Cebu local news (daily update)

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Fake jewelry found at pawnshop

CEBU, Philippines - Fake pieces of jewelry amounting to about P263,000 were discovered among other items forfeited from a pawnshop in Barangay Poblacion, Argao during a surprise inventory last Saturday.

The surprise inventory was made together with personnel from the pawnshop’s head office after the senior branch appraiser allegedly refused to sell several items. Upon interrogation, the appraiser reportedly admitted appraising assorted fake pieces of jewelry since last year.

The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the appraiser pending an internal investigation being conducted by the pawnshop’s legal counsel. The appraiser has been suspended preventively.

Michelle Caminero of Barangay Bogo, a cashier of the pawnshop, and Gittel Cecilia Salahid of Barangay Casay, a branch appraiser, went to the police station yesterday and alleged that they became suspicious when the appraiser refused to bring out several items.

They said all forfeited pawned items will be sold right after the annual item inventory. Both alleged that it was just the appraiser who appraised and pawned all fake pieces of jewelry since October last year.

PO2 Bernie Lao, desk officer at the Argao police, said Caminero and Salahid decided to conduct the inventory to clear their suspicions. — (FREEMAN)

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Benhur tells Cebeco: Say "no" to transfer

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon is calling the member-consumers of the Cebu Electric Cooperative (Cebeco) I, II and III to stand firm against proposal to register with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

Salimbangon, who was once general manager of Cebeco II which was organized, registered and supervised by the National Electrification Administration, said he knows the effect to consumers if Cebeco registers with CDA.

“I hope ang mga consumers nato will stand firm. They should not agree that we will transfer to CDA or form this into a private utility to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission,” Salimbangon said during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

Partylist Representatives Potenciano Payoyo of the Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (Apec), Cresente Paez of Coop-NATCCO and Rep. Isido Ligo have urged Cebeco and other electric cooperatives to register with CDA to avoid paying taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) that might be passed on to the power consumers.

“It appears nga mas maayo ang CDA because of privileges attached to it like tax benefits but if we look at the entire concept makadaut ni sa very purpose the electric cooperatives were organized,” Salimbangon said.

Salimbangon explained that cooperatives registered with CDA are profit- motivated so in the case of Cebeco, it will increase power rates.

He said that electric cooperatives registered with NEA is supervised by the same which is a government entity organized for the purpose of seeing to it that the operations of the electric cooperatives will be within the prescribed form and standard - which is cheaper power and dependable and reliable service.

With only P5-membership fee, Cebeco members can already participate in the governance of cooperative like voting for the members of the board of directors.

Salimbangon said that if Cebeco becomes a stock cooperative, member category will be based on number of shares being put up and only those with more shares are entitled to more benefits.

At present, there are 221 electric cooperatives in the country but only 12 are registered with CDA.

Salimbangon said that this only shows that a lot of electric cooperatives are afraid that if they became stock and profit cooperatives, they will be governed by board of directors and will no longer be supervised by government entity like NEA.

“Ug imo ni ibalhin into a stock cooperative, sigurado gyud motaas ang rates kay profit na ang motivation,” he said.

If Cebeco gets profit, Salimbangon said it is used to bring down the rate.

“I am against the idea of forcing the electric cooperatives to register with CDA or make it into a private corporation kay sigurado ta nga og ma private ni, daghan na kaayo mopalit,” Salimbangon said.

When they started Cebeco, it only had P120,000 as monthly revenue but now, Salimbangon said, it already has P100 million per month. — (FREEMAN)

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Rep. JV Ejercito visits state schools in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito has visited different state universities and colleges in Cebu yesterday as part of his move in Congress to increase their budget for next year.

At the 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza, Ejercito said he wants to assess the situation personally to explain to his colleagues in the Lower House Congress why he is fighting for the increase in the subsidy of the state universities and colleges.

Ejercito said that in some areas hit by calamities, classes were held under tents because there is no fund to rebuild the classrooms.

“I always look at education not as an expense for the government. This should always be treated as an investment,” Ejercito said.

A lot of students were reportedly transferred to state universities and colleges in the past years due to high tuition fees in private schools.

“Ironically, in the past two years also, the budget was cut by a billion pesos at least,” he said.

Records of the Department of Budget and Management showed that the budget for these items in 2010 was P26,404,083,000 but was reduced to P23,725,535,000.00 in 2011.

In the proposed 2012 national budget, appropriation for state colleges and universities was reportedly reduced to P23,608,964,000.

Ejercito said that although he is part of the majority bloc supporting the administration of President Simeon Benigno Aquino III, there are some things which he doesn’t agree with in the budget, such as reducing the budget for state colleges.

Last month, students led by those at the University of the Philippines UP walked out of their classes and conducted protest actions in Luzon and the Visayas against cuts in subsidy.

As the students held their protest actions, the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) expressed support for calls to raise the budget for public tertiary education, saying the proposed 2012 allocation would serve only as a “survival budget.” — (FREEMAN)

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Garbo "may be violating" rules

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr. may face administrative investigation for soliciting money from his subordinates, which is reportedly a violation of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) policies.

Garbo on October 12, 2011 distributed solicitation letters to his junior police officials for a golf tournament reportedly for the construction of a clubhouse at PC Hills, Lahug, Cebu City.

“He (Garbo) will be liable for his actions,” said Napolcom-7 Director Homer Mariano Cabaral.

PC Hills is a village where top ranking police officers in Central Visayas live.

In an interview, Cabaral told The FREEMAN that Garbo failed to notify Napolcom of their fundraising program for the construction of their clubhouse.

“It’s not illegal, but they should have notified the Napolcom before they proceeded with their program,” Cabaral said, adding that the Napolcom en banc is the only one who can approve such an activity.

Cabaral said that the activity will be in violation of Napolcom Memorandum Circular 91-009 as amended by Memorandum Circular 91-010, issued 10 years ago.

Cabaral will meet with Garbo to settle the issue.

“We will talk with the PRO-7 director so that they will not be misinformed, they might have overlooked the old memorandum,” he said. — (FREEMAN)

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NBI and Capitol ink pact for new building

CEBU, Philippines - Six months after it was discussed, the Province of Cebu and the National Bureau Investigation (NBI) have finally signed the memorandum of agreement for the construction of an NBI regional office in the province-owned lot at Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula signed the agreement yesterday at the Capitol witnessed by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Provincial Board Members Peter John Calderon, Sun Shimura and Jose Ribomapil Holganza, Jr. as well as NBI-7 Regional Director Edward Villarta and the bureau’s agents.

Garcia made the offer last April during the visit of Gatdula and other NBI officials at the Capitol where the need for the NBI to transfer to a more spacious area was discussed.

The new building for the NBI-7 will serve as a “decent home” befitting a law enforcement agency which plays a major role in keeping Cebu safe, Gov. Garcia said.

“It is but proper that the Provincial Government shall treat you as decently as you had conducted your responsibilities in the most decent and professional manner. Kudos to the men and women of the NBI Region 7,” Garcia said.

Law enforcement can be a risky business, she added, and yet the public expects them to do their job regardless of the risk.

“And when something goes wrong they are crucified to no end. We expect them to be decent and yet they do not get the same decency that they deserve. And so Cebu shall sound off this signal that over here we recognize your vital role,” she said.

For its part, the NBI has also offered to provide its new building with the essential facilities, equipment and supplies so that it can “effectively and efficiently establish, operate, and maintain its office.”

Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre said the construction of the two-storey building will start next month and will be finished in six months. — (FREEMAN)

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City to prioritize welfare of kids

CEBU, Philippines - The welfare of children will be among the priorities of Mayor Michael Rama’s administration because he believes they play a big role in the future of Cebu City, the mayor said during his State of the Children’s Report yesterday.

Rama said he will make sure that programs on drug prevention, education, sports and other youth development will be given focus.

He added that it is essential for children to be paid attention to by their families, their immediate community and the government because he said if they feel that someone cares for them, they become less self-destructive.

This goes especially for street children.

Rama said that all efforts for the protection and enhancement of the welfare of children must be concentrated in the barangay levels because the barangays are in the frontline in the delivery of services.

He said he is glad that 95 percent of the city’s Barangay Council for the Protection of Children is functional, which is one of the contributing factors why the city has been adjudged several times as Most Child-Friendly City in Central Visayas.

The top 10 most child-friendly barangays in Cebu City are Binaliw, Budlaan, Duljo-Fatima, Guba, Lorega-San Miguel, Pamutan, Sambag 2, Sudlon 2, Talamban and Tinago.

The city also commends the efforts of barangays Adlawon, Bacayan, Kasambagan, Kinasang-an, Malubog, Pahina Central, Pulangbato, San Roque, Santo Niño and Sudlon 1.

The city government has enrolled so far some 33,460 beneficiaries to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to ensure that urban poor families will get proper healthcare, especially the children who are more vulnerable to diseases than adults.

To further enhance the city’s health services, they are about to hire 119 more barangay health workers in addition to the existing 500.

In the area of education, the city has added three more day-care centers this year from only 153 last year. There are also 84 Home-based Early Childhood Care and Development Program which only numbered 57 last year.

Since the summer pre-school classes were introduced in 2009, the enrollment has increased from 3,357 in 2009 to 12,317 in 2010 —an increase of 8,960.

The Operation Second Chance Center where students are taught under the Alternative Learning System Program continues to accept enrollees.

Rama also vowed to continue the Scholarship Program for high school graduates where scholars get to enjoy P10,000 worth of scholarship up to P20,000 for scholars from the mountain barangays.

Since 2009, the city has almost 10,000 scholars.

Some 1,558 children were also given assistance by the Cebu City Task Force on Street children to enroll in school this academic year.

The city government also continues to empower the Sangguniang Kabataan who are the primary advocates for the protection of children in their barangays. —(FREEMAN)

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Veco, AGAPP give kinder buildings to two schools

CEBU, Philippines - Two schools in Cebu Province became beneficiaries of the “Silid Pangarap” of the Visayan Electric Company’s Aboitiz Foundation and the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa foundation (AGAPP).

The Tayud Elementary School, in Barangay Tayud, Liloan town, and the Cepoc Elementary School in Barangay Tinaan, Naga City, each received kindergarten school buildings.

Last October 14, VECO turned over a school building for Tayud, the second of four kindergarten school buildings it has committed to AGAPP for this year and next.

AGAPP is a foundation established by Pinky Aquino Abellada, President Noynoy Aquino’s sister, to promote early childhood care and development programs that support literacy development through a preschool program for five-year-old children.

AGAPP’s efforts, in partnership with the Department of Education, is to ensure the readiness of incoming Grade 1 students through a partnership called the “Silid Pangarap.”

Also last October 10, VECO likewise turned over a two-classroom kindergarten school building to AGAPP in Cepoc Elementary School.

During the turnover, DepEd Cebu Schools Division Supt. Arden Monisit recognized VECO for being an outstanding education stakeholder.

“We are not alone in this endeavor because generous education stakeholders like AGAPP and VECO are constantly providing us better education. With their help, the realization of such goals is not impossible,” he said.

Monisit said Cebu still faces a shortage of classrooms but is confident DepEd can surpass the problem.

VECO Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Mia Carmela Cuenco said the kindergarten school buildings are a testament to VECO’s commitment to its stakeholders.

“The silid pangarap is a concrete metaphor that VECO and Aboitiz foundation have partnered together to build your children’s dream for a better future,” Cuenco said.

The classrooms are colored red, green and yellow, which is a signature color of AGAPP. The mixture of each color is said to help increase the children’s interest to go to school.

VECO has donated nine school buildings and 26 classrooms to various public schools in its franchise area since the start of its Corporate Social Responsibility projects in education. — (FREEMAN)

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EMB 7 sends Talisay 2nd notice for 8 violations of market’s ECC

THE Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 found several violations in the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) of the Talisay City public market cum terminal in Barangay Lagtang.

EMB 7 Director Fernando Quililan informed Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez that the bureau issued a second notice of violation in relation to the market’s ECC last Friday.Last July 1, the EMB 7 issued its first notice for two ECC violations, namely the City’s failure to submit a compliance monitoring report and post a billboard.

This time, though, the EMB 7 found eight violations. Among them is the failure to implement the project in accordance to its site development plan; failure to establish an adequate wastewater treatment facility; and failure to install facilities that show
proof that water discharges from the market have been treated and recycled for washing.

The EMB 7, a line agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), also found that the City Government failed to install common garbage bins in strategic sites within the market and terminal.

Pond

The project is also supposed to have a sedimentation pond for runoff water.

Talisay City Administrator Richel Bacaltos said in an interview that he has not yet
seen a copy of the second notice of violation.

He told Sun.Star Cebu that the government addressed the violations in the first notice.

He said they submitted updates on the market and terminal project, and installed a new billboard.

"We will discuss (the second notice) with technical people and review the violations,” said Bacaltos, adding that the City would send representatives to attend the technical conference set by EMB.

Fine

Quililan, in his letter to Fernandez, cited Presidential Decree 1586—or the Environmental Impact Assessment System—which provides that a fine of P50,000 is imposed on every ECC condition violated by a project proponent.

The second notice was based on an ocular inspection conducted last Aug. 17, upon the request of Tabunok Market Association members.

The vendors have refused to move to the new market in Lagtang, citing, among others, the risks of Mananga River overflowing. They alleged that part of the project is located on the river.

The inspection was led by EMB 7 Environmental Impact Assessment division chief William Cuñado, a representative from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Talisay City Government.

Quililan told Fernandez that his office cannot complete its investigation on the market as it is still waiting for the report of DPWH, which conducted a survey on the distance from the Mananga Bridge to the market.

The Land Management Bureau, another line agency under the DENR 7, is yet to submit its report on a survey meant to determine the distance of the market building from the river and to identify the easement zone. BAP

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 26, 2011.

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Mayor sees need to cooperate with other LGUs on terminal

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama wants to work with the Metro Cebu Development and Coordination Board (MCDCB) to determine the right site for a public utility vehicle terminal.

Rama said the establishment of a terminal will not only affect public utility vehicles within Cebu City but also the neighboring cities of Talisay, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.This is why local governments in Metro Cebu should work together to address common issues, like traffic management.

He noted that the traffic management teams of the cities of Cebu, Talisay and Mandaue are already coordinating.

The traffic management teams of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay discussed the creation of the Metro Cebu Traffic Council last December but this was absorbed by the MCDCB.

If there were conflicts among the local government units, he said, these were isolated at the level of top officials.

When he was mayor, Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) got into a verbal tussle with Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, first district) over the ownership of a portion of the South Road Properties.

At present, Rama and Mayor Jonas Cortes of Mandaue City are at odds over garbage trucks and public utility jeepneys.

Ban

Cebu City has banned jeepneys from Mandaue from entering major thoroughfares of Cebu City. Mandaue, on the other hand, plans to deny passage to Cebu City garbage trucks that will deliver wastes to the northern town of Consolacion.

Cebu City has only one accredited terminal, the One Citilink Terminal on N. Bacalso Ave., that is used by south-bound jeepneys and vans-for-hire.

Rama tasked the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) to look into the contract of One Citilink Terminal because, he said, the terminal’s private operators are no longer interested in maintaining the facility.

The executive department at City Hall proposed an appropriation of P50 million for a terminal in Cebu City under the 2012 annual budget.

But Rama said the right site for the terminal is yet to be determined.

Citom Board Chairman Sylvan Jakosalem suggested earlier that the terminal be built
near the South Road Properties (SRP). Rama, on the other hand, said it should be near the boundaries of Inayawan, Bulacao, Mabolo and Talamban.

“Ideally, it should be along boundaries where all public vehicles meet,” Rama said. He added that the MCDCB might be able to help identify a possible site, one that is favorable to all local government units.

He said there should be a terminal because most public utility vehicles use jeepney stops as terminals when there are no passengers. JGA

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 26, 2011.

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DOJ gives witnesses protection

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) placed two of six witnesses in the Ellah Joy Pique case under its witness protection program (WPP).

Assistant Regional State Prosecutor Llena Ipong-Avila confirmed yesterday that the justice department approved her recommendation admitting the two witnesses, who are both minors, to the DOJ’s protection program.Fiscal Avila, WPP head, said measures are also being undertaken for the transfer of the witnesses to a safe house while they are waiting to testify in court.

This, as Gov. Gwen Garcia commended the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 yesterday for the arrest of Bella Ruby Santos.

Another award was given to the agents and NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula for their roles in the arrest of alleged *** offenders in Talisay City and Cordova, Cebu.

NBI 7 Assistant Director Medardo de Lemos was also given a plaque of recognition.

Christopher Harvey, assistant attache and special agent of the United States Embassy, also received an award.

The admission to the protection program of the prosecution witnesses came after the police-formed Task Force Ellah Joy requested the DOJ to place them under its protection.

The request also came after a police lawyer disclosed attempts to bribe prosecution witnesses to retract their statement and withdraw from testifying in court. The bribe offer reportedly reached P.5 million.

But the defense lawyers shrugged off insinuations of bribery and challenged the police to sue those behind supposed efforts to influence the witnesses.

Last Monday, Bella Ruby Santos, one of the two primary suspects in the abduction and homicide of six-year-old Ellah Joy, pleaded not guilty during her arraignment.

Judge Ester Veloso of the Regional Trial Court Branch 6 denied the manifestation of defense counsel Ronel Ubod to drop the case against Santos’s boyfriend, Ian Charles Griffiths, a British national.

Ubod asked Judge Veloso in open court to dismiss the case against Griffiths “without prejudice” to the pending suit against Santos.

But Veloso said that nothing in the law allows the dismissal of a case merely because the accused cannot be located.

“If that’s the case, all accused will also hide so the case against them will be dismissed,” said Veloso, adding that the local court has not acquired jurisdiction yet over Griffiths.

Prosecutor Avila said her office is facilitating the requirements with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Minglanilla town for the transfer of the minor witnesses.

Avila said the two other witnesses already declined to be admitted to the WPP while the two others remain reluctant.

Avila said the admission to the justice department’s protection program of the two minor witnesses will only be provisional in nature.

The DOJ will reassess in the next three months whether the testimony of the witnesses will still be needed to support the state’s case, the prosecutor said.

New office

As of yesterday, there was no mention of the reward money of P300,000 to the informant who was instrumental in the arrest of Santos.

Last week, Garcia said she would confer with the NBI as to when the reward money will be given to the informant.

Capitol will also build an P8-million two–story office for the NBI. A memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the NBI about the provincial lot that they will be occupying in Sudlon, Lahug was signed yesterday.

It will be in the same compound where the Cebu Provincial Police Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency will hold office.

Gatdula said they will be the one to provide the building and its facilities, equipment and supplies.

They will also pay for the bills, like electricity.

The construction will begin next week. GMD/RSA

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 26, 2011.