Budget hearing: Cebu City dad says oath not needed for speakers
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor and chairman of the council’s Committee on Budget and Finance Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao is not in favor of a suggestion from the council to require speakers to swear under oath during the public hearing for the proposed P50 billion annual budget for 2023. The city council will start […] The post Budget hearing: Cebu City dad says oath not needed for speakers appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
PH-OGP brings 6th NAP to Cebu
CEBU CITY, Philippines —The Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), chaired by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, brought its 6th National Action Plan (NAP) to Cebu. With around 250 participants from different sectors in Region VII including more than a hundred civil society members, this year’s run of OGPinas! aims to highlight.....»»
Attendance of 4 lawyers in Mandaue session questioned
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — A councilor of Mandaue City is questioning the participation of four lawyers representing Mayor Jonas Cortes during the sessions of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. On Monday, March 4, different department heads including City Administrator Jamaal James Calipayan, City Budget Officer Atty. Giovanni Tianero, and Atty. August Lizer Malate, head of the Business.....»»
Charter Day bonus for Cebu City gov’t employees ‘still pending’
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Charter Day bonus for Cebu City government employees is still subject to deliberation, meaning there is no definite final date yet as to when it will be given. Councilor Noel Wenceslao, chairman of the Committee on Budget and Finance, has confirmed that Supplemental Budget 1, which includes allocations for the.....»»
Palarong Pambansa 2024: Cebu City allocates P205M for games
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Cebu City government has allocated a budget of P205 million for its hosting of the Palarong Pambansa 2024 this July. However, the amount is still subject to deliberation and approval by the city council. READ: DepEd expects Cebu City’s ‘world-class’ hosting of Palarong Pambansa Previously, during the signing of the.....»»
75 LGUs to get P13.33M to enhance water supply, sanitation services — DILG, DBM
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently launched a support fund that aims to enhance water supply and sanitation services of municipalities belonging to the 4th to 6th income class. On Wednesday, Feb. 21, the secretaries of DILG and DBM signed.....»»
Charter Day bonus for gov’t employees may be more than P25k
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Casual and regular employees of the Cebu City government may receive a Charter Day bonus exceeding P25,000. This was revealed by Cebu City Councilor Noel Wenceslao, who chairs the committee on budget and finance. In an interview over a Teleradyo program earlier this week, Wenceslao mentioned the possibility of city hall.....»»
Cebu City Council slashes Rama’s proposed P100B budget to P25B
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s proposed P100 billion budget for 2024 was reduced to P25 billion by the City Council, which overrode the mayor’s veto. Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, vice chairperson of the council’s Committee on Budget and Finance, confirmed the decision on Wednesday, Jan. 24, emphasizing that all provisions in the.....»»
Cebu City Council ‘mokoriher’ sa 2024 budget
Cebu City Council ‘mokoriher’ sa 2024 budget.....»»
Cebu Daily Newscast: Cebu City’s 2024 budget slashed from P100 Billion to P20 Billion
Here are the day’s top stories in this Thursday’s edition of Cebu Daily Newscast: Cebu City’s 2024 budget slashed from P100 Billion to P20 Billion The proposed budget for Cebu City’s operations in 2024, initially set at an ambitious P100 billion, has been slashed to just over P22 billion. This was after the city council.....»»
Cebu City’s 2024 budget slashed from P100 Billion to P20 Billion
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The proposed budget for Cebu City’s operations in 2024, initially set at an ambitious P100 billion, has been slashed to just over P20 billion. This after the city council approved the amended budget during the council’s regular session on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. The annual budget ordinance was authored by City.....»»
Proposed P7.4B Mandaue City budget approved on 2nd reading
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines – The proposed 2024 annual budget for Mandaue City, amounting to P7.4 billion, was approved on the second reading without amendments during the city council session on Wednesday, Nov. 29. This budget includes the funding for the construction of a new government center at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC). Next year’s.....»»
Cebu City gov’t says RPT revision in compliance with law
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The revision of the real property tax (RPT) rates is mandated by law, which orders a revision after a definite period of time. So said Cebu City Councilor Noel Wenceslao, the chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee, during the third and final public forum with stakeholders and homeowners on Thursday,.....»»
Cebu quarrying causes floods, says city council
The Cebu City Council has urged various City Hall departments to submit evaluation reports on areas affected by flooding, including infrastructure and drainage systems made as steps to mitigate the impact. This, as a council member disclosed that the alleged “unabated” quarrying in the upland barangays of the city is causing the flooding to low-lying areas in the city. North district City Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos in her resolution, stressed that while she is not against land development especially for the hinterlands, “the use and development of these particular areas should be made in such a manner that it does not adversely affect the natural flow of runoff water from the hinterland to the lowlands.” “Waters as high as five feet came rushing at the pressures that toppled retaining walls and similar structures,” she added. The resolution, which was adopted by the City Council directed the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Department of Engineering and Public Works, Office of the Building Official and Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office to provide evaluation reports. “The deluge not only caused hours of city-wide traffic, damage to property and injury to persons, but worse, it left an insurmountable fear and trauma upon the affected residents,” Delos Santos said. She also asked if developers of housing and quarrying projects in the mountain barangays submitted drainage impact assessment and strategies to the departments concerned, such as the DEPW, OBO and CCENRO. Delos Santos insisted that “an honest-to-goodness” study of the assessment results, as well as inspections were conducted before the projects started. The CCDRRMO had P450,331,161.40 budget allotment for 2023 for preparedness, prevention and mitigation infrastructure works. The post Cebu quarrying causes floods, says city council appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
RFO Home to Go promo offers easy home ownership
The RFO (Ready-For-Occupancy) Home to Go promotion, launched by Amaia, simplifies home-buying. One benefit of investing in an RFO unit is that prospective buyers can examine the home’s aesthetic first-hand since the unit is already entirely constructed. Also, customers can see the existing community vibe before purchasing. Most RFO homes already have amenities like swimming pools and basketball courts, which residents may readily enjoy. Since the unit is entirely built, buyers can immediately move in, while investors can rent out the unit sooner and get a faster return on their investment. Recognizing the importance of affordability to aspiring property owners and given that each person’s financial requirements and resources are unique, Amaia has partnered with reputable banks such as BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) and CTBC (Chinatrust Commercial Bank) to provide several convenient payment options. Since clients may select the plan that best conforms to their budget, they can begin their homeownership journey without financial stress. Amaia’s RFO units are located amidst both the hustle and bustle of the city and the serenity of the suburbs. Project locations include condos in Alabang, Sucat, Cubao, Shaw, Altaraza (San Jose del Monte), Pasig, Mandaue (Cebu), Capitol Central (Bacolod); townhouses in Novaliches, Vermosa (Imus) and Nuvali (Calamba); and house and lot units in General Trias, Cabuyao, San Pablo, Lucena, San Fernando, Cabanatuan, Capas, Urdaneta and North Point (Bacolod). Amaia’s RFO Home To Go is the ideal solution for people looking for a simple and quick path to homeownership. It offers immediate occupancy, significant discounts, affordable payment plans and many projects. The post RFO Home to Go promo offers easy home ownership appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC to strengthen bike lanes after ex-cop road-rage incident
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday said the city government will further strengthen the safety of bike lanes and deploy more bike patrols to protect cyclists and maintain safer roads. This was after a cyclist was assaulted by an ex-policeman in an incident that was recorded by a netizen, becoming viral on social media. The ex-cop, who pulled a gun on the cyclist, was driving his vehicle on the bike lane. Belmonte stressed that City Ordinance SP-2988 S-2020 or the Ordinance promoting Safe Cycling and Active Transport penalizes motorists obstructing cycling lanes or walking paths. Section 8.2.2 of City Ordinance SP-2636 S-2017 or QC Road Safety Code states that “no driver shall permit his/her vehicle to block any portion of the bicycle lane. At no time shall any vehicle use, straddle, or obstruct the designated bike lane.” "We would like to reassure the cycling community and all our citizens for that matter that the city is willing to exhaust all means to demonstrate to them that we will act in their interest and in the pursuit of justice," the mayor said. Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo (Dist. IV) said another P500 million in fresh funding in 2024 will be of great help to the mayor in this regard. The funds, according to Rillo, will be used for upgrading bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways under the national government’s Active Transport Program in metropolitan areas. “To further stimulate human-powered mobility, such as cycling and walking, there is an additional budget of P500 million for the development of active transport infrastructure and facilities in 2024,” Rillo, a member of the House committee on appropriations, said. “We are all for active transport, which lessens harmful motor vehicle emissions, promotes cleaner air and improves individual and community health,” Rillo, also vice chairperson of the House committee on Metro Manila development, said. The solon explained that the P500 million for the ATP in 2024 is lodged in the budget of the Department of Transportation. The amount is on top of the P705 million earmarked for the ATP this year and the P2 billion funding for the program in 2022. Rillo expressed confidence that the additional government spending for the ATP would protect a greater number of Filipinos who use bicycles as an alternative mode of mobility. As of June this year, the ATP has so far built 564 kilometers of bicycle lanes throughout Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. The DOTr earlier said it expects the country’s bicycle lane network to reach 2,400 kilometers by 2028. “In other countries where governments are spending more to develop bicycle lanes, they’ve actually seen a five-fold increase in the number of people using bicycles,” Rillo said. The ATP bankrolls the construction of protected, hazard-free bicycle lanes, procurement of bike racks, improvement of end-of-trip cycling infrastructure and the upgrading of pop-up bike lanes into permanent bike lanes. The program also funds the development of pedestrian pathways and crossings designed to accommodate persons with disability, senior citizens, pregnant women, parents with children in strollers and tourists with luggage. Rillo said it will also finance the creation of urban shade trees for the benefit of cyclists, commuters and pedestrians. The post QC to strengthen bike lanes after ex-cop road-rage incident appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cebu council pries pending flood control project
The Cebu City Council had raised an inquiry on what happened on a certain flood control project which was paid P199.32 million in advance last 15 June 2021. North District city councilor Jerry Guardo — who also chairs the committee on infrastructure — disclosed that the winning contractor identified as A.M. Oreta has not yet executed the task since the project contract was awarded to them on 15 April 2021. To recall, the Commission on Audit described as “excessive” the advance payment of P199.32 million — a portion of the total project cost of P1.328 billion for flood control projects. In his privilege speech, Guardo requested the council to call for an executive session to find out from different stakeholders — especially the winning contractor, the city legal officer and city engineers — the causes of the delays in the project’s implementation. DAILY TRIBUNE tried to get the side of A.M. Oreta but has yet to reply. “This is to inform us about any lapses, violations as to why until now the contractor did not comply with the contract,” Guardo said. He revealed that the contractor had been invited to attend the regular session scheduled last 16 August but did not attend the session and instead requested to postpone their appearance to a later date. The P1.328 billion was allotted to enhance and restore the current drainage system in Cebu City with a specific focus in the south district. According to state auditors, the contract was signed for a flood control system involving the construction of drainage mains at Cabreros Street-N. Bacalso Avenue-V.H. Garces Street, A. Gabuya Street and Leon Kilat Street-Escano Street in Cebu City. Guardo cited that 80 percent of the budget was designated for addressing flooding issues in the south such as barangays Cogon Pardo, Basak, San Nicolas, Cabreros and Mambaling and in an area near a mall on N. Bacalso Avenue which extends toward Carbon Public Market while the remaining 20 percent was allocated for the north district. The post Cebu council pries pending flood control project appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lapu councilor Cuizon now preparing budget for solo parents’ financial assistance
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu—Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Annabeth Cuizon welcomed the announcement of Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan to distribute financial assistance to Solo Parents starting next year. Chan announced in his State of the City Address (SOCA) on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, that the city will allocate a budget of P1,000 per month as financial assistance to […] The post Lapu councilor Cuizon now preparing budget for solo parents’ financial assistance appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Indigents from San Fernando City, Pampanga given a boost by Bong Go
Senator Bong Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, expressed his commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility, particularly for impoverished and underprivileged patients who require government medical assistance. During a relief operation by his team in San Fernando City, Pampanga on Thursday, June 30, Go expressed in a video message that he introduced the Malasakit Centers program after observing the difficulties financially struggling Filipinos face in obtaining medical support. “Nagsimula ang Malasakit Center sa Cebu. Sinubukan namin ilagay ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno — ang PCSO, DOH, DSWD, at PhilHealth — sa iisang kwarto sa ospital mismo para hindi na kailanganin pang pumila sa iba’t ibang opisina at masayang ang ilang araw ng ating mga kababayan na humingi ng tulong,” explained Go, who is the primary author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. “Pera naman ng taumbayan yan. Binabalik lang sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mabilis at maayos na serbisyo. Kaya basta Pilipino ka, poor and indigent patient ka, qualified ka sa Malasakit Center. Lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center diyan po sa inyong lugar at tutulungan po kayo sa inyong billing,” he added. The 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide help ensure that particularly poor and indigent patients get convenient access to medical assistance programs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. In Pampanga, Malasakit Centers are located at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital and at the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital and Diagnostic Center, both in San Fernando City; and at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center in Angeles City. The 158th Malasakit Center also recently opened at the Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital in Guagua. The relief activity was mounted at the Heroes Hall where the senator’s team provided snacks and shirts to 100 indigent residents. They also gave away shoes and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries. Meanwhile, Go also mentioned that the government continues to bring health services closer to Filipino communities through the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 SHCs in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where SHCs will be constructed. Under the 2022 national budget, Super Health Centers in Pampanga were funded in San Fernando City and in the towns of Lubao, Macabebe, Magalang, Porac, and San Agustin. In 2023, more centers were identified to be established in the towns of Magalang, Minalin, Porac, Sta. Rita, and Arayat — the last one’s groundbreaking was attended by Go last month. Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the funding of new equipment for hospitals in San Fernando City and in the towns of Arayat, Bacolor, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Porac, and San Luis; and construction of multipurpose buildings in Arayat, Floridablanca, Santa Monica, Magalang and Masantol, among others. He was also instrumental in the construction of slope protection along the Sapangbato River in Brgy. Margot in Angeles City. Last January 26, Go was honored by the provincial government of Pampanga for advancing the province’s well-being and interests through its Resolution No. 7643-A. On that same day, former president Rodrigo Duterte was declared the province’s “adopted son” by virtue of Resolution No. 7643 in recognition of his significant contributions to Pampanga’s growth and prosperity during his presidency from 2016 to 2022. The post Indigents from San Fernando City, Pampanga given a boost by Bong Go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CEB in hot water due to bad raps
Budget airline Cebu Pacific is facing a call for the suspension of its Congressional franchise after a pile-up of complaints from irate passengers. Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairperson of the House committee on constitutional amendments, wanted the legislative body to take the move as a penalty for inconveniencing passengers, including constituents from Cagayan de Oro City and other parts of Mindanao. Among the complaints against the airline was the alleged overbooking of flights, offloading passengers and booking glitches. “A congressional franchise is a privilege that should not be used and enjoyed at the expense of the public. Congress should temporarily withdraw such privilege from Cebu Pacific until such time that it can provide satisfactory service to the riding public,” Rodriguez, a lawyer, said. Airline sorry Cebu Pacific apologized for the flight delays and cancellations while vowing to resolve the problem. Its president and chief commercial officer, Xander Lao did the same at the Senate hearing, pointing to the delays on the global aviation industry’s engine and supply chain issues, the effects of which the airline began to experience in March. According to Lao, the airline’s on-time performance declined to 58 percent for the month of May. The post CEB in hot water due to bad raps appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Visayan growth
This piece is being written as I traverse the Visayan region which is carrying greater prospects for future economic growth. For the past months, I’ve written on Mindanao and Central Luzon and how these regions have experienced rapid development thanks to the nationally elected political leaders who hail from their provinces, Vice President Sara Duterte and the former president now Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, respectively. At times neglected in the discussions is the Visayas region. This time around, I was able to spend time in Iloilo and Cebu – both highly urbanized regional growth areas outside of Metro Manila. Iloilo is a wonderful city as it exists harmoniously with its bodies of water. Esplanades and walkways allow everyone to enjoy the river, which serves as a leisure area, transportation hub, and entry for goods, which is quite uncommon in the Philippines. Usually, Philippine rivers are either for people or for goods, not both, since our rivers are easily polluted. But in Iloilo, as well as neighboring Guimaras, their rivers bring life to the province. The only eyesore in Iloilo would be the “sinking” Ungka flyover located in Pavia. This project cost the government P680 million but it was closed shortly after it opened because motorists experienced a “wavy” sensation while driving on it. It was later learned that some of its pillars were sinking at the rate of two centimeters per day. A study showed it would take an estimated P250 million to repair the flyover and make it safely usable to the public. One reason to be excited about Iloilo should be the proposed revival of the Panay Railway, which was mentioned by President Bongbong Marcos Jr. in his SoNA last year and included in the Infrastructure Flagship Projects approved by NEDA. On this trip, I learned that Panay used to have a working railway that connected Iloilo City to Roxas City, and that plans for its revival would further connect Iloilo to Caticlan thus, the resort island of Boracay. Imagine having tourists land in Boracay, spend a few days there, then take a train to Iloilo where they would further be immersed in Philippine culture in one of the oldest cities of the country. Cebu is an established gem of a city, with traffic nearing Manila levels. Walking around Cebu feels like being in Alabang or BGC. One thing missing in Cebu is tollways to connect its cities and municipalities. This may change soon with the inclusion of the Metro Cebu Expressway in the NEDA-approved IFPs. The 72-kilometer project, once completed, will connect Naga City to Danao City, cutting travel time from three hours to 50 minutes. The project was started years ago, but only a reported five kilometers of it have been finished so far due to lack of funding. At this rate of budget allocation, it will take 20 years to finish it. Now, the project will continue and be finished sooner via a PPP arrangement after Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. — the same company that built the iconic Cebu Cordova Link Expressway bridge — has expressed interest in it. Whenever I visit Cebu, it seems that a major development had taken place. This time was no different. Even in Iloilo, there are new buildings erected almost monthly. One notable building is the 14-story Stronghold Insurance Building in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, an area surrounded by Ayala, SM, Vista Land, and Megaworld developments. As this Administration has heralded, this time the purpose is to “Build, Better, More” for the benefit of all Filipinos nationwide. For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com. The post Visayan growth appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»