Cebu local news (daily update)

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Mipusil sa mananagat sa lungsod sa Consolacion gipangita

CEBU, Philippines - Gipangita sa kapolisan angsuspetsado nga mipusil patay sa silingan niining mananagat didto sa sitio Lawis,barangay Jugan,lungsod sa Consolacion sa miaging adlaw.
Si Rolando Artizuela,22,nga taga Lawis, maoy gitumbok nga suspetsado sa pagpusil patay ni Joel Magale, 46, nga iyang silingan.
Si PO2 Joevani Mabano nga nahinabi sa Banat News, miingon nga si Bernadeth, 32, nga asawa sasuspetsado mibutyag ngasayo pa sa buntag nga milakaw ang iyang bana ug wala siya masayod kun diin kini paingon kay wala naman mouli sa ilaha.
Dugang pa ni PO2 Mabano nga nagkaaway ang biktima ug ang suspetsado samtang nanagat sila sa kadagatan sa barangay Jugan.
Dihangmidunggo sila sa Lawis, ang suspetsadong nagdumot mikuha sa iyang armas nga wala hisayri ang kalibre ug giluthang patay niini ang biktima.
Gisuta pa sa kapolisanang hinungdansa away sa biktima ug suspetsado

Kawatang babaye nasikop

CEBU, [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]Philippines[/COLOR][/COLOR]
- Usa ka 23-anyos nga babaye kinsa giingong notadong kawatannasikop sa kapolisan sa dakbayan sa Naga human kini pasanginling nanglungkab ug nangawat sa mga butang ug kwarta sa iyang silingan kagahapon sa kaadlawon didto sa barangay Tanke II, dakbayan sa Naga.
Ang nagtingkagol karon sa City of Naga detention cell mao si Florafe Adatu alyas “Princess” taga barangay Tanke II, Naga human siya pasanginling milungkab sa balay sa iyang silingan nga si Emma Navarro, 46.
Si PO2 Miguel Castañares, duty desk officer sa City of Naga Police Station nga nahinabi sa Banat News kagahapon nagkanayon nga giingong giguba ni Adatu ang bintana sa kusina sa balay ni Navarro hinungdan nga nakasulod kini.
Nadala ni Adatu ang usa ka Acer laptop nga nagkantidad og P24 mil, duha ka Nokia cellphone nga wala mapiho ang mga kantidad, usa ka Sony Ericson nga cellphone, P8,000, [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]usa[/COLOR][/COLOR] ka Cherry mobile cellphone, P1,200, usa ka pitaka nga dunay sulod nga P3 mil nga kwarta, ATM card sa Banco De Oro, voter’s ID ug pastoral ID.
May laing clutch bag nga gisudlan usab sa usa ka pitaka nga dunay kwartang P320, ATM card sa Banco De Oro ug school ID. Si PO2 Castañares nagkanayon nga adunay nakakita kang Adatu nga nagdala sa nahisgutang mga butang lakip naang drayber sa habal-habal nga iyang gisakyan.
Si Adatu duha na kahigayon kaniadto nga gipa-blotter ni Navarro nga nangawat sa sulod sa ilang balay.
Si Adatu nasikop sa mga alas 10:00 kagahapon sa buntag didtosa barangay Lunas, bukirang barangay sa Naga human sa gipahigayong follow-up operation ni SPO4 George Canomon.
Apan usa lang sa mga cellphone ang nabawi sa mga polis gikan sa maong suspetsado.


Gibutyag ni Castañares nga si Adatu menor de edad pa kini nga kanunaynilang masikop tungod sa mga reklamo sa mga silingan bahin sa iyang pagpangawat, apan buhian usab nila tungod kay dili pa man siya mapasakaan og kaso kaniadto.
Ang maong suspetsado gikataho usab nga mosaka-sakasa mga barko nga modunggo diha sa Naga ug gireklamo sa ubang mga tripulante nga nangawat sa ilang mga personal nga butang.
Si Castañares midugang nga si Adatugikatakdang pasakaan og kasong robbery sa provincial prosecutor’s office.


Gitangkugo pagpusil namatay

CEBU, [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]Philippines[/COLOR][/COLOR] - Namatay ang usa ka 22-anyos nga lalaki dihang gitangkugo kini pagpusil sa wala hiilhing kriminal atubangan sa iyang kainomdidto sa sitio Magay, barangay Tanke, dakbayan sa Talisay sa miagingkaadlawon.
Ang biktima mao si Mark Anthony Abapo, 22, nga taga sitio San Rafael sa nahisgutang barangay kinsa nasabak sa tangkugo, tuong abaga, ug ubos nga bahin sa iyang tiyan.
Base sa imbestigasyon sa grupo ni PO3 Alfredo Cuizon sa Talisay City Police Station (TCPS)nga si Abapo uban sa iyang mga higala nga giila sa mga ngalan nga Judas Cabanes ug “Robot”, nag-inomsa lugar nga nahitaboan dihang kalit lang mitungha ang kriminal ug walay daghang estorya, dayong pusilsa biktima.
Ang mga higalani Abapo nga iyang gikainom dihang gipatay siya, gipangita usab sa mga polis aron kakuhaanog dugang impormasyon sabahin sa hitabo.
Si Abapo maoy ikalimang biktima sa pagpamusil sa barangay Tanke sukad niadtong kataposang semana sa buwan sa Hulyo hangtud niining buwana.
Si Superintendent Henry Biñas, hepe sa TCPS sa pakighinabi sa Banat News kagahapon nagkanayon nga aduna na silay suspek sa sunod-sunod nga pagpamusil sa barangay Tanke apan wala niini ibutyag ang ngalan sa mga suspetsado.
Si Biñas midugang nga kasagaran nga motibo sa nahitabong pagpamusil sa maong dapitmay kalambigitan sa ginadiling drugas ug personal nga bangi.

Basketball player giulo pagpusil sa iyang coach

CEBU, Philippines - Lima ka samad pinusilan sa ulo ang nahiaguman sa usa ka basketball player human kini pusila sa iyang kaugalingong coach didto sa BarangayLooc, dakbayan sa Lapulapu, sa milabay’ng gabii.
Ang biktima mao si Renante Pagobo Berdon, 32, ulitawo, nga tagaSitio Cabaloy, BarangayPajac, dakbayan sa Lapulapu, ugusa ka basketball player.
Samtang ang mipusil sa biktima mao si Aldron Dungog, 30, silingan ug coach ra usab sa biktima.
Sa pasiunang imbestigasyon ni PO3 Dioscoro Arong sa Homicide Section sa Lapulapu City Police Station, nasuta nga sa mga alas 11:40 sa gabii,gikang nagduwa ang team ni Berdon sa Sitio Locatha sa barangay Looc ugnaglipaylipay kini uban sa iyang mga kauban sa team sa usa ka tindahan sa maong lugar. Apan matud pa kalit langmiabot si Dungog nga hubog, ug sa walay igong pasidaan ug hinungdan, gipusil si Berdon.
Si Berdon kinsa nasabaksa lima ka balasa iyang ulo ug usa sa abaga dalinggidala ngadto sa Lapulapu City hospital.
Gumikan sa ka kritikal sa kahimtang sa biktima kay maybala pang nag-ungot sa iyang abagagibalhin si Berdon ngadto sa Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Centersa dakbayan sa Sugbo.
Nakuha sa kapolisan ang lima ka basiyo sa kalibre.22nga revolver nga posibleng maoy armas nga gigamit ni Dungog sa pagpusil sa biktima.
Sa pagkakaron padayon pang gipangita sa kapolisan ang suspetsado human kini mosibat.

[cobraKing]

Soco i-hire ni Gwen bisan...

CEBU, [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]Philippines[/COLOR][/COLOR]
- Gitun-an pa karon pag-ayo ni Gobernador GwendolynGarcia ang sugyot nga iyang himuong consultant ang iyang naparot nga runningmate sa One Cebu Paty sa pagka-bise gobernador nga si Glenn Soco.
Kini maoy tubag ni Garcia sa pagduda nga mahatagan si Soco og posisyon aron makapadayon sa pagpangalagad ngadto sa mga kalungsuran.
Matud pa ni Garcia nga iyang tun-an pag-ayo kun mahimo bang matudlo isip consultant ang [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]usa[/COLOR][/COLOR] ka kandidato nga wala makadaog ug diliniya malapas ang usa ka tuig nga pagdili sa mga napilding kandidato nga makalingkod og balik sa bisan posisyon sa gobyerno.
Gitataw ni Garcia nga apil sa iyang pagatun-an kun unsang puwesto nga labing haum ibutang si Soco.
Ang gobernadora mitumbok nga nagmatngon siya pag-ayo niini tungod kay gipaabot niya nga may mangigi ug mosuway na sad unya si Bise Gob. Gregorio Sanchez sama sa iyang pagpadayon sa kontrata ni Atty. Rory Jon Sepulveda isip consultant on information nga gikasagmuyo pag-ayo sa bise gobernador.
Sa sayo pa, si Soco mibisita sa buhatan ni Garcia niadtong nakalabay nga semana gikan sa taastaas nga bakasyon niini sa laing lugar.
Sa pagpakighinabi sa mga sakop sa media, si Soco mitug-an nga andam na usab siyang moabag ni Garcia susama sa iyang gihimo sa wala pa siya mikandidato sa pagka-bise gobernador.
Matud pa ni Soco nga ang iyang pagtabang kang Garcia pinaagi kini sa iyang “private capacity” sama sa pagtabang sa pag-organize sa volleyballcup sa probinsiya nga gipalapdan karon tungod sa pagsalmot sa mga kabarangayan ug ubang pang mga sports events sa probinsiya.


Dugang pa ni Soco nga andam siya kanunay nga mosanong sa itahas sa gobernadora ug andam usab siyang mahimong consultant kun kini itanyag kaniya.

Drayber nabulit sa linubaan

CEBU, [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]Philippines[/COLOR][/COLOR]
- Naputos sa samad dinunggaban ang usa ka drayber sa traysikad human kini unaya og dunggab sa kauban ra usab niyang drayber didto sa Greenfield Village, barangay Inayawan, ningdakbayan sa Sugbo sa miaging gabii.
Ang biktima nailhan nga si Richard Allarse, 27, nga taga Greenfield, samtang ang suspetsado maousab si Cristituto Tugahan, 30, nga silingan ra sa biktima.
Base sa pasiunang imbestigasyon sa kapolisan nasayran nga ang biktima nalingaw og tan-aw sa nagsinayaway sa disko dili kaayo layo sa ilang balay dihang kalit lang nga mipatim-aw ang suspetsado.
Unya sa walay hinungdan gihansakan dayon kini sa kutsilyo ug gitusak gyud ang kalawasan sa biktima.
Maayo kay nakadagan ang biktima ug bisan nagtabisay ang daghang dugo niini sa lawas nakaabot pasa ilang balay ug nakapangayo og tabang sa iyang igsoong si Aiza ug Maricon kinsa maoy mihatod dayon kaniya ngadto saCebu City Medical Center.
Samtang ang suspetsado mitahan usab dayon ngadtosa duha ka barangay tanod nga sila Anecito Batigas ug Cecilio Encabo nga maoy mi-turn-over kaniya ngadto sa Pardo Police Station.
Gisuta pa sa kapolisan ang hinungdan sa maong pagpanunggab.

[cobraKing]

-------------------------------------------Aug. 10,2010--------------------------------

Fire hits Barangay T. Padilla: 2,000 families left homeless

CEBU, Philippines – In what fire officials said was the biggest fire to hit the city this year, close to 2,000 families lost their homes as the blaze razed an estimated 220 to 250 houses along the narrow F. Villa St., barangay T. Padilla.
Responding firemen took almost two hours control the fire which was reported at 12:10 pm.
Nobody was reported killed during the incident, but there were two fire victims, who suffered cuts and bruises while trying to save their properties.
SFO3 Roylin Maratas, the fire investigator, said Lani Florentino was wounded on her hand when the glass covering a saint that she was carrying broke.
Charlone Peleño, 23, was bruised on her arm when he was hit by the hose which was being grabbed by frantic residents.
A few of the firemen also sustained minor injuries.
Supt. Esmael Codilla, Cebu City Fire marshal, said reports that they are still checking where the fire started.
He, however, said that they are looking into allegations that the fire started the three-storey house of Rosemarie Rizol, a city hall employee.
According to Merla Lavides, one of the volunteers in the area, one of Rizol's boarders occupying the third floor allegedly cooked something using rubber to fuel the fire, which triggered the blaze.
Rizol, who was at work when the fire broke out, denied the report saying she is no longer renting out rooms.
She said that only her and her children live in the house.
Codilla said they could not still peg the damage as of press time.


Aside from the Cebu City firemen, fire teams from Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Talisay City, Liloan, Minglanilla, and Consolacion, Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command, the Filipino-Chinese Fire Brigade, ERUF and other volunteers also helped put out the blaze.
Codilla noted that they encountered at least three problems during yesterday's fire incident. These are the narrow pathways, poor crowd control as residents tried to grab the hoses, and the weak hydrants, which were destroyed by the residents.
The Cebu City government through the City Disaster Coordinating Council started distributing packed meals to almost 2,000 families last night.
The victims are housed at the covered sports centers in barangays T. Padilla, Day-as, Zapatera and Tejero.
The city disaster council through the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) will distribute packed meals for three days and then will give "take home" goods, which include blankets, mats, mosquito nets, plates, pots, and a bag of canned goods and rice afterwards.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said that the city will provide housing materials to the victims. He has already ordered the concerned department to immediately conduct the bidding for the construction materials so it can be distributed right away.
The city government is hoping that the owner of the property will allow the residents to rebuild since most of them have nowhere else to go.
Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor chief Danilo Gabiana said that most of the properties in that area in T. Padilla are owned by the Villa clan.
Gabiana earlier said that it is not proper for owners to evict the residents after a fire because it will be a precedent for other owners who are having a hard time clearing their properties occupied by illegal settlers.
City Hall consultant on Disaster and former councilor Gerardo Carillo said in a report that the city must also look into ensuring that alleys, especially in squatters' areas, must be cleared and widened to allow access to fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.
DWUP has set the standard of three meters for alleys and eights meters for main roads. The city government is set to convene the disaster council today

[cobraKing]

Sinking of cargo vessel: 3 survivors found in Quezon

CEBU, [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]Philippines[/COLOR][/COLOR] – The captain and two crew members of a cargo vessel that sank off Marinduque were rescued after they were found washed ashore in General Luna and Catanauan in Quezon Province around 5 a.m. yesterday.
Ship captain Joselito Cortejos and crane operator Jerry Cortez were found along the shoreline of General Luna in Quezon by a certain Wilbert Revillar and other fisherfolks, while assistant engineer Joseph Jabonete was found in the shoreline of Barangay Tuhean, Catanauan in the same province.
Revillar said Cortez informed them that they have a fellow crewmember floating dead in the water which prompted to proceed to the area where they found the body of a certain Wenceslao Minawin.
Minawin's body was brought to the St. Peter Funeral Parlor in General Luna while Cortejos and Cortez were brought to the nearest hospital.
SF Freighter departed Manila on August 5 in fair weather to deliver steel bars to different consignees in Cebu. Before it lost communication last Saturday, it was reported to be located at the vicinity of Dos Hermanas Island, Marinduque.
According to the initial account of the captain, they met bad weather around 11 p.m. Friday. The captain tried to maneuver the ship to a safer area but the vessel developed engine derangement at about 1 a.m.
Battered by strong winds and heavy waves, the captain then declared to abandon ship around 2:20 a.m. The crew got off the vessel on two life rafts.
SF Freighter is owned by Seaford Shipping which is based in Bacolod but whose mother port is in Cebu.


Earlier, Seaford Shipping operations officer Kevin Chua, said that they will fulfill all its obligations to the kin of their employees, especially the burial expenses of the fatalities.
Search and operations continue but the rescuers were being prevented by huge waves and poor visibility in the area where the cargo vessel sank.
PCG has already sent a notice all PCG units, the Armed Force of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, all shipping companies and coastal communities to assist in the search and rescue operation and provide assistance should they find survivors.

[cobraKing]

Alleged killers of DPWH engineer fall

CEBU, Philippines – The two men accused of killing an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City, last Thursday night, are already under police custody.
The alleged assailant, identified as Rene Garcia, 30, of sitio Kalubihan, Talamban, was arrested in a hot pursuit operation, while Norman Agbay, 21, a resident of the same barangay and the alleged driver of the getaway motorcycle surrendered to councilor Augustus Pe and was later turned over to the police.
Garcia admitted shooting dead Ciriaco Salazar, 49, in sitio Tigbao, Talamban, past 7 p.m. last Thursday while the victim was driving home with his wife, Dolores, also a DPWH official.
It was Dolores who was supposedly Garcia's target.
Cebu City Police Office director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said the break for the police came when a nephew of the victim reported to the CCPO the following day and told the police to investigate Garcia as he had an ax to grind against Dolores.
The police conducted an investigation near the crime scene and received information among motorcycle-for-hire drivers that a certain man, later identified as Garcia, was said to have hired a driver while showing off a gun.
Garcia, allegedly a toughie, was terminated by Dolores from his job as a driver of the DPWH maintenance section last July 1 because of his poor performance. Garcia has worked as driver of the department for seven years.
Operatives of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch, City Intelligence Branch and the Homicide Section arrested Garcia inside his store around 6 a.m. yesterday.


Dolores and at least four persons positively identified him as the one who gunned down Ciriaco.
During his arrest, police allegedly found the gun Garcia used to shoot Ciriaco, a Colt .45 cal. pistol with a magazine containing six live rounds. They also found five more live rounds in a baby powder canister.
Garcia admitted to the crime saying Dolores usually drove the couple's car every weekday and he did not know it was Ciriaco he had killed.
In front of Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, Garcia admitted he wanted to kill Dolores, chief of the maintenance section of DPWH 1st Engineering District, because of his anger at being fired.
"Ako siya gipangutana nganong hate man siya kaayo nako, ngano iya man ko gikulban sa kaldero, pareha mi naa'y mga anak. Di pa g'yud siya ang nagpasulod nako. Iya unta ko giingnan na pag-hinay-hinay na og pangita og trabaho kay tangtangunon ta ka. Largo ra man," he said.
In a television report, Agbay, said he has been bothered by his conscience since the incident last Thursday so he decided to surrender to Pe yesterday morning.
He, however, denied conniving with Garcia and said he was only paid P400 to drive Garcia but he did not know that they will shoot someone.
"Iya lang ko giingnan na overtake diha bay 'nya mao na dayon 'to, namusil siya. Pirteng kuyawa nako. Wala g'yud ko kahibaw na mao diay 'to iyang buhaton," he said, adding that Garcia threatened to kill him if he would not keep mum on the incident.
The police said they will study if they can make Agbay a state witness.
Garcia is now detained at the CCPO stockade.
As to rumors that the suspects behind the spate of killings in the city and province are vigilantes, Comendador said: "This will discount speculations that vigilantes were behind the attack because it turned out that the motives are personal grudge and job-related."
Comendador said the availability of firearms also gives miscreants the opportunity to carry out crimes.
Ciriaco, an engineer of DPWH 4th engineering district, died of three gunshot wounds to body during the attack. Dolores survived unscathed.
In another development, the suspect in the shooting of a deliveryman in sitio Sambag, Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City, last Friday, was arrested 9 p.m. the other night.
Francisco Canencia Alvarez, 38, of Doña Maria 1, Punta Princesa Cebu City, was arrested by SPO1 Bezaleel Olmedo and PO2 Ruben Quita of Cebu City Police Office.
He was positively identified by two witnesses as the one who shot Rufino Deresas at the corner F. Llamas and Taurus streets in Guadalupe village, Punta Princesa, while he was delivering delicacies to different stores in the city.
Quita said that the motive of the said ambush was a personal grudge between the victim and the suspect.
Meanwhile, alarmed by the recent killings, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday called for a campaign against loose firearms in the province.
"The bottom line is daghan loose firearms and it's so easy to get an unlicensed gun so we are also going to look into the strict inventory of these firearms especially that we have many gun manufacturing plants here," the governor said.
Garcia said that there will be a province-wide campaign against loose firearms and called for the creation of a task force on loose firearms.

[cobraKing]

Rama picks RID head for CCPO

CEBU, Philippines – The head of the Regional Intelligence Division Senior, Supt. Melvin Ramon G. Buenafe, has been chosen by Mayor Michael Rama to head the Cebu City Police Office.
Rama has already sent his recommendation to Philippine National Police Director Jesus Verzosa and requested the latter to respond to his request with urgency.
Buenafe will be replacing incumbent CCPO director Patrocinio Comendador.
There were five nominees in Rama's list. He refused to mention the others, but said he chose Buenafe for various reasons.
"First, I did my own research and I think and I believe that he is the one I expect to develop trust and confidence. All the rest of the nominees are qualified but I have decided to choose this fellow," Rama said.
Rama said that Buenafe's performance as the head of Task Force Ting also helped him decide to choose him for the position.
He also received a lot of recommendations from groups and individuals.
Meanwhile, Buenafe said he is aware of the bigger challenges and more problems that await him in the CCPO.


He also said he is grateful Rama chose him.
"I'm happy that the mayor trusts me and that he believes in my capability to run the Cebu City Police Office considering na daghang atubangunon na problema diha. I am grateful na appreciated sad ta," Buenafe said.
Buenafe said he was only informed of the mayor's announcement yesterday afternoon through the media.
"I will work hard to be able to attain the expectations of the people and beyond that ang mas maayos na pagpapatakbo sa CCPO ug ang kaayuhan sa syudad," he said.
Buenafe said he will announce today in a press conference the programs he will be implementing and improving as soon as he assumes the post.
Before he was appointed as head of RID, Buenafe was director of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office from December 2005 to June 2008.
He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy 1986 Sinagtala Class.
The mayor also has plans to improve the CCPO compound along Gorordo Ave. to "give dignity" to the police force.
He said that the present situation of the police office does not pass his standards so he will find a way to get funding for its renovation which might include tapping private sectors.

[cobraKing]

"Lingam ordinance" passed in first reading

CEBU, Philippines – An ordinance prohibiting massage parlors from providing the controversial lingam massage services to clients without medical advice from a [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]doctor[/COLOR][/COLOR] was approved yesterday in first reading by the members of the Cebu Provincial Board.
The ordinance, sponsored by Provincial Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy, stemmed from a public furor over the reported proliferation of lingam massage parlors in Cebu which are allegedly being used as fronts for prostitution.
The ordinance purposes to regulate lingam massage services being offered in various massage establishments in the province of Cebu.
The members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu believe that lingam massage is not immoral but still it is necessary to introduce a legislative measure that would regulate massage parlors or clinics offering lingam massage services.
Last August 2, stakeholders and representatives of lingam massage parlors attended the session and explained that lingam does not involve any immoral act and not far from other specialized forms of body massage which aim to give physical and mental relaxation.
The ordinance proposes that massage parlors offering lingam services should have a neurologist to deal with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nerves and nervous system or a urologist who specializes in the study and treatment of disorders of the urogenital system in men.
A fine not exceeding P5,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, upon the discretion of the court shall be imposed for those found violating the provisions of this ordinance once it is implemented.
The ordinance however will still have to go through the committee on laws and ordinances for further study. It is expected to be submitted for second reading and discussion in the next session.

[cobraKing]

One-side vending begins today

CEBU, Philippines – The city government will implement today the one-side vending scheme with the Squatters Prevention Encroachment and Elimination Division warning that it will not hesitate to remove stalls of vendors who will defy the new policy.
SPEED chief Noel Artes personally went around informing vendors about the start of implementation yesterday. SPEED personnel will prioritize implementation downtown.
"Kon dili g'yud sila mopatoo ikarga namo ang ilang mga baligya," Artes told The FREEMAN.
This time as well, sidewalk vendors would no longer be allowed to leave their pushcarts and stalls behind. Pushcarts and stalls found left in sidewalks at night will be confiscated, Artes said.
Yesterday, SPEED started clearing the sidewalk along Osmeña Boulevard. The courtesy booth of a department store across the Basilica del Santo Niño, which used to occupy a portion of a sidewalk, was not spared.
Mayor Michael Rama pushed for the new policy to clear sidewalks of obstacles, which has hampered the flow of pedestrian traffic. Under the new policy, vendors will no longer be allowed to occupy the gutter curve. The city said earlier it will not force business establishments if they refuse to accommodate ambulant vendors right outside the stores.
Aside from decongesting sidewalks, the one-side vending scheme also aims to keep pedestrians from danger.
What has happened, traffic enforcers said, is that pedestrians are forced to walk on the street itself because sidewalks have become congested due to the presence of ambulant vendors, especially in the downtown area.


As of yesterday, several vendors continued to request more time for them to convince business establishments to allow them a space outside the stores.

[cobraKing]

Gwen supports scrapping of barangay, SK elections

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia supports the proposal of Vice President Jejomar Binay to abolish the barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]elections[/COLOR][/COLOR] and give instead the authority to the mayors to appoint the barangay captains.
Garcia said abolishing the barangay elections will not only save money for the government but will also spare the country from psychological and emotional scars of holding another divisive exercise.
The governor agrees with Binay's logic in calling for the scrapping of the barangay and SK elections. She said it is true that local chief executives will be having a hard time implementing their platform of government if they do not have the support of the barangay officials.
"Just like me, unsaon man nako pag-implementar akong mga programa ug proyekto sa mga lungsod ug dili nya dawaton sa mayor," Garcia said.
She added that the situation is even worst if a mayor does not enjoy the support of the barangay captains because they cannot just exclude a barangay in their comprehensive program if they do not want to accept it.
Binay, during his visit to Cebu over the weekend, proposed for the total abolition of the barangay and SK elections in lieu of just postponing it to a later date from its original schedule on October 25 this year.
Binay said that instead of holding elections which will cost the government at least P3.6 billion the mayor should be given the authority to choose the barangay captains and the captains will in turn choose his councilmen.
Binay likewise proposed for the total abolition of SK claiming that this has become a breeding ground for corruption. Meanwhile, Garcia is opposed to the idea of further lowering the age bracket of SK.


The governor believes that the ideal age for SK should be at least 20 years old because by then he or she would not be forced to choose between getting educated and answering the responsibilities as public official. "It's a no-brainer," is how the governor described the proposal.

[cobraKing]

Mandaue OKs measure regulating terminals for PUJs, buses, others

CEBU, Philippines – Mandaue City can now regulate the establishment and operation of terminals for public utility jeepneys, multicabs, V-Hire vehicles, and buses after the city council approved a proposal setting the requirements for accreditation and regulation of the establishment and operation of such terminals.
Ordinance No. 11-2010-554 states the policy to adopt and sustain an efficient traffic management in view of providing an appreciable convenience to the commuters and the public availing of inter-city/municipality public utility vehicles.
City Mayor Jonas Cortes signed the ordinance approved during the incumbency of former vice mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna.
The ordinance said a terminal must have a minimum area of two thousand square meters, 70 percent of which shall be allocated as "holding point," to include access road and backing court, 20 percent thereof as passengers point, to include security guard post and landscaping area.
No application for another terminal shall be approved within a radius of one kilometer from the existing duly approved terminal within the city.
The terminal operators are authorized to exact only the following fees for every user of the terminal:
Registration fee for PUJ/multicab -- P300 annually; registration fee for a V-hire vehicle P1,500 annually; registration fee for mini-PUBs -- P2,500 annually; Registration fee for PUBs -- P3,000 annually.
The terminal fee for PUJ, multicab, V-hire and PUBs is an amount equivalent to the one-way [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]fare[/COLOR][/COLOR] of one (1) passenger per trip on the route of V-hire, PUJ, multicab, or bus.