Over 23k displaced tourism workers in Central Visayas to receive cash aid

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – More than 23,293 displaced tourism workers from Central Visayas are approved to receive financial aid under the DOT-DOLE Cash Assistance Program of the Bayanihan 2 amounting to Php 116,465,000 as Tourism secretary Bernadette Puyat announced this during the virtual awarding of certificates to beneficiaries in Bohol Friday, April 30.

Puyat awarded 1,594 workers/beneficiaries from the 16 Bohol-based establishments coming from tourism support services, resorts, restaurants, community-based tourism organizations (CBTO), and transportation, among others.

Bohol Province recorded 8,513 workers who have availed of the cash assistance program; 11,327 from Cebu Province; 1,564 from Negros Oriental, and 1,889 workers from Siquijor.  Each displaced tourism worker received Php 5,000.

“These are but a few of the many programs the DOT has taken part or initiated to help the tourism industry of Bohol recover. We are counting on the continued support of our LGUs and the private sector to spur recovery forward,” Puyat said in her opening message.

Bohol Governor Arthur Yap, who also attended the virtual event said that the province continues to prepare for an eventual reopening, to try its best to give support to tourism and transport operators.

“All the DOT guidelines, certifications, and rules were all included in the provincial ordinance when we crafted our own Ultimate Bohol Experience (UBE) seal for the guidance of all our operators,” Yap added.

Yap said that the UBE seal is the provincial government’s seal of good housekeeping for all tourism establishments.

One of the beneficiaries from Bohol, Greatyl Garganian of Balicasag Island Dive Resort said, “Dahil po sa lockdown, walang mga turista at bisita ang resort.  Ang iba sa amin ay nawalan ng trabaho, habang ang iba naman ay nabawasan ang araw ng pagtatrabaho. Kaya po malaking tulong itong cash assistance na naibigay.”

Puyat bared that the DOT’s programs and products to jumpstart the revival of tourism in the province of Bohol such as the  development of “Farm, Fork, and Fitness: A Mountain to Sea Circuit to Wellness,” the Bohol Province Run featuring outdoor adventure trails; and the Bohol Culinary Circuit underscoring the gastronomic traditions of Panglao, Loon, Jagna, Loay, and Baclayon are expected to revive Bohol’s tourism grandeur.

“At each of our destinations, we are collaborating with local government units, stakeholders and tourism workers, and the local communities to develop tourism destination products that will jumpstart the revival of tourism,” Puyat stated.

As of April 15, there are already 1,045 DOT-accredited accommodations in Central Visayas, an increase of 541.10 percent compared to the same period last year.  Of this number, 264 are in Bohol. (Photos: Google Images/Bohol)

CCLEX hits 70% level on construction progress, targets to open by Feb 2022

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The 8.5-kilometer Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) project hits the 70 percent level on construction progress, should attain substantial completion at 95 percent by end of December this year.

“Once all punch list items are checked, we target to open CCLEX to our stakeholders or valued users by mid to late February 2022,” Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) general manager Allan Alfon in a phone interview with Manila Bulletin.

Alfon said that overall engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) progress of CCLEX is at 72.73 percent as of March 2021 as it has completed the construction and installation of all eight 40-meter-tall crosses, including its light fixtures on top of the two CCLEX pylons in the Mactan Channel.

According to its project developer, Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) that the P30-billion CCLEX is a toll bridge expressway that will link mainland Cebu through the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City to Mactan island through the Municipality of Cordova.

“CCLEX is an engineering marvel using the latest technology in bridge construction and surely an iconic structure for Cebuanos to be proud of.  It will not only decongest traffic in the two existing bridges but also provides enormous activities that benefit not just Cebu’s economy but the entire Central Visayas region as well,” Alfon said.

Alfon added that the public was given a first glimpse of the eight huge crosses that adorn the bridge that were blessed and lighted last April 15 as part of the 500 Years of Christianity celebrations in the Philippines.

These crosses were artistically designed taking inspiration from the cross planted by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan 500 years ago and is a proper tribute to Cebu being the cradle of Christianity.

Progress of CCLEX work

 CCLEC’s April 21 updates report said that installation of stay cables on CCLEX’s main bridge deck is ongoing with 28 of the required 56 cables are now up.  The installation of the stay cables is being done alongside the construction of the bridge deck.

At the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) on ramp section of the project, all its piers or structure support have been erected as well as the portal frame; piers and headstocks are ongoing and concreting of the roadway has also been done, the report read.

CCLEC said that the construction of the 200-meter permanent pedestrian footbridge is already completed with the installation of the six prefabricated walkways. 

The footbridge starts near the U-turn slot of the South Road Properties’ welcome tower and will serve as pedestrian’s access to the sidewalk of the CSCR on ramp. Sidewalks are provided in the entire stretch of CCLEX.

At the Cebu and Cordova viaducts, the installation of girders is underway, and the embankment works has also now reached the town of Cordova, particularly at the Mactan Circumferential Road, which is the end of the CCLEX connection in the town.

The report said that 20 units of vent pipes are scattered along the causeway’s stretch to equalize the flow of seawater in the Cordova Channel and as to the four low-lying bridges, all its foundation works have been completed. These bridges will serve as access of the Cordova fishermen to their fishing ground.

According to Alfon that the pandemic is still the biggest challenge for them to continue to address squarely the progress of work.  “We had expats stranded abroad, work slowdowns if a worker is tested positive but we do immediate contact tracing, and hopefully we can continue to manage well supply chain issues,” he added.

 Joint venture operations of CCLEX

CCLEC bared that the company, a subsidiary company of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) will maintain and operate the facility under a joint venture agreement with the Local Government Units of Cebu City and Cordova.

The CCLEX is designed to have two lanes in each direction with an estimated 50,000 vehicles daily easing the traffic at the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.  The bridge has a design speed of 80KPH with a navigational height of 51 meters to allow large vessels to pass underneath the bridge, CCLEC bared.

CCLEC is a wholly owned subsidiary of MPTC, the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), a publicly listed infrastructure holding company and a member of the MVP Group of Companies.

MPTC is the largest toll road concessionaire and operator in the Philippines, which expansion goals include establishing toll operations in the Visayas, other parts of the Philippines, and in neighboring countries notably Vietnam, and Indonesia. (Photos: CCLEX/CCLC)

 

 

 

 

DSWD-7 delivers over 3.3M face masks to Cebu for PWDs, disadvantaged groups

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Regional Field Office VII with other national government agencies (NGAs) produced and delivered 3,303,447 face masks to Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia for the distribution to persons with disabilities (PWDs), 4Ps beneficiaries, financially disadvantaged, and among others.

DSWD-7 regional director Rebecca Geamala said that the distribution of face masks is line with the Memorandum Order No. 49 directing all concerned government agencies to coordinate and pool their resources and efforts into the production and distribution of face masks.

Geamala added that this is support to the country’s stringent measures to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.  These face masks are to be given to the poor, vulnerable and the disadvantage groups.

The face masks will be distributed to the local government units with the help of the PNP.  “Our partnership with the provincial government of Cebu and Philippine National Police ensures that these masks will reach the beneficiaries, she said.

Governor Garcia in her message appreciated the DSWD for giving the face masks, which she promised to distribute these to the poor who are caught with no face masks.  

“Instead of having them pay fines, which would be another financial burden to them, they are to be given with face mask,” Garcia said. (Photos: DSWD7)

Toon City looks at Cebu as animation creative hub, source of animators in Visayas

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Manila-based Toon City, recognized as one of the top animation studios in the Philippines and the world, is now looking at Cebu to become the animation and creative hub and a major source of animators in the Visayas, according to TOON City company executives.

In a Virtual Animation Career Fair and Webinar conducted by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in cooperation with Toon City and Toon City Academy (TCA) on April 24, Roderico Rene de Guzman, vice president for Toon City and chief operations officer of TCA said that Toon City is looking for animators and is looking at Cebu as a possible source of animators.

“There’s a lot of work and we know for a fact that people in Cebu are very talented and we would like to expand our reach by asking the young people of Cebu to join Toon City or Toon City Academy,” De Guzman said.

Toon City, he said has been ranked 22nd best in the world is working with the likes of Disney, Warner Bros., and Universal Studios and presently the country’s animation industry revenues are placed at $20 to $30 million.

Developing Cebu as major hub for animation could also help boost the industry’s goal of increasing animation earnings to one percent of the $270-billion total global revenues for animation, De Guzman added.

Juan Miguel del Rosario, president and chief executive officer of Toon City noted that there’s a huge demand for animators in the country due to the rising demand for animation from global entertainment companies.

The TCA is the official training arm of Toon City, with veteran Filipino animators as instructors and it will start operations of its Cebu City facility by June this year.

Del Rosario said that jobs in animation industry pays well and provides jobs even for those who have not finished a four-year course. He added that 60 percent of their animators are non-college graduates.

He pointed out that animators earn from P24,000 to P25,000 monthly, which is not bad especially for those who haven’t finished a four-year college course and there are even some Toon City animators who earn up to P100,000 monthly.

“We believe in the creativity of the Cebuanos. We believe the talent (for animation) is in Cebu,” We would like to share this opportunity for Cebu to shine in the field of animation because we believe in the creativity of the Cebuanos and we’re really here to tap the talent of Cebuanos and provide opportunity for them to work with us,” Toon City executives said.

The company started accepting applications from those interested to work for Toon City and will continue to accept job applications, according to TCA-Cebu president MarioPanganiban that because the studio has a big client base, Toon City’s presence in Cebu will help provide job opportunities for Cebu-based animators,

Toon City will be bringing jobs and would not compete with local studios because they would need more people to cope with the big projects given to them.  TCA Cebu will provide training for animators to the level and quality required by the major global entertainment companies, Panganiban said.

Panganiban noted that the potential and possibilities are great for Cebu if it could prove that it has enough talents that meet the level their clients require.  Cebu’s creative sector could also look at other possible sources of revenue, Panganiban added.

Even if Toon City caters to the entertainment industry, Panganiban noted that Cebu could also cater the gaming industry.  In 2020, he bared that the global gaming market was valued at $162.32 billion. It is projected to increase to $295.63 billion by 2026.

 

 

 

CCCI to meet ERC for VECO probe on alleged high electric rates

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is set to meet with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in a virtual conference on April 26 for the review of the Visayan Electric Company, Inc.’s (VECO) power supply agreement (PSA) with its generator company Cebu Private Power Corporation (CPPC) in 2013 after it found substantive grounds on alleged anti-competitive behavior in the agreement and that its implementation is contrary to the requirement in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act  (EPIRA) that distribution utilities should supply electricity in the least cost.

CCCI’s appeal argued that the increase in generation rates for 2020 is largely attributable to the amount of capacity fee being paid by VECO to CCPC, which still includes Capital Recovery Fee (CRF). CRF is the cost for the recovery of capital or investment incurred in putting up the power plant, CCCI added.

According to CCCI that the CPPC power plant was constructed by East Asia Diesel Power Corporation for VECO under built-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme for a 15-year cooperation period which ended in November 2013.

However, a new supply contract for another 10 years was entered and approved by ERC, CCCI bared that to date, CPPC capacity fees are passed on to VECO consumers amounting to roughly P66-Million a month, on top of the generation cost. CPPC’s per kWh rate ranged from P26 to P1,470.92 per kwh in 2020, the appeal reads.

These allegations will be addressed by VECO in that virtual conference.  Cebu’s electricity has always been one of the most expensive power rates in the country, CCCI alleged.

In an ERC press release dated December 28, 2020, Chairperson and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera provided the range PhP3.9513/kWh to PhP5.0985/kWh as November 2020 generation charge by DUs in Luzon and Visayas, the highest range belonging to VECO.

Identifying electricity as a major cost driver and as one of the top obstacles in the ease and cost of doing business, the CCCI has been a staunched advocate of reasonable power rates in Cebu since 2019. (Photos: Google Images)

 

 

Cong. Frasco distributes over P15.3M scholarships aid to 5,300 Liloan students

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY –Fifth district representative Vincent Franco Frasco led the distribution of the 2^nd tranche of scholarships worth P15.3-Million to 5,300 scholars of Liloan town, Cebu on April 21-22 under its Liloan Scholarship Program which the Congressman started when he was the mayor of Liloan.

Frasco with his wife, Liloan mayor Christina Frasco, Vice Mayor Thelma Jordan, Sangguniang Bayan members, and Mike Villamor distributed the assistance in Barangays Cabadiangan, Mulao, Cotcot, Jubay, Calero, Tayud, and Yati on April 21 and in Barangays Catarman, Poblacion, San Vicente, Santa Cruz, Lataban, San Roque, and Tabla on April 22.

Frasco said that a total of 200 Smart LTE Pocket Wifi devices were also raffled off during the distribution events from Liloan’s Partnership with Smart to provide better connectivity to students amidst the pandemic.

“Education has always been the number one priority of Team Frasco, helping thousands of young people achieve their dreams for a better life through education,” Frasco said.

Yap lauds shipping investments amid pandemic

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

TAGBILARAN CITY – Bohol governor lauded Lite Shipping Corporation for its continuous investment despite the pandemic as it launched a new vessel, the M/V Lite Ferry Nine on April 24 at the ship’s cargo hull.

The vessel is scheduled to travel from Jagna to Cagayan de Oro every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10 p.m. and from Cagayan de Oro to Jagna every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10 p.m.

Yap governor joined Lite Shipping Corporation Commercial Operations Head Jethro Lim Imboy during the blessing and launching of the new boat.  Yap cited the importance of showing everyone that even with the worldwide pandemic, daily lives should go on and the economy keeps rolling.

He said the decision of the company to expand as something right and is greatly appreciated while Imboy agreed with the governor that contributing to the movement of the economy is akin to saving lives.

The new 70-meter long coastwise ferry can accommodate 400 passengers and 17 ten-wheeler trucks. (Photos: Google Images)

 

 

The rise of community pantries amid the lack of ‘ayuda’

CEBU CITY – Senator Imee Marcos issued a statement supporting the rise of community pantries as proof of the resiliency of Filipinos “that we can stand on our own two feet amid the pandemic, that we can fight hunger and the pandemic in any way we can for our families.”

Marcos said that the emergence of community pantries is also proof that “Bayanihan” is very much alive, though it also mirrors the lack of government aid. The exclusion of many from the DSWD’s flawed list has caused confusion and disorder.

“We can only hope that government aid is better organized, expedited, and most of all augmented for families hit by the disease and that have lost their livelihood. Let’s go all out to help our fellowmen!” Marcos added.

Marcos said her office is rolling out #ImeeKadiwa in different poor communities to offer cheaper, discounted prices on food and other “essentials.” 

She is also giving out #IMEEmalunggay to those with some space for planting even in garden pots, the nutritious moringa oleifera – when grown in quantity, malunggay powder and oil can be extracted to provide a livelihood for mothers.

“We also have #IMEEtrabaho that offers thousands of jobs for janitors to professionals in various companies.  Let’s not lose hope. Community pantry or whatever form of bayanihan, each of us has an #IMEEsolusyon to fight the pandemic!” she said.