Cebu Sun.Star

POP-UP stores from various Cebu-based farmer groups and cooperatives occupied the atrium of the Robinsons Galleria Cebu as part of the simultaneous launching of Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) outlets across the country on Monday, July 17, 2023.

The KNP pop-up stores allow farmers to sell directly to consumers, making agricultural and fishery commodities accessible at affordable prices to consumers.

The KNP pop-up stores in Robinsons Galleria Cebu will run for three days, until July 19.

Simultaneous launches also took place in Central Visayas at the Tagbilaran Old City Airport in Bohol, HPG Grounds, Lamberto Macias Sports Complex, Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Capital Square.

Roghelin Pañares, from Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative of Pinamungajan, stated how significant the establishment of “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” is in showcasing local products and commodities of farmers.

“Dako gyod ni siyag tabang para mabaligya sad lagi ilang commodities. Pamaagi sad aning Kadiwa, ma-display namo ilahang products nya ma-known kon unsa ilahang commodity nga naa didto. Ug usa sad, matabangan namo sila nga mabaligya ang ilahang products,” she said.

(It really is a huge help with regards to getting their commodities sold. Through Kadiwa, we are able to display their products and give the exposure they need. Another thing is that we are actually able to help them sell their products.)

All of the profits go to the farmers and small entrepreneurs.

Rosemarie Roma, a 35-year-old vendor selling mangoes, bitter gourd, tomatoes and chili peppers, said everything being sold at her pop-up store is fresh and purely organic.

“Kani tanan gibaligya diri kay organic gyod ni, natural kaayo. Wala’y bisa’g unsang sagol nga makapabati sa lawas,” she said.

(All of the goods being sold here are organic and natural. No toxic additives that could harm the body are mixed.)

Sierra Mae Delposo, a tourism staff from Dalaguete, said the event not only showcased local products, but also promoted the livelihood and tourism destinations of their municipality.

She added that the launching of the program helps in boosting the sale of local products from various municipalities.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry and other government agencies on Monday, July 17, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the establishment of KNP outlets in all local government units nationwide.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who also serves as DA secretary, witnessed the MOA signing in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

The MOA aims to strengthen cooperation between local government units and national government departments to increase the number of KNP outlets and support farmers, shoppers, and small business owners.

As of 16 June 2023, there were 342 KNP outlets nationwide.

The MOA was likewise signed by representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Presidential Management Staff, and the Philippine Communications Office. (CNU interns Miguel Angelu Lumen and Camille Erika Butas)

POP-UP stores from various Cebu-based farmer groups and cooperatives can be found at the Robinson Galleria Cebu Atrium for three days, July 17-19, 2023, as the government launched the Kadiwa ng Pangulo in local government units (LGUs) nationwide.

The program allows farmers and manufacturers to sell their produce directly, offering more affordable prices.

Pop-up stores are designated by city or municipality, including Boljoon, Dalaguete, Mandaue City, Samboan and Santander.

The launching Monday, July 17, also simultaneously took place at Old Tagbilaran Airport in Bohol, Siquijor Capitol Square of Siquijor and HPG Area, and Capitol Site in Dumaguete City.

Roghelin Pañares, from Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative of Pinamungajan, stated how significant the establishment of "Kadiwa ng Pangulo" is in showcasing local products and commodities of farmers.

"Dako jud ni siyag tabang noh kay para mabaligya sad lagi ilang commodities. Pamaagi sad aning Kadiwa, madisplay namo ilahang products nya ma known kung unsa ilahang commodity nga naa didto, ug usa sad, matabangan namo sila nga mabaligya ang ilahang products," she said.

(It really is a huge help with regards to getting their commodities sold. Through Kadiwa, we are able to display their products, allowing their commodities to have the exposure it needs. Another thing is that we are actually able to help them sell their products.)

All of the profits go to the farmers and small entrepreneurs, without any percentage of the profits whatsoever going to the local government.

Rosemarie Roma, a 35-year-old vendor selling mangoes, bittergourd, tomatoes and chili peppers, said everything being sold is fresh and purely organic.

"Kani tanan gibaligya diri kay organic jud ni, natural kaayo. Wala'y bisa'g unsang sagol nga makapabati sa lawas," she said.

(All of the goods being sold here are organic and natural. No toxic additives that could harm the body are mixed.)

Sierra Mae Delposo, a tourism staff from Dalaguete, said the event not only showcased local products, but also promote the livelihood and tourism destinations of their municipality.

She added that the launching of the program helps in boosting the profits of local products sold from various municipalities.

The farmer groups and cooperatives were invited to participate in the three-day event through an official letter sent to them by the Cebu Provincial Government.

Inocencia Gerona, Agricultural Technologist of Mandaue City Agriculture's Office, said the Casili Farmers' Association has been invited to install a pop-up store again at the Cebu Provincial Capitol on August 1, 2023.

This is in celebration of the Cebu Provincial Government's 454th Founding Anniversary. (Miguel Angelu Lumen and Camille Erika Butas, CNU Interns)

AROUND 660 classrooms will be used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Mandaue for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in October this year.

Lawyer Anna Fleur Gujilde, head of Comelec-Mandaue, said Monday, July 16, that each of the city’s 27 barangays should have their classrooms, which will be used as precincts on election day.

“All barangays must have their own schools to accommodate the number of classrooms needed, but unfortunately, there are still additional voters since our registration continues. The number of classrooms decreased, so we need makeshifts, or additional classrooms,” Gujilde said in Cebuano.

Gujilde said there will be nine barangays in Mandaue that will need to put up makeshift classrooms.

These are Bakilid, Banilad, Cubacub, Guizo, Ibabao-Estancia, Labogon, Pagsabungan, Maguikay, and Tabok. (HIC)

SOME residents of Toledo City in western Cebu were told to prepare for scheduled brownouts lasting 10 hours on July 18, 20, and 22, 2023.

The brownouts will occur from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on these dates and are necessary for the upgrade and rehabilitation of overhead distribution lines in Barangay Panog to Casoy, Toledo City, said the Cebu 3 Electric Cooperative Inc. (Cebeco 3).

In an advisory on Facebook, Cebeco 3 said these power interruptions are part of the Capex project aimed at improving power quality and addressing the high power demand in the area.

The activities to be conducted during the brownouts include pole dressing and guying, as well as final line stringing.

On July 18, the affected areas will be Dakit, Cambang-ug; Putting Bato, Toledo City; and Tunnel, Malubog, Gen. Climaco.

The power interruption on July 20 will affect Panog, Magdugo; Cawayan, Magdugo; Proper, Cambang-ug; Ilag, Cambang-ug; and parts of Riversmith, Cambang-ug.

On July 22, placed to be affected are Dakit, Cambang-ug; Putting Bato; Tunnel, Malubog; Panog, Magdugo; Proper, Cambang-ug; Ilag, Cambang-ug; parts of Riversmith, Cambang-ug; General Climaco; Biga; and Carbonan, Pangamihan.

Cebeco 3 said that its line personnel and engineers are committed to restoring electricity service within the specified timeline.

But it appealed to the residents of the affected barangays to bear with them during the maintenance work.

Cebeco 3 assured the public that these scheduled brownouts are necessary to ensure the reliability and efficiency of the power distribution in Central Visayas.

It apologized for any inconvenience it may cause and appreciate the cooperation and understanding of the residents during the period. (Ian Christopher Ostulano, NWSSU intern)

POLICE in Consolacion town, northern Cebu, have launched a hot pursuit operation against a man who stabbed his live-in partner Sunday night, July 16, 2023.

Police Liuetenant Colonel Verniño Noserale, chief of Consolacion Police Station, identified the victim as Perlita Cabanes, a 37-year-old maid.

The suspect was Bernabe Biasca, live-in partner of the victim and resident of Carmen town.

Cabanes was rushed to a hospital but she succumbed to stab wounds.

The police are looking into jealousy as a possible motive for the crime, as the suspect reportedly believed that Cabanes was into another relationship.

Noserale said the police received a call about the stabbing incident around 8:20 p.m. Sunday.

An eyewitness reported to the police that they saw Biasca holding a bloody knife in the presence of the victim. The victim attempted to escape from the house, and the suspect fled the crime scene.

Noserale said they will file a case against the suspect for his partner’s death in court. (BBT/LMY)

AMONG the equally astounding provinces of the Philippines, the most acclaimed perhaps when it comes to food and cuisine is Pampanga.

From appetizers to entrèes to desserts, the delectable creations of Pampanga are almost surely among the favorites. That special blend of flavors and native spices make Kapampangan dishes irresistible to the tongue’s palette.

The story of how Pampanga developed into the country’s Culinary Capital is not one that is written in Philippine history books. All that is known is that the Spanish friars and soldiers discovered the Kampangans’ cooking skills and their creativity in combining a variety of flavors to create dishes that to this day remain Pampanga’s best.

Kapampangans were trusted to cook and serve government and church authorities during the Spaniards’ rule of the Philippines. Kapampangan cooking must have been really good to have earned the confidence of those in the seat of power.

Geography might give us a clue on how Kapampangans developed their kitchen secrets. Some have surmised that this skill was developed because of the readily available supply of ingredients in the area. Pampanga is situated in Central Luzon where land was vast for rice and vegetable plantations, as well as its proximity to Manila Bay where all sorts of ocean food treasures may be found.

Pampanga’s rivers and mountains also provide a rich supply of other native ingredients that give Pampanga dishes their distinct taste.

As already mentioned, Pampanga is known today as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines, a title given by media. Among the flavorful dishes that Pampanga is locally and internationally known for include sisig, which was invented by a local carinderia in Angeles City, morcon, menudo, caldereta, estofado, embutido, asado, lengua, lechon, afritada, bringhi or paella, taba ng talangka, tocino at longganisa.

Many of the “lutong bahay” dishes that we know are original Kapampangan food creations. Desserts from Pampanga are also among the favorites. Who doesn’t love Razon’s halo-halo from Guagua, their suman sa gata, suman sa lihiya, and tamales? There is also tibuk-tibuk which is a sweet delight made of carabao’s milk.

Food tourism not only in Pampanga but also in other parts of the Philippines should be given the support and boost needed to further develop Filipino cuisine and explore broader horizons for the Filipino brand of flavor. More than the scenic views that provide feasts for the eyes, the warmth and hospitality of our people, we can likewise provide a gastronomic experience for tourists that will keep them coming back for more — and Pampanga is surely the place to start. (Sponsored Content)

THE Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) has doubled the daily aggregate amount limit of fund transfers via an electronic fund transfer service from P50,000 to P100,000.

It took effect on Friday, July 14, 2023, the state-run bank said in a press statement.

Landbank said its clients can transfer up to P50,000 per transaction via InstaPay, and a total of up to P100,000 per day. Starting June 15, the bank also reduced its transaction rate for fund transfers via InstaPay from P25 to P15.

The changes are in line with its commitment to providing accessible and convenient digital services to its clients, Landbank said.

“We continue to extend the limits of our digital banking solutions to meet the growing needs of our diverse client base. Landbank is driven to promote greater digital adoption to help accelerate financial inclusion in the country and build a cashless society,” said Landbank president and chief executive officer Lynette Ortiz.

No more daily limit

The bank has also eliminated the daily transaction limit for both fund transfers and bills payment, enabling customers to perform an unlimited number of transactions per day.

The previous daily aggregate amount limit of P50,000 for bills payment facilitated through the Landbank iAccess has been removed.

According to Landbank, it is currently working on providing depositors with the ability to set their own fund transfer and bills payment limits, offering added flexibility and convenience.

Meanwhile, inter-bank fund transfers using Landbank and Overseas Filipino Bank accounts will remain free of charge.

These new fund transfer and bills payment policies apply to transactions facilitated via Landbank’s retail digital banking channels, the Landbank Mobile Banking App, and iAccess.

During the first five months of 2023, the combined usage of the two digital platforms facilitated 66.7 million transactions with a total value of P123.4 billion, according to Landbank. (KAL)

SOME members of the LGBTQ+ community in Cebu found the “Ama Namin” drag performance of Pura Luka Vega offensive and blasphemous.

In a tweet, drag queen Pura Luka Vega showed a video where he performed as Jesus Christ, singing along with other people a remix of “Ama Namin” (the Lord’s Prayer), on July 10, 2023.

Emjee, a member of the LGBTQ+ community who refused to give his full name, said it is not the song that lost its dignity, but the doer who mocked it.

“It is clearly offensive for the Catholics, knowing that someone we adore and worship became an icon for entertainment,” said Emjee from Talisay City.

“Blasphemy na man siya to consider kay bugal-bugal naman to (It was already considered blasphemy because the act was mockery). Wala naman niya gi-imitate or gi-emulate ang God figure ni Jesus (He was no longer imitating or emulating the God figure of Jesus),” he added.

Emjee also stressed that there were better ways to entertain people without hurting religious feelings or making fun of their beliefs.

Another member of the community from Dalaguete, who asked not to be named said every religious aspect should be respected and valued, and Vega’s action is an example of why LGBTQ+ does not deserve the Sogie bill.

The Sogie bill aims to end gender-based discrimination by penalizing people who discriminate against people due to their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (Sogie).

“It is critical to handle such performances with sensitivity and respect, as they can be contentious and may upset certain people with religious views,” he said.

Choky Repollo from the City of Naga, a church server, said he was saddened to hear about what happened.

He said respecting the beliefs of Catholics and other religions is simple and “common sense.”

“Is it necessary to be perfect for you to give respect to holy things not only to Catholics but also other religions?” he said.

Calyxto, not his real name, said he felt insulted because it was losing the sacredness and the value of The Lord’s Prayer.

“I think this is too much nga kani siya is part of freedom of expression. Naa na siya below the belt,” he said.

(I think it’s too much to consider even this impersonation of Jesus as part of freedom of expression. It is already below the belt.)

“Whether the intention is good or bad, since nanobra naman, so sayop gyud sya (since it was too much, it was wrong),” he added.

Franco Francisco, a worship committee head, questioned how people currently interact with the Lord, and if they even understand the fundamentals of the Catholic faith.

“The community has been longing for others to respect our sexuality, yet in this case, we are the ones who are not respecting others’ beliefs. The longer this is tolerated, the more people are unaware of our beliefs and respect,” he said.

“As a Catholic and a drag fan, I was disappointed and saddened to know that he used the image of Christ in the art form of drag. A reminder that anything can be a kind of art or drag, but we must consider our boundaries,” he added.

Vega, in a tweet on July 13, said he understands the perspectives of people on his performance.

“However, they shouldn’t tell me how I practice my faith or how I do my drag. That performance was not for you to begin with. It is my experience and my expression, of having been denied my rights,” Vega said. (CNU INTERN GK MARIE DEJACTO)

TWELVE of the 101 dogs that were rescued from an abandoned house in the mountain barangay of Adlaon in Cebu City have survived, said the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, head of the DVMF, said eight of the 12 dogs were already adopted by some residents, while the remaining four are also candidates for adoption.

“There are four (dogs) left. Two of them are adoptable because they were separated. So until someone adopts, it’s really up to them if they can survive or not,” she said in a mix of Cebuano and English.

She stressed that two of the four dogs will be placed under observation.

“With regard to the two (dogs), we have already included them in our rehabilitation. If they still do not approach our caretakers, and then based on our assessment, of course, it is possible that they will also be candidates for euthanasia,” Maribojoc said.

It was reported in June this year that 29 dogs had passed away naturally, while the remaining dogs were candidates for euthanasia.

Maribojoc said she is hoping that the remaining four dogs will survive until they will be fit for adoption.

She assured that the case against the couple who abandoned the animals had already been processed and they were just waiting for the decision from the prosecutor’s office.

The couple, Lorna Oberes and her partner Edwin Casas, and their unidentified caretakers were charged before the prosecutor’s office for allegedly committing cruel acts against animals. (CNU INTERN KIMBERLY GOC-ONG)

THE Commission on Audit (COA) found several irregularities in some transactions of the Cebu City Government, including deficiencies in the financial assistance for survivors of Typhoon Odette (Rai) amounting to P791.8 million, some 2021-2022 expenditures which COA considered unnecessary like the purchase of T-shirts for different associations and activities amounting to more than P1.1 million, and lapses in the grant of financial assistance to senior citizens amounting to P922.7 million.

The state auditor also noted that more than P4.5 billion from delinquent real property taxes (RPTs) could have been added to the City’s coffer, emphasizing that the City needs to improve its collection efforts to generate more income which could be used for development programs and projects of the City and its 80 barangays.

The 2022 annual audit report was submitted and included in the agenda of the Cebu City Council during the regular session on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Typhoon Odette financial assistance

The state auditor questioned the regularity and validity of the financial assistance for survivors of Typhoon Odette after several deficiencies were found, including the presence of signatures opposite the names of some constituents who claimed to have not received the cash assistance; duplication of names and payments; and non-submission of complete supporting documents.

After Typhoon Odette hit parts of the country in December 2021, including Cebu City, the City decided to provide financial assistance or subsidies of P5,000 for homeowners whose houses were either damaged or destroyed.

Based on the record of the City Accounting Department, a total of P791.835 million was disbursed in 2022 for 158,367 beneficiaries.

Mayor Michael Rama issued Executive Order 149 on Dec. 23, 2021 to set the rules and regulations for the Typhoon Odette assistance, which also contained the mayor’s instruction to the Department of Social Welfare Services, in coordination with the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, to prepare the list of beneficiaries.

As part of audit procedures, the audit team conducted a random written interview with 241 residents from 10 different barangays on Nov. 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, and 28 and on Dec. 1 to verify whether there was strict adherence to the set guidelines.

One of the questions was: “Did you receive the financial assistance from the Cebu City Government for the victim of typhoon Odette? If no, please state the reason/s given by the cash disbursing personnel why you were not given the aid/assistance?”

Of the 241 responders, 91 answered yes, while 150 answered no, according to COA.

COA also noted the inconsistent application of the EO that resulted in selective profiling.

Some residents disclosed that they were not selected for the reason that their house was only damaged.

COA said the non-adherence to the guidelines set in the EO only promoted government distrust.

It also found various loopholes in the data profiling which made it difficult to identify the specific person listed as qualified beneficiary, opening rooms for possible fraud or irregularities.

The state auditor found 296 names or beneficiaries with a total amount of P1.480 million appearing twice or thrice in the submitted database, with 70 belonging to the same barangay while the remaining 226 belonging to different barangays.

COA also noted that distribution was delayed for three to 12 months with P138.620 million, or 14.90 percent of available funds, still undistributed.

Other notable observations included names lacking the complete information such as middle names and the names of their sitios of residence, duplication of misspelled or interchanged names which may refer to one, and non-submission of the endorsement letter or barangay certificate of residence and copies of the valid identification card with specimen signatures of the beneficiaries, among others.

The City has agreed to COA’s recommendation to further investigate the noted deficiencies.

COA also recommended avoiding giving a similar task to two or more offices with equivalent or parallel authority as this may cause confusion, disagreements, conflicts, or opportunity for fraud.

Based on the COA report, it has yet receive a concrete comment from the City on the findings.

Unnecessary expenditures

The state auditor also flagged several expenses the City made in 2021 to 2022 as unnecessary or irregular, including:

• Purchase of 1,957 T-shirts amounting to P391,400 for the general assembly and election of officers of Cebu City Habal-Habal Riders in December 2021;

• Purchase of 1,000 T-shirts amounting to P200,000 for the general assembly meeting of persons with disabilities (PWDs) on Dec. 26, 2021;

• Purchase of 517 T-shirts amounting to P103,400 for the LGBTQ+ strategic planning in December 2021;

• Purchase of 1,754 T-shirts amounting to P263,100 for religious purposes, orientation, and anniversary celebration in October 2021;

• Purchase of 2,000 T-shirts amounting to P300,000 for senior citizens and PWDs in October 2021;

• Purchase of 2,000 T-shirts amounting to P300,000 for the anniversary celebration of Repos Angels Inc., a nongovernment organization, and Quiot LGBT in October 2021;

• Provision of afternoon snacks for a morning half-day event which COA deemed unnecessary, adding that the event’s budget of P93,792.19 could have been lower;

• Provision of lunch for a half-day event and morning snacks for an afternoon event incurring a total of P986,593, both of which COA deemed unnecessary;

• Provision of breakfast for various activities, including 1,500 breakfast meals amounting to P240,000 for the Barangay Women’s Culinary Courses on Nov. 20, 2021, and another P1,500 breakfast meals amounting to P240,000 for the Barangay City Health Workers general assembly in November 2021; and

• Provision of breakfast totaling P158,485 for a morning event.

The state auditor recommended strengthening the City’s measures to curb and cut unproductive spending or eliminate unproductive, unnecessary, wasteful expenses, and maximize use of funds for programs that support an important objective.

“In the context of limited government resources and against the backdrop of competing government priorities, curbing or cutting unproductive spending should always be an important government objective,” the COA stated in its report.

Senior citizens financial assistance lapses

COA noted various lapses in the grant of financial assistance to senior citizens totaling P922.780 million in 2022, such as claims through authorization despite explicit prohibition, inconsistent signatures, inclusion in the distribution payroll of deceased senior citizens, and signed payroll for deceased senior citizens.

The City disbursed a total of P922.780 million in 2022 for such program.

COA conducted an audit using more than 5,000 samples.

It found that in 2022, senior citizens who were unable to personally claim their financial assistance were subjected to different guidelines set by the City or the executive director of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca) depending on the distribution period.

Of the total samples, 35 samples fell under this audit condition.

“Notwithstanding such clear and express prohibition on claims via authorization letter ‘for and on behalf’ of the qualified SC (senior citizen), the AOs (account officers) did not strictly comply with the same as we discovered that some SCs financial aid were still received by another person through authorization letter,” COA noted.

COA also noted that some beneficiaries’ signatures appeared to differ significantly from one payroll to another, which raised doubts about authenticity.

As part of the audit process, the state auditor also wrote to the Office of the City Civil Registrar for a copy of the list of deceased senior citizens in 2021 and 2022.

From the data the COA gathered, a total of 4,691 senior citizens died in 2021 and 3,727 in 2022. After cross-checking 1,483 samples, it found 30 deceased senior citizens still included in the current payroll.

COA discovered that the names of 13 deceased senior citizens were signed, manifesting that their financial assistance was claimed.

COA also noted large amounts of unclaimed or returned funds amounting to P40.225 million, indicating either excessive grant of cash advances or flawed distribution methods.

The state auditor recommended improving the City’s distribution and communication methods by having a fixed distribution schedule per barangay with a clear communication flow employing all available platforms to target beneficiaries.

The City has agreed to COA’s recommendation to further investigate the noted deficiencies.

P4.5 billion delinquent RPT

COA noted delinquent RPTs amounting to P4.598 billion in the records of the City Treasurer Office (CTO), which remained uncollected as of December 2022.

It recommended instructing the CTO to strategize and exert effort to enforce collections of delinquent RPTs, including the conduct of a tax campaign and sending of notices of delinquencies.

It also recommended tapping the barangays.

COA noted that during the exit conference, it was informed that the CTO still had to reconcile and update its records with the City Assessor’s Office.

It said the City also committed to maximize collection in the future.

BARANGAYS Mambaling and Inayawan in Cebu City are now regarded as “areas of concern” in Central Visayas after logging the highest cases of teenage pregnancy in 2022.

The report caught Barangay Captain Gines Abellana of Mambaling and Barangay Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo of Inawayan by surprise.

Maria Lourdes Garillos, population program officer of the Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) 7, said the two barangays in the south district recorded more than 85 cases of teenage pregnancy last year.

But she did not provide the exact number of teenage pregnancies in each barangay.

Garillos informed SunStar Cebu about the data last Thursday, July 13, 2023, after the presentation of the results of the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, which focused on women and children’s health.

“First is because these youths, they are not aware. There is not much information acquisition in terms of comprehensive sexuality education and adolescent reproductive health,” Garillos said.

Addressing the problem

Abellana said he is yet to conduct a survey on how many teens in Mambaling have been impregnated by accident, or “gipaangkan” in Cebuano.

He said the figures are alarming, adding that they will look into it as it is inappropriate for teens to be bearing children at such a young age.

“We (involved stakeholders) will meet on Monday (July 17) to perform my obligations as the barangay captain on this matter,” he told SunStar Cebu on Sunday, July 16.

Repollo, his counterpart in Inayawan, echoed his sentiments.

Repollo told SunStar Cebu on Saturday that he did not receive any report from Popcom 7, but vowed to continue the ongoing programs against teenage pregnancy in their barangay.

“Even without that report from [Popcom 7], we already had been conducting a lot of seminars and symposiums regarding teenage pregnancy to the students, parents and different people’s organization in the barangay,” he said.

He said that they have been coordinating with administrators of the Inayawan Elementary School and Inayawan National High School to monitor youngsters.

He said they are also implementing a curfew for minors in the barangay.

Garillos said Cebu City had the highest number of teenage pregnancies among highly urbanized cities in the region in the past year, which she considered alarming.

“This is what we call ‘too young, too risky, and too soon.’ They are not ready for their reproductive health and even so for their future,” she said. “Their future is very vague. They are still in school. Then they are very prone to maternal and infant mortality in these cases.”

She said the youngest girl to have gotten pregnant was 10 years old, but she did not divulge where the girl came from.

Garillos also did not share statistics from other barangays in the city, as well as data from other provinces in the region.

Ignorance

She said that while she had identified a number of potential contributing factors based on the agency’s monitoring, lack of awareness remained the main reason for teenage pregnancy.

She said children and teenagers in these places hardly received any education on reproduction health.

She stated that it is important for them to understand the fundamentals, such as the possibility of pregnancy when a girl first gets her period and when a boy starts producing sperm.

Garillos said it is important to understand that early pregnancy happens when neither party is aware of what can happen after having unprotected sex.

She also said there are cases where the male is much older than the female.

Programs

Garillos said Popcom 7 will continue to intensify efforts to educate the youth about reproductive health to combat teenage pregnancy.

According to her, there are teen centers in various locations throughout the region with trained peer educators conducting training programs for teenagers.

She said they partnered with organizations in the youth sector, such as the National Youth Commission and the Sangguniang Kabataan, for their initiatives.

“Instead of them only conducting activities like basketball leagues and pageants, it would be better if there is an advocacy aspect that advocates towards making known what is teenage pregnancy,” she said.

Garillos said they are also collaborating with the Department of Education in conducting age-appropriate “heart-to-heart” discussions with students about reproductive health.

According to the provided data for 2021, there were 10,717 teenage pregnancies involving girls between the ages of 15 and 19, and 164 pregnancies involving girls under the age of 15 in Central Visayas.

IN LIGHT of its remarkable contributions to revitalizing fishing communities of Cebu Province following typhoon Odette), the Aboitiz Foundation’s “Project Banca” was awarded Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project in Disaster Resilience at the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) CSR Guild Awards on July 6, 2023.

Together with its Cebu-based Aboitiz business units, the Aboitiz Group successfully aided in the recovery of fishing communities and families affected by the calamity.

Project Banca helped restore livelihoods by providing fisherfolk with the necessary equipment to resume fishing activities.

“We are humbled and honored to receive the Outstanding CSR Project in Disaster Resilience award for ‘Project Banca.’ Being able to uplift and have a positive impact on the lives of those affected by the calamities is already an achievement for us, but this recognition will further fuel our determination to continue supporting communities in their journey towards recovery and resilience,” said Aboitiz Foundation president and chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan.

Brand-new bancas

Coinciding with the launch of “Project Banca” on April 4, 2022 was the transfer of brand-new bancas to beneficiaries in Talisay City, Toledo City and Liloan in Cebu.

The event represented the collaborative efforts of the Aboitiz Foundation, the local government, and the resilient communities aiming to empower fishing communities and revive the local economy.

The donated boats help fishermen catch fish more efficiently and safely.

In just two months, the beneficiaries caught 645 kilograms of fish, which they sold for a total of P129,000.

With their fishing activities back on track, the lives of 75 fisherfolk and their families significantly improved.

“Project Banca” is an integral component of the Aboitiz Group’s #RebuildCebu Campaign, which aims to assist in the rehabilitation of areas severely affected by typhoon Odette in Cebu Province.

Commitment

The recognition of the Aboitiz Foundation’s “Project Banca” as the Outstanding CSR Project in Disaster Resilience underscores the Aboitiz Group’s strong commitment to responsible corporate citizenship.

As the Group undergoes its Great Transformation to become the Philippines’ first Techglomerate, it is powered by technology and a renewed entrepreneurial spirit, and through initiatives like Project Banca, it actively fosters and encourages that entrepreneurial spirit among fellow Filipinos, even in the face of setbacks and natural disasters.

By providing support, resources, and resilience training, Aboitiz empowers entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and create opportunities for themselves and their communities.

OVER 70 residents of Lapu-Lapu City volunteered to donate blood during the bloodletting activity conducted by the Philippine Seven Corp. (7-Eleven), in partnership with the Lapu-Lapu City Government, Subnational Blood Center for Visayas and National Voluntary Blood Services Program, on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Most of the donors were aged 24 to 50 years old, although individuals as young as 16 were allowed to donate blood with parental consent.

Delsie Dungog Salgado, a nurse and blood coordinator of Lapu-Lapu City Health, said the activity aimed to gather 300 donors.

Salgado added that personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) 7 collected and processed the blood, and the Philippine Red Cross was also involved.

Dr. Mar Carlo Alcontin of the DOH 7 emphasized the significance of the activity, saying: “For our families, patients, or individuals who need blood, we can easily provide blood as we have stocks.”

One of the blood donors was Filomeno Tumabiene, a resident of Barangay Babag 2.

“I was just sending my child to the basketball court and then I saw the activity. I tried and passed the screening, so I donated blood.”

Tumabiene said he can help save lives by participating in the activity and expressed hope that the bloodletting activity would continue in the future.

A teenager, who preferred not to be named, said, “I am happy that I donated blood. You know that feeling of satisfaction.”

The bloodletting activity will also be held in Olango Island on Friday, July 21, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Organizers stated that donors must have had at least six hours of sleep or more, should not have taken antibiotics within the week, and must weigh 50 kilograms or above. (CNU INTERN JULIE LIZA ALANTOSON)

WATSONS, a leading health, wellness, and beauty retailer brand, continues to demonstrate its unwavering dedication to improving the health and wellness of communities throughout the Philippines. In a recent collaboration, Watsons joined forces with Operation Smile Philippines (OSP) to conduct a medical mission in Cauayan, Isabela from July 10 to 15, 2023—marking its second initiative of the year.

The mission not only paved the way for giving back smiles to 60 beneficiaries—all children with a cleft palate condition—but also a more meaningful experience for the Watsons employees who volunteered and took part in this endeavor.

A total of 35 Watsons employees joined the Isabela OSP mission. Truly, it was one extraordinary experience that left a lasting impression on everyone.

Pharmacy manager Ellyrose Simplina of Watsons Isabela talks about her experience during the mission: "As a volunteer for OSP Mission, it was very rewarding, especially when we see the smiles of the patients and the parents after a successful operation. It warms our hearts and gives us a sense of purpose. Indeed, you can find happiness by helping others.”

The mission also helped make the team work together and showed how hands-on they can be in taking care of the beneficiaries. The volunteers helped in different aspects such as the final screening of the patients, interviewing parents, filling up the patient records, and even post-operative hygiene care assistance.

“My experience as a volunteer of the OSP mission taught me empathy, compassion, and teamwork. Working with people you’ve never met before can be intimidating, but it helped me strengthen my communication skills. To see the smile of each patient makes it a valuable and rewarding experience,” pharmacist Sabrina Faye Reyes shared.

“We are delighted to witness the profound impact of our partnership with Operation Smile Philippines. Through this collaboration, we are not only transforming lives but also reaffirming our commitment to employee volunteerism and making a positive difference in the communities we serve,” said Sharon Decapia, Marketing AVP of Watsons Philippines.

Watsons takes great pride in sharing this humbling and inspiring experience with its entire team. This partnership in the Philippines exemplifies A.S. Watson's global commitment to bringing 10,000 perfect smiles in collaboration with Operation Smile. With two successful medical missions completed this year, Watsons has plans to organize an additional medical mission in the coming months, with a mission in Tacloban already scheduled. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

THE Filipinos’ listening habit is becoming borderless, especially Filipinos who identify as “Gen Z.” They listen to songs from the U.S.A., U.K., South Korea, but also pay homage to rising local artists nationwide.

Joem, an 18-year-old from Davao City is one of these rising artists. He is a singer-songwriter who plays multiple instruments and first made waves when he won his first ever music competition, Globe Virtual Hangouts GoJAM Onstage Talent search in 2022.

After earning the approval of music executives and producers, he received a record contract with Kroma Entertainment, Inc. and released his first track, “Gustong Gusto Kita.” His soothing voice is enough to convince anyone that they’re very beautiful (“napakaganda mo,” the lyric goes). It’s a great song to play on a laidback afternoon.

Joem’s newest song, “Pangako,” was created in collaboration with Brian Lotho, one of the judges from the competition Joem won in 2022. Lotho believes in the power possessed by young musicians and fully supports them in their music career: “A lot of producers are already working with talents from different parts of the Philippines, but I have hope this pushes it even further [...] There’s so much talent here and most of them just need guidance,” he said.

“Pangako” takes on an upbeat tempo but with a melancholic undertone as Joem sings of a broken promise and a love lost. He’s holding on to hope, even if it’s just wishful thinking. The song is set to be the next anthem of every sawi, in the Philippines.

Kroma Entertainment, a Filipino tradigital entertainment company made this song possible. Joem’s “Pangako” is its first venture into domestic music distribution under the business unit, Kroma Music, headed by Denise Seva.

“This collaboration from a young talent in the South and a highly regarded music producer in the center stage of the industry proves that OPM is gearing up to a new heights. No matter what an artist’s area code is, music can be made and can be heard—across the country, across the globe,” said Denise.

Support Filipino music and listen to Joem’s “Pangako” now available worldwide: joem.lnk.to/pangako.

Follow Joem through the following platforms:

Facebook: facebook.com/joem.officialmusic

Instagram: instagram.com/joem.officialmusic

Twitter: twitter.com/joem_official

TikTok: tiktok.com/@joem.officialmusic

Spotify: spoti.fi/3NWYazn

Apple Music: apple.co/3NKFQcy

YouTube: t.ly/RYC7

Follow Kroma Entertainment through the following platforms:

Facebook: facebook.com/kromaent

Instagram: instagram.com/kromaent

Twitter: twitter.com/kromaent

TikTok: tiktok.com/@kromaent

YouTube: youtube.com/c/kromaent

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/kromaent

Website: kroma.ph

(SPONSORED CONTENT)

CEBU City Police Office (CCPO) Director Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog urged on Sunday, July 16, 2023, police personnel who have personal weapons to renew their License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF).

Dalogdog said he will an administrative case against those who fail to do so.

This is in line with the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) strict implementation of the program against loose firearms where unlicensed weapons are confiscated.

Dalogdog said some policemen and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines became the subject of Oplan Katok because they did not renew their LTOPF.

"Those of our PNP personnel who refuse or insist on not renewing their LTOPF or their firearms registration are now facing an administrative case," the police official said.

Apart from this, Dalogdog said it will be most likely that they will be the target of a search warrant if they continue to refuse to renew their LTOPF, especially when the election period starts and the gun ban begins for the October barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Meanwhile, he advised civilians who cannot afford to renew their LTOPF to surrender their firearms at the nearest police station.

The CCPO held an LTOPF caravan in coordination with the Regional Civil Security Unit in Central Visayas on Thursday, July 13, which gave members of the public a chance to renew their firearm’s license in one day. (AYB)

A 19-YEAR-OLD tourism student at the University of San Carlos was declared dead on arrival at the hospital after the motorcycle-for-hire she was riding ran into a garbage truck in Barangay Lorega San Miguel, Cebu City.

The victim was identified as Geraldine Amad Asentitas, a resident of Barangay Labangon.

Joselito Añasco Cenabre, the motorcycle-for-hire driver who resides in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, was unharmed.

Corporal Rhenniel Jay Docejos of the Parian Police Station said they’ve detained Michael Rivera, the driver of the garbage truck.

Rivera told police he was crossing Imus Avenue and turning left heading for Barangay Carreta when he stepped on the brakes after the vehicle in front of him suddenly stopped.

He said he didn’t see the motorcycle-for-hire to his left.

Based on police investigation, Asentitas was thrown upon impact and suffered severe injuries that caused her death.

Rivera will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting to homicide. (BBT)

In traditional Filipino culture, communication is about transaction, a give and take of messages and responses that are mutually beneficial for and acceptable to all parties.

When the discussion gets tangled in complications that are unanticipated and often undesired, many Filipinos still negotiate to avoid confrontation.

The latest to test the limits of civility is Pura Luka Vega, who dressed up as Jesus Christ and performed in a local bar a rock version of the “Ama Namin,” the Filipino song rendition of the “Lord’s Prayer.”

Based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing, 85.65 million of the 108.57 million Filipinos who took part identified themselves as Roman Catholics. This represents 78.8 percent of the Philippine population in 2020.

For Roman Catholic Filipinos, the “Lord’s Prayer” is one of the prayers learned in childhood. Even among Catholics living in Visayas and Mindanao, the Filipino translation of “Ama Namin” is committed to memory from eucharistic celebrations where the congregation sings the prayer Jesus Christ taught to his disciples.

The Britannica describes the “Lord’s Prayer” as a “‘canonical prayer’ of Christianity, used in nearly all denominations of the faith,” adding that the prayer “is considered a model of how to pray.”

Taking to social media, where images and posts about Vega’s drag performance first surfaced, many Roman Catholic Filipinos condemned the act as a “blasphemy.” From pulpits, priests urged in their homilies that the faithful must fortify themselves against those who attack the faith.

Given Catholicism’s hold on nearly 79 percent of the nation’s population, the drag performance had a predictable reception, applying Stuart Hall’s theory that media texts contain representations that are far from faithful reproductions of realities.

Pura Luka Vega’s drag performance of Jesus Christ performing the rock version of the “Ama Namin” was rejected and condemned by Filipinos, who, unconscious even of the artist’s statement behind the drag performance, interpreted in the act meanings that could not co-exist with their religiosity.

Hall theorized that an audience decoding a message may agree or disagree with meanings encoded by the sender. Aside from the “dominant” or “oppositional” reading, a third reading may have the audience negotiate with the sender about possible interpretations of the communicative act that create, rather than disrupt, a connection between the sender and receiver.

In a tweet last July 13, Pura Luka Vega said she “understood” the backlash over her performance but disagreed with citizens dictating how she should practice her faith or perform drag.

“It is my experience and my expression, of having been denied my rights,” commented Vega at the close of the July 13 tweet.

Beyond the perception that drag is a form of entertainment involving men crossdressing to exaggerate femininity, this form of popular culture embeds a history of resistance to oppression.

According to MasterClass.com, men impersonating women in plays to work around the ban imposed on female performers was practiced during ancient Greece until Shakespeare’s time.

In the 1990s, drag culture was embraced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and others community as part of the Gay Liberation movement asserting gay pride, rights, and empowerment to resist marginalization.

While men, often gay or queer, dominate drag culture, trends show an openness to include transgender and cisgender women as drag queens, notes MasterClass.com.

From expressing a host of issues from self-acceptance of one’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to living with human immunodeficiency virus and hate crimes, drag artists use art to reach beyond the campy and entertaining: advocacy for voices that are stifled, ignored or erased.

A FEMALE TEACHER was allegedly caught in flagrante delicto with a mechanic inside a lodging house in Barangay Poblacion in the northern town of Compostela, Cebu on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Patrolman Renan Relampagos of the Compostela Police Station said the incident took place around 4:20 p.m.

He said the teacher’s 45-year-old husband, who is a supervisor at the Department of Education in Central Visayas, had sought their help.

Last Saturday’s operation was led by station chief Captain Roy Mamaradlo and personnel of the Women and Children’s Protection Desk.

During the arrest, the teacher said she decided to have an affair after she found out that her husband was involved with another woman with whom he had two children.

Police brought her and her lover to the station, where she suddenly drank a whole bottle of liniment oil.

Police took her to the hospital but brought her back to the station after she was declared out of danger.

The teacher and her lover will be charged with adultery. (BBT)

LOCAL government units (LGUs) can work with private and public stakeholders to expand the range of options in financing smart city initiatives, according to a research paper published by the think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (Pids).

“The conduct of PPP (public-private partnership) smart city projects should be explored more as an additional option, given the emphasis placed on its potential in the reviewed literature and cases of international cities,” it said in a paper.

The Pids said LGUs can work with the PPP Center to build their capacity to implement PPP projects and conduct feasibility studies.

As smart city development is recognized as a potential solution to urbanization issues, the Pids said engagements with stakeholders also open opportunities in terms of financing relevant projects.

“Ultimately, engagements with stakeholders in smart city initiatives, including those implemented by the private sector, should be supported by ordinances, resolutions, and/or MOAs (memorandums of agreement) to help ensure sustainability,” it added.

The paper said some private sector stakeholders involved in smart city initiatives were interviewed, including four development organizations and seven businesses.

These interviewed development organizations are supporting smart city development’s infrastructure and data phase through networking, financing, and providing service and technical support.

“Those involved in the infrastructure phase help capacitate LGUs and even link them to businesses that can provide infrastructure technology involving focus areas of quality environment. In contrast, those in the data phase provide data-relevant technology involving safety, security, and built infrastructure,” it added.

Also among the recommendations in the Pids study is for the country to consider branding its cities as smart.

“Regardless of the potential pitfalls, branding should still be considered an enabler because of its ability to attract investments,” it said.

“Establishing a brand for technology and innovation-powered Philippine cities can unlock opportunities to gain additional investments for government projects. The brand should be echoed by complementary policies to reflect the commitment to realizing the vision,” it added. (PHILEXPORT)