Danao-Liloan Politics Delaying Process; Durano Hopeful Injection to Begin in 2021

“Radiating positivity, creating connectivity” CEBU BUSINESS Room 310-A, 3rd floor WDC Bldg. Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City You may visit Cebu Business Week WEEK Facebook page. January 4 - 10, 2021 Volume 3, Series 68 www.cebubusinessweek.com 12 PAGES P15.00 LOW-COST WATER FOR MCWD SOON Danao-Liloan politics delaying process; Durano hopeful injection to begin in 2021

THE Danao City Bulk District for seven terms and By: ELIAS O. BAQUERO tween MCWD and Danao City cil but was overridden by the Water will soon supply water placed several persons in high LGU is for the latter to supply Sanggunian. to Metropolitan Cebu Water government during the time supply is surface water that bulk water at 10,000 cubic He said that out of ten District (MCWD) at P20 per of then President Ferdinand comes from Tahong River. meters per day. However, this municipal councilors, the op- cubic meter despite the at- E. Marcos. Since Amon’s Hence, it needs a treatment was revised because Durano posing councilors were sev- tempts by some politicians to mayorship, the water rate plant in Barangay Guinacot. do not want a repeat of what en which was composed of block it. was P5 per cubic meter until The city’s water treatment happened in Carmen, Cebu. two-thirds of the sangunian, At present, Danao City at present. plant is now functioning. The bulk water in Luyang hence, they can override the Water System owned by the With the refusal of Liloan Durano said their water River in Carmen town was mayor’s veto. Danao City Local Govern- to let Danao water pass, the production is 10,000 cubic supplied to MCWD at 20,000 In public hearings, the ment Unit (LGU) is selling MCWD Board and Manage- meters per day. They allo- cubic meters a day. This left people expressed opposition water to its constituents at P5 ment and Danao City Govern- cated 3,000 to 5,000 cubic the people in the municipality to using the bulk water of per cubic meter for the first ment have decided to deliver meters per day to Danao City lacking with water. Luyang to supply to MCWD. 10 cubic meters, the cheapest the bulk water at its injection consumers and the excess will That is the reason why the The Cebu Province, Maynilad water rate in the country. pump in Compostela, Cebu. be supplied to MCWD. Carmen Municipal Council and Manila Water did not pay The same water rate was Durano said that in the He said the timetable to refused to pass a resolution to for it to the Municipality of started during the mayorship meantime, they are priori- start supplying bulk water supply bulk water to MCWD Carmen. of the undisputed political tizing the water distribution to MCWD is within the first through a joint venture with “So, I decided to supply kingpin, Ramon “Amon” Du- in Danao City so the constit- quarter of 2021. They have al- Cebu Provincial Government first the water needs of the rano Sr. who died in October uents will benefit their water ready laid down the appropri- and Maynilad Water and Ma- people of Danao City before 1988 while he was the incum- first before selling the excess ate water pipes up to MCWD’s nila Water. The Carmen may- selling the excess water to bent chief executive. to MCWD. Compostela injection pump. or vetoed the opposition of MCWD,” Durano said. Danao City Mayor Ramon He explained that the bulk At first, the contract be- the Carmen Municipal Coun- At first, Durano planned “Nito” Durano III told Cebu to privatize Danao City Water Business Week that the LGU System but he realized that of Liloan, Cebu refused to let the private investor would them pass through the mu- increase the water rate as he nicipality towards the MCWD will improve and rehabilitate injection point in that area. the water distribution lines. Liloan leaders, Mayor Durano said they will Cristina Garcia-Frasco and construct another dam above her husband, Rep. Duke Fra- the river to increase the wa- sco are daughter and son-inter supply of another 10,000 law of Governor Gwendolyn cubic meters per day. Tahong Garcia. They are the political is the biggest river in Danao opponents of the Duranos. City. Ramon Durano, on the Water in Barangays Po- other hand, is the father of blacion, Sabang and Maslog Ramonito. Popularly known is now supplied by bulk as ‘Amon,’ Ramon had been INTERVIEW. DANAO CITY MAYOR RAMON “NITO” DURANO III, WITH CEBU BUSINESS WEEK’S water of Danao City Water a congressman of Cebu’s 5th EMMANUEL “ANOL” MONGAYA AND ELIAS O. BAQUERO. System. 2 January 4 - 10, 2021 Cebu Business Week LOCAL DOTr, Consolacion to start work on port in 1st quarter THE Department of the project site, bringing with In response, the DOTr Transportation (DOTr) and them their equipment,” Ale- drafted a memorandum of the Local Government Unit gado said. agreement (MOA) that DOTr (LGU) of Consolacion, Cebu She said that being the will download the fund for the are working closely so the host municipality, they readi- road-right-of-way for the Con- construction of Cebu In- ly helped the DOTr officials in solacion LGU to implement. ternational Container Port implementing COCP. “We will start negotiat- (CICP) will start in the first “The National Govern- ing for the road-right-of-way quarter of 2021. ment and DOTr officials are once the money will already The Korean Government happy with our cooperation be downloaded to the LGU, al- has approved the P10 billion and readiness to help them in though we will use the guide- loan for the Philippine Gov- implementing the project. In lines of DPWH (Department ernment two years ago when fact, the DOTr also requested of Public Works and High- President Rodrigo Duter- REPURPOSE. ONCE THE KOREAN FUNDED NEW CEBU INTERNA- us to help then in the acqui- ways),” Alegado said. te was in a state visit in that TIONAL CONTAINER PORT IS FINISHED IN CONSOLACION, THE sition of road-right-of-way,” Although it is a DOTr proj- country. CEBU INTERNATIONAL PORT IN CEBU CITY WILL BE REPUR- Alegado said. ect, the end-user is the Cebu However, the project POSED INTO A DOMESTIC PORT. The Municipal Council Port Authority (CPA) which is cannot be implemented yet passed a resolution inform- presently operating the Cebu due to maneuvering by some The Department of Finance part fund is for the payment ing DOTr that Consolacion International Port (CIP). politicians and vested inter- (DOF) immediately released to Korean consultants for the is ready to assist, in any Earlier, the late CPA Gen- est group. it through the intercession of container port project. way, on how they can fast- eral Manager Angelo Verdan Late last year, DOTr Consolacion Vice Mayor Tere- “The thing is already go- track the realization of the said that once the CICP will asked the help of Consolacion sa “Nene” Pepito Alegado and ing through. The Korean con- project. The resolution was be operational, the CIP will be LGU in releasing the Philip- her son, Consolacion Mayor sultants (for the project) have brought to the DOTr in Ma- converted into a cruise ship pine counter-part fund in the Joaness “Joyjoy” Alegado. arrived so with the Filipino nila through Project Engi- port and a business district. amount of US$43 million. Alegado said the counter- implementor who will inspect neer Nonoy dela Cruz. ELIAS O. BAQUERO Cebu lost decisive leader in Salimbangon CEBU City Vice Mayor served the House of Represen- ple in Bantayan Island is the to DYRC and Cebu Business make a feasibility study for an Michael “Mike” Rama said tatives for four straight terms “submarine cable” line that Week, saying that it has been airport in the area. that Cebu has lost an ener- (12 years) from 2007 to 2019. will bring power from Main- covered by a resolution from Rama said that he is close getic, innovative, and decisive He was replaced by his wife, land Cebu to the island. the Medellin Municipal Coun- to Benhur and the Salimban- leader with the death of for- Janice Zamora Salimbangon In the middle of 2020, cil. gon family and the family of mer Congressman Benhur L. from July 1, 2019 to the pres- he called up DYRC radio and Salimbangon also told Benhur’s sister, businesswom- Salimbangon. ent. Cebu Business Week and said Cebu Business Week that he an Mariquita Salimbangon Salimbangon died last De- Daanbantayan, Cebu that the 500 hectares of land and Rep. Janice has requested Yeung. cember 24, 2020 after a long Mayor Sun Shimura said that in Medellin allocated for eco- the Department of Transpor- “He (Benhur) was my big battle against cancer. He was Salimbangon was able to wid- nomic zone has already been tation (DOTr) for an alloca- brother since I was a Cebu buried at his family-owned en and concrete all the roads approved in principle by Pres- tion of P200 million for the City councilor and he ran for cemetery in Lapu-Lapu City in mainland 4th District, ident Rodrigo Duterte and construction of a big airport Cebu board member in the 4th after being brought to Cebu’s concreted the bridges, and Philippine Export Zone Ad- (2-kilometer in length and District. He was the author of 4th District especially in his expanded and concreted the ministration (PEZA) Director 60-meter in width) to comple- Cebu Provincial Ordinance hometown of Medellin. road leading to Maya Port. Geneal Charito Plaza. ment the economic zone. No. 93-1 in connection to the Salimbangon was the only The ongoing project that Medellin Mayor Joven Late last year, the DOTr provincial lot being occupied Cebuano congressman who will surely benefit all the peo- Mondigo Jr. confirmed this has sent a technical team to by city residents,” Rama said. Bohol Capitol assists Covid-19 victims THE administration of P2 million for 604 benefi- P5.249 million cash from Equipment (PPE) for pro- cally Stranded Individuals Governor Art C. Yap and Vice ciaries; supportive devices, Province-led Panghanapbu- vincial frontliners; 11,600 (LSIs), 11,032 Overseas Fil- Governor Rene L. Relampa- P260,450 for 93 persons; hay Para sa Ating Disadvan- kits for rapid testing to Local ipino Workers (OFWs), and gos in Bohol has given assis- transportation, P149,000; taged/Displaced Workers Government Units (LGUs); 123 Authorized Persons Out- tance to individuals in crisis and food, P521,480 for 1,180 (TUPAD) with the Depart- 7,327 kits for PCR test ad- side Residence (APOR). situations and financial as- people. ment of Labor and Employ- ministered by Bohol Con- In the Part 1 of the sistance to Boholanos affect- The financial assis- ment (DOLE) to 1,193 bene- tainerized PCR Laboratory; Year-End Report 2020, the ed by Covid-19. tance for Boholanos hit by ficiaries; and P2 million cash 11,404 beds to municipal Yap-Relampagos adminis- The financial and service Covid-19 are: P26.850 mil- for work for 500 agricultural quarantine centers; and 176 tration released Covid-19 sta- assistance to individuals in lion for 13,284 offshore -Bo workers under “Kita sa Ka- beds to provincial quaran- tistics (as of Dec. 26, 2020) crisis include: P19.275 mil- holanos; 10 kilos of rice each kugi” program. tine center. with 793 total confirmed cas- lion cash for 9,599 individu- to 19,914 displaced tourism The other Covid-19 assis- The Bohol Provincial es, 18 active cases, 759 recov- als; medical, P16.392 million workers; eight kilos of rice tance comprised are: 7,200 Government also assisted eries, and 16 deaths. ELIAS O. for 7,664 individuals; burial, each for 365,960 families; pieces of Personal Protective about 35,036 returning Lo- BAQUERO Cebu Business Week January 4 - 10, 2021 3 NEWS Economy shrinking fast alarms Cebu business leader BUSINESSMAN Rey E. econ- lotment (IRA) which is just Calooy said the government How- omy is one percent of its income from is alarmed that the Philip- ever, concen- businesses. The Makati LGU pine economy shrank fast Calooy trated is giving free hospitalization, shortly after the start of the said this in one free college education, among Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 did not place others to its constituents be- compared to other countries. happen and is cause it has enough funds for Calooy, Filipino-Cebua- because not dis- it, Calooy said. no (FilCeb) Business Club while persed “This is why the business president, had urged the malls to the sector is important in grow- government to reduce the and oth- coun- ing the economy of a nation,” restrictions on the people’s er busi- tryside,” Calooy said. movement to save the econ- ness Calooy He said the economic omy by allowing them to go firms said. data showed point two (-.2) shopping for Christmas and closed at 10:00 pm plus uncertainty,” Calooy said. Metro Manila, Maka- negative Gross Domestic New Year in December, a de- midnight sales before the The problem is com- ti City and Quezon City are Product for 2020’s; 6.5 per- termining month of the year. Covid-19 pandemic, they are pounded by the fact that 65 big economies. Makati City cent negative GDP for the “We are a consump- now closing at 7:00 pm due percent of Gross Domestic alone has more than 400 2nd quarter; and 11.5 per- tion-driven economy. We are to lack of sales. Product (GDP) is in Metro banks where regional, na- cent negative GDP for the not in manufacturing nor in- “The people did not any- Manila. tional and international of- 3rd quarter. vestment economy. It will be more buy maybe because “If this is a piece of bread, fices of multi-national - com Calooy said that by the a big factor for the economy they have no more money as more than half is in Metro panies are transacting busi- second week of February, we to rebound if the people will millions lost jobs and liveli- Manila and the 35 percent ness there. will already know the GDP buy and money starts circu- hood or they keep their sav- is shared with the rest of the Makati can stand alone for the entire 2020. ELIAS O. lating again,” Calooy said. ings because they are facing country, including Cebu. The without Internal Revenue Al- BAQUERO Business in ‘bad’ shape until 2022: leader BUSINESSMAN Phil- ing the once strong economy of Commerce and Industry I‘ve been telling them that etables. If fruits and vegeta- ip Tan said that depending back to the 2019 level may be (MCCI), said that ever since, we should emphasize that bles are there, the processing on what industry they are in 2022. The tourism indus- he expounded the possibility agriculture should be “a busi- for preservation must follow in, majority of those in the try may be back to 2019 level of increasing food produc- ness, not a way of life only.” in case these will not be sold business sector will not be in in 2023,” Tan said. tion by massive planting of He said that if it will con- immediately. good state until 2022. He said that food manu- vegetables and fruits. Agri- tinue to be a way of life, no- The foundation is soil Tan, management repre- facturing may recover early culture is still the backbone body will be interested to be preparation, massive plant- sentative to the Regional Tri- because the Philippines is a of the Philippines. in agriculture. They will say ing of fruits and vegetables, partite Wages and Productiv- consumer-based economy. “But this task is not easy that your work is dirty, under fertilizer application, and ir- ity Board (RTWPB), said that But the service sector like because we need the coop- the heat of the sun, or you rigation. 2021, the year of the ox, will restaurants, hotels, and tour- eration of the farmers. Food will become wet during rainy “I told the new breed and en- be a buttoning period. ist-related transport, cannot production must start from days. ergetic DA officials to focus “While business was rebound this year. the Department of Agricul- Tan said the government on agriculture as business flattened in 2020 because of Tan, a former president ture with mind setting. I have must take the lead in massive and profit-centered,” Tan Covid-19 pandemic, reviv- of the Mandaue Chamber been working with DA and production of fruits and veg- said. ELIAS O. BAQUERO PHL, India to enhance economic partnership FINANCE Secretary Car- region, as both countries are Kumaran said India can lend Build” program but are in no and Indian firms. los Dominguez III and India poised to strongly bounce back its expertise to the Philip- need of more information on Dominguez said an Indian Ambassador to the Philip- in 2021 from the economic im- pines in setting up its national various opportunities avail- company—GMR Infrastruc- pines Shambhu Kumaran met pact of the lingering COVID-19 broadband network as well as able to them under the Presi- ture Limited—is already tak- recently to explore ways of pandemic. its national ID system. dent’s centerpiece infrastruc- ing part in the “Build, Build, enhancing economic cooper- In a virtual courtesy call Dominguez welcomed the ture modernization plan. Build” program and has per- ation between their two coun- on Dominguez, Kumaran ex- Ambassador’s offer of assis- To assist prospective formed impressively in oper- tries, especially in the areas of pressed India’s interest in tance and invited Indian com- investors on this concern, ating the Mactan Cebu Inter- “financial and digital technol- strengthening its cooperation panies to participate in the Dominguez and Kumaran national Airport (MCIA) and ogies” and infrastructure de- with the Philippines in the upcoming rollout of a shared agreed to help organize a webi- expanding the Clark Interna- velopment. fields of banking and finance, cyber-defense plan for Philip- nar or online workshop where tional Airport (CIA). The DOF press release said particularly on expanding the pine state-run banks and their the Philippines can showcase India and the Philippines that both officials acknowl- use of fintech to help attain subsidiaries. the various opportunities celebrated last year their 70 edged the mutually beneficial President Duterte’s goal of fi- Kumaran also said Indian open to India’s companies on years of diplomatic relations, opportunities open to the Phil- nancial inclusion for all Filipi- companies are interested in infrastructure development, which were established on No- ippines and India as economic nos. taking part in the Duterte ad- as well as other possible areas vember 16, 1949. PR/ELIAS O. partners in the Indo-Pacific In support of this goal, ministration’s “Build, Build, of cooperation between Filipi- BAQUERO 4 January 4 - 10, 2021 Cebu Business Week OPINION

Greeting 2021

After a sumptuous dinner on December 31, we gathered at the sala to watch “Patay Na si Hesus.” All of us saw the Bisaya family comedy before. De- spite all the hardships and challenges, 2020 forced Filipinos to spend most of their time since March at the house together. Gath- ering around to watch Weekly Notes something we enjoyed as Emmanuel Nacorda Mongaya a family felt a fitting finale for 2020. Now, we look forward to 2021 stronger. Despite the seeming disarray at the top, I assume we will get the COVID-19 vaccine this year. I expect Malacañang and other power players in Congress would move mightily to ensure most Filipinos would be vaccinated by the time candi- dates file their candidacy certificates by October. But let us assume the world would not reboot back to ex- actly like pre-COVID times. The months of quarantine changed the world’s population. We experienced the joys of being with family. While we can return to the office and physically interact once again, we also learned working from home. The population and business transformed digitally. We order food and even do groceries online. We conduct small and large meetings online. In the US, majority of Americans learned to campaign and vote virtually. In November, they finally ended the reign of an ultra-Rightist President who messed up the superpow- Editorial er’s anti-COVID response. New Year Survey The surprising canard of a survey started tongues wagging on New Year’s Day. As expected, DDS trolls rejoiced while the Earlier vaccination growing anti-Duterte circles criticized “False Asia.” I looked at The disarray at the na- up acquisition of the US- by the end of this year? Will the survey on presidentiables as a clever ploy to set the agen- tional level in the acquisi- made vaccine. The president they not, despite the incom- da at the start of 2021. Of course, I do not believe the survey tion of the vaccines against himself prefers the Chi- petence, move heaven and was accurate. It was a public relations ploy. Imagine, pro and Covid-19 proves disappoint- nese-made Sinovac which earth to provide their po- anti-administration partisans debating whether Davao Mayor ing for an administration led is reported to be the most tential supporters with these Inday Sara is number one or not. The so-called survey makes by what his loyal supporters expensive and only 50% in protection against Covid-19? her top of mind on New Year’s Day. Brayt nga palihi. described as the best presi- efficacy. The national budget If they can import smuggled The Pacman dent in the universe. for buying vaccines is but a vaccines just to protect the The same “False Asia” survey positioned Senator Manny President Rodrigo Roa small percentage compared president, they can move to Pacquiao as the number one choice for senator. After becom- Duterte promised the vac- to other administration pri- increase the chances of victo- ing the PDP-Laban boss last year, the Pacman became a presi- cines by the end of 2020 orities. ry for his successor. dentiable in the lips of many. The survey obviously seeks to cut would be his strategy against Nevertheless, the New The same question can the Pambansang Kamao to size. Pang-senador lang. Covid-19. The end of the Year presents hope. No mat- be hurled at other political However, my friend Tonton Antogop remains unper- pandemic in the Philippines ter the controversies now, players. We can even chal- turbed. Tonton, the secretary general of the Manny Pacquiao should signal the start of our vaccines will arrive within lenge our tycoons. If you for President Movement (MPPM), expressed confidence in economic comeback. Howev- the year. The earliest would want to be at the forefront the grassroots enthusiasm for the Pacman to run. Apparent- er, 2020 ended with acquisi- be this March. of post-Covid economic re- ly, he believes more in what he sees as they go around the tion controversies. Considering the lack of covery, you should ensure countryside than the so-called False Asia survey. Tonton says The presidents’ guards money and perhaps supplies your stakeholders, and that the Pacman plans to do rounds of consultations with Cebu got injected with vaccines for poorer countries like includes employees, suppli- leaders. We will have the chance of seeing how Cebuanos en- described by Defense Sec- ours, not all will receive their ers, and even customers, are gage with Pacquiao this week. retary Delfin Lorenzana as first does within the year. inoculated against the coro- (Emmanuel N. Mongaya is a member of the Political Of- smuggled. Foreign Secretary Still, can the adminis- navirus. ficers League of the Philippines. He is also co-founder and Teodoro Locsin Jr. accused tration risk not inject vac- The New Year’s resolu- director for strategic PR of PRWorks Inc. Contact him @ Health Secretary Francisco cines to potential voters by tion for 2021 should be early anol_cebu in Twitter) Duque III as having messed October 2021? Or perhaps vaccination.

“Radiating positivity, creating connectivity” Atty. Gerardo Carillo Emmanuel delos Santos Rabacal Cebu Business Week is published every Chairman President week by Cebu Newsmakers Forum, Inc. All contents of this newspaper are placed online CEBU through Cebu Business Week Facebook page. Emmanuel “Anol” Mongaya Elias O. Baquero BUSINESS Editor VP-Finance email: [email protected] Keres H. Aviles Bebie Hiñola Baquero Room 310-A,3rd floor WDC Bldg. WEEK Writer Marketing Manager Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City Cebu Business Week January 4 - 10, 2021 5 OPINION New Year, new rules: UK begins post-Brexit future Britain on Friday (Jan Year’s Day a public holiday ty and inconsistent with has since dropped due to 1) began a new year and followed by a weekend, market rules. The actions major stimulus from the life outside Europe, after and the government hav- will also greatly weaken US Federal Reserve. The leaving the bloc’s single ing announced the phased all parties’ confidence in currency ended last year market trading rules to go introduction of checks, few the US capital market. The with its biggest annual it alone for the first time immediate problems were ministry did not offer de- loss since 2017. Bitcoin is in nearly half a century. envisaged. (AFP/CNA) tails on what the measures traded in much the same Brexit, which has dominat- oOo might be. Under Trump, way as real currencies like ed politics on both sides of China will take nec- the US has stepped up eco- the US dollar and pound BIZBITS the Channel since 2016, essary measures to safe- nomic sanctions and trav- sterling. (BBC) Manny de los Santos Rabacal became reality an hour be- guard the interests of its el bans against Chinese oOo fore midnight, ending the companies after the New companies, government The renowned French UK’s 48-year obligation to York Stock Exchange be- officials and Communist fashion designer Pierre follow Brussels’ rules. Free gan delisting three Chi- Party members, especial- Cardin has been buried movement of over 500 mil- nese telecom firms ac- ly recently in Trump’s last at a private ceremony in lion people between Brit- cused of having military few weeks in office. (CNA) Paris. Cardin - who died ain and the 27 EU states ties, the country’s com- oOo on Tuesday at the age of ended. More rigorous cus- merce ministry said on The virtual cryptocur- 98 - was laid to rest at the toms checks returned for Saturday (Jan 2). The rency hit $30,823.30 at city’s Montmartre Cere- the first time in decades, NYSE said on Thursday 13:13 GMT on Saturday, mony. The black coffin was despite the hard-fought that it would begin delis- just weeks after soaring adorned with a sword of brokering of a tariff- and ting China Mobile, China above $20,000 for the his own design, the blade quota-free trade deal. New Unicom, and China Tele- first time. In the past year, resembling a pair of scis- Year’s Day newspapers re- com in response to a deci- Bitcoin has almost qua- sors intertwined with the flected the historic but still sion by President Donald drupled in value thanks to eye of a needle, a thimble deeply divisive change, Trump to bar US invest- interest from large inves- and a spool of thread. He which will have repercus- ment in firms owned or tors looking for rapid prof- was interred with his for- sions for generations to controlled by the Chinese its. Some analysts think it mer partner Andre Oliver, come. As dawn broke on military. Trading of the could rise even further as who died in 1993. Born 2021, attention turned to companies is to be sus- the US dollar drops fur- Pietro Costante Cardin in Britain’s borders, particu- pended sometime between ther. While the value of 1922, the Italian moved larly its key Channel sea- Jan 7 and Jan 11. The the US currency rose in to France as a child and ports, to see if the end to Chinese Ministry of Com- March at the start of the became a naturalised citi- seamless trade and travel merce said in a statement coronavirus pandemic as zen. (BBC) would cause delays and that the delisting was an investors sought safety (mannyrabacal1144@ disruption. But with New abuse of national securi- amid the uncertainty, it gmail.com

Ernesto Carreon, Cebu’s Champion of the Labor Law Ernesto, a true-blood- tite Wages and Produc- encio Fernandez Carreon municipal judge of Argao, ied Barilino, finished his tivity Board (RTWPB) 7. and Lourdes Flores. His Cebu and Numeriano F. elementary at the Barili He vigorously defended siblings were Eva Ali- Carreon was admitted to Elementary School, then and fought for the rights ta, a Teacher who mar- the Bar on January 25, the Sta. Ana Academy High and welfare of the labor ried Isaac Lanojan, also a 1952 and served as Judge School. He came to Cebu sector. On December 17, Teacher, Romeo (married and Justice of the Peace City to earn his Bachelor 2020 he was bestowed Amparo Alesna) a Retired of Ronda, Cebu. of Arts at the Colegio de a Posthumous Award of Police Officer, Felomina Barili, the birthplace San Jose Recolotes (now RTWPB 7 (he died on (married Ronnie Lopez) of Judge Carreon, had USJR). He then finished November 19, 2020) a served the town of Bari- its origin of its naming. Cebu Legal his Bachelor of Laws at portion of the text of the li, Cebu for decades and The Municipal Council Pedia the Gullas Law School. He award: “for his person- retired as a Local Civil of Barili in a resolution Atty. Clarence Paul V. Oaminal was admitted to the Bar al example of leadership, Registrar, Marian (mar- passed in 1908 adopted on March 14, 1969. competence and concern ried Feliciano Eucaliga, as the true story behind As a Labor Arbiter, he for the employees are the a retired Postmaster) a the naming of the town of became the Champion of highest standards of ex- Teacher, Edna (died when Barili. This is cited in the the Labor Law, uphold- cellence and serve as an she was six years old) book of Lawyer Gerva- ing the principles and te- inspiration to all”. Cresencio Jr. , a Com- sio Lavilles, Brains of the nets of the law, weighing He shared his exper- merce graduate married Cebu City Charter: whether the law favors tise (he also wrote a book) Rosabella Baculanta. Judge Ernesto, the the complainant or the on the Labor Law as Law The Carreon Clan is pride of Barili married respondent in his sala. Professor in the College predominantly from the Clarita Noveras Carre- When he retired from of Law of the Universi- south, there are mem- on (a retired Teacher of the government service, ty of San Jose Recoletos bers of the clan who be- the Labangon Elementary he became Legal Counsel and at the University of came lawyers, aside from School, Labangon, Cebu and Regional Vice Presi- the Visayas. He anchored Judge Ernie: Leonardo City), their love union pro- dent of Associated Labor a radio program at DYLA, P. Carreon, admitted to duced a beautiful daugh- Unions. the Voice of Labor. the Bar on April 26, 1989, ter, Lorna (who married He became Represen- Judge Ernesto called who was appointed as As- Neil Paul Diola) the cou- tative of the Labor Sector by friends as Ernie was sistant Public Prosecutor ple works and lives in the to the Regional Tripar- the eldest child of Cres- of Cebu City and later as United States of America. 6 January 4 - 10, 2021 Cebu Business Week OPINION

New Year’s wish list er year lease while others economic recovery plan ter easement of the river ious routes and providing unfortunately failed. A targeting the disadvan- and 10 meters from the higher toll for the use ve- lot of good friends did not taged sectors to fan our sea body. Existing hous- hicles in busy streets. survive. So sad to make economy back to its feet. ing programs of the City To our national gov- and hear condolences in I am glad Mayor Ed- should be expanded and ernment, the senseless the Net. But I wish and gar Labella and Vice May- collection rate should be killing to our brother law- pray this year brings a or Mike Rama has now increased. yers, prosecutors, mem- better promise. Let us opened the CCMC. Public Mass transport should bers of the magistrate paint positivity knowing health is after all a public now be rolled out and should end, and the perpe- that 2021 gives us hope. need regardless of status. protected mobility lanes trators be punished. Last The Legal Front Although I know kick- Flood controls in an- should be given more cre- year we have seen a num- Atty. Gerry Carillo ing bad habit is difficult, other challenge the City dence. Mass transport ber of lawyers ambushed, but we need to move for- have with a number of in- such as BRT, LRT, sub- some luckily survived but ward and lit this year with formal occupants in the ways, cable cars should most didn’t. Although the a bang loud enough to side of the rivers added to be on the top of the national have seemingly scare the pandemic hop- the fact that business es- list. When the pandem- encourage violence in re- ing this nightmare will tablishments have closed ic is over, people will be storing law and order, but come to an end. some of the water arteries. crowding the streets and it also encourage crimi- I wish our leaders pri- Hope our leaders would our roads and highways nals to copycat the moti- oritize the vaccine inocu- have the necessary balls will be filled with vehi- vation in launching their lation to the people soon- to seriously eradicate this cles. There should be a vendetta after all govern- er so that we can return stumbling block. But com- way to discourage people ment is seem to mum on to our normal lives. Eco- passion should be given from bringing their own all killings . Had trouble in mak- nomic stimulation should to those informal settlers vehicles in the streets if And lest we forget we ing New Year’s resolutions be another on the list after that they may be given a necessary. Hence the city should pray to almighty and wish lists. I plotted the devastation brought roof to stay while the city should encourage people that the pandemic we have a list last year, but every- by the pandemic with would be clearing the es- to use mass transport and experienced should come thing fizzled and squeezed thousands of people los- teros and canals. the protected mobility to end. It is only to might out by this malaise named ing their source of living. The city should and lanes. In advance coun- of prayer that we will see COVID 19. We should be Have seen people resort- must roll mass housing tries, in their own city a light at the end of this appreciative having sur- ing online selling almost for those affected indi- business districts, they dark tunnel. Write us at vived at the end of the everything just to survive, viduals so that they will provide free bus roaming carillogerry@yahoo. year and was given anoth- the City should prioritize stay outside the three-me- around the city with var- com.ph

Is 2021 a prosperous year for the business sector and labor?

nesses belonging to the mi- economic rebound projected the ADB indicated that the mitigate the short-term eco- cro, small medium enterpris- by the financial institution decline in employment in nomic costs of the lockdown es (MSMEs) resulted heavily in 2021 of a 6.5% growth is tradable sectors, such as the measures. a great impact on employ- a boost in the country’s em- manufacturing, transpor- The government is eye- ment. ployment number is expect- tation and storage was due ing a robust economic re- Thus, the grim data re- ed. to the lockdown measures covery. Instituting policies leased by the Asian Devel- Consequently, the imposed by the government to spur economy and save opment Bank (ADB) showed Covid-19 baseline scenario during the crisis. jobs, help struggling firms, that there were 2.1around on industry that exhibits larg- The same report pointed assist displace workers to fid 3 million workers who lost est decline in employment out that non-tradable indus- reemployment and to boost their jobs in 2020. And ap- are from the construction tries such as construction, spending are measures list- The Labor Front proximately 74% of the industry, accounted for 8%, wholesale and retail, accom- ed by the ADB as part of the Art Barrit workers who lost their jobs, which translates to around modation and food and pub- medium-term plan. The goal automatically added to the 500,000 job losses and an- lic administration posted is critical to ensure a resilient unemployment problem of other from the manufactur- higher job losses when gov- and robust economy, stated the country to about 10.4% ing sector with 100,000 job ernment imposed strict gov- the ADB report, from 5.1% in 2019. losses. ernment measures during And the very promising “An additional 389,000 But the biggest casualty the health crisis. note and a reason to be hope- workers representing 18% according to the ADB report Nonetheless, due to the ful for 2021, as the report may drop out of the labor which has the steepest drop swift action of the govern- noted, that aside from the force altogether. And there in employment in areas of ment to soften the impact government intensification There is no denying that are about 288,000 workers the services sector is on tour- of the pandemic signs of infrastructure program, the the damage wrought by the who could shift to other sec- ism. economic improvement and stable inflation approach in- pandemic has had significant tors, mainly to agriculture”, Likewise, some allied recovery and a pick-up in stituted by the government economic and labor market explained the joint study services that were greatly the job market is heading to- economists and as well as impacts worldwide including conducted by ADB econo- affected based on the esti- wards the right direction, the low interest rates is the im- our country. mist Rosa Mia Arao and ADB mated figure released by the ADB report explained. pending availability of the The stringent measures Southeast Asia Technology report on the job loss is the The relief measures pro- Covid-19 vaccines. imposed by the government and Innovation Specialist drop of about 100,000 jobs vided by the government to It is reported that it is al- to contain the spread of the Sameer Khatiwala in transport, public adminis- the displaced workers such ready on the pipeline. Surely virus have effectively shut The ADB manifested a tration, and other services. as wage subsidies, cash as- this will enable a faster eco- down major sectors of the positive note, stating among Apparently, due to lack sistance and employment nomic recovery and boost job economy, especially busi- others, that given the strong and declining global demand benefits have greatly helped creation. Cebu Business Week January 4 - 10, 2021 7 NATION PhilHealth to hike premiums PHILIPPINE Health In- cent at present. surance Corp (PhilHealth) Workers and business will increase the monthly groups had appealed against premium by 3.5 percent be- the imposition of the in- ginning Jan. 1, 2021. crease in PhilHealth and SSS Rey Baleña, senior man- contribution rates because ager of PhilHealth Corpo- of the economic impact of rate Communications De- the COVID-19 pandemic. partment, said that under Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. of Section 10 of the Universal the Employers’ Confedera- Health Care Act, monthly tion of the Philippines said rates will rise to 3.5 percent they are awaiting President in 2021 from 3 percent in Rodrigo Duterte’s decision 2020, thus raising minimum on their appeal to delay the contributions to P350 from hike of the contributions. P300. He said if payment of “We believe this is need- taxes and electricity were ed by our country as we fight expected to yield “close to referring to the “immediate any healthcare professional deferred, then contribution COVID-19. We will continue P90 billion” revenues from eligibility” of members for -- to do regular checkups on adjustment for PhilHealth to implement programs un- collections in 2021. Direct healthcare services, espe- Filipinos. and SSS can be the same, der the Universal Health- contributions in 2020 gen- cially those confined in hos- This can address the through the emergency care law,” he added. erated P77 billion in the pitals and needing medical long-standing problem of powers of the Inter-Agency Under the law, the in- agency’s revenues. aid. not being able to detect ill- Task Force on COVID-19 come ceiling will also be “This is a significant re- Baleña said they will also nesses of Filipinos even un- (IATF). adjusted to P70,000 from inforcement to PhilHealth rollout Konsulta Package til death, Baleña said. Ortiz-Luis noted it is P60,000, making monthly funds for us to continue re- or Konsultasyong Sulit at Like PhilHealth, SSS is hard to justify the rate in- contributions rise to P2,450 forms we started in 2019,” Tama, which seeks to assign also hiking its monthly con- crease when PhilHealth is from P1,800, Baleña said. he added. a designated healthcare pro- tribution rates to 13 percent also under fire due to cor- The rate adjustment is The PhilHealth official is vider -- whether a doctor or starting Jan. 1, from 12 per- ruption allegations. Banks waive fund DTI aims to ratify 2021 trade deal transfer fees into 2021 THE Department of mit their instruments of rat- IN AN effort to boost transfers for transactions Bank & Trust Co. (MBTC), Trade and Industry (DTI) ification approval. digital banking and provide worth P50,000 and less. PE- the parent lender of PSBank, plans to finish both the rat- The Trade department safer ways for carrying out SONet on the other hand, announced that it would al- ification process and secure has been promoting the financial transactions during facilitates batch transac- low free InstaPay and PE- Senate concurrence the re- deal as an export market the pandemic, more banks tions with larger values that SONet transactions until cently signed 15-country access advantage. Products extend waivers for fund are credited by the end of a March 31. mega-trade deal in 2021. like garments, automotive transfer fees. banking day. On Dec. 16, the Bangko The Regional Compre- parts, and agricultural prod- Philippine National Philippine Savings Bank Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hensive Economic Partner- ucts such as canned food Bank (PNB) announced that (PSBank) also announced issued Memorandum No. ship (RCEP) is a trade agree- and preserved fruit stand to it would extend the waiver that interbank fund transfers M-2020-095 signed by BSP ment signed last month by benefit, Mr. Gepty said in a for InstaPay and PESONet made through its online fa- Deputy Governor Maria Al- China, Australia, New Zea- statement. transactions until March 31, cilities and mobile app would masara Cyd N. Tuaño-Ama- land, Japan, South Korea Gepty said the depart- 2021. continue to be free of charge dor extending the waiver of and all 10 member-coun- ment is aligning their pro- “While all our branches until further notice. fees for fund transactions fa- tries of the Association of grams to improve industry are open, PNB is giving cus- “This extension aims to cilitated by the central bank Southeast Asian Nations competitiveness with the tomers the safer option of further encourage the Bank’s until the last business day of (ASEAN)--- after eight years trade deal. banking online to minimize customers to take advantage 2021. of negotiations. “Whoever is quick to the need to go out of their of the opportunity to send China Banking Corp. ear- “We’ll have the elections take advantage of what homes to visit branches and money to other banks for lier said it would offer free in 2022, so by next year we RCEP offers would reap the ATMs. We see an upward free, maximize the use of its fund transfers until March want to finish all this. That’s benefits,” he said. trend in digital transactions reliable online banking facil- 31. the target,” said Trade Assis- Since the RCEP sign- as more customers get en- ity, and utilize the powerful Rizal Commercial Bank- tant Secretary Allan B. Gep- ing, the Trade department rolled,” PNB President and functionalities of its mobile ing Corp. (RCBC) will waive ty. is once again looking into Chief Executive Officer Jose application — allowing bank- InstaPay fees until Jan. 31. Considered a treaty or possible participation in Arnulfo A. Veloso said. ing transactions to be done The central bank is hop- international agreement, the the Comprehensive and InstaPay is the electronic simply and safely in the com- ing that e-payments will free trade deal must have the Progressive Agreement for fund transfer service under fort of their own home,” it make up 50% of total trans- concurrence of at least two- Trans-Pacific Partnership. the National Retail Payment said. actions both in value and thirds of the members of the The agreement was signed System that allows real-time Previously, Metropolitan transactions by 2023. Senate, according to Article in 2018 by 11 countries that VII.21 of the Constitution. include Japan, Australia, RCEP becomes effective Brunei, Canada, Chile, Ma- 60 days after six ASEAN laysia, Mexico, New Zea- member states and three land, Peru, Singapore, and other signatory states sub- Vietnam. 8 January 4 - 10, 2021 Cebu Business Week NEWS Children, family event restrictions drag recovery RESTRICTIONS on chil- activities are restricted, and dren and family activities are thus a big part of the economy dragging down the recovery is not functional,” Chua said. of the Philippines’ consump- “If there were no such tion-driven economy. restrictions, gross domes- Thus, said National Eco- tic product (GDP) growth nomic and Development Au- in third-quarter 2020 could thority (NEDA) Acting Socio- have been four percentage economic Planning Secretary points better at -7.5 percent Karl Kendrick T. Chua. rather than the -11.5 percent Chua said that children recorded,” he added. and family activity restric- Similarly, prior to tions have dampened de- COVID-19, a shopping mall mand for non-essential ser- ported by its demographic least three members account around 48 percent of the chain estimates that about vices that employ bulk of the dividend, where the coun- for around 90 percent of to- spending. This is equivalent 46 percent of foot traffic country’s labor force. try’s young population forms tal non-essential spending. to P277 billion. came from parents with chil- As young population a large part of the labor force, Moreover, based on a However, the community dren. This translates to fam- forms a large part of the labor earning income and driving 2019 study commissioned quarantines have restricted ilies contributing almost half force, Chua said that a big part demand,” Chua said. by a private firm and shared economic activity from chil- of total sales. of the estimated P21 billion The Philippine median with NEDA, parents are the dren and families. In fact, “If we allow more con- forgone wages due to quar- age is 25, and 36 percent of largest contributors to the non-essential spending con- sumption activities to resume, antine controls every month the population is 18 years old P574 billion total informal tracted by 51 percent in the this will encourage firms to come from children and fam- or younger. eat out market, which in- third quarter. utilize excess capacity, which ily activity restrictions. According to the 2018 cludes quick service restau- “Since children are not will eventually stimulate new “For years, the country’s family income and expen- rants. allowed to go out of their investments to serve new de- strong growth has been sup- diture survey, families of at Parents account for homes, even to study, family mand,” Chua said. Insurance, transport offices link IT systems THE Insurance Commis- the LTO and IC aim to collab- to both the IC and the LTO, gives us the assurance that also mutually agreed in the sion (IC) and Land Trans- orate towards the creation of making it possible to query premium payments proceed MOA to designate Data Pro- portation Office (LTO) have a secured and protected data details such as, but not lim- directly to legitimate insur- tection Officers (DPOs) from sealed an agreement to link collection system with 24/7 ited to COC reference num- ance companies,” he added. both government agencies; the two agencies’ information service access,” Funa said. bers, chassis numbers, engine The LTO’s MVIRS is a observe any and all data pri- technology (IT) systems. Funa said the online in- numbers, and motor vehicle web-based system that man- vacy laws, rules and regu- In a statement, Insurance terconnectivity between IC classifications,. ages transactions including lations for the protection of Commissioner Dennis Funa and LTO will provide quick “The centralized system motor vehicle registration, data subjects in the imple- said they signed a memoran- response to queries for faster ensures that all [motor ve- re-registration and deregis- mentation of the MOA; and dum of agreement (MOA) to processing of the certificate of hicle insurance] policies are tration, transfers, cancella- institute measures to ensure allow real-time responses to cover (COC). registered within the LTO’s tions, motor vehicle health round-the-clock system ser- queries concerning verifica- “By checking the COC ref- Motor Vehicle Inspection certifications, penalty and vice availability. tion of insurance cover of reg- erence number, chassis num- and Registration System inter-regional movement or “This partnership and istered motor vehicles. ber, engine number and expi- (MVIRS),” Funa said. transfers. collaboration between the “As we live in an era of ration date from the IC data- “Every successful motor The MVIRS maintains an LTO and IC is just one of our globalization, it is important base, fake policies are now a vehicle registration tags the accurate, up-to-date database government’s continuous to provide quality and reli- thing in the past,” he said. COC as ‘USED’, making it im- of vehicle ownership and sta- measures in providing better able services to our stake- The MOA establishes a possible to recycle and forge tus. and streamlined services for holders. With this in mind, centralized system accessible the certificate. It therefore Further, the IC and LTO our countrymen,” Funa said. Sugar supply adequate no importation needed THE local sugar indus- 451,164 MT, respectively, said a healthy year-end in- and planters may be forced planting sugarcane, it is the try welcomes 2021 with a based on data from the SRA ventory for raw and refined to sell their produce at los- COVID-19 contagion that al- healthy inventory, strength- website. sugar would be 200,000 MT ing prices just to dispose of lowed the industry to keep a ening the possibility for the Factoring in the project- and 250,000 MT, respec- the surplus. high inventory even without Sugar Regulatory Adminis- ed demand, this would leave tively, to cover the lean sea- SRA board member imports. tration (SRA) to decline any warehouses with an over- son before another crop year Emilio Yulo, earlier said that The temporary closures plan or proposal to import hang of 255,040 MT of raw begins in September. “importation is out of the of several food establish- the commodity this year. sugar and 193,624 MT of re- Anything in excess may question” especially if the ments weakened the indus- As of Dec. 6, the coun- fined sugar. be detrimental to stakehold- coronavirus pandemic ex- trial demand for the sweet- try’s supply for raw and re- Raymond Montinola, ers as it would require ad- tends until this year. ener, where about 60 per- fined sugar stood at 662,609 spokesperson of the Confed- ditional storage to prolong More than the favor- cent of the country’s supply metric tons (MT) and eration of Sugar Producers, shelf life. As such, millers able weather conditions for goes to. Cebu Business Week January 4 - 10, 2021 9 NEWS PH flag on display 24/7 at Mactan Liberty Shrine BY VIRTUE of the Na- the National Quincentennial al Commission for Culture tional Historical Commis- Committee (NQC) as the day and the Arts (NCCA) and the sion of the Philippines of the 2021 Quincentennial NHCP are targeting to finish (NHCP) board Resolution Commemoration in the Phil- the restoration of the Met- no. 10 signed on December ippines. ropolitan Theater (MET) 16, 2020, the Philippine flag The NHCP and NQC also in Manila before the 500th will be displayed perma- emphasized and acknowl- anniversary of the Victory of nently at the Liberty Shrine edged the victory of our an- Mactan on April 27, 2021. at Barangay Mactan, Lapu- cestors in the Battle of Mac- The MET will co-host Lapu City effective January tan as a common heritage the evening show with the 17, 2021. and pride of the Filipino Liberty Shrine at Barangay Under Republic Act people. Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, (R.A.) No. 8491 otherwise Among the places in during the commemorative known as the Flag and He- the country enjoying the rite for the 500th anniversa- raldic Code of the Philip- 24/7 status are the Emilio ry of the Victory of Mactan. pines in 1998, the NHCP is Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, This year, the country mandated to identify sites in Cavite; Rizal National Mon- will commemorate the part the country to be given such ument in Manila; Bonifa- in the achievement of sci- status. cio National Monument in ence and humankind in cir- This means that the na- Caloocan City; Sta. Barbara cumnavigating the planet tional flag shall be at the Public Plaza in Iloilo; and for the first time, wherein mast 24/7 and properly illu- the Barasoain Church in Ma- the celebration will center minated at night. lolos Bulacan. on the 500th anniversary The recognition was giv- The National flag at the of the Victory of Mactan on en for the 500th anniversary Malacañang Palace, Su- April 27, 2021. of the Victory at Mactan on preme Court, House of Rep- The commemoration is April 27, 2021. resentatives, Senate of the by virtue of Executive Order The date January 17 Philippines, and seaports no. 103 or also known as the marks the 100-day count- and airports has also the 2021 Quincentennial Com- down to the said anniversa- same status. memorations in the Philip- ry, which is designated by Meanwhile, the Nation- pines. Cement safeguard duty adjusted in 2021 THE Department of Trade year is looking at PHP9.80 per ports. definitive safeguard duty on The safeguard duty was and Industry (DTI) is adjust- 40-kilogram bag of cement, The local cement indus- imported cement for three supposed to be PHP9 per 40- ing safeguard duty for import- which is higher from the initial try requested for higher safe- years. kg bag of cement for the sec- ed cement this 2021 for the recommendation of PHP9 per guard duty due to the influx A PHP10-safeguard duty ond year and to PHP8 per 40- second year of the imposition 40-kg bag. of imported cement even with per 40-kg bag of imported ce- kg bag for the third year. This of the trade remedy. DTI Secretary Ramon Lo- the imposition of PHP10-safe- ment was imposed in the first recommendation, however, is DTI-Bureau of Import pez also said that he already guard duty in the first year of year of the safeguard measure subject to annual review. Services director Luis Cati- approved the new rate of safe- the trade remedy. to redress serious injury in the “But under the WTO bayan said safeguard duty this guard measure for cement im- In 2019, DTI imposed a domestic industry. (World Trade Organization) law, we cannot increase the duty,” said Catibayan. “There is a requirement to progres- Tap VCO vs COVID, its variants sively liberalize the duty.” He added that as a re- TAP the locally available stressed that VCO was an an- ented inventor of VCO (Grow- engineer and a retired general sponse to the call of the do- virgin coconut oil (VCO) in tiviral functional food not only rich) in capsule form, said the surgeon, said that tapping the mestic cement manufacturers fighting the pandemic rather against COVID-19 but also government task force lead- therapeutic benefits of VCO without defying WTO rules, than relying on vaccines. against the “broad spectrum” ing the country’s pandemic especially against the new DTI opted to decrease the The benefits of VCO has of viruses that afflict humans. response should include the coronavirus, could allay fears safeguard duty by only 20 cen- already been proven in clinical “We already have medical promotion of VCO as a pre- on a surge of COVID-19 cases. tavos from the PHP10-safe- studies by the Department of evidence on its safety and effi- ventive therapy. “Mass vaccination in the guard duty in the initial impo- Science and Technology-Food cacy,” Reyes noted. “We’re asking the govern- Philippines is still ‘too near sition of the trade remedy. and Nutrition Institute “Vaccines are specific to ment to include VCO as an and yet too far.’ Government DTI Undersecretary Cefe- (DOST-FNRI) as an effective the virus. When the virus mu- additional regimen to prevent estimate is third quarter of rino Rodolfo also said that therapy against COVID-19. tates, the vaccine becomes the spread of the virus,” Lalu- 2021, and they will prioritize they would like to see local ce- Marco Reyes, president of ineffective. And new vaccines sis saidm, adding that this is front-liners, senior citizens, ment manufacturers fill in the VCO Philippines and vice chair need to be developed,” Reyes already supported by DOST the very poor. How about the domestic demand for cement of the United Coconut Asso- said. studies vast majority of Filipinos?” in government is infrastruc- ciations of the Philippines, Dr. Ed Lalusis, the pat- Reyes, a licensed chemical Reyes asked. ture projects. 10 January 4 - 10, 2021 Cebu Business Week THE ACADEME Poor performance feared sans face-to-face classes SENATOR Sherwin learners catch up. programmed appropriations, tional Mathematics and Sci- learner outcomes. Gatchalian warned of a “like- “2021 will be a very chal- he said. ence Study (TIMSS) 2019 He earlier filed Senate ly spike of learners with poor lenging year for both our Gatchalian pointed out consistently showed that the Bill No. 1887 or the proposed performance” after the pilot learners and our teachers in that the absence of face-to- country’s K to 12 learners are Teacher Education Council implementation of face-to- light of the absence of face-to- face classes entails the con- failing to master basic com- Act, which seeks to improve face classes in the country face classes,” he said. tinuous use of alternative petencies and lagging behind the coordination between was recalled. “Government has to use modalities for learning de- their peers across the world. DepEd, the Commission on Gatchalian said that Pres- every arsenal it has to make livery such as self-learning As part of long-term re- Higher Education (CHED), ident Rodrigo Duterte’s deci- sure that our learners will modules, radio- and televi- covery efforts, Gatchalian and the Professional Regu- sion to cancel the dry run of not regress, or worse, drop sion-based lessons to support emphasized the need for lation Commission (PRC) to physical classes is a precau- out of school completely. We teachers and learners amid reforms in teacher educa- improve teacher education tionary measure against a have equipped DepEd with the distance learning setup. tion and training to improve and training in the country. new COVID-19 variant that COVID-mitigating items in He cited the role of the is now spreading across the the 2021 budget. They should Alternative Learning System world. implement those items as (ALS), especially in reaching Gatchalian is the Chair- soon as possible,” he added. out to an estimated 2.3 mil- man of the Senate Committee In rolling out remedi- lion K to 12 learners who were FUn TRiVIA on Basic Education, Arts and al programs, the lawmaker not able to enroll because of Culture. stressed the need to assess the COVID-19 pandemic. Do you know that… He warned, however, that learning gaps, especially A special provision in the country should brace it- among vulnerable students. the 2021 national budget al- n The founder of McDonald’s has a Bachelor self for the aggravation of the This would help in the cor- locates an amount of at least degree in Hamburgerology? current learning crisis and a rect targeting of learners for P559 million for the program, n Lobsters have two stomachs and have teeth in likely “spike of learners with remedial programs, he added. he said. their stomach?. Instead of chewing with their poor performance,” his state- According to Gatchalian, Gatchalian noted that mouths, they swallow their food whole and ment read. over P16 billion was allocated before the pandemic hit the chew it when it’s in their tummies. Gatchalian said the gov- for “flexible learning options” country, the international as- ernment should mitigate under the programmed ap- sessments 2018 Programme n In 1912, a French orphanage held a raffle, the looming learning losses propriations of the Depart- for International Student As- with babies as the prize? The orphanage’s and make up for lost time on ment of Education (DepEd). sessment (PISA), the South- management had consulted the Parisian face-to-face instruction by An additional P6-billion east Asia Primary Learning authorities and carried out an investigation to exhausting all resources and was allocated for flexible Metrics (SEA-PLM) 2019, make sure the winners were suitable parents implement measures to help learning options under un- and the Trends in Interna- for the prize babies. n Male cats have longer Teachers get more cash; ACT calls it insult tails than female cats? On average, male cats PUBLIC school teachers ever, called the allowance a work-from-home arrange- have a tail of 11 inches, will get a P1,500 increase in hike an “insult” to teachers ment — between March 16 whereas female cats their teaching and connec- who were allowed last year and December last year. tivity allowance this year, to seek up to P300 a month Briones said the monthly have a tail of roughly the Department of Education in reimbursements for their reimbursement should not 9.9 inches on average. (DepEd) announced. internet expenses. exceed P300 each and would n Ochophobia is the Under the General Ap- According to ACT, P500 be charged against the avail- Fear of vehicles? propriations Act (GAA) of of the P1,500 hike was for the able maintenance and other 2021 signed by President annual medical allowance of operating expenses of public Now you Duterte, teachers would teachers, leaving them with schools and the DepEd’s cen- know! receive P5,000 instead of only P1,000 for their com- tral, regional and schools di- P3,500 to help them as they munications and internet vision offices, depending on conduct online classes. expenses this year. Divided the availability of funds. “With this positive de- by 12 months, it would come However, she clarified velopment, we believe that down to a little over P83 a that any charges in excess of Best Quotes our lawmakers will continue month. the P300 cap must be shoul- from Successful People to support our initiatives for Annalyn Sevilla, DepEd dered by the DepEd person- the welfare of our teachers undersecretary for finance, nel concerned. “Striving for success without hard work is like trying to and learners and the im- said only the P1,000 World According to ACT, teach- harvest where you haven’t planted.” David Bly provement of education in Teacher’s Day incentive bo- ers spend around P1,500 a “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The the country,” Education Sec- nus was granted under the month for cell-phone load secret of getting started is breaking your complex retary Leonor Briones said in signed GAA, not the P500 and internet connectivity to overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and a statement. medical allowance. communicate with their stu- then starting on the first one.” Mark Twain The education sector was On Nov. 20, Briones dents in their online classes. allocated the biggest chunk signed Department Order “Teachers have not felt “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried of the 2021 budget pie at No. 038 which authorized any concern and compassion anything new.” Albert Einstein P708.181 billion. the payment of DepEd per- because, in the end, they will “What we learn with pleasure we never forget.” Alfred The Alliance of Con- sonnel’s mobile and internet shoulder expenses for dis- Mercier cerned Teachers (ACT), how- connection expenses—under tance learning,” it said. Cebu Business Week January 4 - 10, 2021 11 WORLD NEWS Trump defense spending bill veto overridden by US Congress THE US Congress has two-thirds of votes in both overturned President Don- chambers of Congress. ald Trump’s veto of a defense House Speaker Nancy Pe- spending bill, the first time losi, the most powerful con- this has happened in his presi- gressional Democrat, said Mr dency. Trump’s veto was “an act of The $740bn (£549bn) bill staggering recklessness that will fund defense policy for the harms our troops endangers year to come. our security and undermines Trump objected to certain the will of the bipartisan Con- provisions in the bill. gress”. The Senate voted 81-13 for “In a time when our coun- the National Defense Autho- try was just targeted with a rization Act (NDAA) - a two- massive cyber-attack, it is par- thirds majority is required to ticularly hard to understand override a presidential veto in the reasoning behind the pres- both chambers. ident’s irresponsibility,” she It comes just two days be- said in a statement. fore a new US Congress is due Trump has previously ve- to be sworn in. He also wanted the bill to on completing the annual de- way or another, we’re going toed eight bills, vetoes which Trump had taken issue repeal a liability shield for so- fense legislation that looks af- to complete the 60th annual were all upheld with support with policies that limit troop cial media companies. ter our brave men and women NDAA and pass it into law be- from his fellow Republicans in withdrawals from Afghanistan Senate Republican leader who volunteer to wear the uni- fore this Congress,” he added. Congress. and Europe and remove Con- Mitch McConnell said he was form. Lawmakers can override He is due to leave office on federate leaders’ names from determined to pass the bill, “We’ve passed this legisla- a presidential veto and enact January 20, when Democrat military bases. saying “the Senate is focused tion 59 years in a row. And one bills into law by mustering Joe Biden replaces him. Wall Street to delist Chinese telecom giants THE New York Stock Ex- The companies earn all President Donald Trump grounds of national securi- The shares of China Mo- change (NYSE) said it will of their revenue in China and signed an order in Novem- ty. bile, China Telecom and Chi- delist three Chinese telecom- have no significant presence ber barring American in- China responded with its na Unicom Hong Kong will munications firms based on in the US. vestments in Chinese firms own blacklist of US compa- be suspended from trading claimed links with its mili- The delisting is seen owned or controlled by the nies as tensions between the between January7 to 11, the tary more as a symbolic blow military. economic giants escalate. NYSE confirmed. China Mobile, China amid heightened geo-politi- The order prohibited US Telecom and China Unicom cal tensions between the US investors from buying and Hong Kong have all been tar- and China. selling shares in a list of Chi- geted by the Trump adminis- The three firms’ shares nese companies designated Tokyo 2020 Olympics tration. are thinly traded in the US by the Pentagon as having Shares in the telecoms compared to their prima- military ties. and Paralympics a go giants will be suspended on ry listings in Hong Kong. Trump has targeted a the NYSE next week while The state-owned companies number of Chinese com- THE delayed 2020 Tokyo number of infections could proceedings to delist them dominate the telecoms in- panies including TikTok, Olympics and Paralympics “explode”. have begun. dustry in China. Huawei and Tencent on the will go ahead this summer There were a record despite concern over rising 1,337 cases in Tokyo on 31 coronavirus cases. December with 783 new The Olympics will start on infections announced on France to be vigilant on post July 23 with the Paralympics Friday. following a month later from Costs for the Games have August 24. increased by $2.8bn (£2.1bn) Brexit deal implementation Cases have surged in because of measures needed FRANCE will be vigilant “This deal must be very for a French passport to Japan in recent days with to prevent the spread of over the implementation strictly respected and it must maintain his ties with the Tokyo reporting over 1,000 coronavirus but organizers of a post Brexit trade deal also contribute to develop European Union after Brexit. daily infections for the first have ruled out a delay. reached last week between our cooperation with Britain “If Mr Johnson senior time. The Games could be the Britain and the European in all sectors, including has a right to French But Japan’s Prime most expensive summer Union. fisheries,” he added. citizenship and wants to Minister Yoshihide Suga said Olympics in history. “This deal begins its The transition period for remain a citizen of Europe the “games will be held this A poll by national life today. It will last years, Britain’s exit from the EU and become a French citizen, summer” and be “safe and broadcaster NHK showed that possibly decades. Our ended on Thursday night. we will review that. I want to secure”. the majority of the Japanese demand is that each party Beaune also commented see it as a sign many British Japan is responding to general public oppose holding respect its commitments,” on news the father of people, under various forms, cases of the new variant of the Games in 2021. French European Affairs British Prime Minister Boris still love Europe and we are coronavirus first found in the Suga said the Games minister Clement Beaune Johnson, Stanley Johnson, also thinking of them today,” UK, with Tokyo Governor going ahead could serve as a said. was in the process of applying he said. Yuriko Koike warning the “symbol of global solidarity”. 12 January 4 - 10, 2021 Cebu Business Week BISAYA EDITION RAMA MISUPORTA

SA GISUPORTAHAN “URBAN ni GARDENING”man sa Committee on Agri- Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael culture ug nakigtambayayong “Mike” Rama ang programa kang City Agriculturist Joey sa Department of Agriculture Baclayon pagpalambo sa pag- (DA) nga “urban gardening” pananom sa tanang barangay. aron mosaka ang produksyon Si Zafra niingon nga ang sa pagkaon. DA nihatag sa kagamhanan Nisulti si Rama sa Cebu sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo ubos ni Business Week nga ang pag- Mayor Edgardo C. Labella og pananom sa mga utanon ug P14 milyones alang sa pagtu- prutas usa sa makaluwas sa kod og bag-ong bundakanan katawhan sa kalisod tungod sa sa mga produkto sa umahan pandemya sa Covid-19. diha sa South Road Proper- Sa sayo pa, si DA 7 Di- ties (SRP). rector Salvador Diputado, Nagkanayon si Zafra nga niawhag sa mga molupyo sa dili lang utanon ug prutas dakbayan pagpananom sa ang ibundak sa maong dapit. utanon ug prutas kon duna Himoon usab kini nga lugar silay lugar atubangan o luyo pag-apod-apod og mga ha- sa ilang balay. yopan sama sa kanding, baka Nagkanayon si Diputa- paggalam sa tanaman. Matud pa ni Rama, sa 80 tabang ug suporta sa DA, ang ug baboy. do nga kon magkatapok ang Human sa agricultural ka barangay sa Dakbayan sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo maabun- Ang mga hayopan pas- mga pamilya sa usa ka sitio seminar, niingon si Diputado Sugbo, 40 niini ang urban, da sa utanon ug prutas ug anayon sa nagkalainlaing ug magkasabot pagpananom, ang mga partisipante hatagan samtang ang laing 40 naa sa hayan mous-os ang presyo. barangay aron moabunda sa andam ang DA 7 nga mo- og libre nga liso, lawngon ug bukid. Si Cebu City Councilor baratong karne ang Dakbayan himog seminar kon unsaon abuno. Nagtuo si Rama nga sa Philiip Zafra mao ang chair- sa Sugbo. ELIAS O. BAQUERO Presyo sa LPG nisulbong Mga kooperatiba nagpugong sa atol sa Bag-ong Tuig pagkahapla sa ekonomiya: Mabatid GRABING pagsaka sa iusbaw nga P45.65. SI CEBU City Councilor nga samtang ang mga bangko sion nga usbawan ang tinuig presyo sa liquefied petroleum Ang Solane niusbaw sa Prisca Niña Mabatid niingon nagpahuwam sa mga dagkong nga budget sa CCCDC aron gas (LPG) maoy nisugat sa Bag- presyo sa LPG og P3.73 matag nga ang mga kooperatiba usa negosyante, ang mga koop- daling mapatuman niini ang ong Tuig sa mga panimalay. kilo, samtang ang Petron Corp. sa nakapugong nga hingpIt eratiba nagpahuwam sa mga mga nakalinyang progama. Ang pag-usbaw nagsugod nipasaka sab sa presyo sa ilang nga mahapla ang ekonomi- yanong tawo sa inato nga paa- Nasabotan usab sa Enero 1, 2021. LPG og P4.16 matag kilo. ya nunot sa pandemya sa gi. CCCDC nga mo-coordinate Sa usa ka pahibalo, ang Ang labing uwahing datos Covid-19. Samtang ang mga bangko sa mga nasudnong ahensiya Phoenix Petroleum nipasaka gikan sa Department of Energy Si Mabatid mao karon ang gipanag-iya lang sa pipila ka sa gobyerno alang sa daghan sa presyo sa Phoenix Super (DOE) nagpakita nga ang chairperson sa Committee on tawo, ang mga meyembro sa pang mga progama nga mahi- LPG of P4.15 matag kilo--- bpresyo sa 11-kg nga tangke Cooperatives ug chairperson kooperatiba mao ang mga tag- momg ang mga cooperatives nagpasabot nga ang presyo sa anaa na karon sa P550 ug sa Cebu City Cooperative De- iya niini. maoy mga conduits. sa 11 ka kilong.tangke adunay P861. velopment Council (CCCDC). Niadtong Disyembre Gihimong ehemplo nga Dul-an sa 300 ka mga 7-8, 2020, gihimo sa CCCDC ang mga cooperatives mama- Mga barangay sa Siyudad kooperatiba ang nahimutang pinangulohan ni Mabatid ang himong conduits sa Depart- karon sa Dakbayan sa Sug- tinuig nga strategic planning ment of Agriculture (DA) bo ug lainlain ang kategoriya diin giplantsa ang mga pro- sa tabang pinansyal sa pag- sa Sugbo nga COVID free sama sa lending, consum- grama alang sa tuig 2021. pananom. ANG kagamhanan sa Si- Sudlon 2, Tabunan, Tagbao, ers, transport, agricultural ug Ang Strategic Planning Laing ahensiya sa gobyer- yudad sa Sugbo nagpagawas Taptap ug Tinago. uban pa. Seminar gitambongan usab no mao ang Small Business na sa listahan sa mga baran- Ang maong mga baran- Ang CCCDC adunay 15 ka sa mga opisyales sa Cooper- Corporation (SBC) ubos sa gay sa siyudad nga walay na- gay maoy makadawat sa pre- mga board members nga rep- ative Development Authority Department of Trade and In- tala nga kaso sa COVID-19 myong P100,000 nga gisaad resentante usab sa nagkalain- (CDA) ubos ni Dr. Nora Pa- dustry (DTI) nga nagpautang sukad niadtong Nobyembre 1 ni Cebu City Mayor Edgardo laing cooperatives. tron, ang CDA 7 director. sa interes nga dos porciento hangtod Disyembre 31, 2020. Labella. Nagkanayon si Mabatid Nauyonan sa planning ses- lang. ELIAS O. 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