Properties Inc, also debuted this year. King Properties, on the other hand, got the Highly Commended Boutique Developer award.

Apple One Banawa Heights by AppleOne Properties and Avenir by King Properties each took home the Highly Commended award under the Best Condo Development in Cebu.

Cebu Landmasters Inc.’s Casa Mira Linao and Velmiro Heights bagged the Highly Commended Award for Best Housing Development in Cebu.

“This is an affirmation or validation to our buyers that the projects or houses they have with us have high standards and are being recognized (by top industry players). This is our gift to them,” said CLI chief operating officer Franco Soberano in a phone interview yesterday.

In next year’s Philippine Property Awards, Cebu Landmasters will submit Baseline Center and Mivesa Residences in Cebu City as its entries for Best Condominium Development.

The developer will also include its Park Centrale project in Cebu Business Park, which will be launched in the third quarter this year, for the Best Office Development category. It also plans to participate in the Best Hotel Interior category through its Citadines hotel project in partnership with The Ascott Limited.

Commercial

SM Prime Holdings Inc.’s newest mall in Cebu, SM Seaside City in South Road Properties, won the Best Commercial Development. The mall also bagged the Best Retail Development, Best Retail Architectural Design and the Highly Commended award for Best Landscape Architectural Design.

Cebu had 30 entries for this year’s PPA, a validation of Cebuano’s improved competitiveness against the giant names in the real estate industry, according to Cyndy Tan Jarabata, founding chairperson of PPA.

Jarabata said Cebuano developers have already exceeded the expectations of the market, erecting projects that can already compete, not only with national but foreign players in the industry.

“Cebuano developers take into heart when they develop something. They take good care of their reputation, plus, when they make their next project they want to be known for something, for instance, be known in developing quality projects,” said Jarabata in an interview during the 2016 PPA launching in Cebu.

The PPA awards, presented by Hansgrohe, was organized by PropertyGuru, a property portal group in Asia.

Major winners included last year’s Best Developer, the SM Group, as well as ArthaLand, Century Properties Group and Vista Land Group, whose chairman and founder, Manuel Villar Jr., received the Real Estate Personality of the Year award given by the editors of Property Report magazine, the PPA said in its website.

Top winners from the Philippines this year will get to compete with their counterparts from eight ASEAN countries in Singapore this November for the 2016 South East Asia Property Awards.

Cebu gets P35M to repair roads

By Kristine B. Quintas (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government is set to receive P35.5 million from the national government for the improvement, development and rehabilitation of various provincial roads.

The money will be shelled out as part of the implementation of the "Konkreto at Ayos na Lansangan at Daan Tungo sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran (KALSADA)" project, in which Cebu was included as one of the 73 recipients out of 81 provinces in the country.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has already asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release to Cebu province the P35.5 million intended for road improvements under the Kalsada program.

In its letter dated March 18, the DILG informed DBM Secretary Butch Abad that the Province of Cebu has already complied with the requirements set in the special provisions of the 2016 General Appropriations Act along with the Province of Batanes.

The Department of Budget and Management set aside P6.5 billion from this year's P3-trillion national spending plan for the road rehabilitation project.

The funds will be directly downloaded to local government units that meet "good governance standards, social development benchmarks and established monitoring and evaluation mechanisms." Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:

Under the program, the province is required to provide a counter fund of more than P15 million, raising the total amount to nearly P51 million, according to Cebu Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera.

Natera said total allocation for Cebu's Kalsada program is not P59 million, as earlier reported.

"There was an error sa amount given by DILG. It is actually P51 million and P15 million of which will come from Cebu province as counterpart fund," she said.

The offices of Provincial Engineering and Planning and Development have identified the 3.7-kilometer portion of Barangay Dakit, Bogo City to Barangay, Nipa Cayaan Tabogon road in northern Cebu as the project's beneficiary.

A feasibility study by the two offices shows that the Bogo-Tabogon beltway is among the busiest lanes in the province, serving as link to numerous businesses and tourist spots in the north.

A whopping P338.5 million road improvements stretching to 17 kilometers await Cebu province in next year's implementation of the Kalsada program.

Cebu province and other 72 provinces were selected based on their compliance with DILG's Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping and submission of their Local Public Financial Management Assessment Report to the DBM.

Cebu province won the Seal of Good Governance of the DILG for two consecutive years starting in 2014. In the same years, the province also topped the list of richest provinces of the country in the Annual Financial Report of the Commission on Audit.

According to the Official Gazette, the KALSADA project aims to increase the LGUs' "ability to bring their road networks to sustainably maintainable condition through renovation or rehabilitation of strategic road networks linking national roads to areas of development such as agriculture, tourism, health and education."

The KALSADA project is among the road projects received by Cebu Province from national government agencies.

DAR 7 celebrates Women’s Month

(Sun.Star Cebu)

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 7 joined the celebration of National Women’s Month following this year’s theme, “Kaayuhan ni Juana, I-apil sa adyenda.”

This year‘s celebration was opened with a gender and development (GAD) orientation/forum held last March 11, with DAR 7 personnel as participants.

Atty. Josephus A. Baterna, assistant regional director, in a welcome message, said DAR continued to conduct GAD activities that aims to better appreciate and develop deeper understanding of gender issues.

The forum was held at DAR 7 conference room, with guest speakers Atty. Virginia Palanca Santiago, Law Center Inc. president and retired deputy ombudsman for the Visayas; Emma E. Melana of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 7; and Luchel Senarlo-Taniza, labor communications officer of the Department of Labor and Employment 7.

Dr. Andrea Paciana Labra, regional chief administrative officer and vice chair GAD focal point system of DAR 7, discussed the mission statement of DAR-GAD champions, and the implementation of GAD plans and activities for this year. These include disaster risk reduction program, tree-planting, livelihood-income generating projects, trainings and seminars.

In his message, Regional Agrarian Reform Adjudicator Rosalio T. Kintanar, underscored the importance of agrarian reform as a catalyst for change and to spur socio- economic growth and full-rural development.

DAR 7 Director Alejandro S. Otacanis supported the GAD information and advocacy campaign, and mainstreaming gender in ARB organizations.

Cebu gov urges new farmer-scientists to use skills to achieve inclusive growth

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has urged the province’s new farmer-scientists to use their newsly-acquired farming skills to help achieve the government’s long-term goal of inclusive growth.

Davide said he regarded in high value their certificates of completion from farmer-scientist training program (FSTP).

He also reiterated that farmers are heroes of the land.

At least two schools commissioned the FSTP Research Development Extension Training Program in a Corn-based Production System for Sustainable Agricultural Development.

These are the University of the Philippines-Los Baños and Cebu Technological University.

Cebu Provincial Board Member Peter John Calderon said inclusive growth starts with the progress of everyCebuano, including the farmers.

A total of 171 farmers graduated recently under the FSTP program in Alegria town in southern Cebu.

Davide said the province has allotted PHP1 million financial assistance to local government units (LGUs) to support FSTP.

Aside from the financial aid, the Capitol also distributes corn and vegetable seeds and fertilizers and the concreting of farm-to-market roads.

The Cebu Provincial Agriculturist Office also established trading centers and grain drying pavements in the different barangays in the province.

DOLE-7 bats for reforms ensuring inclusive growth

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - Several reforms to ensure that inclusive growth have to be felt by the ordinary workers were implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment-7, the agency's head said.

Speaking before the First Cebu Employee/Labor Relations Congress yesterday, DOLE-7 director Exequiel Sarcauga said that using the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016 (LEP) as framework supports the Aquino administration's 22-Point Agenda on Labor and Employment.

The LEP, Sarcauga said, frames its priorities using the decent work pillars of rights at work, employment, social protection and social dialogue. It also provides a cross-cutting pillar on sustaining outcomes to cover government strategies complementary to the decent work strategies, he added.

The LEP highlighted that inclusive growth means equalizing access to development opportunities across geographic areas and across different income and social spectra, so that employment creation and expansion will concretely translate into poverty reduction.

Sarcauga said that among the strategies they adopted is concentrated on reforms toward better enjoyment of workers' rights alongside with employment facilitation efforts.

He cited the Labor Law Compliance System in Labor Standards Enforcement, the Two-Tier Wage System in Wage-Setting and Productivity and the Single Entry Approach. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:

"These are deemed first in the history of DOLE in terms of policy and program development in the area of guaranteeing workers' rights and benefits," he said.

Sarcauga added that the Philippines was recognized by the International Labor Organization and by the ASEAN as the first country to have instituted a transparent and unique technology-based system that combines developmental and regulatory approaches to labor laws compliance.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III in his speech said that managing employer-employee relationship is much more than just setting salaries and scheduling leaves of absences, planning company picnics or choosing uniforms.

Managing develops human resource, he emphasized.

"The challenge for HR managers is how to make employees more dedicated, more honest, more loyal and more productive," Davide said.

20 PWDs join scuba therapy

(Sun.Star Cebu)

WHO wants to fly?

This was the one question posed by Diveheart founder Jim Elliott that had most persons with disabilities in Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center DSWD 7, all excited to gear up and dive.

More than 20 persons—blind, deaf/mute,orthopedic and neurologic disorders—have the opportunity to participate in the Diveheart Scuba experience program giving them their first taste of zero gravity with the Diveheart trained adaptive instructors and dive buddies last March 18 at the Cebu City Sports Complex swimming pool.

The event was organized by Diveheart, a non-profit organization based in suburban Chicago that offers adaptive scuba diving instruction and opportunities to children, adults and veterans with special needs.

Diveheart works with individuals with virtually any type of disability, including developmental disabilities, vision and hearing impairment, paraplegia, quadriplegia, amputations, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Diveheart has been working with individuals and organizations throughout the United States and other countries including Mexico, the Caribbean, Australia, China, Israel and England. The Philippines, specifically Cebu, was chosen as the first training site for Diveheart instructors and buddies in Southeast Asia due to the efforts of Cebuano dive instructors who volunteered with organization in Chicago area.

To establish the foundation of Diveheart’s message and its vision, the first batch of Cebuano dive instructors and buddies trained off the Mactan shores in the second weekend of March. The rigorous three-day training taught empathy and patience as well as building new skill sets to the instructors and dive buddies so that they are prepared to work with persons with special needs.

Diveheart was founded Elliott, an avid scuba diver and dive instructor trainer. He was inspired by his own blind daughter’s experience to establish her independence and later on volunteering as an instructor for blind downhill skiers.

He recognized the therapeutic value that the sport had on the skiers’ emotional and physical well-being.

“It is the can-do spirit that Diveheart hopes to instill in our participants, providing them not only with physical benefits, but also with self confidence and independence,” said Elliott.

Adaptive scuba diving is designed to help participants with disabilities escape gravity, mostly in swimming pools, where a PWD can be introduced to scuba therapy in a controlled and safe environment.

The benefits range from pain relief for those with chronic pain, the reduction of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for veterans and others with PTSD. Because pressure is a therapy for those with autism spectrum disorder, the ambient pressure underwater provides a calming environment that has lasting benefits for those with autism.

What Diveheart is finding out though, through joint research with US-based university medical centers, is that the first pool session is the most powerful, creating a paradigm shift for the participants.

Elliott and Tina Marie Hernandez, executive director of Diveheart, continued to send the message out by going on the radio talks and by holding an informational program about adaptive scuba training, research and business to the local medical, tourism and diving community, as well as with the Rotary Club of Port Center.

DILG okays release of PHP35.5-M road upgrade for Cebu Province

(PNA), LAP/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, April 6 (PNA) -- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release to Cebu province the PHP35.5 million intended for road improvements under the Kalsada program.

The DILG informed DBM Secretary Butch Abad that the Cebu Provincial Government has already complied with the requirements set in the special provisions of the 2016 General Appropriations Act along with the Province of Batanes.

Dubbed “Konkreto at Ayos na Lansangan at Daan Tungo saPangkalahatang Kaunlaran” (Kalsada), the program is aimed atinstitutionalizing good governance by enabling and shepherding local government units on local road management.

Cebu was among the 73 out of 81 provinces selected by DBM under the PHP6.5-billion road rehabilitation in the 2016 P3-trillion national budget.

The provinces were selected based on their compliance with the DILG’s Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping and submission of their Local Public Financial Management Assessment Report to the DBM.

Cebu province won the Seal of Good Governance of the DILG for two consecutive years starting in 2014.

In the same years, the province also topped the list of richest provinces of the country in the Annual Financial Report of the Commission on Audit.

The Cebu Provincial Engineering and Planning and Development offices identified the 3.7-kilometer portion of Barangay Dakit, Bogo City to Barangay, Nipa Cayaan Tabogon road in northern Cebu as the project beneficiary.

Under the program, the province is required to provide a counter fund of more than P15 million, raising the total amount to at least P50 million.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said the province is expected to get some PHP338.5 million for road improvements stretching to 17 kilometers in next year’s Kalsada program.

Capitol to start earning from BOT with Filinvest

By Elias O. Baquero

FILINVEST Land Inc. (FLI) yesterday turned over to the Provincial Government one of the four buildings at the I.T. Park as part of their build-operate-transfer agreement.

FLI will be the one to operate Tower 1, paying Capitol land rental and sharing its income, said Gov. Hilario Davide III.

Filinvest President Joseph Yap said they will pay Capitol P600,000 for the 1.2-hectare lot where the project is located, plus two percent of the income or P500,000 a month, whichever is higher.

This means the Capitol will have an assured income of P1.1 million a month and the amount will increase when all the other three buildings--Towers 2, 3 and 4--will be completed and operational.

“We are happy to turn over this first building of the Cebu Cyberzone Project to the Province of Cebu. So, this is the first one and we are happy to turn it over today,” Yap said.

“We are also happy to announce that there are already locators (occupants) in the building. As a result of this turnover, we will also start paying the share of the Province of Cebu from the income derived from this project,” Yap said.

Yap said Tower 2 will be finished and operational next year, while Towers 3 and 4 will be completed either by 2019 or 2020.

According to Yap, with the Tower 1 alone, Filinvest has already spent P1.5 billion for the first building alone.

“When everything is done, we will probably have at least P5 billion to P6 billion in investments for all the buildings,” Yap said.

He said it is not only income that the Capitol can generate but jobs will also be created by the cyberzone project.

“There are already hundreds of people employed in Tower 1 and eventually, when all the four towers will be built, we will be creating 20,000 to 25,000 jobs for the people of Cebu,” Yap said.

He said that most of the locators in Tower 1 are Business Process Outsourcing companies, but there are also mix-use areas for retail, commercial, restaurants, bars and coffee shops.

Sixth grader fulfills dream to become farmer-scientist

(PNA), LAP/EB/PR/EBP

CEBU CITY (PNA) -- Domenciana Adolfo of Barangay Tabla, Liloan, Cebu, said her daughter Joan would cry if barred to attend the lectures of Farmer-Scientist Training Program (FSTP) every Wednesday.

“Every Wednesday, she would always miss her class so she can join the scheduled FSTP lecture,” Adolfo said.

FSTP phase one runs for 18 weeks.

Adolfo said her youngest is the only child in the family who likes farming.

Joan said she joined the FSTP because she is interested in farming.

She said when she grows up she wants to become a teacher.

Joan, along with her first cousin Angel Mae Adolfo who is also a sixth grader, and Charls Tundag, an 8th grader, were among the new FSTP graduates in Barangay Tabla, Liloan last March 29.

Like the Adolfo cousins, Tundag also skipped classes once a week to join FSTP.

He said joining the program does not only make him afarmer-scientist, it also taught him values of hard work and respect of elders.

Cebu Capitol Agriculture Consultant Dr. Romulo Davide, FSTP program leader, welcomed the new generation of farmers.

He said it is important that not all in the family leaves farming for a different job elsewhere.

In Barangay Tabla, Liloan, 36 farmers graduated from the program, with 23 farmers graduated in phase 1 and 13 in phase 2.

In the municipality of Consolacion, 80 farmers successfully completed their training in respective phases, with 52 in phase 1 and 28 in phase 2.

Cebu still a ‘strong market’ for outsourcing companies

By Vanessa Claire Lucero

Cebu continues to be a strong market for the IT-BPO industry, said Wipro regional head for Asia Pacific and Japan Jibin Arjunan.

But the local information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry should improve on the infrastructure facilities and quality of the talent pool.

He also cited the need for consistent branding for Cebu as a BPO hub.

“The IT-BPO industry is entering an age with significant disruption, but it can only be unlocked if Cebu can get regular branding in terms of being a BPO hub, and can provide better jobs for people,” he said during the Asia CEO Forum last week.

Based on the Tholons list of top outsourcing destinations for 2016, Cebu climbed a notch higher to seventh from eighth in 2015.

Cebu has consistently made it to the Tholons top 10, the second Philippine city to do so after Manila which maintained its ranking at second place.

“Cebu has several economic drivers. Central Visayas has been growing at around 8.0 percent per year with tourism and IT being primary economic drivers. Cebu outpaces other cities,” the Wipro official said.

Despite having two major cities in the top 10 outsourcing destinations, the Philippines still has a very small share in the global IT industry, said Jonathan de Luzuriaga, president of the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) and trustee of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (ITBPAP).

“Our global IT services market share in 2015 was only 2 percent. India has a far bigger share with 65 percent. The rest of the world comprises 33 percent,” De Luzuriaga said in the same forum.

The need to improve infrastructure and develop talent were among the challenges identified in the industry, he said.

Other challenges that the Philippine IT-BPO Industry Roadmap 2022 intends to address include legislative and regulatory compliance requirements for companies in the industry, and talent acquisition.

In line with talent development, De Luzuriaga said the industry could have “easily doubled talent” if graduates had the skill sets needed by the industry.

As it is, companies have to invest in five to six months of retraining, he said in the same forum.

The IBPAP targets to finalize the roadmap by September this year, De Luzuriaga said.

“Unlike the previous roadmaps, that were top-bottom, 2022 will be from ground–up. The sub-sectors will take center stage,” he said.

Sub-sectors include contact sectors, healthcare management, IT, and animation and game development.

The roadmap, which is being undertaken by international consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, aims to boost the Philippines’ share in the global IT industry.

CCCI to form ‘angel group’ to support tech startups

By Jeandie O. Galolo

TAKING a concrete step in helping local startups thrive, industry players and regulators in the ICT sector will meet this month to start discussing the creation of a Cebu “angels group,” said Melanie Ng, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

The meeting will be participated in by CCCI, the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (Cedfit), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Go Negosyo, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The official name of the organization is yet to be decided but Ng said the CCCI-led initiative will be providing “big brother” mentorship to local tech startups.

“A product or an app is created because of a need and CCCI will be there to link startups to the right people,” Ng said during a press conference for the Cebu Business Month at the Bayfront Hotel yesterday.

For Cedfit managing director Wilfredo “Jun” Sa-a Jr., seed funding would become the direction for the Cebu angels group. “Eventually, that would be one of the objectives, give funding to our startups. But what is also really important is the mentorship,” Sa-a said.

“We are pushing for this soon,” Ng added, acknowledging the growth potential of local startups once given the right attention and resources.

In another development, Cebu can expect more IT-BPM companies to join the rest of the existing players this year.

Although Sa-a chose not to disclose the names of these companies, some of them have already laid out plans for Cebu operations. “They wanted to be here (since) last year,” he said.

The Cedfit official declined to provide causes and details to the delay, saying he is not privy to the matter. He maintained, however, that Cebu continues to be a sweet spot for ICT-BPM investors.

“There’s a lot of interest to come to Cebu during the 10th International ICT Awards in Manila. There were several companies in Cebu awarded and they saw that it’s working in Cebu,” Ng said who was one of the event’s attendees.

If all these plans from investors would push through, Sa-a said this would inject more money to the local economy. Presently, it is estimated that the BPO-ICT sector in Cebu is putting in P4.2 billion to the economy a month generated from the salaries of 120,000 BPO workers.

Metro Cebu has long been identified as a centers of excellence by the Informations and Communications Office of DOST together with Metro Manila, Metro Clark, and Bacolod City.

On its 20th celebration this year, the Cebu Business Month 2016 headed by RC Goldline owner Christian Paro-an is pushing for the use of digital technologies among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to become globally competitive.

Formerly referred to as the ICT-BPM Conference, one of the event highlights every June has been renamed to the Cebu Digital Transformation Summit, which will be held on June 1 and 2 at the Radisson Hotel.

Department of Science and Technolocy Secretary Mario Montejo is being eyed to be the keynote speaker. Topics to be discussed include analytics for SMEs, social media for social transformation, Bitcoin as the future currency, and the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, which will be discussed by journalist Jessica Soho.

Cebu resorts, hotels ready for more guests with 4 new foreign direct flights

(PNA), FFC/EB/EBP

CEBU CITY, April 1 (PNA) -- Resort and hotels in Cebu are prepared to receive more guests following the launching of four new direct flights to Cebu in March, a top official of the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) said.

“Cebu as a destination will have more rooms available with new players coming in. Obviously, the hotel business is booming, just like what we are seeing in the residential sector,” HRRAC president Julie Najar said.

The entry of four new hotel properties with over 1,000 rooms are expected to help meet the demand of room accommodation in Cebu, with the anticipated tourist boom in the coming months as a result of improved connections between Cebu and Los Angeles, Taiwan, China and the Middle East.

The 180-room condotel Citadines Cebu City by Ascott Limited and the 295-room Dusit Princess are expected to open by 2019.

The 250-room Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort, on the other hand, will open by 2020 while construction of the 638-room Bai Hotel and Casino is underway.

At present, there are about 7,000 rooms in Cebu in the four-to five-star category.

Najar, who is the general manager of Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, said the accommodation sector has been posting a healthy occupancy level since 2014.

This further increased last year when Cebu hosted big international events like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) senior ministerial meetings and the 51st International Eucharistic Congress.

The industry, she said, is expecting more bookings this year, not only limited to the leisure market but also in meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice).

She said majority of the bookings in Cebu hotels are Mice-driven.

Retrieved from "https://www.zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Cebu_Province_News_April_2016&oldid=918768"