Cebu City collects P7.3B in taxes amid pandemic
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City collected a total of P7.347 billion in taxes for 2020 amid an economically devastating Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Mayor Edgardo Labella said in a press conference on Tuesday morning, March 9, 2021, that this collection during a pandemic proves the economic strength of Cebu City to withstand a […] The post Cebu City collects P7.3B in taxes amid pandemic appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Extreme Heat as a ‘New Pandemic’: Thousands in PH Cancel Classes During ‘Hottest Year’
(Part 1 of 2) CEBU CITY, Philippines — The decades-old Gabaldon building of Leyte National High School in Tacloban City has narrow hallways, high and dark ceilings, and overcrowded classrooms. On hot and humid days, the rooms can feel stuffy and suffocating, prompting students like Dwight Lebrea, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student, to find ways.....»»
Teen centers in Cebu City pushed amid rising teen pregnancy cases
CEBU CITY, Philippines — In response to the alarming rise in teenage pregnancy cases across Cebu, a local legislator penned a resolution urging the establishment of local adolescents and teen centers in Cebu. City Councilor Rey Gealon stipulated in the resolution the importance of providing essential support and education to empower young individuals in making.....»»
Rama calls for removal of CBRT manager Imbong amid ‘crisis’
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the project manager of the Cebu Rapid Bus Transit to be removed from his position, citing mismanagement as the reason for the replacement. “I have enough of Imbong,” said Rama, who was referring to CBRT Project Manager Norvin Imbong and that he was recommending to.....»»
Rama on Garcia as tandem in 2025, CBRT dispute: ‘I’m an independent mayor’
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama “is an independent mayor.” This was Rama’s answer when questioned about his political relationship with Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT). In an interview on Friday, March 1, Rama mentioned that he was still assessing their.....»»
No one to hug on Valentine’s Day? Try hugging trees!
CEBU CITY, Philippines – As Valentine’s Day graces our calendars with its presence, a different kind of love story unfolds—one that blossoms not in the exchange of roses and chocolates, but in the silent rustle of leaves and the sturdy arms of ancient trees. Amid the whirlwind of romantic air, the Department of Environment and.....»»
Sinulog’s origins: Tracing the roots of Cebu’s iconic festival
Amid the debates about which Cebu town or city started the Sinulog, an official said they see the annual celebration not as a competition with other Sinulog festivities but as a sincere tribute to the Holy Child Jesus.....»»
Cebu City collects P1.6M revenue from Colon night market operations
The Cebu City Government has raked in a total of P1.696 million in “arkabala” fees collected from vendors operating in the Colon night market from November 2022 to November 2023. City Treasurer Mare Var Reyes disclosed this during a press conference on Friday, December 8. The “arkabala” fee ranges from P10 to P50 and is.....»»
Famed environmental warrior graces RC Manila assembly
The Rotary Club of Manila had a brilliant, unique guest speaker at its last weekly members’ meeting at the Manila Polo Club — the famed, internationally acclaimed author, lawyer, environmental activist, and recipient, in 2009, of what is regarded as the Nobel Prize of Asia, the Ramon Magsaysay Award (non-category), Antonio Oposa Jr. For about an hour and a half last Thursday, 21 September 2023, RC Manila members, officers and guests at the MPC’s Turf Room alternately stood up to sing along and listen to Oposa’s telling of “good stories,” his way, he said, of promoting and creating awareness for his advocacies and his passion for the environment. Oposa earned a law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law. For a short time, he worked in a law firm, until he realized that his heart was not in the practice of law but rather with nature and the environment. He traveled to Norway and enrolled in a course on energy and the environment at the University of Oslo’s summer program and afterwards, to Boston, where he pursued and later obtained his LLM at the Harvard Law School in 1997. [caption id="attachment_188497" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Valiant environmental warrior Antonio Oposa: ‘My biggest achievement is that I have turned some of my adversaries into co-advocates. And what could be more inspiring now than to see their own children out there, protecting the sea?’[/caption] In 1993, Oposa made global headlines for the landmark case, Minors Oposa v Factoran where the Supreme Court ruled that the 43 children counseled by Oposa, who filed legal action against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, seeking cancellation by the agency of existing timber license agreements and stopping the issuance of new ones, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. “The case was brought to court amid the government’s then granting over 90 logging companies permits to cut down nearly four million hectares of old-growth forest when only 850,000 hectares remained. And forests were being logged at a rate of some 200,000 hectares per year! I told the Court how my son, only three at that time, would no longer see these forests by the time he was 10. I couldn’t help thinking, that if this wasn’t stopped not a single old-growth forest would remain for him and future generations to enjoy,” Oposa said. The case had initially been dismissed in trial court on the ground that there was no legal personality to sue. Oposa elevated the case to the Supreme Court, and in a much-hailed case of intergenerational responsibility, the Supreme Court upheld the legal standing and right of the children to initiate action on their behalf and on behalf of generations yet unborn. What was so remarkable about the case is that Oposa sued on behalf of generations yet unborn and today that milestone case is known in Philippine and global jurisprudence as the “Oposa Doctrine.” For its part, the Philippine Supreme Court, too, carved a permanent niche for itself in environmental law with its promulgation of Oposa v Factoran. It secured its place in history, earning praises from the international environmental community and a reputation as a champion of the right to a healthy environment. Oposa also recounted at this talk at the RC Manila meeting last Thursday another epic landmark case involving the legal tussle he waged against 11 government agencies for the cleaning up of severely polluted Manila Bay. In December 2008, a decade after he filed that case, the Supreme Court issued a decision in his favor. In a continuing mandamus ruling, the Supreme Court ordered all defendant agencies to implement a time-bound action plan that would clean up Manila Bay and to give the Court a progress report on the matter every three months. Oposa talked about the Island Sea Camp he organized in 2001 in Bantayan Island where he gave children lessons on coral reefs, snorkeling and sustainable practices. In 2003, 2004, while holding weekend training camps for children in the Sea Camp “we noticed the rampant illegal fishing going on. Dynamite fishing and commercial fishing intrusions into prohibited coastal zones went unchecked. Something had to be done,” related Oposa. Thus, was born the Visayan Sea Squadron. “I organized a strike team with crack enforcers from the National Bureau of Investigation, Navy, fishermen, sea watch volunteers, lawyers, law students and even a few foreigners. The target was not small fishermen but crime syndicates and operators behind the sale of blasting caps and dynamite powder. Seizures and raids followed,” he said. Operations were so effective that word went out that his friend Jojo de la Victoria, the fearless Cebu City Bantay Dagat (Sea Watch) chief, and Oposa were targets of assassination. A local newspaper interviewed De la Victoria, revealing an intelligence report about illegal fishing operators putting up a P1-million bounty for him and Oposa. In 12 April 2006, 48 hours after he was interviewed, De la Victoria was felled by a hired gunman outside his house in Cebu City. “Jojo’s life was not in vain. After his funeral, a core team met for dinner to regroup. The tide of illegal fishing started to turn. Exploits of the Visayan Sea Squadron — and the courage and synergy of the men and women who made it happen — became known far and wide,” Oposa said. He continued, “Four years after Jojo died, Visayan Sea Squadron co-founder Alfredo Marañon was elected governor of Negros Occidental province. He gathered the other governors in the region to begin a restorative plan for the Visayan Sea which encompasses an area of over a million hectares. The governors passed a landmark joint resolution declaring the entire Visayan Sea a marine reserve.” For his valiant work as an environmental warrior, Oposa has been the recipient of many award in recognition of his valiant work as an environmental warrior. Aside from receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2009, he was given the equally prestigious Center for International Environmental Law Award in 2008. Earlier, in 1997, he was conferred the United Nations Environment Programme Global 500 Roll of Honor, the highest UN honor in the field of the environment. Asked if there was anything about his attainments that gives him the most satisfaction, Oposa said, “My biggest achievement is not that I caught this violator and that violator when we were busy with our Visayan Sea Squadron operations; it is that I have turned my adversaries into co-advocates. Some of those who had opposed me are now supporting me in my advocacies. And what could be more inspiring than to see their own children helping us out there, protecting the sea?” The post Famed environmental warrior graces RC Manila assembly appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NEDA looks to satellite technology to verify inflation policy
The National Economic and Development Authority is looking into how satellite technology could be used to verify data from rice fields, help keep prices under control, and make sure there is enough food for everyone. In a statement, NEDA Officer in Charge Assistant Director Rory Jay S.C. Dacumos said they are currently evaluating how useful the Philippine Rice Information System is for studying inflation. "Currently, we (use Philippine Statistics Authority) data to inform our inflation policy, but to enhance our inflation analysis, we need to augment our data sources," Dacumos said. "This is particularly important in the case of rice, our staple, and amid volatile weather situations," Dacumos added. Hence, Dacumos said NEDA sent a research team to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, to evaluate the potential of the PRISM in providing valuable insights for the government's proactive measures to manage inflation. In the discussions during the study visit, it was pointed out that PRiSM can provide validated rice field data to their registered stakeholders every 7th day of the succeeding month compared to the quarterly PSA data. In the discussions during the study visit, it was pointed out that PRiSM can provide validated rice field data to their registered stakeholders every 7th day of the succeeding month compared to the quarterly PSA data. “We have also learned during the lectures and the field demonstration that the PRiSM data is reasonably accurate. So, we can see how this could enhance our policy recommendations on inflation,” Dacumos said. PRiSM collects rice field data through satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensing, which is unaffected by cloud cover. The data collected through the SAR has up to 95 percent overall accuracy, vis-a-vis the ground-validated data with the help of PRiSM data collectors in the field across the country using a mobile application to record and upload data more efficiently. When the SAR images are insufficient, PRiSM can process secondary data, such as data collected using drones. A satellite, Sentinel-1A, provides the SAR images used by PRiSM. The next satellite, Sentinel-1C, is set to be launched within the year and has the potential to further augment PRiSM’s operations. The compiled data is presented in the form of rice area maps that indicate the locations where rice has been planted, the timing of rice planting, estimated rice yield, areas of rice affected by flooding due to heavy rains and tropical cyclones, and areas where rice cultivation has been impacted by drought. “PRiSM is currently only applicable to rice, but according to PhilRice, the technology and methodology of PRiSM could also be adapted for monitoring other crops,” Dacumos said. PRiSM began full operation in 2018 under PhilRice to assist the Department of Agriculture in making well-informed decisions for policy formulation and planning. Since then, PhilRice has been continuously improving the methodology and technology of PRiSM. Meanwhile, NEDA chairs the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook. The committee was formed to provide high-level policy advice on how to address the recent high inflation. Fulfilling this mandate involves providing anticipatory policy advice, which requires the analysis of timely data. The post NEDA looks to satellite technology to verify inflation policy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Infra drives more tourists, tech firms
Cebu is expected to attract visitors and technology firms with the planned construction of 65 flagship infrastructure in the Visayas region under the Marcos administration, local officials and the business community leaders there said last Friday. “That’s what we’ve been waiting for. An increase in government spending means a high multiplier effect that is felt in the economy,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Central Visayas regional governor Melanie Ng said in an economic briefing by several government agencies in Cebu City on Friday. In the event, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the Visayas-based projects are estimated to cost P1.7 trillion out of the total P9 trillion for 194 flagship projects nationwide. Socioeconomic Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the projects will be partly funded through public-private partnerships while the government raises annual infrastructure spending to 5 percent to 6 percent of the gross domestic product. United stand “The private sector and the government are in one mind on how to go about fostering the kind of development that we want in the Visayas region. We can create not only more jobs but also high-quality employment in the region,” National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Joseph J. Capuno said. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said the new infrastructure projects would bring more tourists to Cebu and its neighboring provinces in Central Visayas. “Cebu is now the number one most preferred traveler’s destination in the country, outranking its last year’s tourism performance. The shining star of tourism, especially post-pandemic, has really been Central Visayas,” she said. Tourism data showed Cebu attracted over 2.7 million tourist arrivals last year, with 81 percent of them coming from domestic visitors amid the reopening of the global economy. Apart from the tourism industry, PCCI officer Ng said the technology sector will likely see more workers in Cebu and the rest of Visayas as more infrastructure eases mobility from homes to business districts. “Tourism, information technology and business process management, and creative industries are the key growth sectors in Visayas that the Philippine government should invest in,” she said. Property consultancy Colliers Philippines said 31 percent of the country’s IT-BPM workers were found in the provinces last year, with Cebu residents seizing some of the 70,000 jobs in that industry during this period. Colliers Philippines expect 91,300 square meters of office space will open In Cebu City in the next two years, with 51 percent of them located in Cebu Business Park and Cebu IT Park. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said 42 infrastructure projects in Visayas are already being built, including the P9.2-billion New Cebu International Container Port and the P16.9-billion Cebu Bus Rapid Transit. The post Infra drives more tourists, tech firms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Angeles residents evacuated amid ‘Egay’
Angeles City, Pampanga — The local government here on Tuesday ordered the preemptive evacuation of residents living near riverbanks and creeks as part of its preparations for the coming super typhoon “Egay.” Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said that he instructed Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer chief Rudy Simeon and City Engineer Donato Dizon to lead the evacuation, stressing that it is better to be alert and prepared before any disaster happens. He also assured that in the event of an emergency, the city government — through the ACDRRMO and CEO — is ready to respond to any rescue, evacuation and clearing operations. According to Simeon, the ACDRRMO is closely monitoring the major river channels in Angeles City, the Abacan River and Sapang Balen Creek and as of the moment, no incident of overflowing and soil erosion on both sides of the riverbanks and creeks were reported. Waterflows in Sapang Balen creek and Abacan River, on the other hand, are still under normal condition. The ACDRRMO is in continuous coordination with the 33 Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils for any alerts in case of typhoon “Egay’s” onslaught. Meanwhile, Dizon said that his roving teams are ready to clear roads from any obstructions. Lazatin, meantime, wants to ensure everyone’s safety in the event of emergencies like strong winds toppling down certain obstructions. In other developments, at least 480 passengers are stranded in two ports of Western Visayas following the cancellation of trips due to super typhoon “Egay” and the southwest monsoon on Tuesday. Data from the Coast Guard District Western Visayas showed that 165 passengers bound for Tabuelan, Cebu were stranded at the Barcelona port in Escalante, Negros Occidental while 315 others bound for Mindoro, Romblon, and Batangas were stuck at the Caticlan Jetty port in Malay, Aklan. Canceled trips included those from ports of Estancia, Iloilo going to Sicogon/Gigantes Island; Concepcion to Tambaliza, Igbon, and Malangabang; Bancal in Carles to Gigantes Island, all in Iloilo and Ajuy port going to EB Magalona in Negros Occidental. Trips from the port of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental going to Toledo, Cebu were also suspended. The Montenegro Shipping Lines canceled its trips from Lapuz wharf going to Guimaras. Trips from Iloilo City to Bacolod City via Ocean Jet and Weesam Express were canceled except for the latter’s 11:30 a.m. schedule. The post Angeles residents evacuated amid ‘Egay’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AI to stay relevant in BPO, group claims
As artificial intelligence is causing global worry over the loss of jobs for humans, executives of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines maintain that AI would bring more benefits than harm, particularly to their industry. CCAP president Mickey Ocampo said artificial intelligence would be more helpful, than detrimental, to the BPO industry. He said the country’s contact center and business process management sector continues to evolve amid the emergence of new technologies, particularly Generative AI, which is quickly being incorporated into various tasks across the information technology and business process management or IT-BPM industry. “The impact of a generative AI will come within the next, maybe, two to four years. This will allow our country to develop using upskilling our people. Generative AI will increase productivity as at a certain level we will be able to handle more calls or more non-voice inquiries. AI will also generate additional jobs,” he said during Daily Tribune’s Straight Talk program last Tuesday. Ocampo said their group is confident the sector could easily keep its position as the world’s top provider of voice and business process outsourcing services and it’s being the “heart of customer experience (CX)” with the adoption of Generative AI, which critics say could either be a boon or a bane to the BPO industry. “Generative AI can be used to automate and enhance various aspects of customer interactions. Some examples are chatbots and virtual assistants. There are automated email responses for faster adaptability. To illustrate, in the past, when an agent needed to respond to a customer’s call, he had to look at the CRM and backtrack or even go to the knowledge base. Now, these things are automated, further enhancing agent productivity,” Ocampo said. CCAP managing director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury said Generative AI will have an impact on client business, in the way services are delivered and in the corporate services of providers, namely, human resource and finance, among others. She said the use of Generative AI Assist working alongside agents when handling calls will increase their efficiency, productivity, and resolution in delivering customer service. “Thus, the call agent is provided the opportunity to have more focused active listening and genuine empathy rather than being preoccupied with navigating the system for resolution. Filipinos’ innate trait of service orientation combined with the power of Generative AI will enhance the employee’s experience at work which would translate to an even more satisfying customer experience — therefore helping the Philippines retain being the ‘heart of CX’ and at the same time meeting or even exceeding growth targets,” Bradbury explained. Additional 1.1M jobs Ocampo said with the use of Generative AI by CCAP members, they can generate an additional 1.1 million jobs for Filipinos until 2028, covering all types of BPO services, namely, finance, insurance, medical, and health, and overall cost-based customer service for fast moving and consumer goods. “And if we go back to the generative AI, new job roles are created. Generative AI will be useful to the end users and the consumers and the business. We will continue to upskill our workforce to cope with AI,” Ocampo said. The aggressive target is part of the 2028 IT-BPM Roadmap, which was launched in the third quarter of 2022, coinciding with the start of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. It also sets a target of 2.5 million full-time employees (2.3 million to be accounted for by CCAP-member firms) and a 40-percent countryside expansion. In 2022, the contact center sector employed 1.4 million individuals, which was 87 percent of the 1.6 million total employment in the local IT-BPM industry. Ocampo said the impact of Generative AI would be reflected in the sector’s figures in two to four years, clarifying that the emerging technology was not factored in when the IT-BPM Roadmap was set “because it surfaced just about seven months ago although AI had already been widely used across the industry.” These and more interesting issues and developments would take center stage in the upcoming Contact Islands Conference 2023. With the theme “The Philippines, the Heart of CX,” the conference is set to once again facilitate a world-class delegate experience and an excellent venue for the exchange of views, coaching, networking, and benchmarking for the sector’s leaders and decision-makers. The conference is set for 26 to 28 July at the Dusit Thani Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City Cebu. The post AI to stay relevant in BPO, group claims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoT firing of DDB backed
Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. on Tuesday said the Department of Tourism’s termination of its advertising contract with DDB Philippines was the “correct” move. In a Viber message to reporters, Revilla lamented that DDB Philippines’ shortcomings in the launch of the new tourism slogan, “Love the Philippines,” had brought humiliation to the country. “The Department of Tourism is more than justified in terminating its agreement with DDB Philippines. DDB’s admitted ‘oversight’ has caused the country embarrassment,” he said. “We are one with the Filipino people in the indignation expressed towards the shortcomings of DDB.” The DoT canceled DDB Philippines’ contract said to be worth P49 million — or P250 million according to other reports — after it was discovered it had used stock videos shot in other countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Switzerland that were made to appear that these were Philippine scenes. DDB apologized Sunday for the blunder it blamed on an “oversight.” Senator Nancy Binay said Tuesday the country should have learned from its previous mistakes on the originality of its logo, slogan, design and video clips. “We are supposed to show authenticity. These kinds of promotional anomalies directly affect travelers’ decisions and, at the same time, portray a negative image of how we promote our destinations,” Binay said. “The paramount task is to ensure that there will be no pause in promoting our destinations despite the snag. Maybe we can bring back ‘Fun’ because ‘Love’ seems to have a problem now,” she added, referring to the DoT’s previous “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” drive. Amid the criticism over the “Love the Philippines” campaign, One Cebu lawmakers, city and municipal mayors, and councilors expressed “full and unwavering” support for the DoT and its chief, Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco. The post DoT firing of DDB backed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bike taxi cap impedes jobs
Transport groups are urging regulators to scrap the limits on the number of motorcycle taxis on the streets amid a spike in demand. In separate statements over the weekend, CitizenWatch Philippines, Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente or BK3 and The Passenger Forum unilaterally pointed out that removing the limits will also open livelihood opportunities to more Filipinos. CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor and former Quezon City representative lawyer Kit Belmonte noted that the shortage of transportation options has “resulted in the proliferation of illegal habal-habal, which are being patronized by desperate commuters.” “Because they are unregulated, the drivers of habal-habal do not have proper training and they do not have accident insurance,” Belmonte said. “No less than Senator Raffy Tulfo recommended legalizing habal-habal operations, and even asked MC taxi operators to help train habal-habal riders,” he added. Jobs to more Filipinos Likewise, Belmonte contended that similar to other countries, removing the riders cap will encourage more players to participate and ensure competition for better delivery of services for commuters. Meanwhile, Passenger Forum Convener Primo Morillo, said his group believes “it is about time to do away with the limit for motorcycle taxis as it impedes the potential of motorcycle taxis to serve commuters and provide a livelihood for riders.” “No other than the Philippine Competition Commission recommended the removal of the cap as it will lead to better commuter experience,” Morillo added. While there are no official government statistics on the number of habal-habal nationwide, they were initially estimated to have reached 200,000 in Metro Manila in 2020, during the height of the global health pandemic. Thus, the proliferation of habal-habal has compelled local government units like Cebu City to create an office to regulate their operations. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board recently urged habal-habal operators, particularly in provinces, to join its pilot study for bike taxis so they can be regulated and trained. LTFRB chief Teofilo Guadiz III previously said that safe and secure operations will “ultimately benefit the riding public.” The post Bike taxi cap impedes jobs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stakeholders appeal for bike taxi fleet cap removal
Transport groups are urging regulators to scrap the limits on the number of motorcycle taxis legally allowed to operate amid a spike in demand for convenient and affordable transportation alternatives. In separate statements over the weekend, CitizenWatch Philippines, Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3), and The Passenger Forum unilaterally pointed out that removing the limits will also provide a livelihood to more Filipinos. CitizenWatch Philippines Co-Convenor and former Quezon City representative lawyer Kit Belmonte noted that the shortage of transportation options has “resulted in the proliferation of illegal habal-habal, which are being patronized by desperate commuters.” “Because they are unregulated, the drivers of habal-habal do not have proper training and they do not have accident insurance,” Belmonte said. “No less than Senator Raffy Tulfo recommended legalizing habal-habal operations, and even asked MC taxi operators to help train habal-habal riders,” he added. Likewise, Belmonte contended that similar to other countries, removing the riders cap will encourage more players to participate and ensure competition for better delivery of services for commuters. Meanwhile, The Passenger Forum Convener Primo Morillo, said his group said, "It's about time to do away with the limit for motorcycle taxis as it impedes the potential of motorcycle taxis to serve commuters and provide a livelihood for riders.” “No other than the Philippine Competition Commission recommended the removal of the cap as it will lead to better commuter experience,” Morillo added. While there are no official government statistics on the number of habal-habal nationwide, they were initially estimated to have reached 200,000 in Metro Manila in 2020, during the height of the global health pandemic. Thus, the proliferation of habal-habal has compelled local government units like Cebu City to create an office to regulate their operations. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board recently urged habal-habal operators, particularly in provinces, to join its pilot study for bike taxis so they can be regulated and trained. LTFRB chief Teofilo Guadiz III previously said that safe and secure operations will “ultimately benefit the riding public.” The post Stakeholders appeal for bike taxi fleet cap removal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DPS collects 92.13 tons of garbage in city-wide clean-up drive on Saturday
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City’s Department of Public Services (DPS) collected at least 92.13 tons of garbage during a clean-up drive held on Saturday, June 10, 2023. This volume is equivalent to 43 truckload of garbage, according to Coastal Management Task Force (CMTF) head Reymarr Hijara. Hijara told CDN Digital that the 12th city-wide […] The post DPS collects 92.13 tons of garbage in city-wide clean-up drive on Saturday appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Cebu on Alert Level 2 sans restrictions
The provincial government of Cebu has assured its residents that there will be no renewed implementation of coronavirus disease 2019 restrictions amid the resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force placing the province on both Alert Levels 1 and 2. Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said that the provincial government will not restrict livelihoods and businesses from fully opening amid the implementation of the alert levels. “Cebu Province has moved on, moved forward earlier than all others. And now,we intend to soar to even greater heights. How do we do this? Not by restricting livelihoods and businesses once again, putting a dent on our economy. We are only trying to recover,” Garcia said. To recall, the IATF earlier issued Resolution No. 6-C series of 2023, recommending to place 26 areas, including majority of Cebu province, under Alert Level 2 and there were 13 LGUs in Cebu island have been placed at Alert Level 1 status. The IATF order said that areas placed under Alert Level 2 are “mandated” to impose restrictions such as 50 percent capacity in establishments indoors for fully vaccinated adults and 70 percent capacity outdoors, while areas under Alert Level 1 are allowed intrazonal and interzonal travel with no restrictions based on age and co-morbidities. Garcia stressed that Cebu’s priority is now focused on post-pandemic rebuilding of the economy. “It’s a very confusing list. It’s either they were confused or they just want to confuse, but we will not be part of their confusion,” said the governor. The LGUs in Cebu placed under Alert Level 1 are the Tri-Cities of Mandaue, Cebu and Lapu-Lapu; as well as Alcoy, Borbon, City of Naga, Talisay City, Oslob, Pilar, Poro, Santander and Tudela. The rest are under Alert Level 2. Meantime, the provincial government’s legal consultants Atty. Benjamin Cabrido and Atty. Rory Jon Sepulveda emphasized that Cebu “will not apply” and “will not recognize” the new mandate from the IATF, arguing that it’s only recommendatory and not the policy of the state. The post Cebu on Alert Level 2 sans restrictions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AFP seeks more EDCA sites
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Sunday the establishment of additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites with the United States will provide the country with “360-degree protection” in the future. AFP spokesperson, Col. Medel Aguilar, said the expansion of EDCA sites will further help defend the country’s maritime territory so Filipinos can utilize its abundant resources within its exclusive economic zone. “If we are talking about the further expansion of the EDCA, I think this is possible [if] what we want is to protect because we are an archipelagic country and we have so many islands, we have a long shoreline,” Aguilar said, partly in Filipino, Sunday. “If we are to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity including the protection of maritime resources that should be enjoyed by our people, we need a 360-degree protection capability for the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added. The Palace and the Department of National Defense earlier announced the establishment of four additional EDCA sites at the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan. These are on top of five existing EDCA sites in the country, including the Bautista Air Base in Palawan; Basa Air Base in Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City; and the Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu. Defense only The DND and AFP said putting up more EDCA facilities primarily aims to boost the country’s defense capabilities and further protect the national interest of the Philippines. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured that the additional EDCA sites will not be utilized for offensive attacks amid the increasingly aggressive activities of China in the West Philippine Sea. On Saturday, Mr. Marcos said the Philippines and China have agreed to open more channels of communication to ensure that engagements between Chinese and Philippine forces do not escalate. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang met this week in Manila with the President, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, and other government officials. Qin’s visit was seen as China’s way of countering the growing influence of the United States in the Philippines, with the two nations holding their biggest Balikatan military exercises this year. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairperson Senator Imee Marcos has questioned the selection of the new EDCA sites as they “seem to be random and no longer purposeful” for the modernization of the AFP. Selection process She also raised concerns that government seems to have given up the country’s territorial claims on the western and eastern Philippine seaboard. In response, Aguilar said the new EDCA locations have gone through a stringent and strategic selection process based on the country’s necessities and the need to improve the defense capabilities of the AFP. “In the selection, primarily we relied on the recommendation based on the AFP modernization roadmap,” he said, noting that the western and eastern seaboards of the country were also considered in locating the new EDCA sites. The DND earlier said EDCA will serve as a collaborative agreement between the Philippines and the US, enabling rotational activities to promote better disaster responses and humanitarian efforts. The post AFP seeks more EDCA sites appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Penitensya talaga ito’: Good Friday fire inflicts pain on QC residents amid Catholic reflections
MANILA, Philippines — On a solemn Good Friday, as Catholics reflected on Jesus Christ’s suffering, residents in Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City, endured their own pain when a sudden fire ravaged their homes. The swift-moving blaze engulfed the informal settlement. READ: Fire hits informal settler’s area in Quezon City on Good Friday A resident who asked not […] The post ‘Penitensya talaga ito’: Good Friday fire inflicts pain on QC residents amid Catholic reflections appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Montealto amid protests for his removal: ‘I shall continue to serve’
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7) Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. remains unfazed by the series of protest actions demanding his ouster as LTFRB-7 head in the region. In a text message to CDN Digital on Thursday morning, March 30, 2023, Montealto said he respected the right of […] The post Montealto amid protests for his removal: ‘I shall continue to serve’ appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»