No appeal: Cebu City still to review MECQ policies
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City will not be appealing to the national Interagency Task Force (IATF) over their recommendation to place the city under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from August 1 to 15, 2021. Rama could not provide a definite decision on the MECQ status because he said the city needs to review […] The post No appeal: Cebu City still to review MECQ policies appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Piston-Cebu to hold another 2-day transport strike on Dec. 14-15
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s firm stance on the December 31 deadline for Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) consolidation, Piston-Cebu is set to stage another round of transport strikes from December 14 to 15. The strike aligns with the nationwide appeal made by its parent organization, Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper.....»»
Saavedra to appeal dismissal of cases vs Tomas, ex-city officials over Kawit Island deal
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Businessman and whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra is not yet giving up on the criminal and administrative complaints that he filed against former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena and his City Council on the controversial P18 billion Kawit Island deal. Saavedra said he will be filing a petition to ask the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to reconsider its earlier decision to dismiss the criminal and administrative complaint that he filed. “I’ll file an MR (motion for reconsideration),” said Saavedra in an interview with CDN Digital. In 2018, Saavedra filed criminal and administrative complaints over the controversial P18 billion Kawit Island deal. The project paved the way for Gokongwei-owned Universal Hotel and Resorts Inc. (UHRI) to establish an integrated casino and resort in the South Road Properties (SRP). But acting Assistant Ombudsman for the Visayas Jane Aguilar, in a 21-page decision promulgated January 27, junked the criminal and administrative cases for ‘lack of substantial evidence’. A copy of the decision was furnished to the media on Oct. 20. Osmeña’s co-respondents in the case were then Councilors Margarita Osmeña, Dave Tumulak, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Gerry Guardo, Joy Augustus Young, Mary Ann delos Santos and Franklyn Ong who approved the ordinance that allowed the Gokongwei-owned company to establish an integrated casino and resort in Kawit Island, SRP and UHRI executives Frederick Go, Lance Gokongwei, James Go, Robina Gokongwei-Pe and Patrick Henry Go. Saavedra insisted that Ombudsman-Visayas should look into the technicalities of how the city government awarded the P18-billion project in 2018. He mentioned City Ordinance No. 2154 as his basis, saying that members of the private sector, when entering into joint venture agreements with the government, must meet the “technical and financial qualifications” prescribed by law. “The private participants should have technical and financial capability. I never questioned the financial capability… It is the track record of the corporation, not of the individual offices,” Saavedra added. The Camp of Osmeña has since welcomed the decision of the Ombudsman. ALSO READ: Ombudsman upgrades Saavedra complaint against Tomas Osmeña, 9 others over Kawit Island deal.....»»
Cash-out
Cashless transactions are now prevalent with the use of e-wallets on mobile phones and smart cards. But this proved to be challenging for an ANZ bank depositor in Brisbane, Australia when she needed money to renovate her house. Taryn Compton recently went to a local branch of the bank to withdraw A$3,500 but she forgot to bring her automated teller machine card. Compton decided to withdraw the amount from her account over the counter. Still, it was not possible. The teller told Compton that the bank was a cashless branch and the only way depositors could withdraw their money was through the ATM, 9 Now reported. The teller helped Compton download and install an app on her phone so she could transfer money from her bank account to her e-wallet without the need for an ATM card. This also didn’t work, however, leaving her with one last option. “The teller told me that if I wanted to get my cash out if I needed it that day, to transfer it to another bank and try somewhere else so that’s what I did,” she said, according to 9 Now. “If you can’t get your own money from a branch, what’s the point of a bank?” she exasperatedly asked. Meanwhile, a Filipino money collector was faced with a somewhat similar dilemma when he also could not get his cash. The collector was on a motorcycle on the Cebu South Coastal Road in Cebu City last 4 July heading to Mandaue City to remit the cash payments he had collected from kiosks at the South Road Properties when a motorist signaled to him that he had dropped something, the TV news show 24 Oras reported. On turning around, he was shocked to see money flying all over the road and people scrambling to pick up all that cash. He looked at his money bag and quickly realized that the money had flown out of it after the zipper broke. He then called the police for help in recovering the money. While he got back P2,083,000 on the spot, this was far less than the total he had collected that day which was about P4 million. The collector faced the prospect of having to replace the lost money himself. He then aired an appeal to the people who had snatched up some of the money he had dropped to return it. The post Cash-out appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prioritize the poor, bring gov’t services closer to needy
For many of our fellow Filipinos who can barely afford their daily expenses, getting treated in a hospital is oftentimes a burdensome choice that they resort to only if it is a matter of life and death. Usually, our struggling kababayans choose to endure their illness for fear of falling deeper into debt due to huge hospital bills, medicines and other expenses. And by this time, an ordinary disease has already become a serious medical condition. Their plight is what inspired us to initiate the Malasakit Centers program in 2018 which provides one-stop shops where our indigent patients may more conveniently access medical assistance from the government. By bringing together programs of various government agencies under one roof, such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the centers streamline the process of availing medical assistance. I have been appealing to officials and workers in the health sector to prioritize the needs of the poor, especially in public health facilities since these patients have nowhere else to turn to but to seek the help of their government. I also appeal to all hospital staff to be patient and compassionate in guiding Filipinos, particularly the poor, so that they can properly have access to the services offered by our public hospitals and from the medical assistance programs available in any of our 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide. That is why as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and as the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, I make time to personally check on the operations of our Malasakit Centers across the country, in addition to attending the groundbreaking of Super Health Centers and leading our usual relief distributions for Filipinos in need. On 16 June, I conducted a monitoring visit to two Malasakit Centers in Leyte, where I was honored to be declared as an adopted son of the province through Resolution 2020-337 passed on 24 April 2020 and formally granted on 16 June by the provincial government. During the visit, I recognized the efforts of Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla, Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos “Boying” Cari and Vice Mayor Ernesto Butawan, Vice Governor Sandy Javier, Cong. Carl Cari, Cong. Karen Javier, Board Member Carlo Loreto, and other officials for their commitment to bringing government services closer to their constituents. I also visited the Malasakit Center at Baybay City Immaculate Conception Hospital where we assisted 30 out-patients, 140 in-patients, and 192 front liners, while the DSWD extended financial aid to qualified in-patients. We likewise inspected the Super Health Center and the new boardwalk in the city which I supported to help the community. I then checked on the operations of the Malasakit Center at Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc City. We also assisted 283 patients and 211 front liners in the hospital, while 133 qualified inpatients received additional assistance from the DSWD. Following this, I led a relief operation for 1,065 struggling residents in the city and attended the ribbon-cutting of the newly constructed pentathlon facility with a dedicated fencing hall, among others — a project I supported as Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance and as Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, together with the local government led by Cong. Richard Gomez and Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez. Earlier that week, I was in Davao del Norte to participate in the celebration of the first anniversary of an insurgency-free Davao del Norte led by Gov. Edwin Jubahib, held in Tagum City on 13 June. I also personally spearheaded a relief operation for 1,500 struggling residents in the city. Simultaneously, we provided more support to the community in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment which held an orientation for temporary employment to 721 individuals. Following this, I visited the town of Carmen with Mayor Leony Bahague to witness the groundbreaking of its Super Health Center and provide aid to 1,666 more indigents. On 15 June, I was in Quezon City with my team to witness the inauguration of two multipurpose buildings in Barangays Commonwealth and Payatas which I also supported for funding together with Councilor Mikey Belmonte. We likewise aided a thousand indigents in the city with Mayor Joy Belmonte. We then headed to Marikina City to assist 3,000 more struggling residents from Marikina City and the towns of San Mateo and Rodriguez, Rizal, together with Congresswoman Maan Teodoro and Mayor Marcy Teodoro; as well as the local officials from both towns in Rizal, such as Rodriguez Mayor Ronnie Evangelista and San Mateo Mayor Bartolome “Omie” Rivera Jr., among others. We also visited North Cotabato on 17 June, where we celebrated the 54th Araw ng Alamada led by Mayor Jesus Sacdalan and Cong. Joel Sacdalan and helped 840 farmers and 1,500 struggling residents in the town before going to Matalam to witness aspiring athletes in the Serbisyong Totoo Basketball Sports Clinic and to lead another distribution activity for 1,318 more residents from various sectors together with Gov. Lala Taliño-Mendoza. Across the country, my team aided indigent families and various sectors, including 136 in Samal, 33 in Balanga, and 82 in Limay, Bataan; 990 in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; 150 in Damulog, Bukidnon; 350 in Iligan City; 100 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte; 550 in Malinao and Sto. Domingo, Albay; and two fire-hit households in Carcar City, Cebu. My team also attended the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center in Tiguma, Pagadian City. It is the fundamental right of every Filipino to receive proper medical care and social assistance from our government. I hope that with compassion for our struggling kababayans and the persistence to help uplift their lives, we can collectively ensure that the poor and most needy are not neglected as we continue our pursuit for progress and development. The post Prioritize the poor, bring gov’t services closer to needy 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......»»
Rescued dogs from Adlaon up for adoption until Monday – DVMF
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Four of the eight dogs fit for adoption among the more than 100 rescued dogs in an abandoned shelter in Barangay Adlaon in Cebu City had already found new homes, said the Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF). However, the department continues to appeal to individuals and organizations […] The post Rescued dogs from Adlaon up for adoption until Monday – DVMF appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Appeal to Cebu City gov’t: Don’t abandon vendors affected by V-hire terminal shutdown
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A barangay councilor in Kamagayan has appealed to the Cebu City government for assistance on behalf of the terminal vendors affected by the city government’s decision to shut down the southbound van-for-hire (V-hire) terminal in the barangay. Kamagayan barangay councilor Roy Avila, in an interview with CDN Digital on Thursday, May […] The post Appeal to Cebu City gov’t: Don’t abandon vendors affected by V-hire terminal shutdown appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Cordova mayor to business owners: Renew permits on Jan. 31 to avoid penalties
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Cordova Mayor Cesar “Didoy” Suan urged business owners, who have not yet renewed their business permits, to renew these on Jan. 31, to avoid being penalized. Suan made the appeal, because Jan. 31 would be the last day of the business permit renewal. He said that if they would process their […] The post Cordova mayor to business owners: Renew permits on Jan. 31 to avoid penalties appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Sandigan upholds conviction of Paulate for graft
The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its decision, which found former Quezon City Councilor Roderick Paulate and his former aide guilty of graft and falsification charges for hiring fictitious job contractors. In a 26-page resolution on Friday, the Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division denied for lack of merit the appeal of Paulate and his former driver and liaison Vicente […] The post Sandigan upholds conviction of Paulate for graft appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
LCPO eyes K9 drug detectors to bolster anti-illegal drugs campaign
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu—The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) has manifested its intent to procure K9 drug detectors to strengthen their campaign against illegal drugs. Police Colonel Elmer Lim, chief of LCPO, said that this was their response to the appeal of League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP)-Cebu Chapter President and Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura. […] The post LCPO eyes K9 drug detectors to bolster anti-illegal drugs campaign appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Cebu City’s appeal on P84 million disallowance junked
The Commission on Audit has upheld the notices of disallowance it issued against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and other city officials, which required them to return the P84.48 million in financial calamity assistance they granted to themselves as well as to employees in December 2013......»»
Commuters urged: Don’t bring kids to bus terminals starting Oct. 28 until Nov. 2
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Bus commuters are encouraged not to bring children as their companions to the bus terminals starting Oct. 28 until the end of the Kalag-Kalag on Nov. 2. Carmen Quijano, manager of the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) and the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT), said that this appeal to the public […] The post Commuters urged: Don’t bring kids to bus terminals starting Oct. 28 until Nov. 2 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Cordova police: Please don’t spread unverified kidnapping stories
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — The Cordova Police Station is appealing to the public not to spread wrong information and unvalidated reports regarding kidnapping incidents. Police Major Michael Gingoyon, chief of Cordova Police Station, made the appeal after an unvalidated report of kidnapping proliferated on social media on Monday, August 22, 2022. “Para sa akoa dili […] The post Cordova police: Please don’t spread unverified kidnapping stories appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Affected residents’ appeal: Cash aid first before demolition
CEBU CITY — Some affected residents of the ongoing clearing operations in Kinalumsan River in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, appealed to the city government to ensure that they would be provided with the promised cash assistance first before their houses would be demolished. Watching the assigned local authorities demolish the houses of her neighbors on […] The post Affected residents’ appeal: Cash aid first before demolition appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Chan appeals for patience as heavy traffic is expected during Ironman race this Sunday
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan appealed to the public, motorists, drivers, and other road users to stretch their patience as heavy traffic is expected this Sunday, August 7, 2022, during the Megaworld Ironman 70.3 race. Chan made the appeal during their final coordination meeting at Solea Mactan Resort in Cordova […] The post Chan appeals for patience as heavy traffic is expected during Ironman race this Sunday appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Pope Francis urges everyone to get COVID-19 vaccines for the good of all
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis issued an appeal on Wednesday urging people to get inoculated against COVID-19, saying the vaccines could bring an end to the pandemic, but needed to be taken by everyone. “Thanks to God’s grace and to the work of many, we now have vaccines to protect us from COVID-19,” the pope said […] The post Pope Francis urges everyone to get COVID-19 vaccines for the good of all appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Increase basic pay for nurses, Cebu City Council appeal to private hospitals
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has appealed to private hospitals to increase the basic pay for nurses. The council members including Eugenio Gabuya, Jr., Eduardo Rama, Jr., and Alvin Dizon have raised concerns about the inability of hospitals to open more COVID-19 rooms because of the lack of nurses. Councilor Rama in […] The post Increase basic pay for nurses, Cebu City Council appeal to private hospitals appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Cebu province under ‘GCQ with heightened restrictions’
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The national government’s anti-COVID task force on Sunday, August 1 granted the appeal of Cebu province to be placed under a more relaxed quarantine status. Malacañang on Sunday announced that they have approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to downgrade the […] The post Cebu province under ‘GCQ with heightened restrictions’ appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
No appeal: Cebu City still to review MECQ policies
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City will not be appealing to the national Interagency Task Force (IATF) over their recommendation to place the city under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from August 1 to 15, 2021. Rama could not provide a definite decision on the MECQ status because he said the city needs to review […] The post No appeal: Cebu City still to review MECQ policies appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Mayor Cortes to IATF: Let Mandaue remain under MGCQ
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines — The Mandaue City government has sent an appeal on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, to the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (RIATF-MEID or RIATF) for the city to remain under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status. The RIATF recommended to put Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City […] The post Mayor Cortes to IATF: Let Mandaue remain under MGCQ appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»