Cebu Province News June 2011

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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.

Fun bike to open observance of Nat’l Disaster Consciousness Month in Cebu

by Fayette C. Riñen

CEBU CITY, June 30 (PIA) -- Instead of the usual motorcade, members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) here and other stakeholders will ride a bike to open the National Disaster Consciousness Month tomorrow.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) -7 Disaster Risk Reduction Officer Neil Sanchez bared that at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow, bikers will start their journey from Central Command Headquarters in Camp Lapulapu, Barangay Apas going to Osmeña Boulevard to the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) for the press conference.

Another highlight to kick off the celebration will be a demonstration of a Mass Casualty Incident at the DOH-7 grounds to witness how concerned government agencies are prepared to handle immediate disaster response.

Sanchez urged sister government agencies and other offices to display streamer and help drumbeat public awareness on the annual observance.

As the country averages over 20 typhoons in a year and that due to global warming brought about by climate change, has increased the risks

“Our focus now is no longer on disaster response but rather, on pre-disaster measures to lessen the impact of the calamity,” according to Sanchez.

The OCD-7 officer added that local government units (LGUs) play a very vital role in putting in place the necessary measures to mitigate the effects of disasters, which we cannot prevent.

“Under the law, LGUs can spend 70 percent of their disaster funding on pre-disaster programs and only 30 percent is allotted to disaster response,” Sanchez declared.

Sanchez urged the public especially those residing in flood-prone areas or in mountain barangays at risk for landslides and flashfloods for coastal areas to be vigilant at all times.

The Month of July is celebrated as National Disaster Consciousness Month with this year’s theme on “Pag-alerto, Malayo sa Peligro.” (PIA 7-Cebu)


CEBU AIRPORT UNDER WATER? - Climate change places Mactan airport, others at risk — Tan

by Candeze R. Mongaya (Reporter)

It may not happen soon, but climate change can cause floods in coastal areas in Cebu, including the airport, an international conservation, an official said yesterday.

Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, president of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), said Cebu's international airport is one of six airports in Central Visayas that are vulnerable to being submerged by rising water levels in a scenario of climate change.

Only two other airports in Negros Oriental and Panay, which are not located along the coast, don't face that risk, he said.

Tan showed Power Point slides of images of coastal sites in the region that risk being flooded by as much as four to six meters. He gave no timeframe, however, as to when this would happen.

He spoke in an environmental congress organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7, where he encouraged the private sector to implement adaptive measures against climate change.

“If we don't embrace new technologies and Cebuanos are not ready to show vitality, the economy will collapse,” Tan said during his speech “Reality Check: Assessing the Economic/ Business Risks Facing Cebu City from Climate Change”.

Tan cited results of a WWF Triangle Study in 2009 which showed that within 2020 to 2050, the acidification or decrease of the pH level of the ocean would continue to affect marine biodiversity.

This would be seen in the phenomenon of coral bleaching and stunted development of bones and shells of marine species.

He said the sea level is also forecast to rise four to six meters, adding that river overflows and flooding would be more frequent.

Tan also cited a Manila Observatory Study that predicts that Luzon will experience more rain while Visayas and Mindanao would experience more drought.

The WWF and the Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI) have an ongoing study which began late 2010 to asses the readiness of the country for climate change.

He said variables of the study include the likelihood of flooding, land area use, population growth and infrastructure adaptive capacity.

The study results are set to be completed and released by October this year.

For Cebu to be prepared, Tan suggested that residential and business establishments focus on on upland areas which are safe from landslides and less vulnerable to floods and higher sea levels.

“Why should we wait for nature to affect our life. Let's move ahead,” Tan said.

He said that if Cebu's airport is affected by a sudden rise in sea levels, the economy, especially the export industry, would be crippled.

“Cebu is transport-dependent but we have no alternative airport,” he said.

“I'm surprised that even until now, we don't have an alternative solution, a plan B on how to solve this problem,” he added.

He said that local governments and the DENR should educate the public and encourage adaptive measures to cope with climate change.

Cebu's use of limited ground water sources should be regulated by establishing water tariffs, he said.

He said reforestation efforts are not enough and that people should be encouraged to consume less water and environment-friendly technologies.

Rama to present ‘Soca’ in Cebuano in Plaza Sugbo

by Edison Delos Angeles(Correspondent)

It’s all systems go for the July 1 State of the City Address (Soca) of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

The mayor will deliver the Soca in Cebuano. The 15-minute speech will be witnessed by up to 8,000 people expected to converge at the Plaza Sugbo in front of the Cebu City Hall, said City Hall consultant Leonardo Chiu.

Chiu, an independent filmmaker, helped draft the Soca.

“We intended it to be short and sweet and it shall be rendered in Cebuano so that it could linger in the hearts of the audience,” Chiu said in an interview.

Video clips to illustrate points of Rama’s speech will be shown on screens mounted beside a stage, Chiu said.

Rama said he ordered his staff to invite everyone, including the members of the City Council and the city’s Congressmen Tomas Osmeña and Cutie del Mar.

“It’s protocol and I want to make sure that… no issue would again come out that I did not invite them,” Rama said.

“All are invited. Everyone. And I hope and it won’t be misconstrued again.”

Rama’s decision to deliver his Soca at the Plaza Sugbo came after the City Council scheduled its inaugural session on July 6 instead of the traditional July 1.

Director Pedro Noval of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Visayas said he sees no problem with the Soca being presented in the Plaza Sugbo.

There is no guideline in DILG that directs where the Soca should be presented.

“Even in the Cebu Provincial Capitol, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia does her State of the Province Address at the Social Hall so there should be no trouble doing it at the Plaza Sugbo just as long as he (Rama) does his Soca,” Noval said.

Meanwhile, Rama said that he is still open to the possibility that the City Council will invite him to its inaugural session.

“If they invite me after my Soca, then I will have a shorter version of the Soca there (in the council session hall) too,” he said.


Supporters advocate improved road revolt opponents say move will hurt drivers

by Candeze Mongaya(Reporter)

WHAT will it take to repeat a “Road Revolution” and keep vehicles out of Osmeña Boulevard one day each week?

In the center of a bustling street, pro and anti groups discussed the proposal.

Radio station dySS commentator and Cebu Daily News columnist Lloyd Suarez hosted the discussion in the Fuente Osmeña Circle for the program “Dialogue on the Air.”

“If that will happen, how would the drivers and commuters survive?” said Wenceslao Badayos, chairperson of the Alyansa sa Mamumuo sa Sugbo – Kilusang Mayo Uno.

“The workers had to pay higher fares due to the changing of the jeepney routes,” Badayos said, referring to the June 12 Road Revolution.

He said the transport sector fears that Road Revolution may be part of the gradual phaseout of jeepneys and taxis in Cebu City.

But Vince Cinches, country director of 350.org and one of the organizers of the Road Revolution, said “the project… just needs fine tuning with the concerned sectors.”

Lawyer Tara Rama of the Law of Nature Foundation said they proposed to “give back” the roads to the pedestrians based on the Local Government Code which states that the signatures of only 1,000 registered voters in cities are needed to petition the City Council to pass or amend an ordinance.

The City Council forwarded the draft ordinance to the committees on laws and ordinances and on traffic and transportation, said Carlo Dugaduga, City Hall spokesman.

Mayor Michael Rama wants to “assess what would be beneficial for the majority of the Cebuanos,” he said.

Jeepney driver Eduardo Geolin of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbu- Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide said they will support the project as long as it would not compromise their livelihood.

If a train powered by renewable energy would become the primary means of transport within the city, it would cause a big blow on their livelihood, he said.

Many jeepney drivers were unable to pay their daily rental on June 12 because of the lack of passengers.

“Some drivers are still paying until now,” Geolin said, adding that the rent for each jeepney unit ranges from P300 to P800.

Badayos pointed out that air pollution in Metro Cebu is largely caused by the private vehicles.

He suggested that a color coding scheme for using public roads should be implemented for private vehicles.

An estimated 60 percent of vehicles in Metro Cebu are private cars, said Eddie Llamedo, spokesman of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7).

Air quality in Metro Cebu is “tolerable,” but the public shouldn’t wait for it to worsen, he said.

DENR-7 has air quality monitoring stations in Mabolo police precinct, University of San Carlos in Talamban, Cebu Business Park, DENR-7 compound, barangay Tinaan, Naga City and near the Land Transportation Office in Cebu City.

The Environmental Management Bureau conducted air sampling on June 11 and June 12 to compare the amount of Total Suspended Particles (TSP) in the atmosphere in the boulevard before and during the road revolution, Llamedo said.

They will release the results of the air sampling next week.

Noynoy to inaugurate coal-fired Naga plant

by Carmel Loise Matus(Correspondent)

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will lead local and company officials in the inauguration of a 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant in barangay Colon, Naga City, in southern Cebu tomorrow.

The plant operated by Korean Electric Power Corp.-Salcon (Kepco-Salcon) was built amid protests by environmental groups about the threat of air pollution and coal dust waste on one hand, and pressure by the business sector to solve recurring brownouts in Cebu on the other.

Work on the plant began in February 2008.

Commercial operation of the first 100-MW unit started last Feb. 28. The second 100-MW unit started last May 31.

“Our power plant could provide Cebu and other areas in the Visayas with reliable, stable, affordable and cleaner power until the local economy is strong enough to afford renewable energy sources on a wide scale,” KSPC president and CEO Bok-Yull Lee said.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said the project is one of the biggest investments in the province.

“The plant will help ensure that this growth that we have achieved will and can be fulfilled with actual power,” Garcia said.

Lee said the plant has pollution-control devices and a team of experts to monitor environmental safety and health concerns.

A water treatment system in the plant converts seawater to be used in the boiler to meet the plant's freshwater requirements and other needs.

The plant also has a wastewater treatment system.

The Department of Energy in Central Visayas (DOE-7) said power supply may reach critical levels in the region after 2015 if additional plants are not in place to meet the region’s demands.

‘CLEAN UP CEBU CITY’S SIDEWALKS’-Beautification drive, city’s commendation by Asean cited

By Patricia Andrea Patena and Aileen Garcia-Yap with Correspondent Fatrick Tabada

The first thing tourists notice when they arrive from the airport is the sidewalks.

Delegates to the Tourism Congress shared this observation as they called on stakeholders in the private sector and government to clear the sidewalks of vendors and debris in order to lure in more domestic and foreign tourists.

The event held as part of Cebu Business Month (CBM) also featured a presentation of Cebu City's major tourism events and a host of festivals.

Councilor Margot Osmeña, chair of the council’s tourism committee, said these are aimed at lending prominence to the city's recent designation as Asean City of Culture.

Russian Consul Armi Garcia said while foreigners are adventure-seekers who love to go out and walk around, they are unable to fully enjoy their experience due to the dismal conditions of Metro Cebu's sidewalks and public places.

She said tourists would even agree to venture to public markets to buy local fibers.

But Garcia said guides would think twice about bringing them there because of the unsightly condition of the public markets.

Ted Locson, District Governor of Rotary Club Fuente, said action has been taken to clean up the city such as the beautification and cleanup projects initiated in Osmeña Boulevard, Sanciangko St. and Capitol area.

Congress participants called for training guides on a tourist spot's history and creation of a central information center where tourists and even locals can obtain information on the tourist destinations in Cebu and its neighboring provinces.

Samuel Chioson, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said they plan to set up a brochure and information booth at the Mactan Cebu International Airport to entertain inquiries on Cebu's tourism sites.

Later in a speech to participants of the Tourism Congress Night at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said Cebuanos and their visitors can expect more from the city's tourism programs such as their ongoing beautification campaign.

Cebu City Hall and the Capitol have pooled efforts to beautify Fuente Osmeña and Osmeña Boulevard, including roads leading to the Provincial Capitol.

A beautification committee chaired by philanthropist Margarita Salimbangon-Yeung is also working to improve Cebu City's downtown area.

Two malls and a fastfood area located in downtown Colon are also reminded to clear their area of debris owing to their proximity to a creek (see page 2).

Later, Councilor Margot Osmeña cited the awarding of Cebu City as a City of Culture by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Ministers of Culture and Arts.

Osmeña, who chairs the council tourism committee, said the awarding to be held on July 15 at the Radisson Blu Hotel will place Cebu City prominently in the global tourism map.

The councilor said this will be followed by a cultural presentation at the Plaza Independencia and a dinner at the Malacañang sa Sugbo.

A “City of Culture” logo will be placed at the Friendship Park in Talamban the following day.

“This is a real honor for us because this is the first time that this award is given and the Philippines is the first to receive this,” she said.

Osmeña said the council recognizes that much needs to be done for the city's tourism sector including improving infrastructure and security.

“What we are urging you guys, the stakeholders, is to also take your initiative. Tell us where we should and could come in,” Osmeña said.

The councilor also outlined the city government's plans to hold a mooncake festival and a Korean themed festival to honor the city's thriving Korean community.

The mooncake festival to be held in September is named after the famed Chinese snack.

The two-day Korean Festival to be held on Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 this year, will consist of a Korean pop musical, a singing contest, beauty pageant and a food festival.

Osmeña said these events along with previous staples like the Sinulog will draw in tourists to the Queen City of the South.

She cited in particular the first Cebu City Chinese Festival last February and the 8th Visayas Mountain Festival in Cebu City's hinterland barangays.

Philippines' Cebu Air places $3.8 bln Airbus order

by:(Reporting by Erik dela Cruz; Writing by Rosemarie Francisco; Editing by John Mair)

Philippine budget carrier Cebu Air Inc will buy 37 planes from Airbus for $3.8 billion as it looks to more than double its fleet over the next 10 years and expand its routes, the company's chief executive said on Thursday.

Lance Gokongwei told reporters Cebu Air has put in orders for 30 new A321neos and seven A320s from Airbus, a unit of France's EADS , with delivery between 2015 and 2021.

The order is in addition to 18 A320s the Cebu Pacific is set to receive from the second half of this year up to 2014.

"This is the largest single aircraft order ever made by a Philippine carrier," Gokongwei said, adding it was also the largest firm order for the A321neo in the world.

"We expect to launch a flight using A321 by 2017," he said. "We will be able to serve cities in Australia, India, and northern Japan, places the A320 cannot reach."

The airline plans to use internally generated cash and may seek loans from export credit agencies and commercial lenders to fund the purchases.

Cebu Air, which operates the country's largest budget airline Cebu Pacific, is a unit of Philippine conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc .

The airline expects to at least meet its target of flying 12 million passengers this year, up 14 percent from last year, despite rising fuel prices. It currently has 33 jets, of which 25 are A320s and eight are turbo prop planes from aircraft maker ATR, jointly owned by EADS and Finmeccanica .

"With the A321neo, Cebu Pacific will be able to fly more people further at significantly lower cost per seat than any other competing aircraft, and with less impact on the environment," Airbus chief operating officer John Leah said in a statement.

Cebu Air has yet to make an engine choice for the A321neo, but the choices open to it are CFM International's LEAP-X and Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1100G.

The A321neo, the largest model in the recently launched A320neo series, uses new engines and large wing-tip devices called sharklets that would allow Cebu Pacific to achieve 15 percent reduced fuel burn, a statement from Cebu Air said.

Cebu Air competes with flag carrier Philippine Airlines Pal locally and with Singapore's Tiger Airways and Malaysia's Air Asia Berhad in the region. (Reporting by Erik dela Cruz; Writing by Rosemarie Francisco; Editing by John Mair)

Only Margot, Cutie attend Independence Day celebration of Cebu City Hall

By Elly T. Bolonos and Justin K. Vestil
Monday, June 13, 2011

ASIDE from Councilor Margot Osmeña and Rep. Cutie del Mar (Cebu City, north district), no other elected officials of Cebu City attended yesterday’s celebration of the 113th Philippine Independence Day celebration.

This led some people to ask if the City officials snubbed the activity after Mayor Michael Rama announced he was leaving Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) last June 2.

The program, however, was initiated by the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (Chac), headed by Acting Mayor Joy Augustus Young and Councilor Osmeña. It was held at the Cebu City Sports Center.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Mayor Paz Radaza said she is seriously considering the call of barangay captains of Olango Island to convert their area into a town.

But the executive secretary of Rep. Arturo Radaza (Lapu-Lapu City, lone district) said the proposal of the barangay chiefs is still under study.

In her keynote speech during the Independence Day Celebration in the Benito Ebuen Air Base yesterday morning, Radaza said she is willing to help the barangay captains of Olango Island to “plan their own future” as a separate municipality.

“We can start by determining their readiness. We can study, if by breaking free, they can stand on their own and grow economically at a faster pace,” said Radaza.

No boycott

Margot said she had no idea why her colleagues in the City Council didn’t show up during the celebration. But she dispelled speculations they boycotted the program.

Margot, however, said she represented her colleagues as the vice chairperson of Chac and as chairperson of the committee on tourism, local and international relations, arts and culture in the City Council.

Young, in a separate interview, said it was a coincidence that most of the City officials missed the program.

Young said he had a prior commitment, that’s why he asked Margot to attend the activity on his behalf.

Osmeña, who was tasked to give the welcome remarks in the program, was thankful to the past generations who fought for the country’s freedom.

“We must be thankful to the people who came before us for our freedom. Hopefully, we are worthy enough to carry on, preserve and defend it,” Osmeña said.


City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete delivered the inspirational message on behalf of Mayor Rama, who is in Israel for a week-long official trip.

Poblete said the declaration of Philippine independence 113 years ago gave birth to a new nation.

But Poblete asked if Filipinos have attained real independence. He said while colonizers are long gone, the country seems to remain dominated by foreign nations.

Nevertheless, Poblete said the celebration brought awareness to the people that freedom is a precious right.

The activity started with a parade from Cebu Business Park participated in by the different civic organizations, schools and other groups.

It was followed by a flag-raising ceremony, symbolic releasing of doves and a Holy Mass.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Radaza said she is willing to give the residents of the island barangays their chance, even if this requires sacrifices.

“As mother of the city, I want to see to it that my children — and I’m referring here to the different barangays — when they reached the ripe age, can stand on their own and are free to follow their dreams, even if this will mean making sacrifices, like setting them free,” she said.

A few months ago, the chiefs of 11 barangays situated in Olango Island issued a manifesto urging Rep. Radaza to file a bill that will separate them from Lapu-Lapu City to become a separate municipality.

But lawyer Michael Dignos, Rep. Radaza’s executive secretary, said they still have to study the pros and cons of the proposal.

Dignos said they are still waiting for the results of the 2010 National Census to determine the total population of the 11 barangays in Olango Island.

As of now, the results of the 2010 National Census are still pending approval in the Office of the President, he said.

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