Cebu Port Authority unveils major seaport dev’t worth P80.8M

CEBU CITY – The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) unveiled major development project at Berths 29-30, Cebu Baseport on Friday, December 9 as one of the key infrastructure projects locally funded and implemented by CPA at a corporate budget of Ph80.8M involving the Repair and Expansion of RC Deck inside Cebu Baseport located behind Malacañan sa Sugbo Area.

“It is undeniable that the Port of Cebu has endured the impacts of Typhoon Odette, but we are very happy that CPA was able to bounce back and build better to deliver safe, effective and efficient port services to our local and international port stakeholders,” CPA Acting Deputy General Manager Glenn Castillo said during the unveiling event.

The completed project is part of the 14 repair and rehab projects of damaged facilities due to typhoon Odette that CPA is implementing and out of these 14 projects, nine have already been completed, Castillo bared that there are still five ongoing set of projects that are expected to be completed at the end of the year or within the first quarter of 2023.

(These were some of the 'before' photos damaged by typhoon Odette)

This new port facility is expected to give a competitive advantage for the Port of Cebu to provide additional berthing space for tramp vessels at the Cebu Baseport to help ease vessel traffic and reduce or even eliminate vessel waiting time.

 This development will also address the needs of its users as the Port of Cebu which serves as one of the primary maritime gateways for commerce, trade, and tourism in the country, Castillo added.

Gracing the event were congresswoman Rachel Marguerite Del Mar, daughter of the late Cong. Raul Del Mar who sponsored the law creating the CPA and partners from Cebu’s shipping sector, cargo handling service providers and partner government agencies in the maritime sector.

As part of government’s recovery efforts from the impacts of Typhoon Odette, CPA has implemented the repair and rehabilitation of eight CPA managed port passenger terminal facilities and six berthing facilities with a total budget of P244.8 million pesos.

To mark this milestone, CPA also held a Blessing and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Port of Punta Engaño, Lapu-lapu City, Cebu on December 9.  The port of Punta Engaño was one of the hardly hit port facilities and suffered major damage from Typhoon Odette. (Photos: CPA/MK Borlasa)

 

 

 

 

 

Fort San Pedro lights up orange from Nov 25-Dec 18 for campaign to end VAWC

CEBU CITY – Cebu and the Philippines’ iconic landmark, Fort San Pedro dons an orange exterior lighting from November 25 to December 18, 2022 in support to the annual nationwide campaign to end violence against women and children (VAWC) as strongly endorsed by the Department of Tourism (DOT)– Central Visayas.

According to DOT undersecretary, Shahlimar Hofer Tamayo, DOT-7 joins the entire country, particularly national government departments and agencies and local governments to actively participate in the campaign and to further raise awareness towards eliminating trafficking of women and children and violence against them in communities and workplaces.

“We hope that as we light up Fort San Pedro, we ignite the fire of courage for women and children suffering in silence, showing them that there are ways out of this condition. We also hope to send out a strong message that violence – emotional, sexual, physical, financial – has no place in Philippine society and especially, where we operate,” Tamano said.

He further bared that DOT-7 will hold various Workshops on Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) in December specifically “Arnis” and highlighting FMA as a self-defense option for victims of domestic and workplace violence.

Tamano added that Section 3 of Republic Act 9593 (The Tourism Act of 2009) upholds the principle of promoting the general well-being of the Filipino people, including preventing the exploitation of women and children in the tourism sector.

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), now on its 20th year also spearheads the country’s participation in the UN Campaign that banners ‘UNiTEd for a VAW-free Philippines’ sustaining the gains from its 2016 to 2021 theme “VAW-free Community Starts with Me.” It proposes strength in combining individual efforts to achieve high-impact results.

The Philippines headlined its first year of participation in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with the call to action of immediate passage of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (R.A. 9208) which was signed into law in 2003.

More laws were passed in succeeding years, including the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (R.A. 9262) in 2004. Inter-agency councils and committees tasked with overseeing the popularization and implementation of said laws have been created. (Photos: DOT7-FB/google Images)

VISCOM reports positive track on BDP implementation in ELCAC barangays in Visayas

 CAMP LAPULAPU, Cebu City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-Visayas Command said implementation of the 335 infrastructure and non-infra projects that were programmed for the Visayas region under the Barangay Development Program (BDP) is on track, 72 of which were completed while the remaining 263 are currently being implemented.

“The joint efforts of our soldiers, the LGUs and our partner stakeholders in attaining these worthwhile projects continue to gain ground, as manifested on the diminishing support from the community to the CPP-NPA terrorists,” VISCOM acting commander, Major General Benedict Arevalo noted.

The implementation of these projects to these former conflict-affected communities plays a significant role in the government’s efforts to attain just and lasting peace in the region. These projects provide a semblance of governance to these communities which help negate the agitation and propaganda of the CPP – NPA terrorists, Arevalo added.

The BDP is the hallmark campaign of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to bring development to former conflict-ridden communities through the implementation of various socioeconomic development projects, Arevalo said.

 Of the 72 completed BDP projects, 25 are infrastructure projects and 47 of which are non-infrastructure projects.  These projects include school buildings; potable water systems; farm-to-market roads; health care facilities, road lighting systems, and livelihood projects.

These benefitted 77 barangays; 41 from Iloilo, 24 from Negros Occidental, six from Northern Samar, four from Capiz, and two from Antique. 

Recently, VISCOM completed School Building Project under Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) at Brgy Cababalan, Himamaylan, City, Negros Occidental.  Another completed concrete road project under the SBDP in the same City was inspected by BGen Inocencio Pasaporte, Commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade with members of San Carlos City TF-ELCAC.

Another ongoing School Building Project under SBDP is at Barangay Quezon, Catarman, Northern Samar.

Lt Col Manuel Digay Jr, the Commanding Officer of 43rd Infantry Battalion with the Barangay Officials of Barangay Bobon, Calantiao, Northern Samar headed by the Punong Barangay, Nilda Sapatos conducted ocular inspection of the newly completed Health Care Facility project under the BDP of Barangay Bobon. (Photos: AFP-VisCom/FB)

MCCI calls for donations, launches “Pasilong para sa Paradise sa Pasko”

MANDAUE CITY – The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) calls for donations and launches the “Pasilong Para sa Paradise sa Pasko” fund campaign to extend its full support to the Mandaue City Government's efforts to implement a temporary transition housing program for the estimated 700 families that lost their homes in a recent fire in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City.

MCCI Board of Director Beverly Dayanan, Chair of the “Pasilong Para sa Paradise sa Pasko” Program said that with the Mandaue City Government, MCCI aims to ensure that these displaced families will have at least a temporary home this Christmas pending the construction of the National Government’s Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program.

“It will be such a joy for us to share the true meaning of Christmas by sharing our blessings to those in need and we appeal to your generous hearts to give a family a home for Christmas,” Dayanan stated.

“Pasilong” is Cebuano term for shelter. Aptly so, “Pasilong Para sa Paradise sa Pasko” aims to provide temporary transition housing for the displaced families through the generosity of donor companies, institutions, and individuals. The program will be implemented in four phases with the first phase of 100 homes targeted for turn-over to the beneficiaries within December 2022.

The estimated cost for each house structure is Php70,000.00.  Mandaue Chamber aims to bridge and channel donations between the private sector and the Mandaue City Government to expeditiously implement and complete the construction of 700 homes for the 2,500 victims of the fire-hit Sitio Paradise in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City.

MCCI welcomes donations in cash which may be deposited directly through Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. through CTBC Bank Phils. Corp. Mandaue Branch, G/F Diamond Plaza Bldg. National Highway, Mandaue City, Account Number 402016002450 SwiftCode: CTCBPHMM.

Corresponding proof of deposit is requested for proper acknowledgement and tracking of donations. These may be emailed to betchaycodina@gmail.com and pamelamarieleorna@gmail.com. Donations in kind are welcome, preferably for construction materials specified in the bill of materials.

For any concerns or inquiries, please connect with us through our Facebook page Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry or contact Cyrus Honoridez at 09173147912.

Casa Gorordo kicks off year-long 40th anniversary series

CEBU CITY -- Casa Gorordo Museum kicked off on December 6 a year-long series of events ahead of its 40th Anniversary in December 2023.  Casa Gorordo is Cebu’s first museum opened for public awareness and education on Cebuano hetitage and culture. 

 The museum’s role in cultural advocacy was highlighted in presentations at the brief opening event Tuesday where its 40th Anniversary brand image and theme was unveiled.

National Artist for Literature Dr. Resil Mojares, Amaya Aboitiz Fansler, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), Former RAFI-Culture and History Program Officer Ruel Rigor and Casa Gorordo Curator Florencio Moreno II shared their individual recollections of specific periods in the history of the iconic house-museum.

Recently repainted to engender a more authentic experience of life in the colonial Cebu of the late 1800s and early 1900s, Casa Gorordo reopened in October after a two-year hiatus. The museum has been thoughtfully re-organized and restored as more and more information on the colonial lifestyle is unearthed. New technologies have also been adopted to promote a more immersive visitor experience.

 A National Historical Landmark, Casa Gorordo Museum, is one of the Philippines’ cultural and historical treasures. It was built in the mid-1800s and acquired by the Spanish merchant Juan Isidro de Gorordo in 1863.

Four generations of the family lived in the house, including Cebu’s first Filipino bishop, Juan Gorordo, until it was acquired by the RAFI in 1980. It opened as a museum in 1983. (Photos: Casa Gorordo FB/Jinjing Marino)

DSWD-7 launches Listahanan 3 with 453,961 poor households in Central Visayas

CEBU CITY—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Regional Field Office VII officially launched on December 1, the result of the Listahanan third round household assessment from enumerating all household in rural-classified barangays and pockets of urban poverty in urban-classified barangays.

Listahanan3 in Central Visayas identified some 453,961 poor households. The Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor are in various areas in the country.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero said during the launching at Bai Hotel in Mandaue City that the third assessment was implemented in 2019 which identified a total of 453,961 or 42.11 percent who belongs to poor households in the region.

    

DSWD-7 identified 84,343 poor households are found in Bohol; 220,112 poor households are in Cebu while 146,669 poor households are in Negros Oriental and 2,837 poor households are in Siquijor.

“We have identified those poor households in the region out of the 1,078,079 assessed households in Central Visayas,” Lucero bared.

She added that the household was assessed based on their composition, the members’ highest educational attainment and occupation, features of the housing structure and access to basic services or facilities like water, electricity and sanitary toilet. 

Household’s ownership of assets, tenure status of housing among others were also included in the interview.  All collected information from the household went through a process using a scientific method called Proxy Means Test (PMT).

This is the third time the Listahan household assessment has been conducted.  The first Listahan was conducted in 2009 and the 2nd assessment was in 2015, Lucero bared. (Photos: DSWD-7)

 

 

Nearly 14,800 volunteers complete 731 community projects in CV

CEBU CITY— More than 14,799 volunteers from the KALAHI-CIDSS program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Regional Field Office VII completed 731 sub-projects in various communities and local government units (LGU) in 2020 benefitting 921,416 people and employed some 7,191 workers with more than P89.749M in total earnings for the communities in Central Visayas.

In a Community Volunteers Forum 2022 on November 29 at Golden Valley Hotel, more than 50 volunteers and representatives from the various LGUs in Central Visayas were present for this ceremonial payout for beneficiaries of the livelihood settlement grant and volunteers’ forum to showcase their experiences as program volunteers and to inspire others to be part of nation building at the community level on a project-based support ecosystem.

DSWD assistant secretary for the Visayas, Maria Evelyn Macapobre encouraged community volunteers to continue the work of partnership with KALAHI-CIDSS because they are now considered as partners of development at the community level.

Macapobre went on that the KALAHI-CIDSS is a noble engagement of government and the community to plan, work and complete projects that the community  needs, putting in sweat and commitment equity as government’s partners for local development.

The Volunteers’ Forum also highlighted the participants sharing of their experiences with the program that somehow transform their way of thinking of how development works.  They did creative interpretation and discussion with the other volunteers present at the forum.

According to a group of volunteers from Cebu, the KALAHI-CIDSS deepened their understanding of how effective and efficient the community-driven development (CDD) approach is in community engagement to local development.

DSWD-7 also introduced the CDD Patroller during last week’s Volunteers’ Forum.  The CDD Patroller is a way to strengthen the advocacy of the KALAHI-CIDSS and to increase awareness on the importance of the CDD approach in building better communities in the country.

Ceremonial payout for the Livelihood Settlement Grant program

On the same day, DSWD-7 also held a ceremonial payout for the beneficiaries of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BP2P)-Livelihood Settlement Grant to 50 beneficiaries across the region amounting to P2.5M for this ceremonial payout.

According to Emma Patalinghog, OIC-Division Chief of Promotive Services Division of DSWD7 that in this ceremonial payout, DSWD-7 has granted a total of P31.0M to 646 families for this year.  These families had been relocated back to their respective communities in Central Visayas from various areas in the country under the Balik Probinsya program of the DSWD.

Macapobre, in her inspirational message told the beneficiaries and the volunteers that these grants and other livelihood programs of the agency is a testimony of the government’s concern and care of the poor.

“These funds come from the convergence of services, funds and other development programs for the families who want to come back to their respective places, homes and rebuild permanent families.” Macapobre called on all the beneficiaries to take care of the funds and used the money for what it is intended for under the Balik Probinsya program. (Photos: MBCNewman)