3 men survive plane crash
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 01:29 a.m.CEBU CITY (Updated) -- A six-seater Cessna plane with three persons on board dove in the waters off a beach resort in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City at 10:46 a.m. Thursday.
Three hours later, a pump boat carrying Koreans on their way to dive capsized near the islet of Nalusuan in the adjacent town of Cordova.
DPWH-built classrooms ‘more expensive’
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 01:28 a.m.THE Infrastracture Development Committee (IDC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC) yesterday discovered that classrooms built by the private sector are much cheaper than those built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In their meeting at the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) yesterday and presided by IDC Chairman Emmanuel Rabacal, the DPWH and the Department of Education (DedEd) were made to explain the costs of schoolbuilding projects in the region and why they still failed to address the lack of classrooms.
Cease-and-desist order costing developer of Monterrazas de Cebu ‘millions’
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 01:09 a.m.WORK at Monterrazas de Cebu, an upscale subdivision development in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu, has been suspended for almost a month, costing Genvi Development Corp., its developer, millions in the process.
Genvi Development, however, begged off to quantify the amount.
Capitol rewards port informants with P24T cash
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 01:08 a.m.EIGHT “tipsters” received P24,000 from the Cebu Provincial Government as reward for providing information that led to the arrest of suspected human traffickers.
They were recipients of the Capitol’s Witness Protection and Tipster Program.
COA tells consultants, staff to refund P2.6M
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 01:07 a.m.STATE auditors ordered Naga City consultants, job-order and Department of Education (DepEd) personnel to refund the P2.6 million productivity enhancement incentives they received in 2010 as they are not entitled to any.
This was merely one of the “deficiencies” that the Commission on Audit (COA) saw when its staff examined the financial status and properties of the City of Naga.
Wage board postpones deliberation on petitions
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 01:06 a.m.THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7 added more economic indicators to the factors it will consider when deliberating on the petitions for across-the-board increase on Aug. 31.
The wage board decided to move the deliberation of the wage increase petitions to the end of this month and discussed yesterday instead the ground rules for discussions on the matter.
Mayor balks at suggestion to cut fuel aid
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 01:05 a.m.CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama wants the Commission on Audit (COA) to set “black and white” guidelines on the giving of financial assistance to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the conduct of national and barangay polls.
The mayor said City Hall has been giving financial help to the Comelec for some time, to defray election expenses.
Rama shuns ‘done deal’ forum
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 12:47 a.m.CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama is not keen on attending the public forum set today for the two flyovers to be implemented in the City, but the Council will be represented.
Rama questioned the purpose of his attendance. “I already made a statement. What will it (attending) serve? So that they will put it there that Mayor Rama attended and then they will still proceed?”
DepEd told to improve quality first before K+12
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 12:42 a.m.CEBU City Vice Mayor Joy Young yesterday called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to improve the present education system before implementing the K to 12 Basic Education Program.
In a forum yesterday, Young said he supports universal kindergarten, but the additional two years in high school should “be put off until we are ready.”
Rama hits Tomas, council for attacks
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 12:40 a.m.CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama said his predecessor and the Cebu City Council are fond of criticizing his administration but urged them to do so with documents rather than words.
As to the criticism on the budget prepared, Rama told his detractors to let former Cebu City treasurer Ofelia Oliva answer the allegations.
Barili council passes resolution asking for probe on truck mishap
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 12:39 a.m.THE Barili Municipal Council passed a resolution urging the Provincial Board and the Ombudsman to conduct separate investigations on the vehicular incident in Barangay Balao that killed 10 people and left more than 50 injured.
Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia said a letter was sent to them by a former Barili councilor who authored the Barili Traffic Code.
Travel to China fruitful as cities seek ties: mayor
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 12:38 a.m.CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama described his five-day travel to China as nice, exciting and fruitful.
Rama visited cities in Fujian Province such as Wuhan and Quanzhou where he was impressed by the “profoundness” of its science and technology.
Twin fetuses found dead
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 12:37 a.m.DEAD twin fetuses were found floating on the river in Barangay Pulang Bato, Cebu City last Wednesday afternoon.
A male and a female fetuses, about seven months old, were seen by a passer-by, Amparo Legaspi, floating in the river.
10 fixers face arrest: LTFRB
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 12:36 a.m.THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 yesterday said about 10 fixers who victimized public utility vehicle operators of nearly P1 million are now in hiding because warrants of arrest will soon be issued against them.
In a press conference, LTFRB 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said it’s now time the public must stop patronizing fixers and instead transact directly with the LTFRB.
Ombud clears 2 LTFRB men of graft
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 12:35 a.m.THE anti-graft body has dropped the graft charges a taxi operator filed against two officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) over the issuance of taxi franchise applications.
The alleged misdeeds committed by Romulo Bernardes, former LTFRB 7 director, and Jose Douglas Sanson, the agency’s Transporation Development Office chief, were too trivial, said Graft Investigator Sarah Jo Vergara.
Products must indicate chemical content: group
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 12:34 a.m.AN environment protection advocacy network is calling on manufacturers to identify the chemical content of all products to help parents identify items that contain harmful levels of toxic substances.
“There is no place that is 100 percent safe,” said Dr. Visitacion Antonio, a Manila-based pediatrician and toxicologist.
Mandaue CH worker suspended for 1 month over cash advances
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 12:31 a.m.A MANDAUE City Hall worker has been suspended for a month without pay after he was found guilty of misconduct for failure to liquidate on time his cash advances of P180,000.
The Office of the Ombudsman said Jim Balansag, bookkeeper I detailed in the Realty Tax Division of the Mandaue City Treasurer’s Office, violated the provisions of government auditing laws and the state auditor’s memorandum circular.
Cessna plane makes emergency landing near Cebu resort
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 01:14 p.m.CEBU CITY (3rd Update, 3:22 p.m.) -- A six-seater Cessna plane landed in the shoreline of Lapu-Lapu City after losing contact with the air traffic control of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Thursday morning.
Radio dyAB reported that RPC 1175, a Cessna Model 206 plane, owned by Mactan Aviation Technological Center Inc. (Matci) based in Lapu-Lapu City was on a check flight when the accident happened.
Marina allows 2 Island Shipping vessels to sail
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 01:28 a.m.TWO vessels of Island Shipping Corp. passed a re-inspection last Tuesday night and were cleared to sail again, three days after the fleet lost one vessel in a fire at sea.
The two vessels serving the Hagnaya to Sta. Fe route, LCT Island II and MV Island Roro 1, were allowed to resume operations yesterday.
Subdivision developer vows to build drainage, other infra to lessen floods
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 01:27 a.m.THE developer of an upscale subdivision in Cebu City vowed to set in place a complete drainage system and undertake other measures to prevent more floods in low-lying areas in Barangays Guadalupe and Tisa.
Genvi Development Corp., developer of Monterrazas de Cebu, made the promise during a public hearing yesterday.
Auditors question P1-M bonus of town execs, employees in ’10
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 01:27 a.m.THE Commission on Audit (COA) noted some “deficiencies” in the use of Dumanjug’s public funds and ordered town officials and employees to refund P1.019 million in allegedly overpaid bonuses.
State auditors questioned several transactions and projects undertaken by the Municipal Government between January and December 2010.
P23-million aid to Comelec 'unnecessary'
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 01:24 a.m.CEBU CITY -- Saying it was unnecessary, the Commission on Audit (COA) has questioned the P23.7-million financial assistance the Cebu City Government gave the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) during last year's national and barangay polls.
State auditors also questioned the way the funds were spent. These were charged to the P25-million Election Reserve Fund (ERF) that the City, through former mayor now Representative Tomas Osmeña (south district, Cebu City), appropriated last year.
‘Pantawid raises student population’
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 01:12 a.m.THERE are more pupils in classrooms in Cebu City elementary schools this year due to the government-initiated cash assistance program, said an official of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Based on data from the DepEd Cebu City division, enrollment for the Elementary level for School Year 2010-2011 is 99,231 while for the current school year the population was pegged at 104,353.
Auditor finds anomaly in own account
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 01:09 a.m.AS A government auditor until the day she retired, discovering fiscal anomalies is nothing new to Floracion Rafols.
So when she discovered that some P1,053,400 was withdrawn from a passbook account she kept with a Cebu City bank while she was vacationing in the US in 2010, old instincts took over.
Police avert Toledo gunfight
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 01:03 a.m.A WILD West scenario almost happened in Toledo City last Monday night when two police officers came close to shooting each other.
But bullets did not fly since SPO1 Jose Hoyohoy and PO1 Carlos Barcenas, a new member of the Ronda Police Station, backed off when they learned they were fellow officers.
Basak-Pardo village chief admits parking problem common among many barangays
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 01:01 a.m.BARANGAY vehicles of Basak-Pardo are obstructions in interior roads, a Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) report said.
Basak-Pardo Barangay Captain Dave Tumulak admitted the report and formally asked Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama for permission to use a portion of a public school as a parking lot for barangay vehicles.
Castro files libel suit vs. superior for announcing her suspension
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 12:58 a.m.CEBU City Assistant Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro yesterday filed criminal and administrative charges against her boss, Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane, before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.
Castro lodged libel, grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a public official charges against Gubalane for allegedly maligning her reputation when he announced her suspension few months ago.
Anti-violence crusader says Ecleo sis asked for Alona’s body
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 12:56 a.m.WHILE he now denies that the body found over nine years ago at the foot of a ravine in Dalaguete, Cebu was that of his wife, Ruben Ecleo Jr.’s family was certain enough that the body was indeed that of Alona Bacolod-Ecleo that they wanted possession of it and even paid the funeral home costs.
So testified Mrs. Thelma Chiong yesterday, adding that the payment was facilitated by the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) Supreme Master and incumbent Dinagat Island congressman’s younger sister, Geraldine “Jade” Ecleo-Villaroman.
Body finds link between cash transfers, cybersex
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 12:54 a.m.VICE Gov. Agnes Magpale said the Provincial Women's Commission (PWC) is currently monitoring money transfer stations to check possible suspects of cybersex.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia also expressed her interest on the plan of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to put up a cyber-laboratory complete with the necessary equipment in the Visayas because this is in line with her “total war” against trafficking and cybersex.
Osmeña scion sits as new councilor of Medellin town
Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 12:51 a.m.A FORMER gubernatorial candidate who ran against Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia in 2004 became the newest Medellin councilor yesterday following the resignation of Vice Mayor Michael Miranda last July.
Councilor Jose Mari Osmeña took his oath yesterday before Garcia, his opponent in the 2004 gubernatorial race, which he lost.
