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Cebu Sun.Star
Group condemns attack on dentist inside his clinic
THE local chapter of the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) has condemned the violent attack on a 41-year-old dentist that left him with eye injuries inside his clinic on Queens Road near the Redemptorist Church in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City.
PDA Cebu Chapter immediate past president Dr. Adam Alviar said on Thursday, July 6, 2023, that their group “does not condone criminality in society and any course of action leading to violence and disorder to the sanctity of life.”
The statement came after two unidentified men broke into the clinic of Dr. Charles Pactol Sia and struck his eyes with a blunt weapon on Wednesday afternoon, July 5, 2023.
“I have no derogatory remarks or issue about him. He is a good practitioner and he is a member of the education community,” Alviar said.
He said the community was surprised by the incident, and it is now demanding justice for Sia.
Before Sia was attacked, the men entered his clinic, pretending to deliver an item to the dentist, according to Rose Rosell Bardisco, the dentist’s secretary who reported the incident to the Abellana Police Station.
One of the suspects was dressed in a black jacket, while the other in a green one. They were both wearing masks.
The suspect in green jacket pulled out a weapon and barged inside the doctor’s room where a foreigner was being operated on, according to Bardisco.
The suspects tied the hands of the victim, Bardisco and the patient. Afterwards, they struck the victim’s eyes with a blunt object until they bled.
An adjacent establishment’s caretaker said upon hearing the foreigner’s cry for help, they rushed to the clinic and immediately contacted an ambulance. Upon arrival, they found Sia bleeding profusely from both of his eyes.
The doctor’s clinic did not have a security guard on duty during the day as he had been shifted to the night shift due to incidents of theft in the vicinity.
Sia is now in a safe condition, according to the police.
Investigation
Abellana Police Station Chief Alfred Leanza said they are still gathering more information to identify the perpetrators.
They also examined the victim’s cellphone with the hope of obtaining leads for the investigation and gathering statements from individuals in the area, including potential witnesses.
Leanza said one of the suspects might have been angry with the victim since he told him, “Dako kaayo kag atraso sa akoa (You have done me a great wrong).”
Cebu City Police Office Director Ireneo Dalogdog has ordered his men to speed up the investigation. He will ask the Investigation Detection Management Unit to help the Abellana police.
The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas has started assisting in the investigation for the immediate resolution of the crime.
Attacks on members of the medical community in Cebu are rare.
On April 16, 2000, Dr. Alfonso Bayani, a dentist, was killed by his three helpers inside his house in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City. The motive behind the incident was robbery.
In 2006, internist Dr. Jane Lim-Chua, 51, was shot to death inside her clinic at the Cebu Doctors’ University Health Sciences Center by her former patient, Dutch national Oleg Parfenyuk, 52, who was believed to be schizophrenic. In 2013, Canadian John Pope, 66, killed pediatric surgeon Dr. Reynold Rafols and the doctor’s lawyer, Jubian Achas, inside a courtroom at the Palace of Justice. Rafols, Pope’s neighbor, had filed cases of grave threats and malicious mischief against him.
In 2014, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Cris Cecil Chan Abbu, 56, was killed inside his clinic at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City by Wilfredo Sabonsolin, 71, a former seaman he had been treating for spinal problems. It was believed that Sabonsolin might have suffered from depression due to his medical condition. (EHP, BBT, AYB, TPT)
PDA Cebu Chapter immediate past president Dr. Adam Alviar said on Thursday, July 6, 2023, that their group “does not condone criminality in society and any course of action leading to violence and disorder to the sanctity of life.”
The statement came after two unidentified men broke into the clinic of Dr. Charles Pactol Sia and struck his eyes with a blunt weapon on Wednesday afternoon, July 5, 2023.
“I have no derogatory remarks or issue about him. He is a good practitioner and he is a member of the education community,” Alviar said.
He said the community was surprised by the incident, and it is now demanding justice for Sia.
Before Sia was attacked, the men entered his clinic, pretending to deliver an item to the dentist, according to Rose Rosell Bardisco, the dentist’s secretary who reported the incident to the Abellana Police Station.
One of the suspects was dressed in a black jacket, while the other in a green one. They were both wearing masks.
The suspect in green jacket pulled out a weapon and barged inside the doctor’s room where a foreigner was being operated on, according to Bardisco.
The suspects tied the hands of the victim, Bardisco and the patient. Afterwards, they struck the victim’s eyes with a blunt object until they bled.
An adjacent establishment’s caretaker said upon hearing the foreigner’s cry for help, they rushed to the clinic and immediately contacted an ambulance. Upon arrival, they found Sia bleeding profusely from both of his eyes.
The doctor’s clinic did not have a security guard on duty during the day as he had been shifted to the night shift due to incidents of theft in the vicinity.
Sia is now in a safe condition, according to the police.
Investigation
Abellana Police Station Chief Alfred Leanza said they are still gathering more information to identify the perpetrators.
They also examined the victim’s cellphone with the hope of obtaining leads for the investigation and gathering statements from individuals in the area, including potential witnesses.
Leanza said one of the suspects might have been angry with the victim since he told him, “Dako kaayo kag atraso sa akoa (You have done me a great wrong).”
Cebu City Police Office Director Ireneo Dalogdog has ordered his men to speed up the investigation. He will ask the Investigation Detection Management Unit to help the Abellana police.
The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas has started assisting in the investigation for the immediate resolution of the crime.
Attacks on members of the medical community in Cebu are rare.
On April 16, 2000, Dr. Alfonso Bayani, a dentist, was killed by his three helpers inside his house in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City. The motive behind the incident was robbery.
In 2006, internist Dr. Jane Lim-Chua, 51, was shot to death inside her clinic at the Cebu Doctors’ University Health Sciences Center by her former patient, Dutch national Oleg Parfenyuk, 52, who was believed to be schizophrenic. In 2013, Canadian John Pope, 66, killed pediatric surgeon Dr. Reynold Rafols and the doctor’s lawyer, Jubian Achas, inside a courtroom at the Palace of Justice. Rafols, Pope’s neighbor, had filed cases of grave threats and malicious mischief against him.
In 2014, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Cris Cecil Chan Abbu, 56, was killed inside his clinic at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City by Wilfredo Sabonsolin, 71, a former seaman he had been treating for spinal problems. It was believed that Sabonsolin might have suffered from depression due to his medical condition. (EHP, BBT, AYB, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Carbon-hanong Alyansa questions backfilling project
THE group Carbon-hanong Alyansa has questioned the legality of a backfilling project near the viaduct of the South Road Properties and Carbon market redevelopment, asking the Cebu City Government if such activity had undergone competitive bidding.
However, an official of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) said that the City does not have to spend a single centavo on the project.
On July 3, 2023, Carbon-hanong Alyansa raised concerns through a Facebook post about rumors that some tenants from The Barracks would be transferred to the backfilled project.
Cebu2World Development Inc., a subsidiary of Megawide Construction Corp., which is responsible for the Carbon Public Market redevelopment project, denied any involvement in the ongoing backfilling project.
In an interview on Wednesday, July 5, C2W deputy general manager Lydwena Eco also refuted rumors that the ongoing project would serve as a new relocation site for the Puso Village tenants who currently conduct business inside The Barracks.
DEPW’s Construction and Maintenance general foreman Guillermo Viola told SunStar Cebu on Thursday, July 6 that Mayor Michael Rama had ordered the backfilling of the area as it had become like a “dump site” and was deemed “unsightly.”
Viola further stated that the area served as a “catch basin” for water and also served as a drainage outlet.
“His instruction was to fill this area up,” he said in Cebuano.
Viola said the City did not incur any expenses for the project, as the materials used were excess from previous projects by private corporations.
He also clarified that there is no specific completion date or information regarding the subsequent project following the backfilling.
Attempts were made by SunStar Cebu to reach Rama and Cebu City Administrator Collin Rosell to inquire about the project’s purpose, but texts and calls went unanswered at the time of writing.
In its Facebook post, Carbon-hanong Alyansa questioned the legality of the project and whether it underwent an open and competitive bidding process.
The group also raised concerns about the awareness of the City Council regarding the ongoing activity.
The ongoing backfilling project is located at the back of the mechanical parking area and is near the disputed Compania Maritima area that both the Cebu Port Authority and the Cebu City Government are claiming ownership of.
However, an official of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) said that the City does not have to spend a single centavo on the project.
On July 3, 2023, Carbon-hanong Alyansa raised concerns through a Facebook post about rumors that some tenants from The Barracks would be transferred to the backfilled project.
Cebu2World Development Inc., a subsidiary of Megawide Construction Corp., which is responsible for the Carbon Public Market redevelopment project, denied any involvement in the ongoing backfilling project.
In an interview on Wednesday, July 5, C2W deputy general manager Lydwena Eco also refuted rumors that the ongoing project would serve as a new relocation site for the Puso Village tenants who currently conduct business inside The Barracks.
DEPW’s Construction and Maintenance general foreman Guillermo Viola told SunStar Cebu on Thursday, July 6 that Mayor Michael Rama had ordered the backfilling of the area as it had become like a “dump site” and was deemed “unsightly.”
Viola further stated that the area served as a “catch basin” for water and also served as a drainage outlet.
“His instruction was to fill this area up,” he said in Cebuano.
Viola said the City did not incur any expenses for the project, as the materials used were excess from previous projects by private corporations.
He also clarified that there is no specific completion date or information regarding the subsequent project following the backfilling.
Attempts were made by SunStar Cebu to reach Rama and Cebu City Administrator Collin Rosell to inquire about the project’s purpose, but texts and calls went unanswered at the time of writing.
In its Facebook post, Carbon-hanong Alyansa questioned the legality of the project and whether it underwent an open and competitive bidding process.
The group also raised concerns about the awareness of the City Council regarding the ongoing activity.
The ongoing backfilling project is located at the back of the mechanical parking area and is near the disputed Compania Maritima area that both the Cebu Port Authority and the Cebu City Government are claiming ownership of.
Categories: Philippines News
Malilong: Delusional
Nature couldn’t have been more taunting. The day before Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was scheduled to deliver his State of the City Address (Soca), it rained more heavily than usual and, as usual, some of the city’s most-used thoroughfares were flooded again.
It was not necessarily Rama’s fault. Many other mayors have governed the city before him and none of them did a better job of keeping our streets afloat. In fact, worse things have been wrought upon the city’s residents by overflowing waters before his watch.
But since it was Rama who openly declared war against floods (Gubat Batok sa Baha), it is not unreasonable -- or “destructive,” to use the description that he reserved in his Soca for those who criticize him -- to expect his administration to show better results in combating flooding. Sadly, we still have to see that.
Even more sadly, we still have not seen how his administration plans to win the war and conquer flooding. Obviously, the practice of installing bigger culverts does not suffice. It worked in Urgello, but it did not in Bonifacio. Obviously, something more has to be done. I hope the City has not run out of aces in its sleeves.
I wish Mr. Rama well. I’m sure there are many others who, like me, are rooting for him, praying that he would succeed where his predecessors have failed. Nothing could make us happier than him accomplishing his North Star -- making his and our city like Singapore.
But it is still hazy from where I sit. The journey has not even taken off yet. Again, I say that it is not Rama’s fault alone. We share the burden, but the mayor has to show us the way, not by sloganeering like BARUG but by a coherent action plan.
How does he plan to address the traffic problem, for example? Yes, the Bus Rapid Transit system construction is ongoing, but while it can make commuting more comfortable can it really fully solve the problem of clogging in the streets?
I want to say yes, but it is delusional. Our roads remain small. And our drivers remain undisciplined. Abolishing the jeepney did not work because we did not also abolish the drivers.
Don’t take that literally. We reduced the number of jeepneys plying our roads and replaced them with bigger bus-like ones but we did not replace or retrain our drivers. We simply promoted them. Thus, the guys at the wheels of the “big ones” are the same ones who used to drive the old smaller jeepneys like they were kings of the road.
I encountered one of them yesterday. He stopped in the middle of the road near Southwestern University to wait for the students coming out of the university’s back gate. He must have stayed there for around four to five minutes before he discovered his conscience and left. I could only sigh.
It was not an isolated incident. I’ve been through similar experiences in the recent past, but yesterday was the longest that I’ve been made to wait. It does not happen in Singapore.
It was not necessarily Rama’s fault. Many other mayors have governed the city before him and none of them did a better job of keeping our streets afloat. In fact, worse things have been wrought upon the city’s residents by overflowing waters before his watch.
But since it was Rama who openly declared war against floods (Gubat Batok sa Baha), it is not unreasonable -- or “destructive,” to use the description that he reserved in his Soca for those who criticize him -- to expect his administration to show better results in combating flooding. Sadly, we still have to see that.
Even more sadly, we still have not seen how his administration plans to win the war and conquer flooding. Obviously, the practice of installing bigger culverts does not suffice. It worked in Urgello, but it did not in Bonifacio. Obviously, something more has to be done. I hope the City has not run out of aces in its sleeves.
I wish Mr. Rama well. I’m sure there are many others who, like me, are rooting for him, praying that he would succeed where his predecessors have failed. Nothing could make us happier than him accomplishing his North Star -- making his and our city like Singapore.
But it is still hazy from where I sit. The journey has not even taken off yet. Again, I say that it is not Rama’s fault alone. We share the burden, but the mayor has to show us the way, not by sloganeering like BARUG but by a coherent action plan.
How does he plan to address the traffic problem, for example? Yes, the Bus Rapid Transit system construction is ongoing, but while it can make commuting more comfortable can it really fully solve the problem of clogging in the streets?
I want to say yes, but it is delusional. Our roads remain small. And our drivers remain undisciplined. Abolishing the jeepney did not work because we did not also abolish the drivers.
Don’t take that literally. We reduced the number of jeepneys plying our roads and replaced them with bigger bus-like ones but we did not replace or retrain our drivers. We simply promoted them. Thus, the guys at the wheels of the “big ones” are the same ones who used to drive the old smaller jeepneys like they were kings of the road.
I encountered one of them yesterday. He stopped in the middle of the road near Southwestern University to wait for the students coming out of the university’s back gate. He must have stayed there for around four to five minutes before he discovered his conscience and left. I could only sigh.
It was not an isolated incident. I’ve been through similar experiences in the recent past, but yesterday was the longest that I’ve been made to wait. It does not happen in Singapore.
Categories: Philippines News
Tell it to SunStar: Hoping for Philippine tourism’s recovery after controversy
Amid the controversy involving the Department of Tourism (DOT) over an “irresponsible and erroneous” production of a tourism campaign video, I am hopeful that Philippine tourism will recover and prosper.
The essence of the DOT’s slogan “Love the Philippines” as a message of love from the Philippines and the Filipino people to the world should not be lost on the public.
Hangad ko po na kasabay ng ating pag-usad mula sa masukal na usaping ito ang pagkakaisa ng lahat sa ilalim ng iisang bandera: ang pagsulong ng turismo ng Pilipinas bilang mamamayang Pilipinong pinagbubuklod ng pag-ibig sa bayan.
(I hope that as we recover from this controversy, we will unite under our flag to promote our country’s tourism as Filipinos who love their country.)
As a member of the Senate’s tourism committee, I am one with the Filipino people in wanting to see a resolution to the controversy that hounded the DOT’s tourism campaign video, as well as making sure those liable are punished.
I believe in Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, as well as the DOT’s prompt action on the issue.
Bilang inyong lingkod bayan at miyembro ng Komite ng Turismo sa Senado, kaisa ako ng bawat Pilipino sa paghahanap ng kalinawan sa naging kakulangan ng de-bidyong kampanyang inilunsad ng Kagarawan ng Turismo. Kinikilala rin natin ang agarang aksyon ng DOT para tiyaking may pananagutan ang sinumang may pagkakasala.
(As your public servant and member of the Senate’s tourism committee, I am one with Filipinos in looking for a resolution to the campaign video mess -- even as I acknowledge the prompt action of the DOT to ensure those who are liable are punished.)
Ang lahat ng makabuluhang ambag ni Secretary Frasco at ng lahat ng bumubuo ng DOT ay hindi dapat maisantabi at matabunan ng kontrobersiya. Kaya naman hindi po matitigil ang ating suporta at tiwala kay Secretary Frasco at sa Kagawaran.
(Secretary Frasco’s contributions, as well as those of everyone in the DOT, should not be disregarded because of the controversy. That is why I still support Frasco and the department.)
The essence of the DOT’s slogan “Love the Philippines” as a message of love from the Philippines and the Filipino people to the world should not be lost on the public.
Hangad ko po na kasabay ng ating pag-usad mula sa masukal na usaping ito ang pagkakaisa ng lahat sa ilalim ng iisang bandera: ang pagsulong ng turismo ng Pilipinas bilang mamamayang Pilipinong pinagbubuklod ng pag-ibig sa bayan.
(I hope that as we recover from this controversy, we will unite under our flag to promote our country’s tourism as Filipinos who love their country.)
As a member of the Senate’s tourism committee, I am one with the Filipino people in wanting to see a resolution to the controversy that hounded the DOT’s tourism campaign video, as well as making sure those liable are punished.
I believe in Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, as well as the DOT’s prompt action on the issue.
Bilang inyong lingkod bayan at miyembro ng Komite ng Turismo sa Senado, kaisa ako ng bawat Pilipino sa paghahanap ng kalinawan sa naging kakulangan ng de-bidyong kampanyang inilunsad ng Kagarawan ng Turismo. Kinikilala rin natin ang agarang aksyon ng DOT para tiyaking may pananagutan ang sinumang may pagkakasala.
(As your public servant and member of the Senate’s tourism committee, I am one with Filipinos in looking for a resolution to the campaign video mess -- even as I acknowledge the prompt action of the DOT to ensure those who are liable are punished.)
Ang lahat ng makabuluhang ambag ni Secretary Frasco at ng lahat ng bumubuo ng DOT ay hindi dapat maisantabi at matabunan ng kontrobersiya. Kaya naman hindi po matitigil ang ating suporta at tiwala kay Secretary Frasco at sa Kagawaran.
(Secretary Frasco’s contributions, as well as those of everyone in the DOT, should not be disregarded because of the controversy. That is why I still support Frasco and the department.)
Categories: Philippines News
Tell it to SunStar: In support of ‘Love the Philippines’ tourism campaign
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano rallied the public to move forward and join hands in promoting the country amid the controversy surrounding the new tourism branding campaign called “Love the Philippines.” This after the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Monday, July 3, 2023, terminated its contract with an advertising agency that was found to have used stock footage taken from foreign countries in promoting tourism in the Philippines.)
Issues have been brought out and discussed, mistakes have been acknowledged both by the DOT and the advertising agency. Isn’t the purpose of criticism to correct? So mission accomplished!
I commend the country’s vibrant democracy for enabling the exposure of such issues to light, causing both the DOT and the ad agency to acknowledge both their mistakes.
However, there needs to be a balanced view in this issue where partisan and political interests may be present.
Once a wrong is exposed (or explained) and mistakes are acknowledged and remedied, do we keep pounding on it, shooting ourselves in the foot in foreign media... or do we come together and, with the corrections, promote the beauty of our country and people?
In promoting tourism in the Philippines, part of the draw should be the country’s number one asset: the Filipinos.
God created such a beautiful country, such talented people! Yes, beautiful mountains, hills, valleys, islands, beaches, modern cities etc., yet our number one asset is our people!
The problem is not many people around the world know much about the Philippines! Yet many love the Filipinos! With more than 10 million Filipinos abroad, the first insight about the Philippines comes from the Filipino!
The public should be wary of the prevalence of fake news that similarly penetrated social media platforms during the country’s successful hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2019, which I headed as chairman of the Philippine SEA Games Organizational Committee.
Remember the allegation that kikiam (pork) was served to Muslims during the SEA Games? It turned out to be fake news! It was chicken sausage! We found out there was a big PR firm launching the attack. It all turned out to be fake news, a political agenda packaged as constructive criticism.
This fake news hurt the Philippines, and the country’s hosting scared off many sponsors due to the negative news in Southeast Asian countries.
I have confidence in Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco’s handling of the tourism campaign issue.
I know the DOT secretary, she listens! She cares about people’s views and ideas! Let’s try communicating, not for her, but for the country which we all claim to love. Let’s go to the next phase! Support DOT, promote the Philippines!
Issues have been brought out and discussed, mistakes have been acknowledged both by the DOT and the advertising agency. Isn’t the purpose of criticism to correct? So mission accomplished!
I commend the country’s vibrant democracy for enabling the exposure of such issues to light, causing both the DOT and the ad agency to acknowledge both their mistakes.
However, there needs to be a balanced view in this issue where partisan and political interests may be present.
Once a wrong is exposed (or explained) and mistakes are acknowledged and remedied, do we keep pounding on it, shooting ourselves in the foot in foreign media... or do we come together and, with the corrections, promote the beauty of our country and people?
In promoting tourism in the Philippines, part of the draw should be the country’s number one asset: the Filipinos.
God created such a beautiful country, such talented people! Yes, beautiful mountains, hills, valleys, islands, beaches, modern cities etc., yet our number one asset is our people!
The problem is not many people around the world know much about the Philippines! Yet many love the Filipinos! With more than 10 million Filipinos abroad, the first insight about the Philippines comes from the Filipino!
The public should be wary of the prevalence of fake news that similarly penetrated social media platforms during the country’s successful hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2019, which I headed as chairman of the Philippine SEA Games Organizational Committee.
Remember the allegation that kikiam (pork) was served to Muslims during the SEA Games? It turned out to be fake news! It was chicken sausage! We found out there was a big PR firm launching the attack. It all turned out to be fake news, a political agenda packaged as constructive criticism.
This fake news hurt the Philippines, and the country’s hosting scared off many sponsors due to the negative news in Southeast Asian countries.
I have confidence in Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco’s handling of the tourism campaign issue.
I know the DOT secretary, she listens! She cares about people’s views and ideas! Let’s try communicating, not for her, but for the country which we all claim to love. Let’s go to the next phase! Support DOT, promote the Philippines!
Categories: Philippines News
Suganob has yet to receive ‘purse’ after losing IBF light flyweight belt
REGIE Suganob came home empty-handed, literally.
Not only did he fail to claim the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight belt after losing to defending champion Sivenathi Nontshinga last weekend, but he also went home with no money in his pocket after Rumble Africa Boxing Promotions (Rap) failed to pay him his purse.
“Negative. We didn’t receive anything,” Suganob’s promoter, PMI Boxing head Floriezyl Echavez Podot, told SunStar Cebu. “We just went on with the fight because we were there already and Regie was determined to get the belt. He said he would fight even though he hasn’t been paid.”
Rap owes Suganob $28,000, around P1.5 million, for his world title fight with Sivenathi, but up until now he hasn’t received a single cent.
He was guaranteed a purse of $30,000, but the promoter deducted $2,000 from it for the sanctioning fee.
Car instead of money
“He was supposed to get $30,000, but they deducted $2,000 for his share of the sanctioning fee. In our promotions, we won’t deduct money that’s agreed upon in the contract. That’s usually how it is,” said Podot.
According to Podot, the African promoters tried to pay them with a car. They also promised them later on that they were already processing the payment.
“There in the fight. They told us that they didn’t have available funds. And they asked if we were okay if they paid us with a car. We couldn’t take that home,” he said. “The promoter also said they have already processed it in the bank. But up until now they haven’t given us anything, not even a transaction code or an application for bank transfer to prove that they made a transfer.”
Podot has already emailed Rap and sent the IBF a copy about the situation.
“We’ll wait until today (July 6). If they won’t pay, we will ask assistance from the Games and Amusements Board,” said Podot.
Suganob challenged Nontshinga for the IBF light flyweight strap last Sunday, July 2. He lost to Nontshinga by unanimous decision in a fight wherein the South African was just content to run, hug and throw the occasional counter punches. (EKA)
Not only did he fail to claim the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight belt after losing to defending champion Sivenathi Nontshinga last weekend, but he also went home with no money in his pocket after Rumble Africa Boxing Promotions (Rap) failed to pay him his purse.
“Negative. We didn’t receive anything,” Suganob’s promoter, PMI Boxing head Floriezyl Echavez Podot, told SunStar Cebu. “We just went on with the fight because we were there already and Regie was determined to get the belt. He said he would fight even though he hasn’t been paid.”
Rap owes Suganob $28,000, around P1.5 million, for his world title fight with Sivenathi, but up until now he hasn’t received a single cent.
He was guaranteed a purse of $30,000, but the promoter deducted $2,000 from it for the sanctioning fee.
Car instead of money
“He was supposed to get $30,000, but they deducted $2,000 for his share of the sanctioning fee. In our promotions, we won’t deduct money that’s agreed upon in the contract. That’s usually how it is,” said Podot.
According to Podot, the African promoters tried to pay them with a car. They also promised them later on that they were already processing the payment.
“There in the fight. They told us that they didn’t have available funds. And they asked if we were okay if they paid us with a car. We couldn’t take that home,” he said. “The promoter also said they have already processed it in the bank. But up until now they haven’t given us anything, not even a transaction code or an application for bank transfer to prove that they made a transfer.”
Podot has already emailed Rap and sent the IBF a copy about the situation.
“We’ll wait until today (July 6). If they won’t pay, we will ask assistance from the Games and Amusements Board,” said Podot.
Suganob challenged Nontshinga for the IBF light flyweight strap last Sunday, July 2. He lost to Nontshinga by unanimous decision in a fight wherein the South African was just content to run, hug and throw the occasional counter punches. (EKA)
Categories: Philippines News
Encounter with Apo Whang-Od: The Last Mambabatok
The frenzy surrounding the April 2023 cover of Vogue Philippine edition drew my attention to the story of this famous 106-year-old cover girl. As we were already planning a trip to the Rice Terraces in the Cordilleras, I conferred with our tour operator on how to go about visiting Buscalan after Banaue and before Sagada.
We left Batad at mid-morning and precariously maneuvered the winding roads, swerving to avoid landslide debris and incoming traffic. This was a road that needed drivers used to this terrain because the twists and turns were not for the faint-hearted.
By the time we parked in front of the makeshift tourism center, we found out we had it easy; in the past, the first long walk would have been to get to that center. Since it was also a weekday, there were just a few people coming and going. During weekends, buses and private cars queue for guides to get them sorted out and a lot of these visitors return from the mountain village frustrated because Apo Whang-Od retired early for the day. This increase in visitors can be traced back from the time broadcast journalist Jessica Soho featured her in one of her segments in 2017, six years prior to the Vogue cover.
Our assigned guide briefed us on how we should go about the crossing. We went down the mountain we stood on, crossed the river through a footbridge, and went up the mountain across us all the way to the top.
She pointed to a barely visible flag and declared: “Behind that is the house of Apo so, maybe it will take us around 30 minutes.” We were all silent as our driver whispered to us that the first time he went up there, it took him three hours! This was about 12 years ago when there were no clear passageways.
To the right of the tourism center, we saw what looked like a chair lift hooked to a cable line from base to village. We asked if that could be our alternate mode of transport and they laughed. Apparently, it served as a supply line for emergencies. It was intended to be used to transport people but the project did not get the green light from authorities.
Walking sticks in hand, our group headed down an uneven trail of soil, rocks and pebbles for the first 100 meters. Then we arrived on a flat, cemented trail that went all the way to the river where we crossed a foot bridge.
It took us about 15 minutes to get to the river and once we got to the opposite mountain, cemented steps with metal railings guided the climb all the way up to the village. Resting huts and trees provided shelter from the sun and by the time we got to the village. Forty-five minutes had passed.
Vendors lined the path leading to the waiting area where we were told that Apo Whang-Od was taking her lunch. This celebrated centenarian, born as Maria Oggay, has been hand-tapping tattoos on skin since she was in her teens, under her father’s mentorship. She was the first and only female “mambabatok” of her time and at around 16, she was already traveling to neighboring villages, at the request of the leaders of those communities, to tattoo their sacred symbols on individuals who were about to or have undergone transformational moments in their life.
For most men, this was a rite of passage towards becoming a headhunting warrior — this kind of tattoo would take days to finish and payment in kind was expected. For women, such markings were made for fertility and aesthetic purposes because of traditional beliefs that they could take their tattoos with them in the afterlife, unlike material possessions.
A mambabatok can only pass the craft within their bloodline and since Apo Whang-Od is unmarried and childless, her two grand nieces — Grace Palicas and Elyang Wigan — are her personally chosen apprentices.
My husband took a peek of the next room and saw Apo Whang-Od moving about, her dowager’s hump seemingly the only sign of how advanced she was in her years. Her wrinkled skin appeared to be glowing; the lightness of her mood, evident. The interpreter conversed with her (she does not speak Tagalog or English, only Kalinga or Ilocano) and soon my husband was called in and guided towards a low stool.
Deciding to have his first-ever tattoo done in his deltoid area, he requested that instead of three dots in a straight line, he wanted them in a reverse triangle representing the Holy Trinity. This three-dot tattoo is the only one Apo Whang-Od does nowadays and it takes about five minutes to complete. Traditionally, ceremonial rituals like chanting and offering sacrifices accompanied the tattooing but much has changed since then.
Using an inked “gisi” (a bamboo stick with a thorn attached to one end), Apo Whang-Od traced a pattern on the chosen section and used a larger stick to pound furiously for over a minute per dot, until blood and ink poured out of the wounded spots.
The whole process looked painful and raw, but my husband, upon the advice of our tour operator, had been briefed not to show any sign of pain during the process as this usually upset her. I asked him later what it really felt like and he described it as painful but tolerable.
The next order of business was to get her signature on our Vogue copy and all in all, this whole activity cost P400. P100 per dot, times three dots and P100 for the autograph. Money well spent from someone who is surely on the path to being a national artist.
Idle talk during waiting time even mentioned a rumor that Apo Whang-Od was once fetched by helicopter and brought to Manila for some VIPs who wanted her famous “signature” on their skin. This celebrity status, gained quite late in life, has visitors coming from all over the world now, and that number is foreseen to increase even more in the coming months.
The return trek to the tourism center was much easier because it was already late afternoon and pretty soon, we were on the road once again, heading to Sagada.
To say that it was an afternoon well spent would be an understatement. It would be more apt to call it one truly one for the books. To quote Audrey Carpio in her Vogue article: “The stories of the Butbut people and their beliefs will continue to be passed along through the vector of a thorn, plucked from a tree grown in Kalinga soil.”
We left Batad at mid-morning and precariously maneuvered the winding roads, swerving to avoid landslide debris and incoming traffic. This was a road that needed drivers used to this terrain because the twists and turns were not for the faint-hearted.
By the time we parked in front of the makeshift tourism center, we found out we had it easy; in the past, the first long walk would have been to get to that center. Since it was also a weekday, there were just a few people coming and going. During weekends, buses and private cars queue for guides to get them sorted out and a lot of these visitors return from the mountain village frustrated because Apo Whang-Od retired early for the day. This increase in visitors can be traced back from the time broadcast journalist Jessica Soho featured her in one of her segments in 2017, six years prior to the Vogue cover.
Our assigned guide briefed us on how we should go about the crossing. We went down the mountain we stood on, crossed the river through a footbridge, and went up the mountain across us all the way to the top.
She pointed to a barely visible flag and declared: “Behind that is the house of Apo so, maybe it will take us around 30 minutes.” We were all silent as our driver whispered to us that the first time he went up there, it took him three hours! This was about 12 years ago when there were no clear passageways.
To the right of the tourism center, we saw what looked like a chair lift hooked to a cable line from base to village. We asked if that could be our alternate mode of transport and they laughed. Apparently, it served as a supply line for emergencies. It was intended to be used to transport people but the project did not get the green light from authorities.
Walking sticks in hand, our group headed down an uneven trail of soil, rocks and pebbles for the first 100 meters. Then we arrived on a flat, cemented trail that went all the way to the river where we crossed a foot bridge.
It took us about 15 minutes to get to the river and once we got to the opposite mountain, cemented steps with metal railings guided the climb all the way up to the village. Resting huts and trees provided shelter from the sun and by the time we got to the village. Forty-five minutes had passed.
Vendors lined the path leading to the waiting area where we were told that Apo Whang-Od was taking her lunch. This celebrated centenarian, born as Maria Oggay, has been hand-tapping tattoos on skin since she was in her teens, under her father’s mentorship. She was the first and only female “mambabatok” of her time and at around 16, she was already traveling to neighboring villages, at the request of the leaders of those communities, to tattoo their sacred symbols on individuals who were about to or have undergone transformational moments in their life.
For most men, this was a rite of passage towards becoming a headhunting warrior — this kind of tattoo would take days to finish and payment in kind was expected. For women, such markings were made for fertility and aesthetic purposes because of traditional beliefs that they could take their tattoos with them in the afterlife, unlike material possessions.
A mambabatok can only pass the craft within their bloodline and since Apo Whang-Od is unmarried and childless, her two grand nieces — Grace Palicas and Elyang Wigan — are her personally chosen apprentices.
My husband took a peek of the next room and saw Apo Whang-Od moving about, her dowager’s hump seemingly the only sign of how advanced she was in her years. Her wrinkled skin appeared to be glowing; the lightness of her mood, evident. The interpreter conversed with her (she does not speak Tagalog or English, only Kalinga or Ilocano) and soon my husband was called in and guided towards a low stool.
Deciding to have his first-ever tattoo done in his deltoid area, he requested that instead of three dots in a straight line, he wanted them in a reverse triangle representing the Holy Trinity. This three-dot tattoo is the only one Apo Whang-Od does nowadays and it takes about five minutes to complete. Traditionally, ceremonial rituals like chanting and offering sacrifices accompanied the tattooing but much has changed since then.
Using an inked “gisi” (a bamboo stick with a thorn attached to one end), Apo Whang-Od traced a pattern on the chosen section and used a larger stick to pound furiously for over a minute per dot, until blood and ink poured out of the wounded spots.
The whole process looked painful and raw, but my husband, upon the advice of our tour operator, had been briefed not to show any sign of pain during the process as this usually upset her. I asked him later what it really felt like and he described it as painful but tolerable.
The next order of business was to get her signature on our Vogue copy and all in all, this whole activity cost P400. P100 per dot, times three dots and P100 for the autograph. Money well spent from someone who is surely on the path to being a national artist.
Idle talk during waiting time even mentioned a rumor that Apo Whang-Od was once fetched by helicopter and brought to Manila for some VIPs who wanted her famous “signature” on their skin. This celebrity status, gained quite late in life, has visitors coming from all over the world now, and that number is foreseen to increase even more in the coming months.
The return trek to the tourism center was much easier because it was already late afternoon and pretty soon, we were on the road once again, heading to Sagada.
To say that it was an afternoon well spent would be an understatement. It would be more apt to call it one truly one for the books. To quote Audrey Carpio in her Vogue article: “The stories of the Butbut people and their beliefs will continue to be passed along through the vector of a thorn, plucked from a tree grown in Kalinga soil.”
Categories: Philippines News
PH inflation drops to 5.4 percent
INFLATION decreased in June 2023 to 5.4 percent from 6.1 percent in May, and economists predict further easing in the coming months if economic conditions remain favorable.
“The trend for the remaining of the year is a continuous downturn with our December inflation possibly hitting less than four percent,” said economist Ronilo Balbieran in an interview on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
The inflation slowdown in June is primarily attributed to slower food inflation, which declined to 6.7 percent from 7.5 percent in the previous month, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
Non-food inflation likewise decelerated to 4.1 percent in June from five percent in May 2023.
The slowdown in food prices is due to slower inflation of meat (0.3 percent from 3.2 percent), eggs and dairy products (11.2 percent from 12.1 percent), and bread and other cereals (11 percent from 11.4 percent).
Neda Secretary Arsenio Balisacan expressed optimism that inflation will decline to within two to four percent by the end of the year.
“We are making progress in managing inflation and we can expect that it will decline to within two to four percent by the end of the year. The government remains committed to protecting the purchasing power of the Filipino people by ensuring food security, reducing transport and logistics costs, and lowering energy costs for Filipino households,” Balisacan said in a statement.
For his part, Balbieran said the downward trend in inflation is expected because of three things: the base effect of the Ukraine-Russia conflict; the slowdown of the world economy for 2023 that cooled down world demand resulting in deceleration of global inflation; and more-than-expected Philippine agriculture growth.
Inflation started to ease in March this year at 7.6 percent from 8.6 percent in February and 8.7 percent in January.
Balbieran explained this is because the country and the rest of the world have already “priced in” the impact of the Ukraine-Russia conflict to inflation.
Agriculture
Economists, including BPI’s lead economist Emilio Neri Jr., anticipate that headline inflation may return to the target set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas by September or October if favorable conditions persist.
“With the global economy still struggling from weak demand, stable commodity prices should continue to pull inflation back to target. However, we also see upside risks that could prevent inflation from declining faster,” said Neri.
The potential risks include the forecast of El Niño’s negative impact, faster-than-projected economic growth, and challenges in the food, transport infrastructure, and supply chain systems.
Balbieran emphasized the need to accelerate the digitalization and e-commercialization of agriculture and logistics to mitigate these risks.
Balbieran also encouraged Cebuano entrepreneurs to invest in agriculture, highlighting its potential to revitalize other industries and generate more employment opportunities.
The economist challenged entrepreneurs to invest in various industries that play a critical role in growing the agriculture sector.
“If possible, within the scope of your businesses, get into the intersection of infrastructure in transportation, logistics, and digital tools, and think about the welfare of our farmers by bringing e-commerce to them,” he said.
Price levels and inflation started increasing in March 2022 as a result of the Ukraine-Russia conflict which began in February that year. The conflict pushed the prices of many food and non-food-related inputs to the economy’s supply chain like feeds, fertilizer, oil, etc.
Balbieran also pointed out that the easing of inflation can also be attributed to the overall slowdown in the global growth due to many factors, including the Ukraine-Russia conflict, China slowdown, and the probable slowdown of the US economy due to its efforts to contain its own inflation.
Moreover, the first quarter result of gross domestic product for agriculture was welcome news for inflation since a large part of the country’s inflation is driven by agricultural output, Balbieran said.
The agriculture sector posted a surprise 2.1 percent growth in the first quarter of 2023 due to annual increases in the value of production of crops, livestock, poultry, and fisheries, said the Philippine Statistics Authority.
This was a turnaround from the 0.3 percent drop in the first quarter of 2022 and the one percent contraction in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The state weather bureau said recently that the effects of El Niño may last until the first quarter of 2024.
“Importing food from abroad might become less effective in addressing supply problems since El Niño is expected to affect other parts of the world,” Neri added.
Balbieran said “digitalization and ‘ecommercialization’ of agriculture and logistics must be accelerated in light of these risks.”
“The trend for the remaining of the year is a continuous downturn with our December inflation possibly hitting less than four percent,” said economist Ronilo Balbieran in an interview on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
The inflation slowdown in June is primarily attributed to slower food inflation, which declined to 6.7 percent from 7.5 percent in the previous month, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
Non-food inflation likewise decelerated to 4.1 percent in June from five percent in May 2023.
The slowdown in food prices is due to slower inflation of meat (0.3 percent from 3.2 percent), eggs and dairy products (11.2 percent from 12.1 percent), and bread and other cereals (11 percent from 11.4 percent).
Neda Secretary Arsenio Balisacan expressed optimism that inflation will decline to within two to four percent by the end of the year.
“We are making progress in managing inflation and we can expect that it will decline to within two to four percent by the end of the year. The government remains committed to protecting the purchasing power of the Filipino people by ensuring food security, reducing transport and logistics costs, and lowering energy costs for Filipino households,” Balisacan said in a statement.
For his part, Balbieran said the downward trend in inflation is expected because of three things: the base effect of the Ukraine-Russia conflict; the slowdown of the world economy for 2023 that cooled down world demand resulting in deceleration of global inflation; and more-than-expected Philippine agriculture growth.
Inflation started to ease in March this year at 7.6 percent from 8.6 percent in February and 8.7 percent in January.
Balbieran explained this is because the country and the rest of the world have already “priced in” the impact of the Ukraine-Russia conflict to inflation.
Agriculture
Economists, including BPI’s lead economist Emilio Neri Jr., anticipate that headline inflation may return to the target set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas by September or October if favorable conditions persist.
“With the global economy still struggling from weak demand, stable commodity prices should continue to pull inflation back to target. However, we also see upside risks that could prevent inflation from declining faster,” said Neri.
The potential risks include the forecast of El Niño’s negative impact, faster-than-projected economic growth, and challenges in the food, transport infrastructure, and supply chain systems.
Balbieran emphasized the need to accelerate the digitalization and e-commercialization of agriculture and logistics to mitigate these risks.
Balbieran also encouraged Cebuano entrepreneurs to invest in agriculture, highlighting its potential to revitalize other industries and generate more employment opportunities.
The economist challenged entrepreneurs to invest in various industries that play a critical role in growing the agriculture sector.
“If possible, within the scope of your businesses, get into the intersection of infrastructure in transportation, logistics, and digital tools, and think about the welfare of our farmers by bringing e-commerce to them,” he said.
Price levels and inflation started increasing in March 2022 as a result of the Ukraine-Russia conflict which began in February that year. The conflict pushed the prices of many food and non-food-related inputs to the economy’s supply chain like feeds, fertilizer, oil, etc.
Balbieran also pointed out that the easing of inflation can also be attributed to the overall slowdown in the global growth due to many factors, including the Ukraine-Russia conflict, China slowdown, and the probable slowdown of the US economy due to its efforts to contain its own inflation.
Moreover, the first quarter result of gross domestic product for agriculture was welcome news for inflation since a large part of the country’s inflation is driven by agricultural output, Balbieran said.
The agriculture sector posted a surprise 2.1 percent growth in the first quarter of 2023 due to annual increases in the value of production of crops, livestock, poultry, and fisheries, said the Philippine Statistics Authority.
This was a turnaround from the 0.3 percent drop in the first quarter of 2022 and the one percent contraction in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The state weather bureau said recently that the effects of El Niño may last until the first quarter of 2024.
“Importing food from abroad might become less effective in addressing supply problems since El Niño is expected to affect other parts of the world,” Neri added.
Balbieran said “digitalization and ‘ecommercialization’ of agriculture and logistics must be accelerated in light of these risks.”
Categories: Philippines News
Cebu Business Months 2023 opens; 'Cebu 'ta bai' launched at SM Seaside
SPANNING six months, from July to December of this year, Cebu Business Months (CBM) 2023 will feature a series of activities aimed at promoting regional development, introducing new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), and highlighting entrepreneurship in Cebu.
Business leaders and members of the Cebu Chamber Commerce and Industry (CCCI) gathered at SM Seaside City Cebu in South Road Properties, Cebu City on Wednesday night, July 5, for the opening salvo of CBM’s 27th edition.
The months-long business activity, which carries the theme “Cebu ‘ta Bai-Shaping the Future, Moving Forward,” has four sectors, namely tourism, entrepreneurship, information technology and creative entertainment.
The sectors will hold events and discussions on tourism, regenerative tourism, product development, artificial intelligence, startups, leadership and corporate innovation. It also aims to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and improve the livelihoods of local artists.
CCCI president Charles Kenneth Co said CMB 2023 “aims to highlight regional development by inspiring and motivating through impactful stories while introducing new tourism programs and interventions.
“Entrepreneurship lies at the heart of every Cebuano,” he said.
The overall chairman of CBM 2023 is John Paul “JP” Chiongbian, who said that their goal is to maintain Cebu’s entrepreneurial spirit and position Cebu in the global arena by embracing AI.
“If we embrace it, we believe that Cebu can be a global player in the years to come,” he said.
Tourism
On tourism sector, Chiongbian said it is one of the key drivers in Cebu’s economy.
“We want to promote authentic destinations and food stamping our local cuisines,” he said.
In the coming months, CBM participants will attend various tourism-based events, including the Tourism Congress, Safari Adventure Race, Golf Tournament and Cebu Food Congress. These events will be led by tourism chairperson Cathleen “Kate” Anzani.
Technology
Explaining why businesses must adopt technology, Chiongban’s avatar or the digital representation of himself appeared on screen and told the audience: “Technology will support and promote startups. We’ll be showcasing smartphones, offices and personal spaces.”
Chiongban’s avatar was just made in five minutes. Artificial intelligence refers to computer programs or algorithms that can imitate cognitive processes such as problem-solving and simulate human intelligence.
Under the leadership of Information and Communication Technology and Business Process Management chairman Ryan Tan Yu, CBM’s Innovation and Technology for All 2023 will be providing immersive experiences, learning opportunities, and networking platforms.
The collaboration with technology leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators will enable participants to explore, learn, and connect through various activities such as panel discussions, programs, pitching sessions, and demos.
Entrepreneurship
Leading the entrepreneurship committee is Anne Gretchen Choa, vice president of the Camden Trading Corp.
The theme for the entrepreneurship sector is “creating conscious and purposeful collaborations,” focusing on establishing connections and collaborations, driving and celebrating innovations, fostering community and mentorship. The aim is to make business decisions that not only lead to profits but also prioritize sustainability.
The committee will concentrate on MSMEs, which are the fundamental pillar of Cebu’s economy. It strives to create business decisions that not only generate profits but also promote sustainability.
According to the CBM leadership, it is crucial to protect the players in the food ecosystem, including SMEs, startups, and proprietors of home-based businesses.
Creative entertainment
The creative entertainment sector, led by Lawrence Po Panganiban, aims to showcase prominent artists and writers who will share their wisdom and insights on how to enhance the local artists of Cebu.
Before the opening salvo ended, CCCI officials went on stage and touched the screen to signal the start of CBM 2023. (UP CEBU INTERN CHRYS CHELSEA BERNALES & CNU INTERN CLAUDINE FLORES)
Business leaders and members of the Cebu Chamber Commerce and Industry (CCCI) gathered at SM Seaside City Cebu in South Road Properties, Cebu City on Wednesday night, July 5, for the opening salvo of CBM’s 27th edition.
The months-long business activity, which carries the theme “Cebu ‘ta Bai-Shaping the Future, Moving Forward,” has four sectors, namely tourism, entrepreneurship, information technology and creative entertainment.
The sectors will hold events and discussions on tourism, regenerative tourism, product development, artificial intelligence, startups, leadership and corporate innovation. It also aims to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and improve the livelihoods of local artists.
CCCI president Charles Kenneth Co said CMB 2023 “aims to highlight regional development by inspiring and motivating through impactful stories while introducing new tourism programs and interventions.
“Entrepreneurship lies at the heart of every Cebuano,” he said.
The overall chairman of CBM 2023 is John Paul “JP” Chiongbian, who said that their goal is to maintain Cebu’s entrepreneurial spirit and position Cebu in the global arena by embracing AI.
“If we embrace it, we believe that Cebu can be a global player in the years to come,” he said.
Tourism
On tourism sector, Chiongbian said it is one of the key drivers in Cebu’s economy.
“We want to promote authentic destinations and food stamping our local cuisines,” he said.
In the coming months, CBM participants will attend various tourism-based events, including the Tourism Congress, Safari Adventure Race, Golf Tournament and Cebu Food Congress. These events will be led by tourism chairperson Cathleen “Kate” Anzani.
Technology
Explaining why businesses must adopt technology, Chiongban’s avatar or the digital representation of himself appeared on screen and told the audience: “Technology will support and promote startups. We’ll be showcasing smartphones, offices and personal spaces.”
Chiongban’s avatar was just made in five minutes. Artificial intelligence refers to computer programs or algorithms that can imitate cognitive processes such as problem-solving and simulate human intelligence.
Under the leadership of Information and Communication Technology and Business Process Management chairman Ryan Tan Yu, CBM’s Innovation and Technology for All 2023 will be providing immersive experiences, learning opportunities, and networking platforms.
The collaboration with technology leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators will enable participants to explore, learn, and connect through various activities such as panel discussions, programs, pitching sessions, and demos.
Entrepreneurship
Leading the entrepreneurship committee is Anne Gretchen Choa, vice president of the Camden Trading Corp.
The theme for the entrepreneurship sector is “creating conscious and purposeful collaborations,” focusing on establishing connections and collaborations, driving and celebrating innovations, fostering community and mentorship. The aim is to make business decisions that not only lead to profits but also prioritize sustainability.
The committee will concentrate on MSMEs, which are the fundamental pillar of Cebu’s economy. It strives to create business decisions that not only generate profits but also promote sustainability.
According to the CBM leadership, it is crucial to protect the players in the food ecosystem, including SMEs, startups, and proprietors of home-based businesses.
Creative entertainment
The creative entertainment sector, led by Lawrence Po Panganiban, aims to showcase prominent artists and writers who will share their wisdom and insights on how to enhance the local artists of Cebu.
Before the opening salvo ended, CCCI officials went on stage and touched the screen to signal the start of CBM 2023. (UP CEBU INTERN CHRYS CHELSEA BERNALES & CNU INTERN CLAUDINE FLORES)
Categories: Philippines News
Lawyers group holds legal forum
ACCRALAW Cebu held Wednesday, July 5, 2023, its 51st Annual Legal Forum as it tackled various developments with the new laws and regulations focusing on labor policies.
Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz Law (Accralaw) is a firm composed of more than 170 lawyers and 160 non-legal personnel. This group of legal professionals provides cost-efficient services and its client base spans the entire business and industry continuum, as well as professional organizations and the general community.
Lawyer Eduardo Soleng Jr., one of the associates, said they held the forum to update their client about their new laws and regulations and to discuss a particular topic on a yearly basis.
“So in effect, instead of them bangling on the proceedings, instead of them committing mistakes in dealing with the employees, on how to run their business, we inform them ahead that these are the right things to do and right procedure to undertake to make sure that they follow what is legal,” he said.
Lawyer Alyward Consulta, one of the partners of Accralaw, said that one of the goals of this year's event is to give updates on clients on the recent progress in the legal landscape, as they want to be proactive to prevent disputes and guide them on how to properly run the business in accordance with the law.
One major topic discussed was the problems with the employer-employee relationship. Unfair dismissal, wage and hour disagreements, discrimination, harassment, and violation of employment contracts are some common labor complaints.
“Even in our constitution, we uphold full protection to labor but that does not lead employers without any right,” said lawyer Therese Marie P. Amor, one of the guest speakers.
She also talked about company policies and their validity.
The officials said that employers and employees can both benefit from Accralaw’s labor law practice's assistance in addressing labor disputes and assuring compliance with relevant labor regulations, such as the Philippine Labor Code. (Kimberly Goc-ong and Angel Leduna, CNU Interns)
Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz Law (Accralaw) is a firm composed of more than 170 lawyers and 160 non-legal personnel. This group of legal professionals provides cost-efficient services and its client base spans the entire business and industry continuum, as well as professional organizations and the general community.
Lawyer Eduardo Soleng Jr., one of the associates, said they held the forum to update their client about their new laws and regulations and to discuss a particular topic on a yearly basis.
“So in effect, instead of them bangling on the proceedings, instead of them committing mistakes in dealing with the employees, on how to run their business, we inform them ahead that these are the right things to do and right procedure to undertake to make sure that they follow what is legal,” he said.
Lawyer Alyward Consulta, one of the partners of Accralaw, said that one of the goals of this year's event is to give updates on clients on the recent progress in the legal landscape, as they want to be proactive to prevent disputes and guide them on how to properly run the business in accordance with the law.
One major topic discussed was the problems with the employer-employee relationship. Unfair dismissal, wage and hour disagreements, discrimination, harassment, and violation of employment contracts are some common labor complaints.
“Even in our constitution, we uphold full protection to labor but that does not lead employers without any right,” said lawyer Therese Marie P. Amor, one of the guest speakers.
She also talked about company policies and their validity.
The officials said that employers and employees can both benefit from Accralaw’s labor law practice's assistance in addressing labor disputes and assuring compliance with relevant labor regulations, such as the Philippine Labor Code. (Kimberly Goc-ong and Angel Leduna, CNU Interns)
Categories: Philippines News
Lapu-Lapu allocates P800M for new City Hall building
LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Junard Chan has allocated P800 million for the construction of a new Lapu-Lapu City Hall building.
Chan announced this during his State of the City Address (Soca) on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
In the meantime, officials of the city are still trying to finalize the features and design of the new building.
"As of the moment, we're still at the planning stage," said Engr. Perla T. Amar of the Engineering City Office.
The officials said the City Hall’s offices and facilities need remodeling to ensure the safety of the employees.
Chan said their decision to improve the City Hall is an opportunity for them to transform a historic landmark into a modern one, adding that they will preserve the old foundation of the building.
"We are still talking to our technical experts," said lawyer James Allan Sayson from the Lapu-Lapu City Legal Office.
He said once the design is approved, construction will begin.
"One thing for sure is that the construction will begin before the end of the second term of our mayor," Sayson added. (Judie Liza Alantoson, CNU Intern)
Chan announced this during his State of the City Address (Soca) on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
In the meantime, officials of the city are still trying to finalize the features and design of the new building.
"As of the moment, we're still at the planning stage," said Engr. Perla T. Amar of the Engineering City Office.
The officials said the City Hall’s offices and facilities need remodeling to ensure the safety of the employees.
Chan said their decision to improve the City Hall is an opportunity for them to transform a historic landmark into a modern one, adding that they will preserve the old foundation of the building.
"We are still talking to our technical experts," said lawyer James Allan Sayson from the Lapu-Lapu City Legal Office.
He said once the design is approved, construction will begin.
"One thing for sure is that the construction will begin before the end of the second term of our mayor," Sayson added. (Judie Liza Alantoson, CNU Intern)
Categories: Philippines News
Over 6,000 structures to be affected by clearing operation
A TOTAL of 6,241 houses and business establishments in Cebu City will be affected of the three-meter easement clearing operation in the city's eight major rivers.
Lawyer Ronald Anthony Librando, executive director of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP), told SunStar Cebu on Thursday, July 6 2023, that the affected residents will be relocated to a temporary public housing that is set to be constructed at the South Road Properties.
He said the temporary public housing is still for bidding this month.
The City aims to build around 900 units in a span of three months.
Librando added that the clearing of the three-meter easement along rivers of structures and informal settlers will start once the temporary housing will be constructed.
"Kung naa na ang mga temporary housing, mao na ang time nga magstart na og clearing (Once the temporary housing is available, we will start the clearing)," he said.
Librando said the City Government has not provided financial assistance for the affected residents.
He also said that public consultations were already conducted in the different barangays.
He said the project is a great help as it will contribute to disaster reduction, access for emergency situations and environmental care.
The three-meter easement development project will restore eight major rivers -- Mahiga Creek, Lahug River, Butuanon River, Guadalupe River, Kinalumsan River, Tagunol Creek, Bulacao River and Estero de Parian. (Camille Erika Butas, CNU Intern)
Lawyer Ronald Anthony Librando, executive director of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP), told SunStar Cebu on Thursday, July 6 2023, that the affected residents will be relocated to a temporary public housing that is set to be constructed at the South Road Properties.
He said the temporary public housing is still for bidding this month.
The City aims to build around 900 units in a span of three months.
Librando added that the clearing of the three-meter easement along rivers of structures and informal settlers will start once the temporary housing will be constructed.
"Kung naa na ang mga temporary housing, mao na ang time nga magstart na og clearing (Once the temporary housing is available, we will start the clearing)," he said.
Librando said the City Government has not provided financial assistance for the affected residents.
He also said that public consultations were already conducted in the different barangays.
He said the project is a great help as it will contribute to disaster reduction, access for emergency situations and environmental care.
The three-meter easement development project will restore eight major rivers -- Mahiga Creek, Lahug River, Butuanon River, Guadalupe River, Kinalumsan River, Tagunol Creek, Bulacao River and Estero de Parian. (Camille Erika Butas, CNU Intern)
Categories: Philippines News
Woman loses cellphone to robbers while jogging in SRP
A 30-YEAR-OLD woman lost her cellphone to two motorcycle-riding men while she was jogging in South Road Properties past 5 a.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2023.
The victim was identified as Nova Belle Sente Villapaz, single, a resident of Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City.
Villapaz claimed that two guys onboard a motorcycle appeared as she was jogging from her house towards South Road Properties.
The backrider then approached her, pointed a gun at her, declared a holdup, and demanded her cellphone.
Out of terror, she gave her P70,000 Iphone 13 Pro to the culprits, who were not wearing helmets.
The victim said one of the robbers had a black eye in his left eye.
Mambaling Police Station Chief Major Jonathan Bethooven Taneo said they will conduct an investigation to identify the suspects.(AYB, TPT)
The victim was identified as Nova Belle Sente Villapaz, single, a resident of Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City.
Villapaz claimed that two guys onboard a motorcycle appeared as she was jogging from her house towards South Road Properties.
The backrider then approached her, pointed a gun at her, declared a holdup, and demanded her cellphone.
Out of terror, she gave her P70,000 Iphone 13 Pro to the culprits, who were not wearing helmets.
The victim said one of the robbers had a black eye in his left eye.
Mambaling Police Station Chief Major Jonathan Bethooven Taneo said they will conduct an investigation to identify the suspects.(AYB, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Truck driver loses leg after Talisay road accident
THE left leg of the driver of the six-wheeler truck was amputated after he met an accident at the stop light at the intersection of Rabaya Street and Cebu South Coastal Road in Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City past 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2023.
The victim, Robertson Villaceran, 49, from Barangay Lorega San Miguel, Cebu City, was transporting scrap materials from Toledo City, midwest Cebu to a junk shop in Mandaue City at the time of the incident.
His truckboy, Ronnie Geonson, 34, who is also from Barangay Lorega San Miguel, escaped injury in the collision.
According to Geonson, their vehicle’s brakes failed, causing it to crash into the truck in front of them, which then hit two other cars.
Villaceran's body was sandwiched between the front of the truck on the driver's side, which was completely wrecked by the force of the crash. (BBT, TPT)
The victim, Robertson Villaceran, 49, from Barangay Lorega San Miguel, Cebu City, was transporting scrap materials from Toledo City, midwest Cebu to a junk shop in Mandaue City at the time of the incident.
His truckboy, Ronnie Geonson, 34, who is also from Barangay Lorega San Miguel, escaped injury in the collision.
According to Geonson, their vehicle’s brakes failed, causing it to crash into the truck in front of them, which then hit two other cars.
Villaceran's body was sandwiched between the front of the truck on the driver's side, which was completely wrecked by the force of the crash. (BBT, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Garcia to restore Argao’s heritage structure
CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia pledged to provide funding for the renovation Casa Real in Argao town as one of the heritage sites that the Capitol will preserve and maintain.
On Tuesday, July 4, 2023, the governor visited the municipality and made the announcement while touring the town's historic Casa Real or municipal hall.
Aside from its delicious torta, the municipality is well known for its historic buildings.
In 1608, the town of Argao was established.
Whereas the Casa Real was constructed during the Spanish era in the 1880s.
It is referred to as Cebu's oldest municipality.
However, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck on October 15, 2013, caused damage to it.
The building is built of wood, stone, and clay-based tiles.
Garcia agreed to set aside money for the building's improvement after seeing firsthand the things that needed to be fixed at Casa Real.
Because there are so many memories and experiences associated with it, she urged preservation.
"Of course, it will be preserved. It's 400 years old. It's Magellan's time," the governor said in jest.
The governor, however, has not yet revealed the amount that will be allocated to restore the structure to its original condition.(ANV, TPT)
On Tuesday, July 4, 2023, the governor visited the municipality and made the announcement while touring the town's historic Casa Real or municipal hall.
Aside from its delicious torta, the municipality is well known for its historic buildings.
In 1608, the town of Argao was established.
Whereas the Casa Real was constructed during the Spanish era in the 1880s.
It is referred to as Cebu's oldest municipality.
However, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck on October 15, 2013, caused damage to it.
The building is built of wood, stone, and clay-based tiles.
Garcia agreed to set aside money for the building's improvement after seeing firsthand the things that needed to be fixed at Casa Real.
Because there are so many memories and experiences associated with it, she urged preservation.
"Of course, it will be preserved. It's 400 years old. It's Magellan's time," the governor said in jest.
The governor, however, has not yet revealed the amount that will be allocated to restore the structure to its original condition.(ANV, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Police to coordinate with CCLEX to identify persons who collected cash in SRP
THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is coordinating with the management of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) to obtain a copy of the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage from the area in order to identify the people who gathered the cash that was strewn along the viaduct of South Road Properties (SRP) last Tuesday morning, July 4, 2023.
Some kind-hearted people have already returned the money to the Mambaling Police Station.
Tony (not his real name) said he was transporting around P4 million in cash from a mall in SRP to their office in Mandaue City on a motorcycle when his backpack's zipper broke, causing it to open, letting the money bills fly out into the air.
Only around P700,000 was left in his bag.
People hurriedly exited their cars, including delivery drivers, to collect the cash that was scattered across the road.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Tony recovered at least P1.3 million in cash.
However, CCPO Chief Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog claimed that there are still a lot of persons who did not comply with their request to return the money.
The CCPO chief said that those who continue to ignore their calls will face charges.
They therefore worked with CCLEX to obtain a copy of the CCTV in order to identify the drivers who stole the money.
According to Dalogdog, they will get the license plates of the cars whose drivers stopped to help pick up the cash as seen on the CCTV film and have these checked with the Land Transportation Office to see who the registered owners of those cars are.
He added they will also verify Tony’s claim that the incident was not intentional.
They will also check Tony's assertion that the money in his backpack was worth P4 million.
The cops are looking into the collector's past and trying to figure out the amount of money Tony actually took from a Gcash Kiosk machine inside the SRP mall.(AYB, TPT)
Some kind-hearted people have already returned the money to the Mambaling Police Station.
Tony (not his real name) said he was transporting around P4 million in cash from a mall in SRP to their office in Mandaue City on a motorcycle when his backpack's zipper broke, causing it to open, letting the money bills fly out into the air.
Only around P700,000 was left in his bag.
People hurriedly exited their cars, including delivery drivers, to collect the cash that was scattered across the road.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Tony recovered at least P1.3 million in cash.
However, CCPO Chief Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog claimed that there are still a lot of persons who did not comply with their request to return the money.
The CCPO chief said that those who continue to ignore their calls will face charges.
They therefore worked with CCLEX to obtain a copy of the CCTV in order to identify the drivers who stole the money.
According to Dalogdog, they will get the license plates of the cars whose drivers stopped to help pick up the cash as seen on the CCTV film and have these checked with the Land Transportation Office to see who the registered owners of those cars are.
He added they will also verify Tony’s claim that the incident was not intentional.
They will also check Tony's assertion that the money in his backpack was worth P4 million.
The cops are looking into the collector's past and trying to figure out the amount of money Tony actually took from a Gcash Kiosk machine inside the SRP mall.(AYB, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Senior Citizens Affairs committee formed
THE Cebu City Council has created one additional panel, the Committee on Senior Citizens Affairs, for its second fiscal year, while two members from the minority bloc were given a membership under the Committee on Youth and Sports Development and Committee on Labor, Employment Cooperative and Livelihood.
The Committee on Senior Citizen Affairs has Councilor Pastor Alcover as chairman, Councilor Pancrasio Esparis as vice chairman, and Councilors Noel Wenceslao, Joel Garganera, and James Cuenco as members who are in charge of lobbying measures for senior citizens.
Opposition Councilor Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa is now part of the Committee on Labor, Employment, Cooperative and Livelihood, while opposition Councilor Mary Ann De los Santos is part of Committee on Youth And Sports Development.
The council made a reorganization during the second inaugural session on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
During the session, opposition Councilor Nestor Archival raised his point regarding the executive sessions performed by the Council, saying they are limited.
Archival requested an executive hour during the session to have legislative concerns and suggestions more participative and transparent to the public.
"If there is an executive session which has a very important discussion, ang konsehal ra ang nag sponsor og ang presiding officer ra nakasabot. How can you bring this issue to the public and of course the media if limitado ra," said Archival.
Majority floor leader Councilor Pesquera and other councilors have stated that the items discussed during the executive session are sensitive and that for the longest time, executive sessions are always closed doors.
"Not satisfied actually, but I'm just giving it up for purposes of something like we agree something," said Archival when asked if he was satisfied with the explanation of Pesquera and other councilors.
The City Council currently has 28 committees, as follows:
Committee on Budget and Finance
Chairman: Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao
Vice Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Members: James Anthony R. Cuenco, Philip S. Zafra, and Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia
Committee on Social Services
Chairman: Pancrasio I. Esparis
Vice Chairman: Edgardo N. Labella II
Members: Donaldo C. Hontiveros, Phillip S. Zafra, and Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao
Committee on Housing
Chairman: Raymond Alvin N. Garcia
Vice Chairman: Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao
Members: Jerry L. Guardo, Jocelyn G. Pesquera and Phillip S. Zafra
Committee on Youth And Sports Development
Chairman: Jessica P. Resch
Vice Chairman: Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Members: Joel C. Garganera, Mary Ann C. Delos Santos, and Edgardo N. Labella II
Committee on Public Services
Chairman: Phillip S. Zafra
Vice Chairman: Edgardo N. Labella II
Members: Donaldo C. Hontiveros, Pancrasio I. Esparis, and Jerry L. Guardo
Committee on Labor, Employment, Cooperative and Livelihood
Chairman: Edgardo N. Labella II
Vice Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Members: Donaldo C. Hontiveros, Jose Lorenzo R. Abellanosa, and Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship
Chairman: Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Vice Chairman: Rey M. Gealon
Members: Edgardo N. Labella II, Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, and Renato Z. Osmeña Jr.
Committee on Markets
Chairman: Renato Z. Osmeña Jr.
Vice Chairman: Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Members: Pancrasio I. Esparis, Rey M. Gealon and Jerry L. Guardo
Committee on Infrastructure
Chairman: Jerry L. Guardo
Vice Chairman: Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Members: Pancrasio I. Esparis, Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, and Phillip S. Zafra
Committee on Urban Planning
Chairman: Jerry L. Guardo
Vice Chairman: Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao
Members: Renato Z. Osmeña Jr., Jocelyn G. Pesquera, and Rey M. Gealon
Committee on Public Order
Chairman: Phillip S. Zafra
Vice Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Members: Rey M. Gealon, Pastor M. Alcover Jr. and Pancrasio I. Esparis
Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction Management, Safety and Climate Change Adaptation
Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Vice Chairman: Phillip S. Zafra
Members: Donaldo C. Hontiveros, Edgardo N. Labella II, and Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao
Committee on Health, Hospital Services and Sanitation
Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Vice Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Members: Donaldo C. Hontiveros, Phillip S. Zafra, and Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Styling
Chairman: Rey M. Gealon
Vice Chairman: Raymond Alvin N. Garcia
Members: Jocelyn G. Pesquera, James Anthony R. Cuenco, and Phillip S. Zafra
Committee on Education, Science and Technology
Chairman: Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Vice Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Members: Edgardo N. Labella II, Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, and Phillip S. Zafra
Committee on Scholarship Program
Chairman: Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Vice Chairman: Phillip S. Zafra
Members: Joel C. Garganera, Jocelyn G. Pesquera, and Raymond Alvin N. Garcia
Committee on Barangay Affairs
Chairman: Franklyn O. Ong
Vice Chairman: Pancrasio I. Esparis
Members: Pastor M. Alcover Jr., Rey M. Gealon, and Joel C. Garganera
Committee on Games and Amusement
Chairman: Renato Z. Osmeña Jr.
Vice Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Members: Pastor M. Alcover Jr., Jerry L. Guardo, and Rey M. Gealon
Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture
Chairman: Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Vice Chairman: Eduardo N. Labella II
Members: Joel C. Garganera, Renato Z. Osmeña Jr., and James Anthony R. Cuenco
Committee on Sister Cities Relations And Big Brother Program
Chairman: James Anthony R. Cuenco
Vice Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Members: Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, Donaldo C. Hontiveros, and Eduardo N. Labella II
Committee on Agriculture And Rural Development
Chairman: Pastor M. Alcover, Jr.
Vice Chairman: Phillip S. Zafra
Members: James Anthony R. Cuenco, Raymond Alvin N. Garcia, and Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Committee on Environmental Natural Resources, and Energy
Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Vice Chairman: Rey M. Gealon
Members: Jerry L. Guardo, Donaldo C. Hontiveros, and Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Committee on Transportation, Communication
Chairman: James Anthony R. Cuenco
Vice Chairman: Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Members: Rey M. Gealon, Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, and Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Committee on Women, LGBTQ and Family Affairs
Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Vice Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Members: Rey M. Gealon, Edgardo N. Labella II, and Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Committee on Information and Communication Technology, and Other Utilities
Chairman: Eduardo N. Labella II
Vice Chairman: Renato Z. Osmeña Jr.
Members: Jerry L. Guardo, Rey M. Gealon, and Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Committee on Animal Welfare
Chairman: Raymond Alvin N. Garcia
Vice Chairman: Philip S. Zafra
Members: Rey M. Gealon, Edgardo N. Labella II, and Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Committee on Senior Citizens Affair
Chairman: Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Vice Chairman: Pancrasio I. Esparis
Members: Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, Joel C. Garganera, and James Anthony R. Cuenco
Committee on House Rules and Oversight Committee
Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Vice Chairman: James Anthony R. Cuenco
Members: Rey M. Gealon, Raymond Alvin N. Garcia, and Philip S. Zafra
Councilors Alcover, Hontiveros, and Pesquera hold the most committees. (RJM)
The Committee on Senior Citizen Affairs has Councilor Pastor Alcover as chairman, Councilor Pancrasio Esparis as vice chairman, and Councilors Noel Wenceslao, Joel Garganera, and James Cuenco as members who are in charge of lobbying measures for senior citizens.
Opposition Councilor Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa is now part of the Committee on Labor, Employment, Cooperative and Livelihood, while opposition Councilor Mary Ann De los Santos is part of Committee on Youth And Sports Development.
The council made a reorganization during the second inaugural session on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
During the session, opposition Councilor Nestor Archival raised his point regarding the executive sessions performed by the Council, saying they are limited.
Archival requested an executive hour during the session to have legislative concerns and suggestions more participative and transparent to the public.
"If there is an executive session which has a very important discussion, ang konsehal ra ang nag sponsor og ang presiding officer ra nakasabot. How can you bring this issue to the public and of course the media if limitado ra," said Archival.
Majority floor leader Councilor Pesquera and other councilors have stated that the items discussed during the executive session are sensitive and that for the longest time, executive sessions are always closed doors.
"Not satisfied actually, but I'm just giving it up for purposes of something like we agree something," said Archival when asked if he was satisfied with the explanation of Pesquera and other councilors.
The City Council currently has 28 committees, as follows:
Committee on Budget and Finance
Chairman: Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao
Vice Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Members: James Anthony R. Cuenco, Philip S. Zafra, and Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia
Committee on Social Services
Chairman: Pancrasio I. Esparis
Vice Chairman: Edgardo N. Labella II
Members: Donaldo C. Hontiveros, Phillip S. Zafra, and Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao
Committee on Housing
Chairman: Raymond Alvin N. Garcia
Vice Chairman: Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao
Members: Jerry L. Guardo, Jocelyn G. Pesquera and Phillip S. Zafra
Committee on Youth And Sports Development
Chairman: Jessica P. Resch
Vice Chairman: Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Members: Joel C. Garganera, Mary Ann C. Delos Santos, and Edgardo N. Labella II
Committee on Public Services
Chairman: Phillip S. Zafra
Vice Chairman: Edgardo N. Labella II
Members: Donaldo C. Hontiveros, Pancrasio I. Esparis, and Jerry L. Guardo
Committee on Labor, Employment, Cooperative and Livelihood
Chairman: Edgardo N. Labella II
Vice Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Members: Donaldo C. Hontiveros, Jose Lorenzo R. Abellanosa, and Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship
Chairman: Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Vice Chairman: Rey M. Gealon
Members: Edgardo N. Labella II, Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, and Renato Z. Osmeña Jr.
Committee on Markets
Chairman: Renato Z. Osmeña Jr.
Vice Chairman: Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Members: Pancrasio I. Esparis, Rey M. Gealon and Jerry L. Guardo
Committee on Infrastructure
Chairman: Jerry L. Guardo
Vice Chairman: Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Members: Pancrasio I. Esparis, Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, and Phillip S. Zafra
Committee on Urban Planning
Chairman: Jerry L. Guardo
Vice Chairman: Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao
Members: Renato Z. Osmeña Jr., Jocelyn G. Pesquera, and Rey M. Gealon
Committee on Public Order
Chairman: Phillip S. Zafra
Vice Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Members: Rey M. Gealon, Pastor M. Alcover Jr. and Pancrasio I. Esparis
Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction Management, Safety and Climate Change Adaptation
Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Vice Chairman: Phillip S. Zafra
Members: Donaldo C. Hontiveros, Edgardo N. Labella II, and Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao
Committee on Health, Hospital Services and Sanitation
Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Vice Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Members: Donaldo C. Hontiveros, Phillip S. Zafra, and Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Styling
Chairman: Rey M. Gealon
Vice Chairman: Raymond Alvin N. Garcia
Members: Jocelyn G. Pesquera, James Anthony R. Cuenco, and Phillip S. Zafra
Committee on Education, Science and Technology
Chairman: Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Vice Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Members: Edgardo N. Labella II, Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, and Phillip S. Zafra
Committee on Scholarship Program
Chairman: Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Vice Chairman: Phillip S. Zafra
Members: Joel C. Garganera, Jocelyn G. Pesquera, and Raymond Alvin N. Garcia
Committee on Barangay Affairs
Chairman: Franklyn O. Ong
Vice Chairman: Pancrasio I. Esparis
Members: Pastor M. Alcover Jr., Rey M. Gealon, and Joel C. Garganera
Committee on Games and Amusement
Chairman: Renato Z. Osmeña Jr.
Vice Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Members: Pastor M. Alcover Jr., Jerry L. Guardo, and Rey M. Gealon
Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture
Chairman: Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Vice Chairman: Eduardo N. Labella II
Members: Joel C. Garganera, Renato Z. Osmeña Jr., and James Anthony R. Cuenco
Committee on Sister Cities Relations And Big Brother Program
Chairman: James Anthony R. Cuenco
Vice Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Members: Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, Donaldo C. Hontiveros, and Eduardo N. Labella II
Committee on Agriculture And Rural Development
Chairman: Pastor M. Alcover, Jr.
Vice Chairman: Phillip S. Zafra
Members: James Anthony R. Cuenco, Raymond Alvin N. Garcia, and Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Committee on Environmental Natural Resources, and Energy
Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Vice Chairman: Rey M. Gealon
Members: Jerry L. Guardo, Donaldo C. Hontiveros, and Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Committee on Transportation, Communication
Chairman: James Anthony R. Cuenco
Vice Chairman: Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Members: Rey M. Gealon, Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, and Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Committee on Women, LGBTQ and Family Affairs
Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Vice Chairman: Joel C. Garganera
Members: Rey M. Gealon, Edgardo N. Labella II, and Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Committee on Information and Communication Technology, and Other Utilities
Chairman: Eduardo N. Labella II
Vice Chairman: Renato Z. Osmeña Jr.
Members: Jerry L. Guardo, Rey M. Gealon, and Donaldo C. Hontiveros
Committee on Animal Welfare
Chairman: Raymond Alvin N. Garcia
Vice Chairman: Philip S. Zafra
Members: Rey M. Gealon, Edgardo N. Labella II, and Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Committee on Senior Citizens Affair
Chairman: Pastor M. Alcover Jr.
Vice Chairman: Pancrasio I. Esparis
Members: Noel Eleuterio G. Wenceslao, Joel C. Garganera, and James Anthony R. Cuenco
Committee on House Rules and Oversight Committee
Chairman: Jocelyn G. Pesquera
Vice Chairman: James Anthony R. Cuenco
Members: Rey M. Gealon, Raymond Alvin N. Garcia, and Philip S. Zafra
Councilors Alcover, Hontiveros, and Pesquera hold the most committees. (RJM)
Categories: Philippines News
DENR to study whether to demolish structures in Looc River’s easement zone in Ginatilan town
BEFORE proceeding with the clearing operation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) will determine the severity of the violations caused by the structures built within the 20-meter easement zone of the Looc River in Ginatilan town, southwest Cebu.
The owners of structures situated within the easement zone asked Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia this week that they be allowed to voluntarily demolish their buildings so they could still use the materials.
According to the Capitol Information Office, Pedro Cabonillas of Fern Valley Cold Spring Resort and Jennifer Singco of Green Villas Resort were among those who begged the governor.
Garcia had already issued a directive ordering the closure of the two resorts in order to destroy the man-made barriers that had been erected in the river's 20-meter easement zone.
The Capitol stepped in after the town council requested assistance over the buildings that were allegedly obstructing the stream's natural water flow.
This is thought to be one of the possible causes of floods in some parts of the area where many people live.(ANV, TPT)
The owners of structures situated within the easement zone asked Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia this week that they be allowed to voluntarily demolish their buildings so they could still use the materials.
According to the Capitol Information Office, Pedro Cabonillas of Fern Valley Cold Spring Resort and Jennifer Singco of Green Villas Resort were among those who begged the governor.
Garcia had already issued a directive ordering the closure of the two resorts in order to destroy the man-made barriers that had been erected in the river's 20-meter easement zone.
The Capitol stepped in after the town council requested assistance over the buildings that were allegedly obstructing the stream's natural water flow.
This is thought to be one of the possible causes of floods in some parts of the area where many people live.(ANV, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Cebu City hikes budget for barangay roads rehab
THE Cebu City Government has increased the allocated budget for this year’s rehabilitation of barangay roads and thoroughfares from P70 million to P200 million.
Councilor Jerry Guardo, chairman of the Committee on Infrastructure, told SunStar Cebu on Thursday, July 6, 2023, that the P100 million has already been awarded to Socor Construction Corporation.
Guardo said the 80 percent of the P100 million will be spent for the rehabilitation of roads and bridges and 20 percent for public parks and playgrounds and other structures.
Meanwhile, the remaining P100 million is currently being held for the next bidding process.
Guardo explained that the city government is focusing on the improvement of barangay roads within the city including its mountain barangays.
He said that the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) would accept requests from any barangay that wishes to have their roads asphalted.
However, the DEPW would prioritize roads in dilapidated condition, he added.(AML, TPT)
Councilor Jerry Guardo, chairman of the Committee on Infrastructure, told SunStar Cebu on Thursday, July 6, 2023, that the P100 million has already been awarded to Socor Construction Corporation.
Guardo said the 80 percent of the P100 million will be spent for the rehabilitation of roads and bridges and 20 percent for public parks and playgrounds and other structures.
Meanwhile, the remaining P100 million is currently being held for the next bidding process.
Guardo explained that the city government is focusing on the improvement of barangay roads within the city including its mountain barangays.
He said that the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) would accept requests from any barangay that wishes to have their roads asphalted.
However, the DEPW would prioritize roads in dilapidated condition, he added.(AML, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Dentist lands in hospital after being struck in the eyes with blunt object while treating patient
A dentist was brought to a private hospital in Mandaue City after two unknown individuals broke into his clinic on Queens Road, close to the Redemptorist Church, in Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City, around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5, and struck his eyes with a blunt weapon.
The victim was identified as Dr. Charles Pactol Sia, 41, of Cebu City.
The two guys allegedly entered the dentist's clinic to deliver something, according to Nena Rose Rosell Bardisco, the dentist's secretary, who reported the incident to police at the Abellana Police Station.
One of the suspects was dressed in a black jacket, while the other in a green one.
They were both wearing masks.
However, Bardisco noted that the suspect, who was dressed in a green jacket, suddenly pulled out a weapon and went to the doctor's room where a foreign patient was being operated on.
The suspects tied the victim's hands and those of his secretary, and one of them struck the victim's eyes with a blunt object until it began to bleed.
A caretaker at a nearby establishment claimed that they immediately contacted an ambulance when they noticed Sia’s eyes were bleeding.
The Abellana Police Station is still conducting an investigation and has checked the CCTV footage in the area and nearby establishments to identify the perpetrators.
The doctor's clinic once had a guard on duty during the day, but owing to theft in the vicinity, he was moved to the night shift, according to some security guards of the surrounding buildings. (BBT, TPT)
The victim was identified as Dr. Charles Pactol Sia, 41, of Cebu City.
The two guys allegedly entered the dentist's clinic to deliver something, according to Nena Rose Rosell Bardisco, the dentist's secretary, who reported the incident to police at the Abellana Police Station.
One of the suspects was dressed in a black jacket, while the other in a green one.
They were both wearing masks.
However, Bardisco noted that the suspect, who was dressed in a green jacket, suddenly pulled out a weapon and went to the doctor's room where a foreign patient was being operated on.
The suspects tied the victim's hands and those of his secretary, and one of them struck the victim's eyes with a blunt object until it began to bleed.
A caretaker at a nearby establishment claimed that they immediately contacted an ambulance when they noticed Sia’s eyes were bleeding.
The Abellana Police Station is still conducting an investigation and has checked the CCTV footage in the area and nearby establishments to identify the perpetrators.
The doctor's clinic once had a guard on duty during the day, but owing to theft in the vicinity, he was moved to the night shift, according to some security guards of the surrounding buildings. (BBT, TPT)
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