Cebu Sun.Star

THE informal occupants of the Capitol-owned lot in barangays Apas and Kalunasan in Cebu City would be assisted by the Cebu Provincial Government in applying for house loans.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia made this announcement during her meeting with the residents of Sitio CRCI in Barangay Apas and Barangay Kalunasan on Monday, July 17, 2023 at the Capitol Social Hall.

It was decided that 114 families will be relocated from Sitio CRCI to another lot in Barangay Kalunasan owned by the Cebu province, while the around 300 families residing in Kalunasan would be offered the opportunity to purchase the lot.

The Cebu province will be selling the lots to the residents through Pag-Ibig’s socialized housing loan program with affordable and flexible financing term.

Garcia instructed the residents to reassemble on July 31, 2023, and to gather all the documents, including valid IDs, required for applying for housing loans.

CRCI is located beside the NFA regional headquarters along Gov. Mariano Cuenco Avenue in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City. (EHP, TPT)

DANAO City in northern Cebu may soon have a solar-powered suspended transportation system that resembles an automobile.

This comes after the Danao City Government and Transit X LLC transportation company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday, July 17, 2023, to build the country's first "revolutionary and futuristic" 24/7 podway mass transport network using solar electricity.

Danao City Mayor Thomas Mark Durano led the signing of MOU together with Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano, Danao City Investment and Promotions Center (DCIPC) officer-in-charge Red Durano and Transit X chief executive officer Dorothy Pinyoloya.

Transit X Founder and chief operating officer Michael David Stanley also took part in the signing virtually.

During the Danao City Investment Forum on July 8, the Transit X’s plan for a suspended transportation system was unveiled as one of the city's pipeline projects and was considered as a way to enhance mass transit that is environmentally sustainable.

Pinyoloya stated during the event that Transit X will make a $759 million initial investment for the manufacturing and installation of the city's podway.(EHP, TPT)

BROADWAY actress Lea Salonga reminded her fans to respect her personal space and not cross boundaries following an incident where Filipino fans entered her dressing room without permission.

The incident happened after her Broadway performance “Here Lies Love.” A video of the incident posted by Cristopher Retokelly Carpila on July 15, 2023 went viral online as it gained reactions from netizens.

In the viral video, the fans claimed to know the show's co-producer, G Tongi, but Salonga clarified that only those on the guest list are allowed backstage for security reasons.

She can be heard in the video telling the fans to wait outside for a photo opportunity with her.

"Thank you, but then again I have to be strict about this," said the actress.

Salonga still granted their request for a photo outside the dressing room area.

Hours after the incident, Salonga posted on Twitter, emphasizing that buying a ticket to a show does not entitle fans to all-access privileges.

She stressed that fans pay for the performance, not personal access to the artist.

While she doesn't swear at people, Salonga said she will protect her boundaries. She acknowledged that she may lose fans by enforcing her boundaries, but she stands by her decision.

"The money you pay for a theater/concert ticket does not mean all-access. You pay for that performer’s art, and that’s where it stops,” she said. “I’m not the type to cuss people out, but I will protect my territory and my boundaries. If I lose fans as a result, so be it.”

"When one of our lead producers and our dance captain saw the video and learned about what happened, they said, 'You were still very nice, if that were me I would’ve cussed at them and kicked them out',” Salonga said in another Twitter post.

"Just a reminder... I have boundaries. Do not cross them. Thank you," she said.

Other local artists also commented on the incident, with some noting that Filipino fans can exhibit entitled behavior, believing artists owe them something. Salonga expressed frustration with this attitude.

Salonga clarified that the fans in the video were not known by the co-producer mentioned.

In her role in "Here Lies Love," Salonga led an all-Filipino cast, showcasing her talent and representing the Philippines in international theater. (Ian Christopher Ostulano, NWSSU Intern/LMY)

CEBU-BASED social enterprise Spring Rain Global (SRG) encouraged investors and philanthropists to serve communities in need, as it commenced its 15th year in assisting Philanthropic Development Offices in the Philippines and across the globe.

In a press conference held at Golden Prince Hotel on Monday, July 17, 2023, Dr. Glenda M. Antonio, founder, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of SRG, said that for a decade and a half, it has successfully advocated 150 Philanthropic Development Offices in Asia, America, Europe, Africa, and some cities in the Philippines.

Some of SRGs major hubs are located in Singapore for Asia Pacific and the United States in the west.

"In the birth of our 15th year milestone, about two years ago, we are proud to share that we have a patented framework called the Spring Rain Global 6-Pillar Capacitation Model," Antonio said.

"These include, Leadership and Governance, Program Development and Management, Philanthropy Development, Financial Planning, Database Management, and Ecosystem Building," she added.

The patented model aims to mentor other development organizations that will “hone them in sustainable ways in raising funds and networks through conferences, workshops, and training.”

The organization will also hold events relating to sports and music that intend to determine and guide its partner organizations on the latest trends in philanthropy and attract funders and donors.

"For the championship, P1 million (price). This is not a simple tournament. This is a philanthropy tournament. We are giving this kind of price, precisely because we wanted to help not only the players but the advocacy that they are representing," said Fr. Victor Gonzaga, SRG chairman of the Advisory Board.

SRG will also extend its network by launching a foundation that will provide positive relations to social development organizations in their capacity-building needs, which are often overlooked by other large organizations.

Meanwhile, a three-day conference headed by SRG will happen on July 24-26 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino with the theme, "Unity and Solidarity: Nurturing Towards a Stronger Ecosystem of Good." It will feature various international speakers globally.

Different sectoral groups are also expected to join the three-day-event that is going to be first hosted in the Philippines.

Interested attendees of the events may register through Spring Rain Global's official Facebook page. (Denise Mae Codis and Kimberly Goc-ong, CNU interns)

PROPERTY developer Megaworld is investing P1.5 billion to build Mactan Expo Center, a two-level standalone convention center inside its 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown township in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

The ground level of the expo center will feature a convention hall that can accommodate up to 2,500 people for theatre-type set-up, and 1,600 people for banquet-style set-up.

Construction of this project is scheduled this year and is slated for completion in 2025. (KOC)

THE MUCH-awaited annual Acer Day celebration has returned with a superior and more exciting lineup of activities. Alongside bigger promotions on Acer products, the brand has set bolder goals to provide innovative products that enhance productivity and elevate the digital experience.

This year's theme, #AceYourWorld, is all about empowering and motivating individuals to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

Whether you're a student, a gamer, a professional, or an entrepreneur, Acer Day 2023 encourages you to take charge of your destiny and make your mark in the world.

This year's Acer Day holds special significance as Acer Philippines celebrates its 20th anniversary in the country. Acer Philippines has been hosting this regional campaign for the past three years, aiming to provide individuals with resources and tools to develop new skills, build confidence, and break through barriers that may hold them back. Acer's goal is to create a movement of people committed to living their best lives and making a positive impact on the world.

Andrew Hou, Acer Pan Asia Pacific president, stated, "As a brand, we are committed to providing individuals with the resources and tools they need to unlock their full potential and achieve their goals."

As part of the campaign, Acer is launching the #AceYourWorld Challenge, an exciting online video competition designed to inspire individuals to share their personal stories, accomplishments, and aspirations while demonstrating their determination to overcome obstacles.

"We believe that everyone can excel in their chosen fields, and this challenge encourages participants to showcase their talents and inspire others," said Manuel Wong, Acer Philippines' managing director.

With the #AceYourWorld theme, Acer Day 2023 promises to be a remarkable event that celebrates Acer Philippines' milestone and encourages individuals to pursue their passions and achieve excellence in their lives.

Acer is taking the #AceYourWorld Challenge to the next level by featuring the top three videos on its official website and social media channels. The three creators of the top videos will receive an Acer Swift Go laptop specially designed to empower individuals to unlock their full potential and achieve their goals.

To join the challenge, participants are required to create a short video that showcases their personal growth journey and how they overcame obstacles to ace their world. The video should begin with a brief introduction of themselves and a significant challenge they faced.

Participants are encouraged to include snippets of how they overcame the challenge and what actions they took to achieve success. The video should conclude by inspiring others to believe in themselves and take action to ace their day.

The #AceYourWorld Challenge is an excellent opportunity for individuals to share their inspiring stories of perseverance and determination while motivating others to reach their full potential. With the chance to win an Acer Swift Go laptop, avail of huge discounts, and be featured on Acer's official channels, participants can take their first step towards achieving their dreams and making a positive impact on the world.

Stay tuned to Acer's social media channels for further updates on the challenge.

As part of the Acer Day 2023 celebrations, Acer Philippines is offering consumers attractive deals on a range of products, including the Aspire Vero, Swift Go Evo, Predator Helios Neo, Acer Nitro 5, Acerpure Air + Clean, TravelMate Vero, and many more.

Just like the highly successful Acer Day concert in 2022, Acer Philippines is also organizing an Acer Day concert on August 6, 2023, at the SM MOA Arena, featuring powerhouse Acer ambassadors such as Sarah Geronimo, Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano, and other artists. Fans will also be treated to a special song collaboration between Sarah G and SB19, which will be available on all digital music platforms and Acer's social media accounts.

For more information about Acer and Acer Day, follow Acer Philippines on its social media platforms: @AcerPH on Facebook, @acerph on Instagram, and @acerphils on Twitter, or visit www.acer.com. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

VIVO, one of the most sought-after smartphone brands in the country, officially launched the vivo Y36 on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

With its official tagline "Love the Game, Smooth and Seamless," this newest addition to Vivo's Y Series features the Snapdragon 680, a 6nm processing system that powers up the speed while reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

Without a doubt, this device reinforces Vivo's growing position in the market by delivering incredible smartphones for gaming.

Along with the introduction of the Y36 to the Philippine market, Vivo also officially announces Anne Curtis as its newest ambassador for smartphone releases.

Globally known as a multi-faceted actress, Anne constantly breaks boundaries as a true powerhouse whose talents span across the screen and stage. The actress's career is a beaming trajectory that Vivo envisions to match as it continues to release top-notch devices like the vivo Y36. Next-level gaming experience The Vivo Y36 fulfills every gamer's expectations!

It features a 240Hz Gaming Sampling rate + 90Hz refresh rate for more accurate touch responsiveness, allowing you to win your battles in games that require high frames per second, such as "Mobile Legends" or "Call of Duty."

Additionally, it boasts 8GB RAM with Turbo memory booster and 256GB Big Storage + up to 1TB Expandability, which enhances users' gaming experience, especially in fast-paced gaming scenarios.

Get ready to achieve endless victories with the boosted gaming performance this device can provide. Uninterrupted gameplay Gamers will never need to worry about making it through the day on just a single charge!

Powered by a 5000mAh battery with 44W fast-charging capability, the Vivo Y36 is a truly reliable smartphone device that provides users with extended longevity and freedom in phone navigation.

The Y36 proves itself as a long-lasting smartphone that can handle heavyweight jobs throughout the day. Premium design Never settle for basic. Play all of your games in style!

The Vivo Y36 comes in two cool, iconic designs made out of Fluorite AG Glass for its Meteor Black variant, while the Glitter Aqua variant boasts Golden Ripple Process & Crystal Glass material. The designs are resistant to scratches and fingerprints.

With all of these powerhouse components, your search for a heavy-duty gaming smartphone is over! The vivo Y36 will help you bring your A-game to the table.

Priced at P12,999, visit any Vivo concept stores near you to get your hands on this smartphone or through popular e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

To learn more about the Vivo Y36, visit vivo Philippines' official website and follow them on their official social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

DOUBLE-CHECKING, cross-checking and verification are the reasons for the lag in providing the national IDs to their rightful owners, according to an official from the Philippine Statistics Authority in Central Visayas (PSA 7).

This is to ensure that the right data are reflected on the national ID based on the filled out information given out by the registrants during the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registration, PSA 7 Director Ariel Florendo told SunStar Cebu Thursday, July 13, 2023.

PhilSys is the government’s central identification platform for all Filipino citizens, and resident aliens or those foreigners living in the Philippines for at least a year.

Florendo pointed out that making no errors when producing the national ID would also mean that they won’t have to remake or produce a new one.

“It really is the checking of the documents—verifying. We don’t want to have mistakes, such as one person having two IDs with different names,” he said.

He also mentioned that this is the first time that the government has done mass registration for the national ID, so delays must be expected.

Over 80 million people have registered for the national ID as of July 11, the PSA reported last week without specifying how many had received their physical ID cards.

But as of June 23, the PSA said 77.04 million had registered, but only 33.84 million cards had been delivered while 37.58 million had been issued the printed ePhilID, which is the digital version of the PhilID printed on a piece of paper that can be used pending receipt of the physical PhilID card.

Complaints

Florendo admitted that they had been getting complaints from registrants who have yet to receive their physical ID cards.

A 23-year-old resident of Barangay Tejero, Cebu City, who registered herself to PhilSys in March 2021, said she is disappointed that she has not yet received her physical national ID card despite having this processed in the early months of the registration.

“I purposely registered myself last March 25, 2021 to make sure that I would be one of the first few batches of people to receive the national ID (physical card). However, two years later, I am still waiting for my ID,” Micaella Fuentes said on Monday, July 17.

She had received the printed digital copy of the ID, though. But she claimed that while everyone else in her family had registered at the same time, she was the only one who had not received the ID in the form of the physical or plastic card.

ID released

According to Florendo, there were roughly five million released IDs in Central Visayas, of which 3.3 million were physical PhilSys ID cards or the plastic cards, and around two million were printed ePhilIDs, as of July 10.

The ePhilID is a proactive strategy of the PSA that will allow more Filipinos to immediately enjoy the benefits of being PhilSys-registered even without receiving the physical card.

Florendo assured the public that the authenticity and functionality of ePhilID are guaranteed to be identical to those of physical national IDs.

“Instead of just [relying] on the physical ID, we had this innovation or strategy that we can also print on paper. In other words, once you have the paper and you have the card, you have two IDs already that you can use,” he said.

Near the target

Florendo said they are already close to meeting the target figure set for Central Visayas, which is to register 6.8 million people by the end of the year.

Currently, the agency has registered 92.6 percent of the target population, or around 6.3 million people.

This means that there are still around 52.3 percent or 3.3 million registered to PhilSys, including those who received the ePhilID, who are still awaiting their physical national ID.

Florendo said additional efforts are being made to persuade more individuals to sign up for PhilSys, including house-to-house visits in local neighborhoods.

To make registration services more accessible to the general public, they are also running a mobile registration program in which they travel to remote areas or challenging geographic locations.

According to Florendo, registration booths in several malls are still processing national IDs entirely while the on-site registration is still going on at the PSA’s regional office on Colon Street, Cebu City.

The PSA started the mass registration for the national ID system in October 2020.

Beneficial

The director acknowledged that many people are reluctant to register for the national ID due to worries about data protection.

He said applying for a national ID is similar to applying for an ID from another government agency. Hence, he urged the public to register because it would be to their advantage.

He said the poor, majority of whom lack government-issued IDs, will benefit most from acquiring the national ID.

He called the government’s national ID plan a “good project” since it would speed up the delivery of services from other government agencies in addition to registering people in the government’s database.

The national IDs can be used to access government services like the issuance of birth, marriage and death certificates.

He disclosed that there are also plans to work with other organizations, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, to use the national ID as a means of assisting the needy.

“I urge everyone to register. There’s nothing to lose if you apply for the PhilSys ID,” said the director.

Florendo said the registration is open to those who are aged five years old and above, adding that “for the four years old and below, we are not yet [registering them] because some drastic changes are still going to happen in their [physical] profile.”

During his first State of the Nation Address last July 25, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said one of his targets was to accomplish the issuance of about 92 million national IDs by the middle of 2023. (KJF, with CTL)

THE Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged several issues in the Municipality of Barili’s 2022 financial statements, such as the “doubtful” accounting for the town’s Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE), which make up the bulk of the town’s assets; “unreliable” records on its road networks; and the “inaccurate” computation of its real property tax (RPT) and special education tax (SET) receivables, causing loss of income to the government.

Inventory

In its 2022 audit, COA said the municipality in southwestern Cebu failed to conduct an inventory of its infrastructure assets, raising doubts on the existence, accuracy and completeness of items recorded in its PPE account.

PPE refers to government assets including land, land improvements; buildings and other structures; machinery and equipment; transportation equipment; furniture, fixtures and books; leasehold improvements; and other PPE including specialist military equipment, infrastructure assets, and heritage assets.

Barili indicated that it had P343.52 million in PPE, which represents 70 percent of its total declared assets of P489.01 million for the year 2022.

But the state auditor found deficiencies in the inventory process, including the non-updating of property and PPE ledger cards, and the non-issuance/renewal of acknowledgement receipts for equipment.

COA Circular 2020-006 mandates every local government unit (LGU) to properly account for all PPE items by conducting a physical count, as the PPE usually comprises the largest bulk of the municipality’s assets.

In its response, the municipality claimed that it conducted a physical count of infrastructure; however, the team was not able to complete the inventory.

COA recommended, and the municipality agreed, to comply with the COA Circular 2020-006 guidelines in cleaning up its PPE accounts.

The municipal mayor was also urged to form a new inventory committee to finish the physical inventory in less than three months.

Road networks

The COA added that the municipality’s road network account, totaling P148.24 million, was unreliable for several reasons. These include the failure to separate the cost components of the road network, the non-computation of separate depreciation for each road component, and the error in providing a residual value since no residual value should have been provided.

Road assets’ components with identified costs, such as the road lot, road pavement, drainage system and slope protection measures, are supposed to be segregated and recognized.

Additionally, the road lot component was not recognized and no inventory report was prepared, the local road network (LRN) property card was not maintained, and the LRN system was not disclosed in the Notes to Financial Statements.

The state auditor said COA Circular 2015-008 and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) 1 were violated, affecting the accuracy of the financial statements.

The circular states that road networks are part of public infrastructure and should have a separate ledger, with each component depreciated separately using the straight-line method. The circular also specifies the roles and duties of local officials and requires the preparation of a physical count report and disclosure in the Notes to Financial Statements.

COA found that town personnel did not follow these requirements due to the lack of awareness and training on the Local Road Asset Management Manual, developed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government ((DILG) to comply with the circular.

The agency advised, and the municipality agreed, on establishing a system to coordinate the recording of the road network and to contact DILG 7 for training schedules on the Local Road Asset Management System.

Receivables

In addition, the COA discovered that the recorded real property tax (RPT) and special education tax (SET) receivables in 2022, totaling P7.608 million each, did not match the treasurer’s certified list of taxpayers, violating Section 20 of the New Government Accounting System manual for LGUs.

This cast doubt on the reliability and accuracy of the balances, as the municipality treasurer failed to provide the certified list of taxpayers to the municipal accountant at the start of the year.

The agency recommended, and the municipality agreed, to have the municipal treasurer provide the duly certified list of all taxpayers to the municipal accountant with the amount due and collectible for the year in order to present reliable and accurate balances in the statements.

Non-reconciliation of assessed values

COA also found a discrepancy of P550.20 million in the assessed values on which the RPT and SET receivables were based after the assessed values did not reconcile with the Assessment Roll, a violation of Section 6 of the Manual on Real Property Appraisal and Assessment Operations which resulted in the “inaccurate and unreliable computation” of RPT and SET receivables.

As per the Assessment Roll, the total assessed value was P997.44 million, but the amount of assessed value based on the computed/paid RPT/SET was only P447.24 million.

The municipal assessor and treasurer offices had a huge difference in values despite using the same RPT system software.

The audit team found that the Treasury Office used only properties with unpaid balances to calculate the total assessed value, resulting in a shortfall compared to the Municipal Assessor’s records.

The computed RPT and SET receivables were found to be inaccurate and unreliable due to an incorrect system report that only included assessed value tax of real properties with delinquent balances.

To reconcile the assessed values, the agency suggested reconciling the total assessed value used as the basis for RPT and SET receivables with the assessment roll of the municipal assessor. It also recommended the training of Treasury Office staff members responsible for real property tax collection. The management agreed to COA suggestions. (AML, with CTL)

THE e-shopaholics in the Philippines comprise only about 19 percent of Filipinos but they are responsible for the 47 percent of total e-commerce purchases in the country.

A study by logistics companies Ninja Van Philippines and Geopost said online shopping is second nature to these e-shopaholics as they buy often and across multiple product categories, shopping twice as much as the average e-shoppers.

“Well-versed in the intricacies of online shopping, e-shopaholics have much higher standards than your average e-shoppers – from the initial browsing to receiving the parcel after the clicks and taps – each stage is essential to ensuring an e-shopaholic’s loyalty,” said Sabina Lopez-Vergara, chief commercial officer at Ninja Van Philippines, in a statement.

E-shopaholics are expert navigators of the e-commerce ecosystem and they buy across multiple online channels like Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok shop and marketplaces.

In the Philippines, 86 percent of e-shopaholics buy directly from social media. Of these, 54 percent buy directly from brands they already follow, while 44 percent buy from influencer recommendations.

The top categories that Filipino e-shopaholics buy are beauty and healthcare, fashion, and small furniture and home decor.

Across the region, e-shopaholics make up 15 percent of the Southeast Asia (SEA) e-shopper population, and they are responsible for 45 percent of the total e-commerce purchases.

The study titled: “What’s next for the future of e-commerce in Southeast Asia,” was conducted across six countries—Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam—with over 9,000 participants.

In a separate interview, YOU brand manager Mike Cabbo said social media platforms particularly Tiktok and e-commerce sites Lazada and Shopee have been instrumental in the brand’s growth in the Philippines.

Launched in the Philippines at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in August 2021, YOU, a beauty and skincare brand, has now become one of the sought-after brands catering to all market segments.

Declining to disclose figures, Cabbo said the brand has been “growing well” amid intense competition and high inflation.

“We had a tricky launching in 2021 because back then, everyone was working at home and events were paused. We thought that the demand for beauty products will go down but we were wrong because even during the lockdown and uncertainty people still want to fell good about themselves,” he said. “They still put on makeup for video calls and they continue to pamper themselves even if they are just at home.”

Cabbo said Tiktok has become a platform for product awareness and a tool for them to reach out to consumers especially those in some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, who are not yet served by retail firms that carry the brand.

The social media and these online shopping sites translated to product awareness and market reach, allowing us to move products and generate sales, he said.

According to Statista, in 2021, every Filipino spent nearly US$5 on skincare items, with forecast expenditure reaching more than $6 in 2026.

According to a survey on social commerce in the Philippines between the first quarter and second quarter of 2021, around 79 percent of respondents bought clothes, apparel and accessories on social media, making it the most popular shopping category on such platforms.

Similarly, around 56 percent of the respondents bought health and beauty products on social media.

Digital strategies

Moreover, as more customers turn online to shop for products, entrepreneurs are advised to implement digital strategies for e-commerce sites to reach more loyal customers and generate sales.

These strategies include boosting product visualization and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI).

Gilmar Padua, chief executive officer of digital marketing agency at Infinity Hub, said entrepreneurs need to create a roadmap or plan for doing digital marketing that will lead to purchasing.

“One of the marketing approaches is you need to have an omnichannel so you need to manage it well. That is why, it is very important that you have a roadmap or masterplan in terms of doing your marketing,” he said.

Padua said it is also imperative to leverage artificial intelligence, particularly chatbot ChatGPT which provides good content.

“You need to automate your chatbots or you need to create a way that whatever the time that the customers inquire, there is a certain what we call knowledge-based that the user can somehow go into so that they can satisfy their concerns or whatever their inquiries so chatbot is very important,” he said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rivera will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. (BBT / PJB)

ABOUT 660 classrooms in Mandaue City will be used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as voting precincts in the coming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) set on Oct. 30, 2023.

Mandaue City Election Officer Anna Fleur Gujilde said on Monday, July 17, 2023, that each of the city’s 27 barangays should have classrooms to accommodate the increasing number of voters in Mandaue.

“We have continued with the registration, so we have a lot of voters. But unfortunately, the number of classrooms decreased, so we really need those shift classrooms or additional classrooms,” Gujilde said in Cebuano.

Gujilde said Comelec-Mandaue will use makeshift classrooms as polling places for the BSKE since there are barangays that will need around three to six classrooms to accommodate all registered voters.

Nine of the city’s barangays will have makeshift classrooms, she said.

The barangays that will have makeshift classrooms as voting areas are Bakilid, Banilad, Cubacub, Guizo, Ibabao-Estancia, Labogon, Pagsabungan, Maguikay and Tabok.

Gujilde said a total of 42 classrooms will be needed to meet the 660-classroom requirement. The Mandaue City Government will take charge of providing the classrooms.

Gujilde explained that more classrooms are needed for the BSKE since the elections will be done manually.

During the manual election, around 800 voters will be assigned to each of Mandaue’s 660 precincts; much more than the 300 precincts that were used in the automated national elections of 2022.

Meanwhile, about 1,980 teachers in Mandaue City will be serving the BSKE. Gujilde said they are still verifying the list of teachers as some of them may have relatives running in the barangay polls.

In such case, the teacher will be assigned to serve in a different barangay.

Due to the rise in the number of voters, Comelec-Mandaue will also request for an additional 30 to 40 yellow ballot boxes.

Under the BSKE, voters who are 13-17 years old will be given one ballot to vote for SK, while those who are 18-30 years old will be given two ballots to vote for both the SK and barangay elections.

Voters who are 31 and above can vote only in the barangay elections.

On Monday, Comelec and officials of the Department of Education-Mandaue met to discuss preparations in the upcoming polls.

THE House Rules that the Cebu City Council approved at its inaugural session last July 5, 2023 limits to three items or subjects in the agenda of an executive session "to ensure that each item receives sufficient attention and discussion, and guarantee that discussions and decisions are not rushed." But, as before, the executive session is closed to the public and, unlike regular sessions, the proceeding is not live-streamed.

Majority Floor Leader Jocelyn Pesquera said the reduction of the number of agenda items is the only provision added to the House rules regarding the conduct of an executive session. Aside from the reason cited in the amendment, Pesquera told her colleagues in the July 5 session, it would also be unfair to the invited persons who "have to wait for two hours or even have their talk rescheduled because of time constraint."

ARCHIVAL'S COMPLAINT. Minority Floor Leader Nestor Archival Sr. had raised the matter of "transparency," saying the executive session "for so many years" has not been open to the public.

Besides, out of the 36 executive sessions conducted in the 16th Sanggunian's first year, Archival said, he couldn't "find any executive session" whose subject or topic the public should not know about: "Everything here the public should know."

PESQUERA JUSTIFIES. Councilor Pesquera justified the practice of executive sessions, thus:

[] It has been always been so, even in previous councils, the executive session "is always a closed session, except when (the City Council) decides to invite the public."

[] There may be "sensitive matters" the City Council will tackle, which "the public need not know."

[] A record of what takes place in the executive session -- its "result," as "indicated" in its minutes -- is included in the regular session's agenda, which the public "can peruse."

On Archival's complaint that only a few councilors attend an executive session, isn't that the absentee councilors' fault? Pesquera said each councilor sends a representative "to record everything" to prepare for the discussion on any resolution that may arise from the session.

Asked by Councilor Franklyn Ong, Joy Pesquera said executive assistants (EAs) of councilors "can attend" -- although under the House rules, EAs are not mentioned among those allowed admission (see below). Atty. Chappy Piramide, secretariat chief, confirmed about the right of EAs to watch and listen for their principals and yes, she told me Monday, July 17, "executive sessions are closed-door meetings."

As a concession to the minority, apparently offered during recess, Pesquera amended the first paragraph of the House rules on executive sessions, which would've said, "When the Sanggunian decides to hold an executive session, the presiding officer shall direct the galleries and hallways to be cleared and doors closed." She changed "shall" to "may," which may give little comfort to BOPKs as Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia belongs to majority Barug.

NO SHUTOUT, JUST DELAY. From Pesquera's pronouncement, there is no withholding of information about what is said or done in an executive session. The release is just delayed as the public can still read the minutes of the session from the secretariat.

Here's the thing though: (a) The delay can last several days, as the minutes and resume of an executive session are not immediately released after the session, as it takes time for the secretariat to process them. Besides, they're incorporated with the agenda of the next session and not released separately.

(b) Something could be missed or mistaken in the transcription. Or people can never see them at all -- unless media would report it, which media might not because of lack of resources or plain neglect.

(c) The agenda containing minutes of the executive session is generally released only to City Council members and/or their staff and, most probably, others requesting for them. It's not certain if there's a release to the general public, such as through the Public Information Office or the secretariat's Facebook page.

(d) The video, of course, is not streamed but it's not known if it's released to coincide with the release of the next-session agenda to the City Council members.

WHO CAN GET IN. The provision in the Sanggunian House rules (Section 3, Article 1) doesn't provide for the manner of calling for an executive session. Aside for the added paragraph on the limit to the topics or subjects, a whole paragraph is devoted to the restriction on admission. Only the secretary to the Sanggunian, the sergeant-at-arms, and other persons "specifically authorized by the Sanggunian" shall be admitted to the executive session, the paragraph says.

DID THEY MISREAD LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE? The City Council House rules provide in its Section 5 that "its sessions, except on executive session, shall be open to the public." But it stops there. It does not restate the part of the law about executive sessions, found in Section 52 (c), under the chapter on "Local Legislation," Local Government Code (Republic Act #7160 of 1991).

That law, to which the City Council House rules must conform to, provides thus:

"All Sanggunian sessions shall be open to the public unless a closed-door session is ordered by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present, there being a quorum, IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST OR FOR REASONS OF SECURITY, DECENCY OR MORALITY."

The context of the condition (capitalized above for emphasis) must tell legislators to use their best discretion in choosing to exclude the public from a City Council session. Is it "in the public interest" that the citizens must not share with the information; are their rights or liabilities not affected?

MAJORITY RULES. Councilor Pesquera raised this defense: the subject at an executive session is "sensitive." Sensitive to whom or what, would that fall under the phrase "in the public interest"? As Councilor Archival pointed out, he hadn't seen one subject among all the executive sessions in the Sanggunian's previous year that would warrant exclusion of the public. That's the minority opinion although Archival could've pushed the point more strongly had he seized and unleashed the national law that strongly orders open-door Sanggunian sessions.

Either the councilors didn't get the law right or just chose to ignore the intent of the law, which is to make closed-door sessions of the local legislature rare and infrequent exceptions.

To the majority Barug, the executive session provides cover, if only temporarily, from prying eyes of critics. On the requirement of "in the public interest," who decides that but themselves, the party that dominates the City Council. The minority may go to court, which is unlikely, or find other ways to bring its case directly to the public.

Many things have changed in 40 years. Change so dramatic, that they become almost unrecognizable.

Consider, for example, Germany and Japan — the infamous losing duo in that horrific world war that killed over three percent of the world’s population at the time. In 40 years, both countries rose from the ashes of conflict to become two of the mightiest economies the world has ever seen, eclipsing even those of the winners like Great Britain and France.

And yet, as inevitable as change may be over such a long period of time, some things seem to remain just as they were. Or at least, they are still as you remember them to be.

Friendships for one, especially those built during a time in your life when you are collectively growing up, experiencing the angst of adolescence together, and exploring the world with the wild abandon of youth —available only to those who have yet to think about what they wished to be for the rest of their lives.

That proved to be the case when members of the University of the Philippines College Cebu High School Class of 1982 came together, albeit one year later, for their 40th Ruby Homecoming Reunion just a few days ago. Fifty-three of the 77 students who were part of the class gathered over four days at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club, and the El Mar Resort in Cebu, to rekindle old friendships, reminisce the good times, and within the space of a few days, just be high school friends all over again.

UP being UP, most classes will have members who may rightfully be characterized as “successful,” having reached the pinnacle of their chosen careers. UPCC HS Class of 1982 is no exception. In truth, every member of our class is successful in their own right. Aside from having the incumbent Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines among our classmates, we have a retired Army general, a number of lawyers, numerous doctors, executives, entrepreneurs, a member of the clergy as well as the religious among our ranks. And yet, for the duration of the reunion, we were all just classmates — no airs, no put-ons, no pretenses. Just old friends being old friends all over again.

If you ask anyone who has ever attended reunions which one they like the best, many will say that the high school ones are their favorite. I think it has to do with the memories you bring back with you to the gathering. Elementary school ones are too nascent to be memorable. College and even graduate school gatherings tend to be more formal, as classmates would have interacted with each other already as guarded adults.

The high school years, on the other hand, are the perfect incubator for unforgettable memories. It’s that time in your life when you are no longer naive and innocent children but are not quite at the stage yet where you have created your own individual facades and personas as full-fledged adults. And it is a perfect state to regress back to when you are together. No one is above any other, and neither is anyone beneath anybody else. There are no sirs, ma’ams, generals, attorneys, doctors or anything else before anyone’s name. It’s simply like when we were in our teens, with everyone being their silly old selves.

For a few days, the accumulated physical toll of the last 40 years seemed to have been miraculously cast aside. Indeed, if someone could find the formula for everyone’s youthfulness during the reunion and market it as a pill, it would be the blockbuster drug of all time. Everyone danced, sang, joked around, and of course — ate and drank like they were only in their teens. No combination of metformin, insulin, ARB and statins could match the magic elixir of those moments, as everyone’s aches and pains mysteriously disappeared amid the cacophony of raucous banter and the nonstop twirl of dancing feet.

Had it not been for that global showstopper of a pandemic known as Covid-19, we would have come together a year earlier, exactly 40 years from when we last said our goodbyes as high school batchmates. But as fate would have it, some random mutating bat virus had other plans that were to upstage our own grand ones.

But thanks to the tireless efforts of our indefatigable organizing committee, the extended wait for The Big 40, albeit chronologically delayed, was well worth the anticipation. Everything from the carefully selected venues, the meticulously curated food selection, and the non-stop activities that were planned and executed with almost military-like precision just all seemed to meld together to magically transform those four days into a wonderful magic carpet ride, back to those days when those memories we so gleefully relived were first forged.

All good things though, even the very best ones, must come to an end. Not long after the first hellos, it was time to say our last goodbyes. Well, not really last because, like the quadrennial Olympics, just as this reunion ended, the anticipation for the next one has already begun. No sooner had we taken our final golden hour class picture at the El Mar beach, everyone was already looking past the backdrop of the Ruby-red sunset, and focusing on the blue Sapphire sky ahead.

As the refrain from our old high school graduation song went...“and now we must part, to live our lives, and go our own separate ways...” And yet, I must quickly hasten to add, separate ways for now, until we all — in the spirit of genuine friendship — meet again.

METRO Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and San Miguel Corp. on Monday, July 17, 2023 confirmed to the local bourse that they will jointly develop a new project for the construction and operation of a tollway project that will link the Provinces of Cavite and Batangas.

The management teams of both groups, according to MPIC’s disclosure are currently discussing the terms and conditions of the agreement and both will file a disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange.

According to philstar.com on July 17, the new road is a 96-kilometer landmark tollway that will link Cavite to Batangas and then Batangas to the Cavite–Laguna Expressway.

The project is expected to be completed in 2028. (KOC)

ELEPERFORMANCE Philippines remains one of Cebu’s top 10 Information Technology Business Process Management (IT-BPM) employers for the fifth consecutive year, according to the Cebu IT-BPM Organization (CIB.O).

The company was awarded at the 6th Transformation Summit and Gala Night held at the City Sports Club, Cebu City. The award was presented by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, CIB.O president Aseem Roy, and IT-BPM Association of the Philippines president Jack Madrid.

As one of the leading and largest employers in the entire country, Teleperformance is the first business, largest employer, and BPO company in the Philippines to be certified Great Place to Work® (GPTW) since 2018.

This 2023, TP Philippines is set for its sixth consecutive GPTW® certification through the independent Trust Index Survey conducted by the GPTW® Institute, participated by over 50,000 employees from 23 sites across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

With two locations, Teleperformance employs 8,000 in Cebu City as of the first quarter of 2023.

Since establishing its Cebu IT Park and Cebu Insular sites in 2005 and 2011, the company has provided over 24,000 combined indirect employment opportunities, encompassing essential roles such as janitorial services, security officers, drivers, store attendants, food vendors, and more. (PR)

MEGAWORLD Corp. is investing in the utilization of data science and artificial intelligence as it continues to build smarter and future-ready townships developments across the country through its Township Analytics and Technology Lab (TAT Lab), the very first data science lab in the Philippines to be spearheaded by a property development company.

Headquartered within Megaworld’s 50-hectare McKinley Hill township in Taguig City, TAT Lab is focused on increasing the level of safety and security in Megaworld townships nationwide by developing, deploying, and improving machine learning models and utilizing artificial intelligence as a technology enabler.

One of the programs already deployed by TAT Lab is an advanced accident detection system, which is designed to detect road accidents seconds before it happens to trigger a faster, more efficient incident response.

Other programs that will be rolled out soon by TAT Lab include township geographic assessment with real-time traffic information, as well as advanced security monitoring programs aimed at implementing additional layers of security and protection for residential condominiums, offices, malls, hotels, and other major components of Megaworld townships. (PR)

The 16-year gap showed its teeth?

Seemingly, yes.

The way Carlos Alcaraz bundled Novak Djokovic out to win Wimbledon on Sunday showed much of the disparity in age between the two, potentially signaling the dawning of a new era in men’s tennis.

It was a five-setter and it had all the trimmings of a classic reminiscent of most finals in a major.

Stunningly, Alcaraz winning it 1-6, 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, did not produce that much shock to pundits too keen on seeing a talent when they spot one.

To see Alcaraz capture the sport’s most prestigious trophy this early, and at the expense of the reigning, seven-time champion Djokovic, is something to not just marvel at. It is also a class act to adore as only a maestro like Van Gogh can dish off.

OK, Alcaraz of Spain is just 20, but already, he has shown promise and been teeming with boundless power this early.

Toppling Djokovic in the grandest stage of the game was brutally cruel for the Serb, 36, who was perniciously prevented from equaling the 24 all-time majors of Margaret Court in women’s tennis and the eight Wimbledon titles of Roger Federer. Not to mention Djokovic’s shining run of back-to-back wins this year in the Aussie Open and the French Open got halted.

Djokovic cried. Well, he is just human.

“I love you,” he told his children seated at court side after the match. “Thank you for supporting me.”

He lost for the first time in 78 outings after winning the first set.

And Alcaraz deserved praise.

For, in that kid façade of his, Alcaraz showed the remarkable poise of a king. His innocent magnificence was so palpable that he earned the only standing ovation in the match, nearly lasting five hours on the famed Center Court.

That was in the second set, when Alcaraz bombed Djokovic with a down-the-line backhand that clinched him the frame on a tiebreak, 8-6.

That gave him momentum. After winning the third set for a 2-1 lead, Alcaraz was on his way to his second major after the 2022 US Open.

“It’s incredible,” Alcaraz said. “It’s amazing for a boy 20 years old. I didn’t expect to reach this far really that fast.”

If the boy is in a hurry, will it mean goodbye to Djokovic, the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)?

We will know when the US Open comes along starting Aug. 28.

Walking is arguably the most underrated form of exercise. It is simple, requires no fancy equipment, and almost anyone at any age and fitness level can do it. Although as simple as it is, it carries with it significant positive effects on our health. Among the many benefits are reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and improving mental health.

In today’s digital age, we are bombarded with information on how to lead healthier lives, with conflicting advice on exercise and equipment. This information overload often leads to paralysis, where we end up doing nothing. However, amid this overload, there lies an often overlooked yet tried and tested exercise: Walking.

A systematic review in 2015 by Murtagh, E. et al., published by the University of Birmingham, showcases how walking interventions improve many risk factors for cardiovascular disease, like increased aerobic capacity and decreased blood pressure among others.

Walking not only benefits physical health but mental health as well. A recent 2022 study by An, N. & Chuo, J. published in the Journal of Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience, presents how walking regularly can improve mental health by reducing stress and improving sleeping index.

Great, right? If you want to incorporate walking into your daily routine, 30 minutes of moderate walking is generally a good target based on the physical activity guidelines of the World Health Organization.

Here are some tips you can follow to help you get started:

Plan your walks

To stick with the habit of walking, plan your day ahead and schedule when you will fit in your walking sessions. Over time, you might want to make your walks longer to progress. Also, pick a safe and accessible route for you.

Have the right gear

Wear comfortable clothes and more importantly, sturdy shoes with good heel and arch support.

Enjoy the moment

Consider walking with friends and family. It can be a great activity to socialize with loved ones after work. Remember that fitness should be fun!