“Radiating positivity, creating connectivity” CEBU February 24 - March 1, 2020 P15.00 BUSINESSVolume 2 Series 23 12 PAGES Room 310-A, 3rd floor WDC Bldg. Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City WEEK You may visit Cebu Business Week Facebook page. expanded it to 5-year courses to include civil engineering and accountancy, among others. The hospital is operating 24 hours a day, with one doctor, four nurses and utility personnel per shift. Val ripe for The medicine is free. On peace and order, Chiong said the police reported to him that they have a successful drive against illegal drugs. They are helping about 30 persons with illegal drug cases House seat who will enter into plea bargaining. The doctors from the University of San Carlos If Gullas will not run or split 1st district are helping them on this matter. Naga City Mayor district once he returns to the handily won over his than 500 professionals from He said the Philippine Valdemar ‘Val’ Chiong district. opponent. Kristine slid down the City of Naga because of Drug Enforcement Agency recently announced his However, the young as his running mate and won. the scholarship program. (PDEA) 7 talked to him and resignation effective March Gullas might just opt to When Chiong assumed When Chiong was the mayor, informed him that there 16, 2020. But he might remain as Talisay City mayor office in 2007, the annualhe started the scholarship are now four City of Naga return to politics once the and pave the way for Chiong budget of the city was P65 program for 4-year courses. barangays that are drug-free. province’s 1st Congressional to divide the district. million. This has increased But Kristine Vanessa Elias O. Baquero District is divided into two. Chiong said the first district to P100 million in 2011 and Mayor Chiong is is ripe for division because about P900 million when referring to the plan to create its population is about his term ended in 2016. For a new congressional district 500,000. The second district 2020, the annual budget is from the first district nowwas divided with a lower more than P1 billion broken represented by Rep. Eduardo population. down as Internal Revenue R. Gullas. Nevertheless, the Allotment (IRA) of about The new district will be incumbent congressman P500 million, and local carved out of the Cities of Eddie Gullas who is already income of P500 million. Naga and Carcar along with 94 might just decide to divide “The annual income is the two towns San Fernando the district as his legacy. consistently increasing every and Sibonga. He has already created three year,” Chiong said. District constituents find cities. He might leave behind The 58-year old chief Chiong ripe for a congressioal as his greatest achievement a executive said he is grateful seat. congressional district. to the support of the majority Chiong said he may go Chiong tendered of the people, entire city back to public service to his resignation to Gov. council, all village chiefs of become a congressman of the Gwendolyn Garcia effective 28 barangays, 95 percent of new district. A Gullas – either March 16, 2020. He will be barangay councilors, teachers, incumbent Eddie Gullas or succeeded by his daughter, and other professionals. Mayor Gerard Gullas -- will Vice Mayor Kristine Chiong. “That is the reason why be congressman of the first Chiong became mayor the economy of the City of district to be composed of the in 2007 when his brother, Naga is rapidly growing, City of Talisay and the town Ferdinand died in office.and more investors are of Minglanilla. When his term ended on coming in. We have built According to Chiong, June 30, 2016. Kristine more schools, an infirmary former congressman and Vanessa ran for mayor in his hospital, subsidized scholars, incumbent Talisay City behalf and won. and many more,” Chiong Mayor Gerard Gullas Last May 2019, Chiong said. promised to divide the ran again for mayor and There are now more Naga City Mayor Valdemar ‘Val’ Chiong 2 February 24 - March 1, 2020 Cebu Business Week LOCAL LGUs to get bigger IRA, says Labella Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella said Local Government Units (LGUs) can expect bigger shares from the National Government begining this year in connection with the order of the Supreme Court. Labella said Governor HermilandoMandanas of Batangas filed a case before the High Tribunal questioning why LGUs received only a small portion of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) instead the usual 40 percent for LGU and 60 percent of the National Government. Mandanas argued that the LGUs must receive not only the income from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) but from other government agencies like Bureau of Customs (BOC) and all other income of government. Labella said that during the computation, if BOC income and all other taxes will be included in the IRA, the National Government owes to the LGUs the total amount of P600 billion. “If this total amount Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella (middle) and Regional Development Council (RDC) Co-Chair Kenneth Cobonpue (right) listen to the briefing of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be given outright, the (CCCI( President Virgilio “Nonoy” Espeleta.Businessman Virgilio “Nonoy” Espeleta. Photo/Elias O. Baquero National Budget will become imbalance. So, we have a proposal as compromise that of P2.5 billion. and Highways (DPWH), will come from whatever the chairman of the League the P600 billion shall not be “With that, so LGUs Department of Education shares they are entitled from of Governors, Masbate Gov. given at once,” Labella said. which are IRA dependent can (DepEd) and the Department the Mandanas case in the Antonio Kho. He said that first, the avail of the Supreme Court of Health (DOH). P600 billion. “President Rodrigo National Government shall decision on the Mandanas On the other hand, we The team who negotiated Duterte listen to us together give to all LGUs outright the case as compromise. Give are negotiating with Land it include Labella as chairman with Deparrtment of amount of P50 billion from them initially the road-users Bank of the Philippinmes of the National League of Budget and Management road-users tax. tax in the amount of P50 to provide loans to LGUs, Cities in the Philippines (DBM) Wendell Albensado, Several LGUs are relying billion,” Labella said. payable in 2022 at four (LCP), LCP president, and Department of Finance on IRA. Cebu City will survive Aside from that, other percent per annum. This president of the Leagbue (DOF) Secretary Paul without IRA. However, we functions will be devolved like means the LGUs can avail of of Governors, Marinduqe Dominguez and the director have big IRA in the amount Department of Public Works loans, and the amortization Governor Lord Velasco , and of Land Bank. Alegado: JICA helped Consolacion with Mega Cebu Consolacion, Cebu Vice Mega Cebu received the JICA made the feasibility and initiatives of National Supreme Court saying that Mayor Teresa Alegado said money when its founder, study for the entire Province Government Agencies to while the Local Government Japan International Agency Businessman Bobby Aboitiz of Cebu, including the look up Cebu. Something Code mandates that the has helped the town by was still alive. This is the roadmap on mass transport. must be done in Cebu which Internal Revenue Allotment granting $2 million to make reason why Mega Cebu is Alegado was active with Mega is the highest remitter (IRA) is 60-40 percent in favor feasibility studies on solving active in making plans for a Cebu and is privy to the JICA of income in the entire of the national government, common problems in Cebu better Cebu. projects. country. Justice must be some LGUs only received 16- under the Mega Cebu concept. Alegado said JICA focused “If JICA can finish its done for Cebu. But where is 20 percent. Alegado said they are its feasibility studies on the feasibility studies based the money now?” Alegado In its order, the Supreme working with JICA people areas of transport, water, on the recommendations said. Court directed the national continuously as they stayed seaport, airport, septage and of Mega Cebu, what a She said we should savor government to download with Mega Cebu for three years solid waste management, that wonderful Cebu it will be. the opportunities that they to the LGUs the unreleased now and using the $2 million can commonly be addressed There must be political can make for Cebu. shares in the past years, and grant to make the roadmap of by Local Government Units will, cooperation and Batangas Gov. Mandanas release the future shares in the Province of Cebu. (LGUs).. support from all sectors, has filed a case before thecurrent basis. Elias O. Baquero Cebu Business Week February 24 - March 1, 2020 3 NEWS Cebu province set real property tax computation adjustments Cebu province had set than a decade ago. July 1, 2020 as the start of the Cebu Provincial adjustments in the computation Governor Gwendolyn Garcia of real property tax dues. said the current value of the The Cebu Provincial provincial properties has Treasurer’s Office saidnow it become will obsolete. implement the new schedule The adjustment of market of market values (SMV) of values resulted to the increase real properties, hence, the in the value of the province’s adjustments. total assets by more than 400 Section 219 or the general percent. Garcia said that the revision of assessments Capitol closed its books in 2019 and property classificationwith total assets amounting to clause of the Local P188 billion from P35.7 billion Government Code states in 2018. that the provincial assessor On the other hand, Atty.