CPA updates works on Pier 5 Base Port, Cebu Int'l Container Port project

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY -- The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) gave some updates on its infrastructure projects at the Cebu port area with the complete procurement activities for the construction of the P500-million Pier 5 project and the New Cebu International Container Port Project (NCICPP) in Tayud, Consolacion costing some P9.962 billion to begin ground works in March and August 2021 respectively.

CPA general manager Leonilo Miole said Friday that the Construction of Pier 5 in Cebu Baseport begins next month with the issuance of Notice of Award, Notice to Proceed and the signing of Contract.

Miole said that the Pier 5 project has an approved budget for the contract (ABC) of P508,340,279 which will be financed through the CPA corporate budget. This is one of the major port infrastructure projects of CPA to help decongest the Cebu Baseport by providing additional berthing space and cargo area.

According to Miole that the project is a 155-meter length by 50-meter-wide reinforced concrete pier with the same concrete deck elevation, mooring facilities and back-up area coverage as Pier 4 which can provide approximately 7,750 sq.m. additional cargo back-up area and 360 linear meters of berthing space.  

With a projected draft of 8.5 to 11 meters, this project also aims to accommodate the projected increase of domestic cargo and vessel traffic in Cebu, he added.

To recall, CPA has conducted a rebidding for this project after all the four eligible bidders were disqualified for failure to comply with the equipment requirements of the project.

BNR Const. & Dev’t Corp/A.ST Builders JV submitted the lowest bid price of P507,445,064.27. After the bid evaluation and post qualification by the CPA procurement committee, BNR Const. & Dev’t Corp/A.ST Builders JV was declared as the bidder with the lowest calculated and responsive bid.  The project is expected to be completed in May 2022.

 New Cebu Int’l Container Port Project (NCICPP)

According to Engr. Romel Pegarom, acting manager of CPA’s Planning and Monitoring Division during the 160^th Maritime Forum of the Maritime League on February23 that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) targets to award the project in July 2021 and that the groundbreaking is scheduled on August 16, 2021.

The NCICP Project costs around PhP 9,962,000,000.00 which will be financed through the $172.64-million loan agreement signed in 2018 by the Philippine government and South Korea’s Export Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) equivalent to P8.48 billion and a counterpart fund of around P1.28 billion by the Philippine National Government, Pegarom bared.

“We have experienced delays mostly due to lacking clearances and the COVID-19 pandemic, however, we look forward to the start of the construction of the project as we see it as a long-term solution to the congestion problems of the current Cebu International Port (CIP),” CPA General Manager Leonilo Miole said.

Once completed, CPA will operate the port which will serve all international cargoes in and out of Cebu while the current CIP at Cebu Baseport will form part of the Port of Cebu domestic port to augment port domestic operations, Miole added.

Engr. Pegarom also disclosed that DOTr is currently addressing concerns on the Road-Right-Of-Way (RROW) acquisition for the construction of an access road to connect the international port to the main road in Barangay Tayud and the processing and approval of the Grant of working visa for its Korean consultants by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Consolacion Municipal Government and DOTr are set to ink a memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the downloading of P132 million budget to proceed with the RROW acquisition, Pegarom said.

According to Pegarom that the new port includes a berthing facility with a 500-meter-long quay wall that can simultaneously accommodate two 2,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit vessels; operating facilities and structures for containers such as a freight station and an inspection shed; an access road and bridge; and a dredged waterway and turning basin.

Aside from the construction of physical structures, the project also covers the procurement of cargo-handling equipment and consulting services.  The NCICP project is set to be completed on May 28, 2024, CPA added. (Photos: CPA)

DOT okays reopening Siquijor tourism

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

SIQUIJOR ISLAND-- Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat affirmed and support the re-opening of Siquijor tourism as part of DOT's revitalization of the local tourism in the country.

Puyat, in her February 24 visit in Siquijor said that her travels in local popular tourists’ destinations is part of the ongoing efforts to assist in the safe reopening of tourist destinations in the new normal, adding that the department supports Siquijor after Governor Zaldy Villa signified his eagerness to allow tourism in the province. 

“As the DOT bids to fully reopen Siquijor to tourism and revitalize this sector, we continue to seek regular discussions with provincial and local government leaders and stakeholders, gaining insight into your preparedness to reopen as well as a deeper understanding of how we can best help industry stakeholders and citizens of your communities,” Puyat said while on the island-province.   

Puyat bared that the areas of collaboration between the DOT, the public and private sector in supporting the reopening of Siquijor tourism include promotional branding campaigns and funding of the digital version of the province’s Healing Festival.

It also consists the continuous implementation of public health and safety protocols, development of tourism products, and enhancement of tourism circuits featuring farm, dive, and ecotourism, among others, Puyat added.

While on the Island, Puyat conducted physical inspections on accommodation establishments (AEs) and tourism enterprises.  As of 15 February, 962 AEs were accredited in the region, 37 of which are in Siquijor. 

According to DOT that through its regional office here the department had extended assistance to displaced tourism workers in Central Visayas in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or Bayanihan 2.

DOT reported that as of February 19, the DOT-7 has endorsed 696 tourism enterprises, tour guide associations/individuals and community based-tourism associations with 24,588 beneficiaries and 40 of those tourism enterprises, community based-tourism and associations/individuals are from Siquijor Province, endorsed by the regional office. 

There were 1,763 tourism enterprises, tour guide associations/individuals and community based-tourism associations that were approved and had been remitted by DOLE-7 with 13,367 individual beneficiaries amounting to Php 66,835,000 and 59 of those approved tourism enterprises, community based-tourism and associations/individuals are from Siquijor. 

“Great progress has been made in making tourism bounce back, but there is still much we can all do to ensure the safe, responsible, and sustainable recovery of the tourism in Siquijor and the rest of the Philippines,” Puyat stated.

Meanwhile, Siquijor Governor Villa agreed with Puyat’s stance on the strict implementation of minimum public health standards for the successful reopening for tourism here.   

Villa added that once Siquijor reopened, incoming tourists in the province must present a negative RT-PCR or rapid antigen test result; travel authority from the home local government unit (LGU); confirmed booking with a DOT-accredited AE; and duly accomplished affidavit of undertaking, among others. 

 Part of Puyat’s visit in Siquijor

While on the Island Puyat visited a local healer where she experienced “tuob” or steam inhalation and “bolo bolo” or a traditional healing ritual with the help of a glass of water, bamboo straw, and a black stone.

Puyat also visited the Old Enchanted Balete Tree and the Lazi Church and Convent, which was declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines. 

“Known as the Healing Island of Central Visayas, Siquijor has much to offer to nature lovers, adventure junkies, beach goers and divers, and culture enthusiasts, providing us ample reason to believe that the tourism sector in this province can successfully re-emerge from this crisis,” Puyat added. 

Siquijor also boasts of its traditional healing culture, Cambugahay Falls, Paliton Beach, and Mt. Bandilaan, where the sought-after Healing Festival takes place. The province has recorded a total number of 143,286 same-day visitor arrivals and 37,651 overnight visitor arrivals in 2020. 

Meanwhile, there are 17 road infrastructure projects under the DOT-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) convergence program amounting to Php 95.535 million.  The convergence road projects are critical to the goal of seamless travel in the province. (Photos: PIA/DOT)

Yellow Care Bikes for medical frontliners in Cebu

 MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Aboitiz Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Aboitiz Group donated bicycles to 50 medical front liners from 15 medical institutions in Cebu in support to the “Yellow Care Medical Frontliners Bike project” of the Gothong Southern Foundation that aims to increase mobility of these essential workers to respond better to the pandemic.

Aboitiz Foundation president and COO Maribeth Marasigan said that mobility has been a challenge for medical frontliners since community quarantine was implemented in various parts of the country.

“Through the Yellow Care Bike donation, Aboitiz Foundation was able to help the frontliners by making transportation less of a problem for them especially since they are at the forefront of the nation’s battle against COVID-19,” Marasigan added.

Gothong Southern Foundation, Inc. president Caroline Joy Gothong-Ong expressed her gratitude to Aboitiz for taking part in the initiative, Bikes for modern-day heroes. The Yellow Care Bike Project helps ease daily commute of Cebu’s medical frontliners.

“We cannot thank you enough for the success of this program. We hope and pray that your generosity will come back to you a hundred-fold to continue to share and bless others,” Ong said, noting that the campaign will draw more beneficiaries from various Cebu hospitals in April.

Amie Adiong, a nurse at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center used to borrow her neighbor’s bike so she can go to work during the early days of quarantine.  But now she won’t have to do so.

“This bike will remind me that we, nurses, are cared for and appreciated. I will proudly ride this every day from home to work with a happy heart. Thank you, Aboitiz Foundation from the bottom of my heart,” Adiong said.

Chelsea Cimafranca-Mayol, a medical frontliner from Chong Hua Hospital, receives her Yellow Care Bike.  She works on night shifts and she said the Yellow Care Bike inspires and boosts the morale of ‘tired’ frontliners.

“This is a big help to us frontliners; we can definitely extend more of our time caring for the sick and perform our duties every day. This is what we truly need in these trying times. Together, we can fight COVID-19,” Mayol said.

Mayol comes from a family of nurses, with an aunt and a sister inspiring her to follow the same path despite financial challenges. “It is really not a matter of how much money you get paid with but the love we have for the profession and how it gives us contentment knowing that in every single shift, we help the sick get well, we help save lives,” she stated.

To date, the Yellow Care Bike project has raised 338 bike and has assisted around 150 medical frontliners in Cebu. (Photos: FB Page Yellow Bike Project/Google Files)

DA-7 provides “Package of Technology” seminar to cacao farmers in Negros Oriental

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

NEGROS ORIENTAL – The Department of Agriculture (DA-7)-Central Visayas provided “Package of Technology” (POT) seminar to 30 cacao farmers in Valencia, Negros Oriental to equip them with knowledge and skills in planting cacao, improve production, by-products and livelihood income from cacao.

DA-7 High Value Crops Program Action Officer Mary Ronville Aba said that POT is includes cultural management, best cacao farming practices and costs and returns of cacao farming.

"The cacao farmers underwent practicum skills on actual pruning of unnecessary branches and to add more enthusiasm to the trainees, we invited a French investor who will directly buy the cacao beans of the farmers assuring them of market," Aba said.

French investor Nicolas Astarie shared his thoughts that he wanted to work with cacao farmers for his chocolate-making business.

"I will personally train our cacao farmers for them to be able to produce quality cacao beans. Cacao is a high value crop so if it is properly taken care of there will be big revenue," Astarie said.

Jorge Buling, a cacao farmer of Barangay Bung-aw Valencia who owns a 2-hectare cacao area said that the seminar was very informative.

“Daghan kaayo ko og nakat-unan sa among bansaybansay karon, ug amo gyud kining i-apply unya sa among mga cacao nga tanum," Buling said. (I learned a lot from the training, and I will apply these (learning) in my cacao farm).

Hilaria Olasiman, also a cacao farmer from Barangay Malaunay Valencia was grateful for the seminar and that she is one of the participants.

"Nagtubo gyud ko sa pagpananom ug cacao pero among abot pangtableya ra, dili pangchocolate, karon nga nadugangan ang akong kahibalo sa pagpananom ug quality nga cacao ug naa napo’y direct buyer mas ganado na jud kong mutanom," Olasiman said.

(I grew up with cacao farming, but our production is only for tableya and not for chocolate. Now that I gained additional knowledge on growing quality cacao and now that there is a direct buyer, I am motivated to plant more cacao.)

"I have a half hectare of cacao area and have been into cacao farming for almost 10 years but was discouraged to continue farming when my cacao trees were infested with pod rot. Now that I attended this seminar and gained knowledge on how to control and prevent pest and diseases, I will rehabilitate my cacao trees and continue what I have started 10 years ago. Also, we now have a ready market for our cacao beans," said Corsena Montesor of Barangay Apolong, Valencia.

The training program is mandated under Republic Act 7900 or the High-Value Crops Development Act of 1995 that aids with production, marketing, and processing of cacao and other high-value crops. (Photos: Google Files)

 

 

PLDT, DITO sign interconnection agreement

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) and telco newcomer DITO Telecommunity Corporation (DITO) signed an agreement, Tuesday for the construction of a transmission facility that serves as the point of interconnection for their subscribers.

PLDT Chief Revenue Officer and Smart Communications President and CEO Al Panlilio said that it is important that both telcos establish an interconnection capability as mandated by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and to ensure that both their customers can communicate.

Under the agreement, PLDT will establish and manage the interconnection facility that will operate as the primary physical interface for both companies and the planned facility is expected to be completed by end-March in time for the commercial operations of DITO, Panlilio said.

“During this pandemic, technology has been the lifeline for our customers, so we want to make sure that our connectivity is solid.  We thank DITO for this partnership and I am looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship," Panlilio added.

Through PLDT’s technology and expertise, the interconnection hub will deliver the intercarrier requirements of DITO which will benefit all fixed and wireless subscribers of PLDT and DITO by enabling them to communicate and connect to all the services needed, the agreement said.

DITO Telecommunity Corp. (DITO) Chairman and CEO Dennis Uy said during the virtual signing that DITO knew from day 1 that for it to deliver its commitment to the Filipino, it needed to work together with the pioneers of the telco industry like PLDT.

“I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone in making the interconnection agreement between DITO and PLDT possible and for being chosen as the country’s third telco player.  It’s been a privilege to work alongside all of you in providing the Philippines with the world-class connectivity that we all deserve,” Uy added.

According to Panlilio that PLDT has been heavily investing in its network and expanding its coverage to service more businesses and consumers, both in the country and abroad.  Currently, PLDT operates the most expansive fiber optic network among local ISPs reaching over 429,000 kilometers.

The PLDT Group has spent over Php 286 billion in the last five years which further boosted its network coverage to benefit more subscribers; helped the nation manage and cope amid the global pandemic and accelerated the roll out of more digital services including the roll out of 5G, he said. (Photos: Google Files)

 

DOE provides guidelines on energy efficient building design

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY -- The Department of Energy (DOE) came up with a policy that provides guidelines on the energy conserving design of buildings as part of its continuing efforts to advance the country’s energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) agenda through Department Circular DC2020-12-00626, “Adoption of the Guidelines on Energy Conserving Design of Buildings” that was signed on December 22, 2020.

According to DOE secretary Alfonso Cusi that transforming EE&C into a national way of life is a concerted effort.  “We want our future infrastructure to be resilient and energy efficient.  We must start to develop a culture that integrates these principles even in the early design stages."

Cusi welcomed the cooperation of the country's design and construction professionals in helping DOE craft the necessary policies that bring national EE&C goals into fruition.

The department circular hopes to aid building designers, architects, and engineers to choose appropriate energy efficient technologies for building envelopes and electrical and mechanical systems, Cusi said.

Cusi added that the circular implements the mandate on the minimum standards on energy efficient building design under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 11285 or the EE&C Act. 

“Recognizing technological developments and innovations, the DC and its Guidelines shall be updated every three years or earlier, taking into consideration the rate of advancement in energy efficient technologies and practices,” Cusi stated.

The innovative policy was the result of inclusive and multi-sectoral virtual public consultations conducted by the DOE-Energy Utilization Management Bureau in September to November 2010 with the active participation of the Department of Public Works and Highways-National Building Code Development Office (DPWH-NHCDO), industry stakeholders and experts from the building construction sector.

The DOE will be conducting a widescale Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign for Local Government Units, Office of the Building Officials to increase awareness on the integration of EE&C principles in building designs, given their role as the primary entities responsible for the issuance of building permits, DOE said. (Photos: Google Files)

 

 

Housewife from Talisay City, one of 8,000 beneficiaries of SUGBO Negosyo

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

 CEBU Province – A housewife from Talisay City, Cebu is one of the 8,000 beneficiaries of SUGBO Negosyo program of the Cebu Provincial Government that equipped micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in the province with a P10,000 grants and development seminar to improve their enterprise.

Housewife Emelinda Tayag, 59 and mother of five received Php 10,000 under the “Mga Serbisyo ug Ginagmay’ng Patigayon” category from the office of the Provincial Board Member Yolanda Daan.

Tayag settled in Cebu from Tarlac in 1989 for a living. Her husband worked for a coffin industry which later started his own business to such.

Nagpapasalamat ako sa programang ito, dahil noong lockdown akala ko wala na talaga lahat. Ito’y patunay na may blessings talaga na dumadating,” Tayag said during the enterprise development seminar conducted by DTI Cebu in Tabunok, Talisay on February 18.

Tayag bared that during the pandemic her daughter, who worked for a kitchen industry in Dubai has stopped sending the family money for a while.  Tayag decided to put up a sari-sari store in front of their house to sustain their needs on top of the husband’s fleeting sustenance.

“It was during the last day ng pagsubmit ng applications nang ako’y makabalita sa SUGBO Negosyo pero sinubukan ko din naman,” she added.

Sugbo Negosyo is a livelihood assistance program of the Cebu Provincial Government in partnership with the DTI-7 and the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Cebu Province allocated PHP100 million for the program released through the 17 provincial board members worth PHP5 million each, and PHP15 million through the Office of the Vice Governor Junjun Davide.

The Sugbo Negosyo Cards, which Tayag received will be used to purchase goods for her business operations and livelihood affected by the pandemic.  Other categories include “Negosyo Padayon” worth Php 50,000 and “Produktong Sugboanon” worth Php 20,000.

“Hindi ko ma-explain kung ano ang naramdaman ko noong ako’y natawagan bilang qualified beneficiary. Natanggap ko ang voucher noong January, at ngayon ako’y pursigidong umattend sa seminar ng DTI para madagdagan ang aking kaalaman sa pagnegosyo.  Nakabili na ako ng added supplies para sa aking tindahan sa natanggap ko na Php 10,000 at ako ngayo’y kumikita ng extra Php 2,000. Maraming salamat talaga,” Tayag revealed.

DTI-7 through its Negosyo Centers has conducted 17 seminars in February to provide the eligible beneficiaries with Entrepreneurship Development Seminars, facilitate Business Name and Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE) Registrations, and assist in other appropriate Business Development Services to improve their businesses.

This is part of DTI-7 Regional Operations Group Asec. Aster Caberte's commitment to the program during its launch in September 2020.

 

Marcos says PH deserves fair compensation for hosting US military forces

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Senator Imee Marcos defended President Duterte’s stand that the Philippines deserves better compensation for hosting the US military forces here, enhancing America’s military defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region.

“The Philippines not only enhances the forward defense perimeter of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region but even subsidizes its utility expenses in our very own bases,” Marcos said.

Marcos lamented that how can the Philippines continue to subsidize the utility expenses of American forces when many Filipinos cannot even pay their water and electricity bills amid this pandemic, citing U.S. military benefits in Article 7 of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Marcos reiterated her call for a thorough review of EDCA, saying that it allows the U.S. not only to skirt the Constitutional ban on foreign bases but also to avoid paying the annual compensation that was due the Philippine government before they were abolished.

Even superpowers need allies and the new American pivot to the Asia-Pacific shows the enhanced role of the region and the Philippines, Marcos added countering criticism of President Duterte’s demand for better compensation as a form of extortion.

Marcos agreed with President Duterte that the $3.9 billion in U.S. military assistance to the Philippines from 2001 to 2017 was paltry compared to the $16 billion given to Pakistan in the same period.

“The U.S. fears that if the Pakistani government fails, the 150 nuclear warheads it has produced may fall in the hands of the Taliban and could be used against America,” Marcos said.

Without the Philippines, Marcos went on that America’s supply chain and security commitments in the region are vulnerable.  But PH’s hosting U.S. forces makes the country a potential and logical target of America’s adversaries if war breaks out in the region, even if it does not directly involve the country.

Marcos explained that if China attacks Taiwan for its push towards independence, America’s committed response to protect Taiwan will not be as swift, having to come from bases in Japan, South Korea, Guam or Australia.

Marcos predicts that human rights issues may be used against the Duterte government “to strike a bargain on what should strictly be a security issue.” (Photos: Google Files)