FedEx expands Visayas footprint with New World Service Center in Cebu

LAPU-LAPU CITY— Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) has officially opened a new World Service Center in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu at the 2nd Floor (Unit 3) of the Ground-Air Logistics Corporation (GALCO) Complex inside the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Cargo Complex, bringing international shipping expertise and streamlined customs support right to the doorstep of local business owners in the Visayas.

“As Cebu continues to strengthen its position as a major hub for trade, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship, FedEx remains committed to investing in infrastructure that helps local businesses connect with global opportunities,” said Maribeth Espinosa, Managing Director of FedEx Philippines.

Whether you are a growing online merchant shipping hand-crafted local goods or a small-scale manufacturer expanding to international buyers, navigating export regulations can often feel overwhelming. The Cebu World Service Center brings FedEx services closer to customers, making international shipping more accessible, efficient, and convenient.  

The new facility sits right next to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Cebu office. This strategic placement is specifically designed to cut through bureaucratic delays and streamline international clearance processes for local exporters and businesses across the Visayas.

With cross-border e-commerce and regional exports on the rise, the new center addresses a key bottleneck for local enterprises—from micro-SMEs to established manufacturing firms—by offering direct, on-site customs support and hassle-free shipment drop-offs.

Customers visiting the center can consult with on-site clearance processors for real-time guidance on customs documentation, regulations, and international trade requirements. Additionally, the venue functions as a walk-in drop-off hub, allowing shippers to dispatch packages without waiting for scheduled courier pickups.

The opening of the World Service Center builds upon FedEx’s robust flight schedule operating out of Cebu, which currently features six inbound flights, Sunday through Friday and five outbound flights on Monday through Thursday, plus Saturday weekly.

By linking direct ground-level customs assistance with an active flight network, FedEx aims to give businesses in Cebu and surrounding island provinces faster, more reliable connectivity to over 220 countries and territories worldwide.

The opening ceremony was led by key FedEx leadership, including Anne Marie Liwag-Inawat Senior Manager for Sales, Maribeth Espinosa Managing Director, and Raymond Morales Operations Manager. (Photos: FedEx) 

 

DSWD-7 launches UPLIFT financial aid to shield CV families from rising inflation

CEBU CITY — To protect vulnerable Filipino households from the sting of rising inflation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII rolled out the national government's Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) assistance program across Central Visayas.  

Across Central Visayas, a total of 152,672 qualified household beneficiaries have been identified across 101 LGUs. Among these, 98,350 are situated in Cebu Province, while 54,322 are in Bohol.

The first wave of payouts was on July 20, delivering vital financial relief to families impacted by escalating fuel costs and economic ripples linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.  

During the initial launch, DSWD-7 served 1,503 poor and near-poor households categorized under the program's Group 2 tier, providing each recipient with Php 2,000 in direct cash assistance.

Concurrently, rollout began for Group 1 beneficiaries, comprising families already enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program (WGP).  

The initial rollout covered six key local government units (LGUs) in the region. In Bohol, the municipalities of Buenavista and Getafe with 400 beneficiaries, at 200 beneficiaries each town.

Cebu has registered the municipalities of Aloguinsan with 189 beneficiarie; Badian with 207; Borbon with 190 and Mandaue City with 205 beneficiaries.

To prevent political interference and ensure transparency, eligible beneficiaries were mapped out independently using data from the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) managed by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in partnership with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).  

To ensure fast and transparent distribution, DSWD Field Office VII is leveraging its HAPSAY (Harmonized Actions and Processes for Swift, Accountable Yield) framework—the same streamlined strategy utilized for transport sector cash relief operations.

While initial payouts were distributed manually to verify identities and link preferred payment methods, subsequent disbursements are transitioning to digital distribution channels, including direct electronic bank transfers via Landbank and registered e-wallets.  

"By streamlining our processes, we ensure that beneficiaries can access their assistance promptly and without unnecessary delays," stated DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero.

What is the UPLIFT Program?

Established under Executive Order No. 110, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the UPLIFT framework was enacted as a whole-of-government initiative to safeguard purchasing power, maintain supply chains, and mitigate energy emergency shocks triggered by global developments.  

The program's social protection component, spearheaded by the DSWD, divides target beneficiaries into three distinct streams:

Group 1 are existing social safety net families such as the 4Ps and Walang Gutom Program under the DSWD National Database with One-time cash support.

Group 2 are poor and near-poor non-4Ps households identified through the PSA 2024 CBMS Data with monthly Php 2,000 cash aid.

Group 3 are low-income wage earners as listed from the SSS and 2024 CBMS Data with target wage protection subsidies.

By bridging the gap for low-income and "near-poor" families who often fall just outside standard social safety nets, the UPLIFT rollout aims to prevent over a million Filipino families nationwide from slipping below the poverty line amid global economic pressures. (Photos: DSWD7)

Cebu City turns to tech to help residents report garbage issues

CEBU CITY -- In a bid to leverage digital innovation to address its ongoing solid waste challenges, the Cebu City Government has officially launched the pilot testing of Citizen Action 360, a new online platform designed to streamline how residents report and track waste management concerns in their communities.

The digital initiative allows citizens to directly submit complaints or issues related to uncollected garbage, illegal dumping, and local waste management service through the city’s official portal. Users can track the status of their reports in real time, bringing greater transparency and accountability to city services.

According to municipal officials, the current limited pilot phase aims to gather public feedback and identify technical glitches before a full, city-wide roll out.

"City officials emphasized that the platform is still undergoing testing and users may encounter minor bugs or system issues during the pilot phase," the Public Information Office (PIO) said in a statement, encouraging residents to actively participate to help refine the system.

A digital tool for a real-world crisis

The launch of Citizen Action 360 comes at a critical time for Cebu City, which has been grappling with a severe solid waste crisis. Daily trash generation in the city averages roughly 600 tons, a figure that has severely strained local infrastructure, exacerbated by compliance and logistical hurdles following recent landfill closures and strict environmental mandates.

With the city under heightened pressure to enforce stricter segregation policies and prevent unmanaged trash accumulation, local officials hope Citizen Action 360 will serve as an effective bridge between the public and government response teams.

The portal aligns with the city’s broader vision of transforming into a "Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive Cebu City" by fostering civic participation and crowdsourcing real-time data to optimize garbage collection routes and environmental monitoring.

Residents interested in joining the pilot test and reporting neighborhood waste concerns can access the system via the official Cebu City Government Citizen Action Portal.

Childlink homeschool student-athletes clinch multiple medals at PAI Short Course Leg 1

CEBU CITY—Student-athletes from Childlink Learning Center made a strong showing at the Philippine Aquatics Incorporated (PAI) Short Course Leg 1 last July 25–26, 2026, winning a total of 12 medals for the Hydro Immersion Swimming Team.

The Childlink swimmers were:  

Adrianna Erika Ching – 5 Gold Medals; Louis Simon Nicholas Ramos – 3 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze;   Rhianna Genia Daylle Galo – 1 Gold Medal; and Caitlin Raye Vidal – 1 Silver Medal. 

The team is coached by Ryan Galo and Danica Camille Galo.

“This achievement reflects not only their talent in the pool but also the discipline, perseverance, and time management they apply in both sports and academics,” said Childlink Learning Center.

Through its Homeschool Program for Elementary and High School, Childlink provides flexible, quality education tailored for student-athletes. The program allows learners to balance intensive training, competitions, and travel while maintaining academic excellence and character formation.

“At Childlink, we believe athletic success and academic excellence are complementary journeys,” the school stated. “Our goal is to prepare students not just to graduate, but to become responsible individuals, lifelong learners, and future leaders — whether they pursue sports professionally or choose another path.”

Some Childlink athlete-students are scholars, while others are enrolled in the regular homeschool program. All receive the same support system that values both their athletic dreams and academic growth.

Childlink congratulated the swimmers, their coaches, and families, and reaffirmed its commitment to be a partner in nurturing both champions in sports and in life.

About Childlink Learning Center  

Childlink Learning Center offers DepEd-accredited Homeschool Programs for Elementary and High School. The program is designed for learners who need flexible schedules, including student-athletes, artists, and those seeking personalized education. (Photos: Childlink) 

Cebu steps up war on child abuse, adopts revised National Protection Protocol

MANDAUE CITY— In a major push to overhaul and strengthen its child welfare system, the Province of Cebu has officially adopted the National Protection Protocol, the country’s updated rules for handling cases of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and discrimination, in a ceremonial launching and signing on July 17 in Mandaue City.

"With this launch, we reaffirm our commitment that child protection remains our utmost priority," declared Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Frederick Vida. "We make a promise today that through this ceremonial signing, child protection is always at the forefront of our policy-making and service."

Cebu became only the second province in the Philippines, following Cavite, to implement the Revised Protocol for the Case Management of Child Victims of Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, and Discrimination (CANE+D).

The milestone comes at a critical time when authorities nationwide are battling persistent threats against minors, ranging from domestic physical abuse to the alarmingly rampant growth of online exploitation.

"The revised protocol reinforces our shared commitment to prevent violence, respond effectively to threats, and place child protection at the heart of everything we do.  More importantly, it strengthens coordination among our social workers, law enforcement, health professionals, educators, and prosecutors to ensure a faster, more responsive referral system,” Cebu governor Pamela Baricuatro said. 

A growing crisis in numbers

The updated protocol lands against the backdrop of staggering data on child exploitation across the country and the region.  Data from the Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center (PNP-WCPC) indicates that child rights violations remain stubbornly high, with 18,089 reported cases in 2024 alone—following 18,756 recorded in 2023.

Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) has emerged as a severe frontier. The Department of Justice (DOJ) handled roughly 2.72 million cyber tip-line reports in a single year.

At the local frontline, DSWD Field Office in Central Visayas recorded nearly 300 cases of violence against women and children in 2025, while assisting over 75 child victims of human trafficking and online sexual exploitation in recent years.

DSWD-7 officials noted that perpetrators increasingly view online exploitation as "easy money," commodifying vulnerable minors.

Unifying the frontline duty-bearers

Developed by the DOJ-chaired Committee for the Special Protection of Children (CSPC), the revised CANE+D protocol updates guidelines surrounding Republic Act No. 7610 (the Anti-Child Abuse Law) alongside newer statutory protections.

The revised framework aims to break down bureaucratic silos and establish a seamless, standardized referral system across key duty-bearers--barangay officials, teachers, and community health workers; Social workers, law enforcement agencies, state prosecutors, and local courts.

The Protocol outlines step-by-step procedures covering every stage of a victim's ordeal—from initial identification, reporting, and law enforcement investigation to court proceedings, psychological rehabilitation, and eventual community reintegration.

During the provincial launch in Mandaue City, Governor Pamela Baricuatro joined DOJ Secretary Frederick Vida to sign a memorandum of understanding solidifying Cebu's operational commitment.

Baricuatro highlighted that the streamlined workflow is urgent, noting recent high-profile incidents involving minors—including school shooting incidents in Tacloban City—that have drawn national scrutiny to the country's juvenile justice and child safety mechanisms.

DOJ Undersecretary Majken Anika Gran-Ong, Provincial Board Members Stanley Caminero and Neneth Reluya, alongside municipal mayors, vice mayors, and regional heads of national enforcement agencies, all of whom signed a shared "Wall of Commitment" to enforce child safety protocols across Cebu's cities and municipalities. (Photos: Capitol PIO)

Building biz strongholds for disaster-resilient MSMEs in Cebu

MANDAUE CITY -- Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are widely known as the backbone of the Philippine economy, but in a nation heavily exposed to natural disasters and climate shocks, surviving the storm requires far more than grit—it takes strategic preparedness.

To tackle this challenge head-on, key government agencies, business leaders, financial institutions, and development partners gathered at bai Hotel Cebu on July 23 for the National Forum on Strengthening MSME Disaster Resilience 2026, with the theme “Negosyong Matatag: Building Resilient MSMEs for a Sustainable Future.”

The national convergence held special significance as it marked the 10th anniversary of the MSME Resilience Core Group (RCG) that was formed in 2016 through a coalition among the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), PHILEXPORT, and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF).

The MSME RCG has spent the last decade shifting the business mindset from post-disaster recovery to proactive risk management.  Over the past ten years, the coalition has localized its National Roadmap for Strengthening MSME Disaster Resilience across all 18 regions.

Key accomplishments showcased during the forum included; the Digital and Mapping Innovation: Geotagging over 300,000 MSMEs via GeoRiskPH, alongside tech solutions like Katatagan in a Box, the Payong App, and HazardHunterPH.

Capacity Building, delivering 61 resilience trainings in 2025 alone to over 3,000 MSMEs, helping hundreds develop tailored Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) through the Microenterprise Resilience Program (MERP).

To lock in this progress for the decade ahead, representatives from the ten core member organizations participated in a ceremonial renewal of the MSME RCG Partnership Agreement, recommitting to policy support, digital innovation, and community-level training.

The forum highlighted the multi-sectoral nature of economic preparedness, bringing together key insights through two high-level panel discussions and an interactive World Café session including Disaster Preparedness  and Climate Adaptation with panelists including Assistant Regional Director for Technical Operations Bryan Ybañez representing the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VII, emphasized that business continuity must be integrated into everyday operations long before disaster strikes.

Financing resilience with financial experts highlighting the urgent need for accessible recovery funding, disaster insurance, and sustainability-linked investments to enable green transitions and faster post-disruption recovery.

Key leaders, including PCCI Vice President for MSMEs Melanie Ng and representatives from Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro’s office (PDRRMO), reiterated that building resilience is vital to sustaining local economic stability.

A centerpiece of the 10th-anniversary forum was the presentation of the inaugural "Negosyong Matatag: MSME Disaster Resilience Awards." Culminating a nationwide search that evaluated 112 nominees since October 2025, the awards honored enterprises that successfully embedded disaster preparedness into their organizational DNA.

National Awardees received a plaque + ₱50,000 Cash Incentive; Micro Enterprise Category--Domz Buko Pie.  Small Enterprise Category-- Intal Garments OPC and Medium Enterprise Category went to Tropical Palm Herb Manufacturing.

Special Citations received a plaque + ₱15,000 Cash Incentive.  Business Longevity (Parangal sa Matatag at Nagpapatuloy na Negosyo) went to Tinapayan Festival.  Levelled-Up Business (Parangal sa Negosyong Nagpamalas ng Malaking Paglago) went to Socio-Economic Development Program Multi-Purpose Cooperative; and Extraordinary Feats in Disaster Resilience (Parangal sa Pambihirang Kakayahang Bumangon at Magpatuloy) went to The VIP Hotel.

Timed alongside National Disaster Resilience Month and MSME Development Week, the forum reaffirmed the country's whole-of-society approach toward safeguarding local livelihoods.

As the MSME Resilience Core Group enters its second decade, upcoming tools like the Early Warning System Simulation Handbook aim to ensure that even the smallest Filipino enterprise can withstand both environmental and economic shocks. (Photos: DOST7/DTI7)

 

Franchise Negosyo Roadshow kicks off at SM Seaside City Cebu

CEBU CITY —The Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) launches a nationwide Franchise Negosyo Roadshow, bringing its flagship regional event back to Cebu City--the Franchise Negosyo Visayas Expo 2026 from July 31 to August 1, 2026 at the Mountain Wing Atrium at SM Seaside City Cebu.

Unleash the inner boss as aspiring entrepreneurs and savvy investors across the Visayas are in for a game-changing weekend with the 2-day showcase entry is completely free and open to the public.

This is a One-Stop Shop for Business Opportunities, whether one is looking to leave the corporate grind, diversify an existing portfolio, or jumpstart an entrepreneurial journey, the expo brings legitimate, proven business concepts right to your doorstep.

"Franchising remains one of the most accessible and proven pathways to business ownership," said Steve Benitez, President of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) and founder of Bo's Coffee. "Through Franchise Negosyo Visayas Expo, we hope to open more doors for Filipinos who dream of building their own enterprise."  

The event features over 60 participating exhibitors, spanning a broad spectrum of industries—from popular food concepts and retail brands to essential services. Allied industry suppliers will also be on-site, offering complete setup solutions so attendees can walk away ready to launch.

Level Up with expert-led seminars

Beyond exploring top franchise brands, visitors can take advantage of practical educational sessions designed for every stage of business growth, Benetiz said.

5 Ways to Grow Your Profit, on July 31-- a practical, free session featuring Coach Camille Conanan, Business Coach at ActionCOACH Philippines. Attendees will discover actionable strategies to boost revenues, strengthen operations, and scale sustainably.  

How to Invest in the Right Franchise on July 31 – Aug 1--led by Noemi Ruiz, Operations Consultant at Francorp Philippines. This free seminar, paired with direct investment presentations, guides future franchisees in choosing the right brand and avoiding common pitfalls.  

How to Franchise Your Business on August 1, tailored for established homegrown business owners ready to replicate their success. This paid, deep-dive masterclass will take place at the nearby Summit Galleria Cebu.  

Skip the long registration queues at the venue by securing your pass online. Explore Brands. Browse participating exhibitors through the Digital Directory.  Register now via the PFA Event Page. (Photos: Google Images/FB Posts)