Cebu Sun.Star

HOG industry leaders in Cebu province welcomed the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) to temporarily halt the implementation of the culling and color-coding policy of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) in the province.

Jonathan Young, president of the Central Visayas Pork Producers Cooperative (CeViPPCo), told SunStar Cebu on Saturday, July 1, 2023 that it’s good news for the hog farmers.

He said once implemented, hog farmers can now distribute and ship their live hogs to other areas.

In light of the court’s ruling, local government units (LGU) that prohibited the entry of pigs and pork products from Cebu are expected to lift their executive orders patterned after the BAI’s zoning or color-coding policy.

Young pointed out that this particular policy of BAI has significantly affected the market value of the swine in the province. (EHP)

JUST like zodiac signs, you can learn a thing or two about a person through their coffee order. The internet has come up with all sorts of quizzes and articles that can tell a lot about a person based on their coffee preferences.

It’s a common joke online that Americanos are for the strong-willed, lattes are for those who have their life together, Frappuccinos are for the chill and laid back, iced coffees are for the bold and spontaneous, and decaf is for those who are mindful of their health.

Learn more about your personality based on your coffee orders as we list down the personality traits of these common coffee orders and what it probably says about you.

Black coffee

Bo’s Coffee | 2L, Seaview Wing & City Wing | SM Seaside City Cebu

This type of coffee is for those who are sleep deprived and need a lot of energy—essentially people who have much to do but with little time. Because they live such hectic lives, they tend to go simple for their coffee and prioritize caffeine over taste.

If you are looking for the perfect black coffee that really packs a punch and gets you going for the rest of the day, Bo’s Coffee at the Second Level, Seaview Wing and City Wing is the coffee shop you’re looking for.

Frappuccino

Starbucks | Upper Ground Level, Mountain Wing | SM Seaside City Cebu

If you’re all about the simple things in life but you want a bit of pizazz by topping your coffee with whipped cream and sprinkles, then Frappuccinos are probably your go-to drink. This sweet drink is a favorite amongst carefree, laid-back coffee lovers.

Get your Frappe to fix at Starbucks, located at the Upper Ground Level, Mountain Wing of SM Seaside City Cebu.

Iced coffee

Coffee Bay | Upper Ground Level, Mountain Wing & Second Level, City Wing | SM Seaside City Cebu

People often go for coffee to boost their creative juices and fuel their zest for life, and that is what iced coffee does to you! If you order this drink often, you are probably bold and spontaneous, always ready for an adventure.

Get a dose of iced coffee at Coffee Bay’s SM Seaside branches, located at the Upper Ground Level, Mountain Wing and Second Level, City Wing.

Decaf or milk alternatives

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf | Lower Ground Level, Mountain Wing | SM Seaside City Cebu

Those who opt for these kinds of drinks are the rare ones who have a very specific taste when it comes to their coffee orders. Taking the time to list down their preferred number of espresso shots, specify milk alternatives, tweak the sugar levels, and dictate the flavorings in their drink is a testament to a coffee lover’s perfectionist nature.

However, there are also others who do this because of dietary restrictions that require them to reduce their caffeine intake or avoid dairy products.

If you’re one of these finicky coffee lovers, get creative with your coffee drinks at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, located at the Lower Ground Level, Mountain Wing.

Latte or cappuccino

Lattes and cappuccinos strike the perfect balance between creaminess and a strong coffee flavor. Add a little bit of sugar into the mix and you’ve got yourself the perfect drink! Latte and cappuccino drinkers tend to be the most open-minded and generous people you’ll ever encounter.

Get a dose of latte and cappuccino goodness at 10 Dove Street, located at the Upper Ground Level, Mountain Wing.

So, what does your coffee order say about you? Enjoy your well-deserved Coffee Time at SM Seaside City Cebu and explore different coffee options, beats, exhibits, and more. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

AROUND 500 or half of the 1,000 impounded vehicles in Mandaue City have been claimed by their owners in spite of the City’s impending implementation of its amnesty ordinance, an official said.

Hyl Retuya, the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) legal and admin head of the Impounding Section, said on Saturday, July 1, 2023, that City Ordinance 211-2023 will undergo its third and final reading on Monday, July 3.

In the ordinance, owners of impounded vehicles are granted an amnesty with a lower accumulated storage fee of P1,000 one-time payment on top of their violation penalties.

This is lower than the current policy that charges owners P500 per day for four-wheeled vehicles and P100 per day for motorcycles that are impounded before these can be claimed.

The proposed ordinance also states that owners of impounded vehicles will only have three months after its implementation to claim their units or the City will auction off their vehicles.

Retuya said the announcement of the ordinance and its provisions may have prompted owners to claim their vehicles, which would explain the recent increase in claims.

Meanwhile, members of Team continue to confiscate vehicles with unlicensed, expired, or fake permits.

Joseph Wenceslao, head of Team’s mobile section, said they impound at least 60 vehicles a week on average or equivalent to around 200 vehicles per month.

As of Thursday, June 29, Wenceslao said they conducted a one-time big-time operation wherein they confiscated 17 vehicles in the North Reclamation Area for having fake or expired licenses.

Team conducts operations such as random checkpoints in different areas in the city in coordination with the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Mandaue City Police Office-Traffic Enforcement Unit and other law enforcement agencies to check the documents of the motorists and impound vehicles with questionable or no documents.

Retuya reminded motorists to settle their documents first before driving, especially when traversing Mandaue City.

“My advice to motorists, those who don’t have permits, are not registered and are using fake licenses not to go around Mandaue City because now we randomly check cars as well and not just motorcycles,” said Retuya.

OWNERS of impounded vehicles in Mandaue City will soon benefit from the one-time payment of P1,000 for storage fees that will be granted to them once an ordinance for that purpose will be approved by the city council.

Hyl Retuya, legal and admin head of the Impounding section of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) said on Saturday, July 1, that city ordinance 211-2023 will undergo its third and final reading on Monday, July 3.

According to the ordinance, owners of impounded vehicles would be given a three-month amnesty period to pay a P1,000 accumulated storage cost, which is lesser compared to the previous P1,000 per day of impoundment.

If the owners fail to pay during the prescribed period, their vehicles, including motorcycles, will be auctioned by the city.

Retuya said that amidst the city's impending implementation of its amnesty ordinance, half or 500 out of the 1,000 impounded vehicles in Mandaue City have been claimed by their owners. (HIC)

A MAN who held up a bakery owner ended up in jail after being overcome by his prey in a struggle.

The incident occurred on Molave Street, Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City at 5:45 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023.

The suspect was identified as Sanjen Soledad, 27, of Englis V. Rama, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

According to the investigation of Abellana Police Station 2, that while the victim, 34-year-old Kevin Lim Go, was standing in front of the bakery, the suspect suddenly approached him and threatened to shoot him if he did not give money.

Out of fear, the victim handed over P2,000 to the suspect.

However, when he saw that the suspect had put down the weapon he was holding, he kicked the suspect, causing him to fall to the ground.

He shouted for help and grabbed the weapon, which turned out to be a replica of a .45 pistol.

The Mobile Patrol Unit also arrived immediately and arrested the suspect.

Police recovered from Soledad the gun replica which is a lighter, a 10-inch knife, two scissors and the P2,000 that he got from Go. (AYB, TPT)

TWO technicians of a telecommunications company were detained after being caught stealing copper wires along F. Ramos St. in Barangay Cogon Ramos, Cebu City around 4 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023.

The suspects were identified as Fedmar Racaza Layon, 46, from the mountain barangay of Buot Taop in Cebu City, and Rosyross Cuyos Agustin, 33, of Sitio Sangi, Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, both technicians of Globe Telecom.

Racaza and Cuyos were caught by their roving co-employees and were reported immediately to the police.

According to the police inquiry, the Bantay Kable team led by Jhernie Sayson Mendo of Globe Telecom was conducting a roving when they came across the suspects allegedly stealing copper wires worth P15,592 from their post using a 15-meter stairway.

The stolen items, including the saw that was used to cut the cables, were recovered by the roving team.

The suspects will be charged with theft and might lose their jobs. (AYB, TPT)

TWO technicians of a telecommunications company were detained after they were caught stealing copper wires by their roving co-employees along F. Ramos Street, Barangay Cogon Ramos, Cebu City around 4 p.m. on Friday, June 30.

Those arrested were Fedmar Racaza Layon, 46, from the mountain Cebu City barangay of Buot Taop and Rosyross Cuyos Agustin, 33, of Sitio Sangi, Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City, both technicians of Globe Telecom.

According to the police inquiry, the Bantay Kable team led by Jhernie Sayson Mendo of Globe Telecom was conducting a roving when they came across the suspects allegedly stealing copper wires worth P15,592 from their post using a 15-meter stairway.

The stolen items, including the saw that was used to cut the cables, were recovered by the roving team.

The suspects will be charged with theft and might lose their jobs. (AYB, TPT)

[UPDATED WITH CORRECTIONS] A BUY-BUST resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old man who was allegedly hired to deliver the illegal drugs.

The anti-illegal drug operation was conducted by the agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA 7) on Climaco Street, Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City past 6 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023.

The suspect was identified as Richie Naval Olorvida, a resident of Sitio San Juan, Barangay Mambaling.

Seized from the suspect were a kilogram of substance believed to be shabu worth around P8.8 million and a cellphone used in illegal drug transactions.

PDEA 7 spokesperson Leia Alcantara said the suspect can be considered a high-value individual.

Alcantara said that after learning about Olarvida's involvement in drug delivery, they kept an eye on him for a month.

On his part, Olarvida said it was his second time delivering drugs.

He said he was paid P15,000 the first time he delivered 1/4 kilogram of shabu, but this time, he was instructed to deliver the drug in exchange for a P20,000, and he was ultimately detained.

He said the money he was due to get was supposed to buy food for his cleft lipped one-year-old son, since he has no job.

Olarvida will be facing charges in violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (BBT/TPT)

***

Editor's Note: The story earlier described as "Badjao" the person who instructed the suspect to deliver drugs, but we removed the term "Badjao" as the indigenous identity had nothing to do with the story. Our apologies for the oversight.

A BUY-BUST resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old boy who was allegedly hired by a Badjao to deliver the illegal drugs.

The anti-illegal drug operation was conducted by the agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA 7) in Climaco Street, Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City past 6 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023.

The suspect was identified as Richie Naval Olorvida, a resident of Sitio San Juan, Barangay Mambaling.

Seized from were a kilogram of suspected shabu worth around P8.8 million and a cellphone used in illegal drug transactions.

PDEA 7 spokesperson Leia Alcantara said the suspect can be considered a high value individual.

Alcantara claimed that after learning about Olarvida's involvement in drug delivery, they kept an eye on him for a month.

On his part, Olarvida said it was his second time delivering drugs.

He said he was paid P15,000 the first time he delivered 1/4 kilogram of shabu, but this time, a Badjao instructed him to deliver the drug in exchange for a P20,000, and he was ultimately detained.

He said the money he was due to get was supposed to buy food for his cleft lipped one-year-old son, since he has no job.

Olarvida will be facing charges in violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (BBT, TPT)

WEDDINGS become a stylish and delectable fête at Diamond Suites & Residences.

The hotel begins forever with a wedding reception that encapsulates modern sensibilities. First and foremost is an ideal location, conveniently within Cebu's premier business district, and bold designs in aesthetics, and modern preferences in dining.

Menus comprise wide and sumptuous buffet sets in Asian or Western cuisine, and include modern touches with the couple's choice of d'oeuvres or grazing table, alongside two hours of flowing cocktails.

Weddings become a stylish and delectable fête at Diamond Suites. Find out about wedding packages or book a city hotel stay for as low as P2,640/room night. Visit Diamond Suites in “Kasalan at Kotilyon 2023” from June 30 to July 2, Friday to Sunday, at Ayala Center Cebu’s Activity Center.

Diamond Suites is a premier business hotel located across the Cebu Business Park, at No. 8 Apitong cor. Escario Sts., Cebu City. Within the property are 102 indulgent guestrooms, 3 dining outlets, and function spaces for business and social gatherings.

For more information, call Maitah at (0966) 182-6655 or visit Diamond Suites & Residences on Facebook @DiamondSuitesCebu. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

WHILE Cebu’s hotel industry is now seeing a sustained increase in occupancy since the return of international tourists early last year, hoteliers are also facing a prevailing challenge: manpower.

And their biggest competitor—cruise lines, among others.

There is an “insufficient supply” of hospitality workers in Cebu, as those who left the industry during the Covid-19 pandemic have since found new careers in other industries, while others pursued high-paying tourism jobs like those in cruise lines, according to Mia Singson-Leon, executive vice president of Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) and general manager of Quest Hotel & Conference Center.

Leon said on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, that several hotel workers will eventually seek greener pastures abroad while some find work in the outsourcing industry here, which also pays better.

To cope with the short supply, Leon said hoteliers are forced to hire applicants even if they don’t meet the standards of the company and train them for up to three months. She said Quest, for example, keeps on hiring and training people.

“This year, we started to improve our hiring,” she said, noting that they have adopted a strong training program for their workers.

Challenging task

While manpower isn’t a problem for Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Paige Ginete, who heads the resort’s marketing and communications, said on Friday, June 30, that hospitality recruitment has become more challenging.

“We are competing against cruise lines,” said Ginete. “Because they are now accepting fresh graduates and the pay is high.”

The number of employees at Plantation Bay is close to its pre-pandemic count of 400. The resort prioritized rehiring those it had to let go during the pandemic. Old and new employees underwent new training under the new normal, especially since post-pandemic travelers have new demands.

Operating even during the pandemic has allowed Seda Ayala Center Cebu to keep its workers.

“We did not have this kind of issue since we did not close and even our casual staff returned to work. I know it’s an issue for some. Some reasons for the shortage are due to cruise ships,” said Gwen dela Cruz, the hotel manager.

In a separate interview, HRRAC president Alfred Reyes said the shortage of hospitality workers is already an old issue, noting that the industry felt it as soon as travel restrictions were lifted.

“Tourism-related businesses, especially hotels, have been in a crisis to hire enough people. And this isn’t only a Philippine issue. It’s a worldwide issue,” said Reyes in an interview Friday.

He explained that local hotels are affected since they did not have on-the-job trainees and new graduates did not have experience. Hoteliers also face the challenge of losing workers to business process management firms that offer generous income packages.

“Working in our industry requires a lot. You’ve got to have the passion, the willingness to sacrifice, and of course, be hospitable,” said Reyes. “So now it depends on how your brand as a property would be able to convince even those with non-hospitality courses to join you. You’ve got to have a strong human resource department to effectively execute strategies.”

Recovery

But while the industry has been facing this challenge for quite some time, Leon reported that the recovery of hotels is on track as foreign guests have since come back, and the industry is trying to lure meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice) activities to Cebu.

It was early last year when Cebu reopened to international tourists after direct flights to and from Cebu were re-launched post-pandemic.

Leon said while the industry has welcomed the return of Korean, American, European and Australian tourists, they are still waiting for the return of the Chinese and the Japanese.

Before the pandemic, tourists from Japan and China accounted for most of the international arrivals to Cebu, along with the island’s top market, the Koreans.

“We are doing well although we haven’t reached the peak in occupancy yet because the Chinese aren’t back,” said Reyes.

But industry-wide, Leon said hotels are continuously seeing higher occupancy because of the return of foreign guests and the stable local market. Quest Hotel, for instance, now attracts new emerging markets, such as travelers from Israel and groups of foreign persons with disabilities.

“We (the hotels) continue to work with the Department of Tourism to push Cebu as a destination once again,” she said.

Cebu has recently been hailed as one of the top travel destinations preferred by Filipinos, according to the recent Pahayag 2023 Second Quarter Survey released by Publicu Asia on Thursday, June 29.

Cebu landed the third spot with nine percent of respondents choosing the province. Notably, Cebu stood out as the preferred destination among Visayans, with a significant 21 percent of respondents from the region expressing their interest in visiting the province.

The survey, conducted from June 7 to 12, had 1,500 respondents randomly picked across five geographical areas in the country — National Capital Region, North Central Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

According to the survey, Palawan emerged as the most preferred travel destination, with an impressive 23 percent of respondents expressing their desire to visit. Baguio City came second followed by Cebu, Siargao, Boracay, Batanes, Bohol and Davao.

Upgrade investment

Moreover, as Quest anticipates the full recovery of the industry and the return of Mice events, Leon said the hotel’s management is investing some P200 million to upgrade all its facilities.

Quest Hotel is operated by the Filinvest Group in partnership with Chroma Hospitality.

The upgrading, which will be done in phases, is expected to be completed in three years, starting with soft renovation in identified areas.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Quest was one of the hotels in Cebu that never closed as it served as a quarantine hotel for returning Filipinos and temporary housing for outsourcing employees. The hotel business was also sustained by its food and catering services, which until now continue to drive its revenue growth. (CSL, KOC)

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has temporarily halted the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) from implementing its culling and zoning map policy for containing African swine fever (ASF) in Cebu Province.

In a resolution dated Friday, June 30, 2023, the CA’s 20th division in Cebu City said that there is an urgency in issuing the temporary restraining order (TRO).

The CA found it reasonable to issue the TRO, saying “the continued implementation of the culling and zoning policy of respondent will cause grave and irreparable damage” to the province.

“The Province of Cebu before the declaration of respondent of the existence of ASF in the province, [had] been one of the biggest suppliers of hogs and meat products in the country,” it said. “The culling and zoning map policy of respondent gravely affected the P11-billion hog industry in the province, which if not abated will cause irreparable damage not just to the livelihood of the constituents but more importantly to the economic growth and sustainability of the hog industry in the Province of Cebu.”

“There appears, at least preliminarily, a right on the part of petitioner that needs to be protected. Aside from the property rights and general welfare of its constituents, the right to local autonomy of petitioner is being threatened by the refusal of respondent to properly coordinate and cooperate with the LGU,” it added.

Garcia’s appeal

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia held a press conference Friday afternoon to announce the CA’s issuance of TRO, which covers a period of 60 days from notice.

She appealed to other local government units (LGUs) to lift their existing policies that prohibit the importation of live hogs and related products from Cebu based on the CA’s resolution.

“They will have to recognize that there is no reason to prohibit the shipment of our hogs or pigs,” Garcia said in the press conference, which was livestreamed on Sugbo News’ Facebook page.

The governor said they filed a petition for prohibition against BAI on April 18, urging the CA to stop its ASF policy in the province. The petition is a special civil action that seeks for a judgment ordering the respondent to desist from continuing with the commission of an act perceived to be illegal.

The CA still has to decide on the petition.

The Provincial Government has also filed charges against BAI officials before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Re-evaluation

The CA also cited the statement of DA 7 Director Angel Enriquez, who had acknowledged the possibility of reevaluating the current ASF protocols of the BAI.

“Since a re-evaluation and review of such protocols is not yet forthcoming, it is urgent that a TRO be issued to suspend temporarily the culling and zoning policy of respondent in the Province of Cebu, pendíng hearing on the application for a writ of preliminary injunction. This should be done in order to preserve the status quo and to stop the alleged indiscriminate culling of pigs and zoning done by respondent,” read a portion of the resolution penned by Associate Justice Mercedita Dadole-Ygnacio.

The CA said it “sees a sense of urgency on the matter considering that there is a constitutional issue raised involving the taking of personal property of the constituents of petitioner (the Provincial Government), without due process of law and without compensation. In other words, public interest is involved in this case because not just the economic well-being of petitioner is at stake, but also the welfare of its constituents.”

Background

ASF was first detected in Carcar City on March 1. On March 10, at least 300 pigs from three barangays in the city were culled.

On March 20, the BAI reported the presence of the viral hog disease in Cebu City, Liloan, Sibonga, Tuburan and Bogo City.

Ten days later, the agency raised the number of infected areas in Cebu Province to 12 from the initial six.

The BAI placed the following towns and cities under the red (infected) zone: the cities of Bogo, Carcar, Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay, and the towns of Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla, San Fernando, Sibonga and Tuburan.

As of the agency’s latest update from June 2 to 14, the 12 LGUs were still included in the red zone.

Carcar City Mayor Mario Patricio “Patrick” Barcenas has appealed to the BAI to remove the city from the list.

Under the DA Administrative Order 2, series of 2022, red zone prohibits LGUs to export their live hogs, sows, piglets, genetic materials, pork meats and related products to areas under the pink (buffer), yellow (surveillance), light green (protected) and dark green (free) zones.

In the press conference Friday, Provincial Legal Officer Donato Villa said that with the TRO, the pre-ASF status quo in Cebu will be restored.

“It is as if there was no outbreak, no ASF in the province of Cebu,” Villa said.

The governor said BAI’s ASF policy has caused “economic hardship” on hog farmers in Cebu.

THE P76.4-billion fourth Cebu-Mactan bridge project is expected to affect at least 198 structures in Mandaue City and possibly more.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office identified 29 structures that will be affected during Package Three of the bridge’s construction and 169 structures during Package Four.

However, the DPWH expects more structures to be affected as the department consolidates its data.

DPWH data reveals that the structures will include residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

The Detailed Engineering Design (DED) stage already considers a Resettlement Action Plan to cater to the families and business tenants in the affected structures.

The DPWH is working with local government units (LGUs) and other agencies, such as the National Housing Authority and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, to provide compensation, assistance and livelihood programs to affected parties.

Construction

Engineer Nonato Paylado, head of the planning and design division (PDD) at DPWH 7, told SunStar Cebu on Friday, June 30, 2023, that the construction of the bridge will likely start in 2024 and be completed by 2028.

Paylado said the bridge will start from Barangay Ibo in Lapu-Lapu City, cross over the Mactan Circumferential Road, and end near the Cansaga Bay Bridge in the Mandaue City Coastal Road.

He added that the DED was finished in March but is still being reviewed by the Bureau of Design and other consulting bodies for the plans and designs.

The project design consists of a steel box girder bridge with an orthotropic steel deck. The bridge will have a total length of 3.3 kilometers and a total width of 60 meters, of which 40 meters will be the actual road lanes.

“The bridge will have four lanes, two for each direction, but it may be expanded to six lanes,” Paylado said.

The DPWH is also considering adding bike lanes and pedestrian sidewalks similar to other bridges.

Paylado explained that the DPWH is complying with the aviation and navigation requirements for the bridge in terms of its dimensions because of its proximity to the airport and marine vessels passing through the Mactan Channel.

He said the project is funded by a loan of about 120 billion Japanese yen, or roughly P50 billion, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency as an Official Development Assistance project.

Meanwhile, the remaining balance will be funded by the Philippine National Government.

TOURISTS and locals in Central Visayas are warned to be cautious when swimming in jellyfish-infested waters as stings could, in fact, kill humans.

Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Cañal of the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (Resu) of the Department of Health 7 said jellyfish naturally sting to protect themselves from predators or any other harmful animals.

“It is not the fault of nature that we intruded on their habitat because they are there. Just imagine if someone trespasses on your house, what would you do?” she told SunStar Cebu on Friday, June 30, 2023.

A female tourist recently died after being stung by a box jellyfish while swimming in the sea in Barangay Pooc, Sta. Fe town, Bantayan Island in northern Cebu last Sunday, June 25.

Bohol resident Leslie Mardonero was with friends when she observed that her bust area had turned reddish. She passed out three to five seconds later.

The victim’s body bore several box jellyfish tentacles when the town responders checked on her.

Protective gear

Cañal encouraged the public to wear proper swimming attire as an extra layer of cloth between the jellyfish tentacles and skin to prevent severe stinging.

Rash guards and wetsuits can protect from deadly stings, especially for divers.

“The reason we have these proper suits is to protect our skin. We must protect ourselves when going to the waters,” she said.

Cañal added that putting anti-sting creams and lotions on the skin may not be efficient at protecting oneself against venomous stings, but still advises the public to do so in the absence of proper swimwear.

Dos and donts

Cañal advised those who are stung by a jellyfish to immediately go back to the beach and perform first aid.

According to Red Cross Australia, remedies for jellyfish include rinsing the stung area with vinegar for at least 30 seconds and removing tentacles from the skin with tweezers.

Cañal highly discouraged pouring urine as it could infect the wound and worsen the situation.

She said the best recourse is to bring the victim to the nearest hospital for urgent professional medical attention.

Emergency response

Alan Poquita, director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7, suggested on Friday that every local government unit (LGU) should have an emergency response team on standby.

“Could be in the form of trained fishers and boat operators, tour guides and resort staff conducting first aid and management of jellyfish stings, publicly available first aid kits in coastal areas with a high risk of harmful jellyfish stings,” he said. / KJF

TRANSACTING with the Cebu City Hall may soon have to be done through online and digital means as the City Government plans to introduce a cardless system.

The move should streamline the processes in City Hall and provide a convenient and efficient experience to its constituents.

The Management Information and Computer Services, in partnership with a private firm Traxion Tech, is developing the Cebu Smart City App and the cardless Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

Tax payment and online applications are some of the services which can be done through this innovation.

The cardless ATM was demonstrated at the lobby of City Hall’s legislative building on Friday, June 30, 2023, showcasing the ease of the senior citizen cash assistance distribution.

According to Mike Cubos, head of Traxion Tech, the machine can be accessed through a QR code through the Smart City mobile application. A physical card is also available for senior citizens who might have difficulties using mobile devices.

Once the QR code is scanned, users will be able to perform different transactions including bills payment, remittance of cash assistance, transfer, deposit and withdrawal of cash from any bank or digital wallet, among others.

Dante Arcilla, head of MICS, expects the cardless system will make government services and transactions efficient and convenient for residents.

Arcilla said the initial impact would be the ease of cash distribution to senior citizens because there is no more need to distribute physically in the barangays.

“We intend to launch this before the next distribution of senior citizens assistance,” he said.

Cubos said the application and machine are already developed and they are just waiting for the response from the City Government with regard to deployment.

Cubos also said that it may take up to six months after approval before the system is fully deployed. If implemented, ATMs will be placed in malls, barangays, terminals, markets and other strategic locations that are accessible to people.

TWO projects worth around P27 million broke ground in Barangay Talima, Olango Island.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan and his wife, Lone District Rep. Cindi Chan, spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony for the planned evacuation center and a multi-purpose building on Thursday, June 29, 2023.

The 1,335-square-meter evacuation center with an allocated budget of P17,810 million is expected to be completed on Nov. 30.

While the planned two-story multi-purpose building on a 153-square-meter lot with an allocated budget of P9,894 million is targeted for completion on Oct. 31.

Meanwhile, the construction of the Pangan-an-Sabang Bridge on Olango Island has started.

Mayor Chan said once completed, the bridge will boost the economy of Olango Island and Pangan-an islet.

He added that through the bridge, they can already provide electricity to Pangan-an 24/7; and water pipes will also pass through the bridge to supply water to Pangan-an residents.

Mayor Chan said the bridge will also give residents easy access to a mini hospital in Olango.

About P300 million was allocated for the bridge project.

The 2.8-kilometer long bridge will feature shaded viewing decks with 500-meter intervals.

It will be accessible only to hikers, joggers and cyclists to avoid disturbing domestic animals and birds in the nearby sanctuary. (WITH PR)

A JANITOR of a mall in Barangay Apas, Cebu City was apprehended by the establishment’s security guard for allegedly trying to steal pork bones while he was leaving the building at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

The 29-year-old suspect, a resident of the said barangay, was later turned over to the Mabolo Police Station at 11:30 p.m.

The pork bones were discovered by the mall’s security guard in his bag during inspection.

The janitor said a cashier and a saleslady instructed him to bring the pack but he was not aware that it contained pork bones.

The bones valued at P116.38 were confiscated by the guard.

“Gipadala to sa akoa sa cashier namo ug tindera. Ingon man siya nga okay nana dalha nana didto og apil (The cashier and the saleslady asked me to bring it. They told me it was okay to bring it.),” he said.

Despite his denial, he was hauled to the Mabolo Police Station and imprisoned there since the operator who could have looked over the CCTV footage to support his claim had already gone home.

The janitor urged his co-workers to tell the truth after he learned that they denied giving him the order to take the pork bones.

The suspect will be charged with theft. (BBT, TPT)

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) recently issued Revenue Regulation (RR) 6-2023, amending the provisions in RR 13-2010, regarding the guidelines on late and out-of-district filing of tax returns.

Late filing of tax returns

As a general rule, all revenue district officers, authorized agent banks (AABs), large taxpayers division officers (LTDOs) and all other internal revenue officers are prohibited from accepting late filing of tax returns, as well as payment of taxes due, without the imposition of applicable penalties. Further late tax returns, including any attachments, shall be properly tagged as “late filing” or “late filing, increments not paid” for such to be accepted by the respective BIR officers. Prior to any settlement of taxes, the respective BIR officers shall compute the corresponding penalties pursuant to the tax rules.

Out-of-district filing of tax returns

Following the tax rules, tax returns shall be filed with the AAB or the Revenue District Office (RDO) where the taxpayer is registered. Exceptions cover the inadvertent or erroneous acceptance of out-of-district tax returns by the respective RDOs or AABs where a 25 percent penalty for wrong venue filing of return is imposed, and the pronouncement by the BIR of a revenue issuance or bank bulletin authorizing the taxpayers to file the tax returns and pay the taxes due anywhere in the Philippines. The latter is usually implemented during the annual income tax filing in April.

Reporting requirements

Reports shall be prepared for all late and out-of-district filed tax returns and shall be submitted every 30th day of the month to the office of the concerned regional director/assistant commissioner, Large Taxpayer Service, for proper action.

Please be guided accordingly.

Source:

P&A Grant Thornton

Certified Public Accountants

There are serious conversations to be had when it comes to barbecue: Is it spelled with a C or with a Q? The answers are probably a few searches-on-Google away, but I choose to leave it a mystery for now.

For over a year now, I have made peace with an induction cooker. I have learned its ways and have accepted it for what it is. We’ve had no serious issues between us; even with the arrival of the handy-dandy air fryer.

Heading towards the inevitable dominance of vertical living in Cebu City, I’ve learned to appreciate one basic truth. With fire comes flavor. For obvious reasons, gas and open fires do not bode well with residential towers and the like.

I’ve learned to seek out good roasts, grills and barbecues right in the middle of the metropolis because cooking on open fire has become somewhat rare. Is this another reason why samgyupsal is very much a hit — aside from its draw of serving unlimited portions for a set price? But that’s for another story.

For today, I give props to Straight Up Roof Deck Bar over at Seda Central Bloc Cebu. I’m a fan of its roast pork, beef and chicken. On some days, the well-seasoned pork is served with a glass skin that breaks after biting into it. The roast beef, as expected, is a heavy-hitter. The chicken can be had as your main or sort of a break in between enjoying the pork and beef. All of these, smothered with gravy or peppercorn sauce, I can have with a plateful of steamed vegetables.

Meat lovers dining in the business hotel — whether at its Misto Restaurant or the roof deck bar — would be delighted to see the huge portions of beef, pork and chicken cooking over an open fire. Just recently, it showcased the authentic flavors of Lechon de Cebu and Bacolod Chicken Inasal with a week-long inasal festival. There was also a two-day only “BBQ & Beer Bonanza” (here we go with the letter Q ) which offered diners unlimited barbecue and beer.

“Is this the only place where you can get good, open-fire barbecue and beer?” Of course not. “How about in and around Cebu IT Park?” Maybe, one of the few. “How about the same quality of food and drinks but served in a place that offers a wonderful view of the area as well?” We’re getting to probably just a handful now.

If you ask the servers, there’s a corner that gives you a splendid angle of Cebu IT Park at night — mimicking the likes of dining in Singapore or Hong Kong, to a degree. Have a few more beers, you could be staring at the Gardens by the Bay.

The hotel’s buffet schedules, promos and dining options vary depending on season, so it’s best to give them a call to know what to expect. Cheers!

Cebu City has morphed into the best town to get some seriously good chicken wings. As the demand shoots through the roof, the city has become synonymous with piping hot plates of wings that just keep flying out of the kitchen. These wings are pure happiness on trays whether you like them classic, Korean, American or Mexican.

In celebration of International Chicken Wings Day, SunStar Best of Cebu presents the winners for Best Chicken Wings Category and Best Unli Chicken Wings Category in this article.

Southside Chicken Wings

This two-time winner of the Best Chicken Wings award in 2019 and 2020 knows how to create the perfect balance. Its wings are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, giving you the best of both worlds.These wings are the masters of staying crispy and fresh, even when they take a saucy plunge. At Southside Chicken Wings, one can kiss soggy wings goodbye, as the place guarantees only the crispiest and most flavorful pieces make it onto one’s basket.

Its best-selling lineup includes Cajun Glazed Wings, Inferno Wings and Chilli Garlic. Its must-try favorites like the Smokey Chipotle, Szechuan Wings and Winter Spiced Wings also deserve a special nod. With prices under P200 for a six-piece wing, Southside Chicken Wings offers affordable and incredibly satisfying options that will take your tongue a trip across the globe.

Southside Chicken Wings is located at Jumabon St., San Antonio Village, Banilad, Cebu City.

Badboyz Wings

Anything one tries here is bound to be an unforgettable wingz experience until the last bite. It takes the wing game to a whole new level by offering an array of flavorful sauces, including Honey Sriracha, Garlic Parmesan, Honey BBQ, Mild Buffalo, and many more. But wait, if one’s up for some fiery and tear-inducing bites, it’s got its customers covered with its Angry Buffalo and Suicide flavors that pack a mouthful of heat.

Pair these delicious wings with a side of rice and if one wants to cool things down a bit, Badboyz Wingz has a decent selection of local beers, champagnes, mixed drinks or cocktails.

With back-to-back wins for Best Chicken Wings in 2021 and 2022, this place is a hit among friends and family for KTV date nights. And it’s not just about the wings, the place also spices things up with fun events like Slogos nights, tempting promos for “barkada,” satisfying lunch deals, and epic celebrations for special occasions.

Badboyz Wingz is located at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu City.

Burrow

Burrow, a true pioneer in the city’s chicken wing scene, has claimed the prestigious title of Best Unlimited Chicken Wings by BoC not once, but twice—in 2019 and 2022. Beloved by urban-dwellers, this extraordinary wing joint doesn’t just fly by the seat of its pants, it takes flavor to new heights. Each bite delivers a straightforward and delightfully sweet explosion of flavor that will have diners reaching for seconds even before they finish their first batch.

At Burrow, one will find all the must-try flavors like Garlic Parmesan, Mild Teriyaki, Asian BBQ, Chili and Classic wings, all priced under P199. Patrons love the gimmick-free dining experience at Burrow, where one can leave the door feeling full without feeling heavy. One can truly enjoy a satisfying and wallet-friendly wing feast.

Burrow has three branches scattered across the city: Lahug, Parkmall and SM Consolacion.