Marcos prods govt to stop lockdowns, time to live with the virus

CEBU CITY – Senator Imee Marcos prodded the government to stop lockdowns as a default measure in controlling the COVI-19 pandemic and instead improve testing capacity to detect cases of infection early and isolate them immediately.

“Living with the virus should be our goal than achieving a zero-Covid target. Lockdowns are reactive, not proactive,” Marcos explained.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, said that the 2022 budget must seriously fund the country’s testing capacity to prevent the blanket disruption in livelihood, income generation, and overall economic growth.

The senator credited the government for lowering the pandemic’s reproduction rate since the August lockdown but added that unless testing capacity is improved to guard the gains that have been made, the country will be stuck in a constant rehash of alert levels and quarantine protocols.

The Covid-19 reproduction rate in the country, which reached a high of 2.04 in March 2020, has gone down this year from a high of 1.32 percent last March to 0.52 percent this week.

 

 

 

Expect tourism, economic devt in CV with DOTr’s projects in the aviation sector here

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

LAPULAPU CITY – With the series of transport initiatives in the aviation sector in Cebu, expect tourism and economic development in the province and the rest of Central Visayas as transportation secretary Arthur Tugade inaugurated the new corporate building at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) on October 28 with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

  
“What we are doing now in Cebu is creating a platform for a tourism booster.  We are creating a platform to boost Cebu Province’s tourism and economic development,” Tugade explained that the improvement works at the MCIA, and the improvement and construction of three other airports in the province will propel Cebu Province as a good place for business.

“As we improve the existing airport and the terminal, as we add a second runway for the MCIA, we are telling the whole world: “Come to Cebu. It is a place for business.’” Tugade said during the inauguration of the MCIAA Corporate Building.

The Corporate Building was completed on March 21, 2021 and will house MCIAA employees in centralized offices with advanced equipment and facilities. The six-storey facility aims to improve services and accessibility to airport stakeholders.

Tugade and his team also inspected the airport’s secondary runway, which is expected to be completed in May 2022.  He revealed that partial operations of the second runway may begin before the end of April 2022 to enable MCIA accommodate more aircrafts.

Tugade said that the MCIAA targets to increase its passenger cap from 1,000 to 2,000 passengers to accommodate travelers, returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and Filipino seafarers, in anticipation of the influx of passengers during the Christmas season.

In the same event, the CAAP provided the group with updates for other airport projects, including the progress and development of the Bantayan Airport in Bantayan Island and the construction of Medellin Airport in Medellin town and Camotes Airport San Fransisco town.

In awe of Cebu’s tourist gems, Tugade bared that the DOTr has been pushing for the completion of the Bantayan Airport, adding that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s office committed P150 million to fast track the completion of the gateway, which he said will be operational in April 2022.

He also vowed to oversee the start of construction and completion of the Camotes and the Medellin airports.  “Tututukan ko ang pag-umpisa ng airport sa Camotes Island at Medellin. Tatapusin ko ‘yan. Makikipagtulungan ako upang mabigyang buhay ang pag-uumpisa at pagtatapos ng mga airport na ito,” Tugade said.

MCIAA General Manager Julius Neri, Jr., explained that aside from the MCIA, “will have two airports that will be serving the tourism industry, while the Medellin Airport will have a different purpose—it will be developed into an export processing zone.”

The development projects at the MCIA and construction of airports in Cebu strengthen DOTr’s continuous pursuit of providing world-class and reliable service to air passengers and help achieve economic growth and development in Cebu and the whole Central Visayas region. (Photos: DOTr)

Pier 88, SEABUS to decongest traffic, spur biz devt in northern Cebu

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

LILOAN, Cebu – Pier 88, a new commercial port in Liloan, Cebu and entry of eight Seabus ferry services from Liloan to Mactan are expected to decongest traffic and spur business/economic development in northern Cebu.

Developed and introduced by the Topline Group of Companies, Pier 88 and Seabus ferry projects were envisioned by the local government unit of Liloan some seven years ago to ease the burden of more than 10,000 commuters and workers from Liloan and other Cebu north towns to the Mactan Economic Processing Zone (MEPZ).

Pier 88 and Topline Group of Companies president and CEO Eugene Erik Lim, in his presentation during the onsite inauguration of Pier 88 and Seabus christening on October 24 that Pier 88 is a 3-phase Port/Commercial development spanning a land area of approximately 3 hectares and is being developed in partnership with Liloan LGU, Viking Land, FL International and the Topline Group of Companies.

Lim said that this is a mixed-use development that offers commercial spaces for lease to house house restaurants offering al fresco dining with the added attraction of a sea front vista, affording diners a scenic view with the gentle ocean breeze.

Slated to be fully operational in mid-2023, Pier 88 serves as a faster alternative route for commuters and is expected to bring enhanced connectivity and mobility serving as a marine highway linking Liloan to the rest of the island of Cebu as well as an economic gateway for Northern Cebu.

In addition to Pier 88 is the new Topline Seabus, a modern passenger vessel that can accommodate approximately 150 passengers and equipped with state-of-the art engines that will be launched on October 2021 and will be serving this new marine route of Liloan, Cebu-Mactan, Cebu and vice versa, making it convenient to travel to and from mainland Cebu.

Trips from Liloan to Cebu City and Mactan Island and vice-versa will soon be shortened from the usual two hours to only 30-45 minutes.  Convenient and traffic-free commute will soon be available to the residents, businesses and visitors of Liloan with Pier 88.

Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia said during the same event that this milestone in Liloan is a welcome development for the entire Cebu Province as these challenge the other local government units to work harder for more economic spillover to the other towns and cities of the province.

Garcia said that these are visionary projects that would propel Liloan town to greater heights and hopefully in the future, Liloan becomes a city.

Liloan mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco said that these developments in Liloan has been the town’s dream seven or eight years ago with former mayor Duke Frasco, now the congressman of Cebu’s fifth district. “It was a dream with friends that came into being today,” she added.

Cebu’s 5^th district congressman Duke Frasco thanked Topline Group of Companies and all the partners for making these milestone projects possible and he pledged to continue to support development and economic projects not only for Liloan but for the 5^th district and for Cebu Province as well.

Among Frasco's projects that are now underway are the Camotes Airport, Liloan-Danao-Asturias road and two new universities for Liloan and Borbon towns.

Guests during the inauguration included Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Brigitte Lim-Mueller, vice president of operations of Topline Group of Companies, Jopher Bugtai, Pier 88 Ventures, Inc operations & accounts officer,  Bryan Joe Valencia of LVC Asia, Inc. and local officials from Liloan. (Photos: Robby Alugar/RMANews)

 

 

Childlink, Zonta Club of Cebu II hold webinars on issues of wellbeing, child marriage

CEBU CITY -- Childlink Learning Center and High School Inc. and Zonta Club of Cebu City II joined hands to conduct a webinar on October 16 with Karen Espiritu, a life coach and training facilitator on caring for one’s wellbeing and their advocacy of ending child marriages as issues for discussion.

A survey conducted on the psychological impact of the pandemic here in the Philippines showed that 13.4 percent of the respondents experience moderate to severe stress levels. Those affected include students and the youth.

Survey results said that prolonged home-stay and reports of poor health status as well as unnecessary worry, concerns for family members, and discrimination were among the causes with greater psychological impact of the pandemic and higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression.

To address any adverse effects of the pandemic, Childlink Learning Center and High School Inc. and their students participated in the webinar that focused on how one can take care one’s self, Maria Theresa Tio, Childlink managing director and president explained.

 

Espiritu, in her presentation said that a person’s well-being is one of the things that every person can control. This can be done by being mindful, by taking time to reflect on their lives, by praying and meditating.

She urged participants to make a gratitude list of the things they have so that they could recognize their blessings, cherish these and be thankful for it.  Being physically active reduces negative thoughts and improves cognitive function, Espiritu noted.

Espiritu also encouraged the participants to learn new things and new skills so that their minds would not dwell on the pandemic and how it has affected them. Acquiring new skills and knowledge can also help open opportunities for each person in the future

Espiritu also stressed the importance of continuous connection and interaction with their loved ones so they could form positive relationships that could provide comfort, strength and support. Finally, by being generous, giving to others and sharing with others as much as they can, are ways of dealing with the stress brought about by the pandemic.  By doing so, one can develop a sense of reward as well as spread positivity.

Sachi Lozano, an 18-year old advocate, joined the webinar to introduce the Adversity Archive, an online publication and a youth organization that focuses on stories of adversity of Filipinos that aims to bridge the marginalized with those who have the desire to learn about them and can help.

Based on the reaction papers of written by Childlink students, they admit that the pandemic has affected them. The webinar helped them realize that they have much to thank for in their lives. Students also recognize that there are things that they can do to minimize the stress and anxiety brought about by the pandemic.

 Webinar on child marriage

Another webinar on October 23 organized by Zonta Club of Cebu II in collaboration with the Z Club of Childlink High School Cebu featured the topic on Child Marriage entitled "No Time to Lose: End Child Marriage Now" in observance of the United Nations Day.

The UN Day activity featured We Are Girls, Not Brides Video while chosen members of the Childlink Z Club presented three stories of different child brides in different parts of the world.

 

The webinar also featured a lyric video on Ending Child Marriage that was made by the Grade 9 Z Club of Childlink members.

According to a post on the Philippine Commission on Women website, 15 percent of Filipino girls are married before their 18th birthday and two percent are married before the age of 15.

The UNICEF also reported that the Philippines has the 12th highest absolute number of child brides in the world at 726,000.

Tio explained that Childlink has been promoting awareness among their students on societal issues. “This is one of the highlights in our curriculum,” she said.

On the campaign against child marriages, Linkers help by disseminating information on child marriages. High School students made a lot of infographics to describe what child marriage is and this advocacy on Ending Child Marriage was launched by the Z Club of Childlink in October 2020.

These are being shared by the Linkers to their friends and acquaintances as their way of helping in the campaign. Childlink has lined up various activities during the month of November in celebration of the National Children’s Month. (Photos: Robby Alugar)

25 local environmental officers, focal persons of LGUs in CV train on Risk Exposure Maps

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Twenty-five local environmental officers, focal persons, DRRM council officers and planning officers; health and social welfare officers, DepEd officials, police and other uniformed men; associations of barangay councils, indigenous peoples’ organizations, women and other local organizations from the towns of Loon, Batuan, and Sierra Bullones in Bohol Province; Sibulan, Negros Oriental; and Alcoy, Cebu are now trained on how to use the Risk Exposure Maps (REMs).

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7)-Geosciences Division conducted this training as the result of its virtual Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign in October this year, its second virtual IEC on Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) conducted during the pandemic and travel restrictions were imposed.

“The VRA is a continuing program of the MGB related to the geohazard assessment and mapping program of the government. The bureau has been in the forefront of conducting field surveys and assessments to generate information on geological hazards,” MGB7 Regional Director Armando Malicse said.

Malicse said that REMs show the vulnerable areas in each of the local government units. Elements at risk such as population, build up areas, and road networks were considered for the REMs which show each element’s percentage of exposure to landslides and flooding.  These are now ready for distribution to the five LGUs in the region.

The final output of the VRA are risk exposure maps which serve as decision-making tools that the local governments can use before and after disaster planning. The information provided by the maps can help reduce damage and prevent casualties that may happen when flooding and landslides occur in an area, Malicse added.

 

MGB-7 ensured that the maps are clearly understood by the key personnel on planning and development as well as disaster risk reduction and management at the LGU levels.

MGB-7 Geosciences Division Chief Al Emil Birador thanked the participation and cooperation of the participants from LGUs.   Other topics discussed according to Birador included National Geohazard Assessment Program; Presentation of the Updated Geohazard Susceptibility Map; Introduction to VRA Project, Methodology-Risk Exposure Assessment; Presentation of Risk Exposure Maps (REMs), and Gender Issues in a Disaster. (Photos: MGB7/Google Images)

 

 

Chorale group from Cebu wins grand prix prize in choral festival in Korea

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Jose R. Gullas Visayas Chorale of Cebu City won the Grand Prix prize in the 2021 Busan Choral Festival & Competition in South Korea, the first virtual choir competition streamed online from October 21-24 represented by 21 participating choirs from South Korea, Indonesia, China, Malaysia and the Philippines with the tagline “NOTHING CAN STOP US FROM SINGING TOGETHER”.

In its official Facebook page @RGVisayasChorale the group thanked all the people who contributed in making the winning piece Saunder Choi’s “DINDIKAN” a world class music piece from the set of Three Philippine Children’s Songs (Tatlong Awiting Pambata) adapted from a Maguindanaoan folk theme.

The JRGVC is conducted by Anna Tabita Abeleda-Piquero the choirmaster, supported by Nena Gullas and the late Jose R. Gullas the founder of the group and they have been competing in various chorale festivals and competitions in many parts of the world.

JRGVC said it shares this win to all Filipinos that despite the pandemic, the group has remained resilient and once again conquered the international stage of chorale competition.  Three other participants from the other categories earned an award representing the Philippines.

They are Ryle Nicole Custodio with “Tagu-taguan” GoTld Prize winner under the composition category; Mapua Cardinal Singers with “Leron, Leron Sinta” Silver Prize winner under the acapella category; and a special prize for Baao Children & Youth Choir as the Artistic Director Prize.

 

 

 

 

Marcos calls on DAR to increase its scholarship grants in its 2022 budget

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Senator Imee Marcos urged the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to increase its funding for scholarship grants in its proposed budget for 2022, citing that at present it was less than one percent of the Php400 million allotted for a similar program for coconut farmers.

Marcos has called out DAR for approving only 33 scholarship grants for which thousands of children of land reform beneficiaries had applied.

“We’ve had the longest land reform program on earth! Besides awarding farmers the land they till, education for their children will give the goal of land reform a truly happy ending. More were disappointed than delighted, considering education is now more expensive due to the pandemic,” Marcos said Thursday which marked the 50th year since Presidential Decree 27 launched the country’s land reform program.

Marcos noted that only Php2.357 million was spent for scholarship grants, even as Php800 million in DAR funds remain parked in the now controversial PS-DBM (Procurement Service - Department of Budget and Management), which government agencies have used to make unspent funds appear obligated and keep them from being returned to the national treasury.

“There’s a lack of vision and dedication here, when DAR scrimps on benefits for those they are supposed to serve while Commission on Audit (COA) flags the parking of Php800 million in unliquidated funds in PS-DBM,” Marcos said.

Marcos added that the DAR can improve its accomplishment record in distributing land to more farmers if areas “less problematic” than the Bicol, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas regions were given more attention. (Photos: DAR)

 

 

NNC-7 to help strengthen local devolution of nutrition programs in CV

 MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The National Nutrition Council (NNC-7)-Region VII met with all the Local Chief Executives (LCEs) in Central Visayas in a virtual forum on Nutrition Devolution last October 15 to strengthen further the local nutrition programs and aimed to engage their support in the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) which is an integral part of the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.

According to Dr. Parolita Mission, MMC-7 regional nutrition coordinator that the event hopes to resonate practices of Nutrition Champions at the LGUs of the region, encourage the inclusion of the nutrition priority programs in the devolution transition plan, ensure inclusion of the nutrition interventions in the 2022 AIP, and provide mechanism for LCEs to share their best practices in nutrition program management.

Mission said the forum talked about how the local government units (LGUs) in the region can achieve the nutrition targets set by the PPAN to ensure a healthier and secured life of Filipinos, especially the children.

It factors in and considers commitments to the global community as embodied in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals the 2025 Global Targets for Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition, and the International Conference on Nutrition, Mission explained.

“Achieving the targets is a challenge as many gaps are still apparent in the nutrition program in the country and in the region.  One of the major challenges that has been persistent through the years particularly in Central Visayas Is the functionality of Local Nutrition Committee (LNC),” Mission stated.

She said that as of June 2021, DILG- 7 reported that only 25.7 percent of LNCs are fully functional; 35.3 percent are substantially functional; 22.8 percent are partially functional, and 7.4 percent are non-functional.

This poor performance could be attributed to the lack of personnel to oversee and manage the nutrition programs, Mission added that this is further aggravated by the demands imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the country which demanded focus by local health workers.

It left the nutrition program in the region stagnant as evidenced by the high magnitude of malnutrition in 2020.  Based on OPT Plus 2020, specifically 60,819 or 10.1 percent were chronically malnourished or stunted; 24,869 or 4.2 percent are underweight; 16,211 or 2.7 percent were overweight/obese and 14,382 or 2.4 percent were acutely malnourished wasted.  

With these data, the Central Visayas Regional Nutrition Committee (CV-RNC) seeks to secure important pieces of policy and budgetary support that will enable the LGUs for a better implementation of the PPAN and ensure that programs and activities are implemented at the LGU level

The Mandanas-Garcia Ruling or devolution of nutrition to LGUs could be the golden opportunity to help in filling the gaps and challenges of implementing the PPAN programs, Mission stated.

 

This could address the issues that hinder the implementation of these nutrition programs at the LGUs such as insufficient budget and lack of dedicated staff to oversee and manage the nutrition programs at barangay levels.

Those local governments who do not have nutrition offices, full time Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs) who can provide technical support and render direct nutrition services will now have enough resources to ensure that the necessary budgetary support for nutrition will be given through the devolution, Mission said. (Photos: NNC7)