DPWH 7 exec said P1B needed for road widening, only P150 M for flyover
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 02:05 a.m.THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday said the government will spend about P1 billion if it will choose road widening over flyover construction at the intersection of Gorordo Ave.-Gen. Maxilom Ave., Cebu City.
DPWH 7 Legal Officer Agustinino Hermoso, a guest at the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday, said the cost of the road-widening is higher than the flyover because the price of the land in the area is P20,000 per square meter.
Prosecutor inhibits from case against SuperB, other tabloid
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 02:02 a.m.AS discussion over the anti-tabloid ordinance at the Provincial Board (PB) proceeds, the Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor has let go of a complaint covering one of two papers rapped for allegedly publishing “indecent” content.
In a three-page order dated Sept. 26, City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon forwarded the matter to the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor (ORSP) for “further appropriate proceedings.”
4 gov’t banks receive notices
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 02:01 a.m.FOUR branches of government banks in Cebu City were notified yesterday about the P133.46 million in unpaid balance of just compensation the City owed the Rallos heirs.
Court sheriff Antonio Bellones served the notices of garnishment to the managers/cashiers of the Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Postal Bank and the Philippine Veterans Bank.
2 seafarers remember near-death experience
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 01:54 a.m.THE moment their vessel leaves port, seafarers brace themselves for a long journey that is constantly threatened by uncertain weather conditions.
But like in most high-risk professions, continuous training, presence of mind and safety precautions help them cope with the hazards of their job.
Termination of volunteer shifts ‘to help nurses’
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 01:53 a.m.THE termination of training programs for nurses will give way to a comprehensive career advancement program for them, said a university official.
“The training programs would have to be accredited by the Board of Nursing, which will monitor the quality and standard of training (for nurses),” said Dr. Daisy Palompon, Cebu Normal University College of Nursing dean.
DILG 7 honors ‘well-governed’ LGUs
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 01:51 a.m.WELL-PERFORMING towns and cities in Central Visayas got a pat on the back from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 yesterday.
Ten local government units (LGUs) from Bohol Province and five from Negros Oriental received DILG’s Seal of Good Housekeeping in a ceremony held at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Cebu City.
Accounting office tracks officers with unsettled cash advances
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 01:49 a.m.THE Office of the City Accountant is tracing the disbursing officers of cash advances worth more than half a million pesos in 2010 that have yet to be liquidated.
The Commission on Audit (COA) 7 called the attention of the Cebu City Government for failure to liquidate cash advances totaling P588,785,070.
DOH 7 director, mayor sued over clinic closure
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 01:48 a.m.A SURGEON filed a complaint for damages, prohibition and injunction against Department of Health (DOH) 7 Director Susanna Madarieta, Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura and two others.
Dr. Lyndon Villegas accused the officials of ordering the closure of his clinic, the Women and Children’s Lying-In Polytechnic and Laboratory, in Barangay Poblacion II, Carcar City.
Money design discussed at “Mukhang Pera” lecture
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 01:47 a.m.BANK notes are part of everyday transactions that people often ignore the details each peso bill contains, or the effort and research that go into choosing the design.
Historian Ambeth O-campo said a bank note is important because “it is meant to show what we are as a people, our identity. It is not just for financial purposes, it’s also our calling card.”
Teban begins 3-day stint as governor
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 01:42 a.m.THE idea of being governor, even an acting one, shocked Provincial Board (PB) Member Julian Daan so much that his first reaction was to turn the role down.
Now that he has regained his composure, he is ready for the challenge.
Road Revolution apologizes, vows to do better
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 - 01:37 a.m.CEBU CITY -- They received bad comments after the second event, but for the people behind the movement, the Road Revolution must go on.
Road Rev advocates apologized Tuesday to the public for the problems caused by the poorly announced Road Rev 2 last Saturday.
Cebu City told: Pay family P133M
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 01:13 a.m.CEBU CITY -- A trial court has ordered the Cebu City Government to pay the heirs of Rev. Fr. Vicente Rallos at least P133.46 million for using the family's property for road right-of-way since 1963.
The court sheriff warned that the court may take over any of the city’s properties to settle the obligation, if officials refuse to pay the Rallos heirs.
Public hospitals to stop volunteer nurses’ program
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 01:05 a.m.THE volunteer program for nurses at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and other hospitals retained by the health department has been terminated.
Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi, Department of Health (DOH 7) assistant regional director, said that Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona issued Department Memorandum 2011-0238 on the termination of all nurse volunteer programs, volunteer training programs for nurses and all similar programs in all DOH-retained hospitals.
City ordered to report how it corrected over P72M in receivables, advances
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 01:04 a.m.THE Commission on Audit (COA) 7 has required the Cebu City Government to report what it has done to correct unliquidated cash advances of more than half a million pesos and uncollected disallowances amounting to nearly P72 million in 2010.
COA 7 Director Delfin Aguilar gave City Hall a month to submit the report.
Rama vows to fight CCMC’s closure; hospital marks 50th
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 01:03 a.m.CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama vowed not to close the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), but he urged hospital officials to “pray” that the City Council would not block proposed appropriations to finance improvements for the hospital.
To the idea to close CCMC, the mayor said “over my dead body” as he led the launching of a photo exhibit that signals the start of CCMC’s celebration of its 50 years of “unending care” for Cebu City residents.
PB support sought vs. CamSur split
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 01:01 a.m.THE Vice Governors’ League of the Philippines asked the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) to support their request to Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to set aside a bill creating a new province, Nueva Camarines.
The league informed all the provinces about their request to the senator through a resolution they passed last Aug. 22, 2011.
New PRO 7 director pledges transparency in police force
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 01:00 a.m.FOLLOWING his relocation less than two years ago into the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame, Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo has returned to serve the Central Visayas to serve as its top police official.
Amid light rains, Garbo was formally installed as the new head of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 inside the grounds of Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. yesterday morning.
Ontog recalls achievements as CV cop chief
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 12:59 a.m.CHIEF Supt. Ager Ontog Jr., who relinquished his post as the top police official in Central Visayas, said he will never forget his first “baptism of fire.”
The term baptism of fire is a reference to a soldier's first experience under fire in battle.
Teban turns down governor ‘role’
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 12:58 a.m.WITH Gov. Gwen Garcia and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale leaving the country for an official trip to Jeju Island, South Korea on Wednesday, the presiding pro tempore of the Provincial Board (PB) will automatically become acting governor.
PB Member Julian Daan was reminded about this by Magpale and Majority Floor Leader Peter John Calderon during the PB session yesterday, when he refused to take on the role.
Extradition of British man accused of abducting, murdering girl sought
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 12:57 a.m.WITH Bella Ruby Santos continuing to evade arrest, police are seeking the extradition of her British boyfriend and co-accused in the abduction and killing of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique last Feb. 8.
Provincial Prosecutor Jane Petralba confirmed that they’ve asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to initiate the process that will bring Ian Charles Griffiths to Philippine soil.
Talamban asks City to sustain ban on Ban-Tal
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 12:57 a.m.ANOTHER northern barangay asked the Cebu City Government to stop the implementation of the Ciudad project, a joint development of the Provincial Government and Fifth Avenue Development Corp.
Talamban Barangay Captain Jesus Remedio Jr. wrote Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to continue enforcing the moratorium on new developments at the Banilad-Talamban (Ban-Tal) corridor.
Tomas open to idea of using SRP for event
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 12:56 a.m.WHILE Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) said he is not against the Road Revolution, he reacted in behalf of the people who complained of being inconvenienced by the closure of the city’s downtown to vehicles last Saturday.
“It’s good to try something new but if it doesn’t work, don’t do it again,” he said, while he was still in the hospital after getting an infection and developing high fever.
Landfill may not be totally closed on Oct. 1, Rama says
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 12:55 a.m.AS PERSONNEL of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill are preparing for the total closure of the facility on Oct. 1, two local officials said they are against it.
Mayor Michael Rama, who was interviewed late yesterday, announced the landfill may not be completely closed yet.
Defense in parricide case asks for downgrade
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 12:53 a.m.THE defense in the parricide case against a 25-year-old nursing graduate who allegedly murdered his own mother last month wants the case downgraded to homicide.
State lawyer Leah Cruz said they will ask Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Ricky Jones Macabaya to enter into a plea bargaining agreement so the parricide charge will be downgraded.
Action sought on power rate
Monday, September 26, 2011 - 01:10 a.m.CEBU CITY -- Defer everything in the pipeline that could result in another power rate increase, five organizations appealed to the Aquino administration.
The groups, which included exporters, business owners and a party-list organization, asked why addressing the "very high" power rates does not seem to be a priority for the administration, which left it out of its Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) concerns.
Flyovers to start soon but mayor appeals for time
Monday, September 26, 2011 - 12:49 a.m.AT THIS point, only Malacañang or the Supreme Court can stop the construction of two new flyovers in Cebu City, two public figures involved in the projects said.
Legal Officer Agustinito Hermoso of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 said the bidding was conducted last month for Phase 1 and the winning bidders will start soon.
Cebu City to spend over P30M for a white sand beach, facilities at SRP
Monday, September 26, 2011 - 12:41 a.m.CEBU City Hall will spend another P15 million for the construction of the artificial white sand beach at the South Road Properties (SRP), increasing the project cost to at least P30.4 million.
The amount, which was charged to the P100-million lump sum appropriation for the SRP Management Office this year, will fund the second phase of the project.
Chief, police plant 130 trees
Monday, September 26, 2011 - 12:35 a.m.THE country’s highest-ranking police official led some 200 police personnel in planting trees yesterday, which he said was the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) contribution to efforts in preventing floods in Cebu City.
Director General Nicanor Bartolome, the newly appointed PNP chief, joined personnel of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 in planting 130 trees on a vacant lot at the entrance of the South Road Properties (SRP) yesterday afternoon.
Feeding program gets P38M
Monday, September 26, 2011 - 12:32 a.m.SOME 128,082 pre-schoolers in Central Visayas have been identified as beneficiaries of a feeding program by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7.
In a statement, DSWD 7 Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre said the agency has released P38,424,600 to buy rice from the National Food Authority to be used for the feeding program.
City condo now houses poor students from brgys.
Monday, September 26, 2011 - 12:31 a.m.FOR several years after it was built in 1996, the Cebu City Condominium was the subject of numerous state auditor reports for alleged irregularities in its construction and the failure of the City Government to put it to proper use.
City Hall has not been using the building as a housing facility for the poor, as it was originally intended when it took out a P28-million loan to construct the condominium, state auditors said after a review of the City’s transactions and finances in 2009.
