“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. April 26 - May 2, 2021 Volume 3, Series 84 www.cebubusinessweek.com 12 PAGES P15.00 RAMA WANTS LGU TO DISTRIBUTE POWER Vice Mayor says this can dismantle monopoly

ELECTRICITY and wa- that during the Covid-19 pan- By: ELIAS O. BAQUERO He said that what hap- Raymond Calderon (Cebu, ter must be operated by the demic lockdowns. pens now is a monopoly in 7th District); Rep. Raymond city or municipality within Aside from power con- munication, and cooperatives, Metro Cebu and Province, and Democrito Mendoza (TUCP the jurisdiction of respec- sumption, power and water among others. is not appropriate considering Party-List); and Rep. Sonny tive Local Government Units utilities also collect from their “At that time, we always that power and water are the Lagon (Ako Bisaya Party-List). (LGUs) to reduce rates and respective consumers the re- talked about the concerns of rights of the people. He said we should adopt stop monopoly. fund of payments of DUs of several utilities. We conclud- He said a driver’s license the style of governance in Is- Cebu City Vice Mayor Mi- their franchise tax, local tax, ed at that time that power and is a privilege which can be rael where power and water chael “Mike” Rama suggest- national tax, systems loss, water must be centralized by revoked by the government distribution are owned by ed that Congress (House of among others. Congress to promote local au- anytime if there are violations. LGUs. Representatives and the Sen- Rama remembered that tonomy by allowing City Gov- But power and water are the The bulk of the VECO ate) must decentralize pow- Councilor Nestor Archival ernment or Municipal Gov- people’s right. franchise is in Metro Cebu er and water so every city or once filed a resolution in the ernment to operate power or “Let us amend the law. cities of Talisay, Cebu and municipality will be allowed Cebu City Council to investi- distribution utilities in their Congressmen and senators Mandaue. The Cebu Electric to operate it particularly that gate VECO. There was some respective areas of jurisdic- must do it now while election Cooperative (CEBECO) 1,2 power and water are the peo- explanation being done and it tion,” Rama said. is still too far away. Let us de- &3 cover most of Cebu Prov- ple’s right and should not be was brought in public. He said every city or mu- centralize power and water. I ince. subject to skyrocketing profit Some councilors consid- nicipality can get a business hope Congress will give fran- He said the real power is by the private sector. ered VECO service to bring partner from the private sec- chise to every city and munici- a maxim: “Vox Populi, Vox Rama echoed the let- electricity to every home as tor with a 60-40 percent own- pal governments,” Rama said. Dei.” (The voice of the peo- ter-complaints filed by the more important than alleged ership in favor of the LGU The Cebuanos, who are in- ple is the voice of God). Or Cebu Chamber of Commerce overpricing. Secondly, the concern. cumbent congressmen (2019- “Salus Populi Suprema Lex.” and Industry (CCCI) against ERC Visayas seemed to be ig- In Metro Cebu, Rama said 2022) are: Rep. Rodrigo Abel- (The general welfare of the Visayan Electric Company noring the public complaints there can be Cebu City Power, lanosa (Cebu City South); Rep. people is the supreme law). (VECO), a power distribu- against VECO. Mandaue City Power, Lapu- Eduardo R. Gullas (Cebu, So, you must listen to the tion company owned by the Rama said he has been Lapu City Power, Talisay City 1st District); Rep. Wilfredo people’s grievances. Greater Aboitiz family. the head of Regional Utilities Power, or Naga City Power. Caminero (Cebu, 2nd Dis- good for the greater number CCCI complained that Industry Board trict); Rep. Pab- of people must prevail. VECO power bill is exorbitant (RUIB) way lo John Garcia “I’ve seen and talked with and is subject to review and back late 80s (Cebu, 3rd Dis- ERC officials when they’ve imposition of penalty by the and late 90s, trict); Rep. Jan- appeared before the Cebu Energy Regulatory Commis- and he was the ice Z. Salimban- City Council when I was a sion (ERC) and the Depart- vice president gon (Cebu, 4th councilor, and when they’ve ment of Energy (DOE). of the board District); Rep. appeared at the same coun- Rama recalled that the for the entire Duke Frasco cil when I was a vice mayor. people in areas under the fran- country. He (Cebu, 5th Dis- I keep on telling them: “ERC, chise of VECO in Metro Cebu knew about the trict); Rep. Loli- do your job because if ERC is complained that their elec- respective con- pop Ouano-Di- not doing its job, it would be tricity bills increased twice, cerns of power, zon (Cebu, 6th a disservice to the people,” thrice, or even higher than water, telecom- District); Rep. Rama said. 2 April 26 - May 2, 2021 Cebu Business Week NEWS CCCI, PCCI discuss power issues in the Visayas THE Cebu Chamber of 1,000 member-companies Commerce and Industry and sectors but also the gener- (CCCI) brought to the Phil- al consumers, most particular- ippine Chamber of Com- ly during this unprecedented merce and Industry (PCCI) time of COVID-19 pandemic. its power advocacy in a Zoom The Cebu Chamber’s ad- meeting on April 13. The CC- vocacy on power gained trac- CI’s advocacy appeals for a tion in December 2019 with reasonable electricity cost a committee study on the in Cebu, transparency in the power rates of Cebu’s biggest power industry, and a regu- electric distribution utility latory agency that would best (DU) Visayan Electric Com- serve the interest of all the pany (VECO) which revealed consumers. several gray areas that could Aside from PCCI Pres- be major factors to the high ident Benedicto Yujuico cost of electricity in Cebu. and other PCCI officers, the CCCI had raised these issues meeting was joined by Ener- to VECO and ERC soon after gy Regulatory Commission study was done. (ERC)Legal Service Director Since then, the CCCI has Atty. Maria Gines, and Elec- strongly raised its concerns tric Power Industry Manage- Serving as another wel- in the waiting and we hope The CCCI Advocacy involving the high cost of elec- ment Bureau Director Mario coming development to the that through this afternoon’s to Lower Cost of Doing tricity in Cebu through vari- Marasigan, among others. Chamber’s advocacy on ease meeting ideas can be shared Business: Power ous communication channels “I want to acknowledge and low cost of doing busi- and you can have our Presi- The mandate of Cebu which has already reached the Visayas Chamber for rais- ness, the CCCI hopes that dent elevate this to the high- Chamber of Commerce and and caught the attention of ing attention to this import- through this meeting certain est level,” added PCCI Chair- Industry (CCCI) has always various offices such as the ant competitiveness issue. action steps will be taken in man for Utilities and Legisla- been to advocate and promote Regional Development Coun- The PCCI has been at the fore- ensuring that all issues raised tive George Barcelon. business competitiveness cil (RDC-7), the Presiden- front on advocacies to bring will be addressed by the prop- The meeting was mod- especially amidst a globally tial Assistant for the Visayas power rates to a competitive er authorities. erated by PCCI Energy Com- challenging and disruptive (OPAV), the ERC, and with level,” said PCCI during the “The issue regarding mittee Adviser Jose Alejan- economic environment, rep- the Office of Senator Sherwin meeting. the Visayas has been long dro. resenting not only more than Gatchalian. PR Complaints of CCCI vs. expensive electricity in Cebu reach ERC Manila DIRECTOR Joel Bon- Bontuyan said that since and by its nature, like a decision rendered by ERC, Manila Electric Company tuyan of the Energy Regula- these are letters-complaint, court. It has proper legal it has to be filed before the (MERALCO) to refund the tory Commission (ERC) Vi- they consider it as consumer procedure to follow,” Bon- Court of Appeals. Or before excess payments of Metro sayas said their main office complaint; hence, they are tuyan said. the decision takes effect, file Manila power consumers in Manila has received let- putting it on the usual pro- So, any letter-complaint a motion for consideration. will not automatically reflect ters of complaint from Cebu cedure on how to treat it. that ERC receives cannot be “That ERC decision on on VECO. Chamber of Commerce and Bontuyan added that treated as a formal petition power rates cannot be ques- The Senate and the ERC Industry (CCCI) against the CCCI raised several compli- for decision by the Commis- tioned through a letter-com- conducted a hearing on the skyrocketing prices of elec- cated issues including the sion. plaint,” Bontuyan said. MERALCO) case after thou- tricity in Cebu. alleged high electricity rate “We will treat the CCCI Another issue raised sands of power consumers Bontuyan, a lawyer, said of VECO. It has highly added letter-complaint as a con- by CCCI is the contract be- filed complaints against its that at least two CCCI let- to the high cost of operation sumer complaint. The initial tween VECO and Cebu City exorbitant and unreason- ters were addressed to ERC amid Covid-19 pandemic. move is to conduct a con- Power Corporation (CCPC), able billings. Chairperson Agnes Deva- He reminded the public ference between CCCI and a power generation plant “Only MERALCO was nadera and were copy-fur- that ERC is not an executive VECO to patch up their dif- in Ermita, Cebu City. While found overcharging electric- nished to him. agency, but a quasi-judicial ferences,” Bontuyan said. there is a law that prohibits ity rates. If there are people He said the ERC has administrative and at the With several issues a person to own both power in Cebu who have the evi- scheduled a conference on same time legislative body. raised, ERC has a hard time generation firm and distri- dence that other DUs were April 26 between Visayan “The ERC, being a qua- finding solution to it. For ex- bution utility, both VECO also practicing it, then they Electric Company (VECO), si-judicial body, has its own ample, the power rates were and CCPC are owned by the have to submit a formal a power distribution utility rules and procedure, and if approved by ERC after nu- Aboitiz family. complaint and evidence,” (DU) and CCCI under a vir- its rules are not enough, it merous hearings. If a con- Meanwhile, Bontuyan Bontuyan said. ELIAS O. tual procedure. can use the rules of court, sumer wants to question the said the order of ERC for the BAQUERO Cebu Business Week April 26 - May 2, 2021 3 NEWS 2% of 700k target vaccinated so far: Rama CEBU City Vice Mayor pay for it. Michael “Mike” Rama said He said Novovac and that of the 700,000 resi- Covovac vaccines are ahead dents targeted for vaccina- in the provision under tion, only 30,000 were vac- Emergency Use Authoriza- cinated or two percent. tion (EUA). Rama said the Cebu City They will be pursuing Government under Mayor and continuing the “no let Edgardo C. Labella awaits up” or always going up ac- the arrival of additional tivities. vaccines against Covid-19 He said the City of Cebu because they have no more envisioned herd immuni- vaccine at their hands. ty. So they aimed 700,000 He said that they are be- people to be vaccinated. At ing assured of the coming two doses, they should have vaccines by Senator Chris- 1.4 million doses. topher “Bong” Go. Under- Rama said that from secretary Jennifer Ong of the time they commenced Go’s office is personally the rollout last March 24, coordinating with Secre- for Cebu City. Then they senior citizens will be in the June or July 2021. about 5,000 senior citizens, tary Carlito Galvez of the will meet again and discuss morning, and those with With the approval of plus 20,000 in public, then Inter-Agency Task Force when to discharge the vac- co-morbidity in the after- the Cebu City Council, they the input project Balik-Bu- (IATF) for the vaccines allo- cines to the barangays and noon,” Rama said. will be pursuing, however, hay of the Office of the cated for Cebu City. who will be the responsible He said the coming complying with all legalities Presidential Assistant for He said that once the persons. vaccines with brand name to proceed with the supply the Visayas and the Cebu vaccines will arrive, they “Definitely, we will have Covovac are still bought by agreement for a manufac- Chamber of Commerce and will have to check on it if discussions and scheduling the National Government. turer to supply vaccines to Industry (CCCI), the total is the vaccines are intended of vaccination. Maybe the It is still being slated in which the City of Cebu will 30,000. ELIAS O. BAQUERO SEC launches online submission tool The Securities and Ex- financial statements, General submission of annual finan- The people behind the non- online, SEC Cebu will not change Commission (SEC) Information Sheet (GIS) and cial statement is every year. stock corporation are mem- anymore entertain them launched last March 15, 2021 other covered reports. Once enrolled, no need bers, not owners. starting Jan. 1, 2022. the Online Submission Tool Teves said SEC-regis- for annual re-enrollment. The non-stock corpora- “We will not anymore en- (OST) so the people can sub- tered companies must go on- She said the deadline of tions can generate income if tertain over-the-counter sub- mit reports through online to line and enroll. Once enrolled enrollment is until the end ever they have solicitations mission. If they cannot enroll avoid falling in lines during as approved by SEC, they can of the year, Dec. 15, 2021 for from the public, fund drive this year, they will be consid- deadlines. submit documents or reports all stock corporations and or campaign to gain dona- ered late-filing or non-filing Atty. Giness Marie Teves, through online. There’s no Dec.31, 2021 for non-stock tions from the public. But the by 2022. Securities Counsel 1 of SEC need for the corporation to corporations. income cannot be distribut- They should not wait Cebu told Yagyagan program send people to SEC to per- She said that in Stock ed to the members but to be for December 2021 dead- over DYRC radio that Sec- sonally submit reports. Corporation, the stocks are used for the objective. line by enrolling now. The tion 180 of Republic Act (RA) She said the submission divided among stockholders The non-stock corpora- enrollment will be this year 11232 (Revised Corporation of reports under OST will or shareholders who owned tion can use the income for only. But the deadline for Code) provides the OST. depend on the kind of docu- the restaurant. The non- salaries of staff. annual financial statement The OST allows for the ments. The GIS is 30 days af- stock is not allowed for prof- If a stock or non-stock is June every year. ELIAS O. online submission of annual ter their annual meeting. The it unlike in the corporation. corporation will not enroll BAQUERO Vaccines to rescue Filipino people: business leader BUSINESSMAN Philip will not be vaccinated, the He said that in the first to buy to there will be a circu- Philippines is a consum- N. Tan believed that vaccines pandemic will stay. year, most people in the busi- lation of money in the com- er-based country and if the Covid-19 will rescue the Fil- Tan, a management rep- ness sector tightened their munity. But unfortunately, people have no jobs or live- ipino people from the pan- resentative to the Region- belts, with the hope, that the the people ran out of savings lihood, they cannot buy for demic and trigger the recov- al Wages and Productivity economy will rebound. and the breadwinners are their consumption. ery of the once strong Philip- Board (RTWPB) 7, said that “But in going to the sec- now jobless. “In fact, the only thing pine economy. for businessmen who have ond year of pandemic, there “So, even if the busi- that seems to be floating Tan, former president big capital will survive in this is already a level of hope- nessmen will conduct a daily in the economy are the of the Mandaue Chamber Covid-19 pandemic. lessness by the businessmen sale, the people cannot buy Overseas Filipino Workers of Commerce and Industry But for the micro, small who may go bankrupt,” Tan because they have no more (OFWs). In the absence of (MCCI), said that if the vac- and medium enterprises, said. money. That is the situation,” OFW remittance, the peo- cines will not come as fast they cannot survive econom- He said that a big mall Tan said. ple will have no more food as possible, and at least 50- ically if there is another year has a promo on “Labor Day He said the problem is as of the moment,” Tan said. 70 percent of the population of pandemic. Sale” to convince the people complicated because the ELIAS O. BAQUERO 4 April 26 - May 2, 2021 Cebu Business Week OPINION

Community pantry

The conflicting messages from even Duterte allies in reac- tion to the movement of community pantries shows disarray by the ruling administration. Secretary Noel Felong- co, head of the National Anti-Poverty Commis- sion (NAPC) and Sen. Bong Go, for instance, Weekly Notes issued statements sup- Emmanuel Nacorda Mongaya porting the movement. But the administration’s red tagging agency went beyond red tagging. They profiled and harassed the leaders of the Community Pantry. Somebody must have misread a poster and reported “communist party” instead of community pantry to the government’s red tagging agency of Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. Thus, joked Atty. Totol Batuhan when interviewed by a local radio program. Batuhan has joined the pantry move- ment as Abante Barangay set up four community pantries here in Cebu City. The first Abante Barangay pantry sprouted at Aznar Road, at the north district. The next three appeared in three other areas at the south district near poor communi- ties -- Bulacao, Inayawan, and … These and many more in Cebu were inspired by the controversial Maginhawa Com- munity Pantry. The ultra-rightist Gen. Parlade went to the extreme Editorial stupid point of comparing the Maginhawa leader Ana Pa- tricia Non to the devil in the Adam and Eve story. So far, six senators supported moves to defund the Na- tional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict 1M Covid-19 infections so the billions can instead be used to help the poor. Senate President Vicente Sotto, on the other hand, preferred Gen. The number of Covid-19 mutations. More mutations cia Non triggered a politically Parlade be removed from NTF-ELCAC. I await the decision infections in the Philippines occur especially in areas with neutral movement for private of Digong loyalists Senators Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa. has reached 979,000 on April uncontrolled Covid-19 infec- individuals to help the major- It seems, Gen. Parlade cannot understand that the 23, 2021. This means, the tions. ity hardest hit by the incom- spontaneous growth of these pantries tells us of desper- country is 21,000 behind the The situation boils down petent government response ation and helplessness among the poor. This desperation one million mark. Expect this to the inability of the nation- – the community pantries. spread because of government incompetence in dealing milestone to be breached this al government to effectively While most LGU officials, with the Covid-19 pandemic. Parlade also cannot under- week. manage Covid-19. even top allies of the Duter- stand that while he is using the NTF-ELCAC billions for Health authorities have The public, even health te administration, supported red tagging, real communists are invading our islands at explained the existence of new personnel, cited possible fac- the pantries, the NTF-ELCAC the West Philippine Sea. There is wisdom in defunding, variants of the SARS-Cov-2 tors for the inability. These went about red-tagging the maybe diverting, the billions of NTF-ELCAC to both ayuda that rapidly increased the include reliance on generals movement. and buying vaccines fast. number of cases. Discussions rather than health personnel. Many senators reacted to Drugs at Cebu City Hall? then focused on controlling The incompetent delays in the the stupid argument of Gen. During the time of Mayor Mike Rama, a major issue the entry of people with new procurement of anti-Covid-19 Antonio Parlade comparing then was the drug den in a community across Cebu City variants from abroad. vaccines. Non to the devil in the Adam Hall. Today under Mayor Edgar Labella, a city administra- However, health author- Meanwhile, top govern- and Eve story. But so far, tive aide was nabbed with shabu worth nearly P1 million. ities also acknowledge the ment officials had been seen Malacañang has come to sup- Not good for the image, mayor. emergence of Philippines ignoring health protocols. port the NTF-ELCAC. (Emmanuel N. Mongaya is co-founder and director for variants. While this is down- Inevitably, the situation This political turmoil strategic communication of PRWorks Inc. He is also a played as one reason for the becomes a highly volatile po- emerges while the Covid-19 member of the Political Officers League of the Philippines continued surge in cases, litical brew. situation worsens, even nears or POLPhil. DM @anol_cebu) variants emerge because of To her credit, Ana Patri- the one million mark.

“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 April 26 - May 2, 2021 5 OPINION Biden’s climate summit zeroes in on technology U.S. President Joe Biden of hot air, no pun intended. lyst that would raise money tric vehicles sold in major called on nations to work He further said that he was from governments, philan- markets to hit 40 per cent together on a transition to heartened by Russian Pres- thropists, and companies to by 2030 and 80 per cent clean energy on Friday (April ident Vladimir Putin’s call make capital investments to by 2035, before hitting 100 23), the second and final day for the world to collaborate bring down the cost of clean per cent globally by 2040. of a climate summit he host- on advanced carbon dioxide technology. Underscoring It has unveiled 5 trillion yen ed to rally world ambition to removal and that the Unit- the role for carbon removal (US$46 billion) in invest- reduce global warming. He ed States looked forward technologies to meet glob- ments in its research and de- BIZBITS called the meeting with doz- to working with Russia and al climate goals, US Energy velopment to reach the goals. Manny de los Santos Rabacal ens of heads of state to de- other countries on the tech- Secretary Jennifer Gran- The announcement comes clare that the United States nology. Putin and China’s holm announced a partner- a day after Prime Minister is back at the climate leader- President Xi Jinping spoke ship with Canada, Norway, Yoshihide Suga said that Ja- ship table after his predeces- at the summit on Thursday Qatar and Saudi Arabia pan would aim to cut emis- sor, former President Don- but did not offer new pledg- called the Net Zero Produc- sions 46 per cent by 2030, ald Trump, withdrew from es on cutting emissions. The ers Forum. (Reuters) significantly more than pre- the 2015 Paris Agreement U.S. summit is the first in a oOo viously pledged. The new to cut greenhouse gas emis- string of meetings of world Japanese car giant Hon- target revised a previous sions. The US president, leaders - including the G7 da said on Friday (Apr 23) goal of cutting emissions by who returned the United and G20 - ahead of annu- that it would aim to have 26 per cent from 2013 levels States to the 2015 pact, an- al UN climate talks in No- electric and fuel cell vehicles by 2030. The pledge came nounced a new U.S. target vember in Scotland. That account for 100 per cent of with international focus on on Thursday to reduce its meeting will be the deadline all sales by 2040 to promote climate change as United emissions 50%-52% by for nearly 200 countries to climate goals. The automak- States President Joe Biden 2030 compared with 2005 update their climate pledg- er’s newly appointed CEO hosts a summit to encourage levels. Japan and Canada es under the Paris pact. Bill Toshihiro Mibe described stronger action on warming also raised their targets. He Gates, a wealthy business- the target as challenging but and faster moves towards said that the commitments man-turned-philanthropist, said the firm wanted to set carbon neutrality. (CNA/ we made must become real, said he was working with high goals. Honda has said AFP) because commitment with- partners on a program called it wants the ratio of electric mannyrabacal1144@ out us doing it is just a lot Breakthrough Energy Cata- vehicles and fuel cell elec- gmail.com

Sto. Niño Church of Cebu It was President Mar- world culture and are con- the Petroglyphs of Alab, dance with the provisions cos who declared the Sto. sidered as irreplaceable Bontoc, the Stone Agricul- of R.A. 4368 and their Nino de Cebu church and treasures of the country; tural Calendars of Dap-ay preservation, restoration convent as heritage site. WHEREAS, The devel- Guiday in Besao, Bontoc, and/or reconstruction Here is an excerpt of the opment and preservation the Mummy Caves of Ka- shall be under the super- decree: of cultural properties are bayan, Benguet and of vision and control of the WHEREAS, Pursuant also necessary in the pro- Segada and Alab, Bontoc, National Historical Com- to Article XV, Section 9, motion of tourism; the Ifugao Rice Terrac- mission in collaboration paragraph 2 of the Consti- NOW, THEREFORE, es of Banaue are hereby with the Department of Cebu Legal tution of the Philippines I, FERDINAND E. MAR- declared as National Cul- Tourism; “Filipino culture shall be COS, President of the tural Treasures along the Section 3. To carry out Pedia preserved and developed Philippines, by virtue of lines of Sections 3 and the intents of this decree Atty. Clarence Paul V. Oaminal for national identity”; the powers vested in me 7 of R.A. 4846 defining the sum of P500,000.00 WHEREAS, Republic by the Constitution as cultural properties and for the National Muse- Act No. 4846 declares that Commander-in-Chief of treasures, and their pres- um and P500,000.00 for it is the policy of the state all the Armed Forces of ervation, restoration and/ the National Historical to preserve and protect the Philippines, and pur- or reconstruction shall be Commission are hereby the cultural properties of suant to Proclamation No. under the supervision and authorized to be appro- the nation; 1081 dated September 21, control of the National priated out of the funds of WHEREAS, There is 1972 and General Order Museum in collaboration the National Treasury, not a necessity of preserving No. 1 dated September 22, with the Department of otherwise appropriated. and utilizing the cultural 1972, do hereby decree, Tourism; Subsequent funds there- properties of the nation order and make as part Section 2. The Bara- for shall be incorporated for the furtherance of the of the law of the land, the soain Church in Malolos, in the Annual Budget. people’s culture; following; Bulacan, Tirad Pass in Section 4. The Na- WHEREAS, The gov- Section 1. The Sta. Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, the tional Museum and the ernment recognizes the Ana Site Museum in Ma- Miagao Church in Miagao, National Historical Com- fact that the cultural prop- nila, the Roman Cath- Iloilo, the Site of the Bat- mission are hereby vested erties of the country are olic Churches of Paoay tle of Mactan on Mactan with the right to declare necessary that indispens- and Bacarra in Ilocos Island in Cebu, the San Se- other such historical and able for the correct under- Norte, the San Agustin bastian Church in Quiapo, cultural sites as Nation- standing of its history and Church and Liturgical Manila, and the Church al Shrines, Monuments, culture; objects therein in Intra- and Convent of Sto. Niño and/or Landmarks, in ac- WHEREAS, There are muros, Manila, Fort Pilar in Cebu City are here- cordance with the guide- cultural properties which in Zamboanga City, the by declared as National lines set forth in R.A. are especially of high val- Petroglyphs of the Rock- Shrines, Monuments and/ 4846 and the spirit of this ue from the viewpoint of shelter in Angono, Rizal, or Landmarks in accor- Decree. 6 April 26 - May 2, 2021 Cebu Business Week OPINION Persons who cause the fire liable for the crime? cause of the fire will be facing ted with INTENT or through lic or private market, theater be penalize under Republic criminal negligence charges, NEGLIGENCE. Under the or movie house or any simi- Act 1790 or the law which in- defined and penalized under Presidential Decree 1613 lar place or building. 6. Any creases the penalty for Neg- Article 365 of the Revised Destructive Arson is penal- building, whether used as a ligence under the Revised Penal Code, as amended” ized and defined under Sec. dwelling or not, situated in a Penal Code Art. 365. Impru- Director Jose S. Embang Jr. 2. Destructive Arson. The populated or congested area. dence and negligence.— Any Chief of the Bureau of Fire penalty of Reclusion Tem- While other cases of Ar- person who, by reckless im- Protection said as he tried poral in its maximum period son is defined in Section 3 prudence, shall commit any to appeal to the public to be to Reclusion Perpetua shall to wit: Other Cases of Ar- act which, had it been in- cautious and become a fire be imposed if the property son. The penalty of Reclu- tentional, would constitute The Legal Front safety conscious individual. burned is any of the follow- sion Temporal to Reclusion a grave felony, shall suffer Atty. Gerry Carillo Under the law, if found guilty ing:1. Any ammunition fac- Perpetua shall be imposed if the penalty of arresto may- by the court a person accused tory and other establishment the property burned is any of or in its maximum period of the said criminal charge where explosives, inflamma- the following:1. Any building to prision correccional in its may face a prison term rang- ble or combustible materials used as offices of the gov- medium period; if it would ing from six months to six are stored.2. Any archive, ernment or any of its agen- have constituted a less grave years, depending on the at- museum, whether public or cies;2. Any inhabited house felony, the penalty of arres- tending circumstances and private, or any edifice devot- or dwelling;3. Any industrial to mayor in its minimum the degree of negligence ed to culture, education or establishment, shipyard, oil and medium periods shall committed. social services.3. Any church well or mine shaft, platform be imposed; if it would have Records of the BFP or place of worship or other or tunnel;4. Any plantation, constituted a light felony, the The number of fire in- shows that the most common building where people usual- farm, pastureland, growing penalty of arresto menor in cidents in the city despite causes of fire are open flames ly assemble.4. Any train, air- crop, grain field, orchard, its maximum periodical shall the pandemic is alarming. due to unattended lighted plane or any aircraft, vessel bamboo grove or forest;4. be imposed. In fine the of- Despite the BFP’s relentless candle or gasera, careless- or watercraft, or conveyance Any rice mill, sugar mill, cane fender could be imprisoned efforts to properly educate ness in discarding lighted for transportation of persons mill or mill central; and5. for not less than six months the public on how to prevent cigarette butts, open flames or property 4. Any building Any railway or bus station, but not more than six year. fires, the tremendous - num due to unattended cooking/ where evidence is kept for airport, wharf or warehouse. So here you are, those ber of its incidence seem to stove, kaingin, pyrotechnics, use in any legislative, judi- And when death results from who have caused fire to the multiply in every passing and children left alone play- cial, administrative or other arson the penalty is Reclu- damage to his neighbors day. ing lighted matchsticks or official proceedings. 5. Any sion Perpetua to death. or the the city government “Any person, whose utter lighter or electrical misuse. hospital, hotel, dormitory, If the crime is commit- could be held liable under negligence and carelessness Under the Revised Penal lodging house, housing tene- ted without intent or malice our laws. Write us at caril- is found to be the proximate Code a crime can be commit- ment, shopping center, pub- or through negligence could [email protected]

Trade unions and precarious work during the tumultuous and another global crisis, pre- identity and erosion of rights. agencies are not party to the volatile year in 2011 when carious work has not only These attributes are immi- employment relationship, the the burgeoning “Occupy Wall affected several millions of nent and now emerged as to- TUCP statement said. Street Movement” had gained workers worldwide but also day’s “dangerous class”. Accordingly, Endo jobs momentum around the challenged the power of trade Addressing the issue back are given so many names. world as unemployment and union movement and the home. Trade union move- Irregular in South Korea, poor-quality employment ILO. ment led by the Trade Union “non-standard in Japan, were on the rise. “Casual, temporary, indi- Congress of the Philippines “temps” in many countries Apparently, the book’s rect, zero-hours contracts, are (TUCP) and other organized and many more. But some ILO publication was very timely. all terms that describe precar- labor groups are acting in officials simply refer to them It came out during the time ious work. This type of work unison in opposing the pro- as “vulnerable” jobs. It means The Labor Front when democratic systems is increasingly being used to visions of the Labor Code on vulnerable to all kinds of risks Art Barrit and economies in the Unit- replace direct, permanent permissible job contracting because these jobs enjoy lim- ed States and the European jobs, allowing employers to and prohibited labor-only ited or no protection and no Union were on the brink of reduce or even abandon their contracting (LOC). social security. In short, there collapsed. And incidents of responsibility to workers”, The recently approved is no security of tenure. In his book, The Precari- uprisings had already erupted the IndustriALL publication House Bill 7086, or the Secu- Obviously, the employ- at: The New Dangerous Class, across Middle East and North added. rity of Tenure (SOT) Bill was ers always maintain that the by Guy Standing, first pub- African (MENA) countries, It also explained that opposed by TUCP because labor market like other mar- lished in 2011 (373 pp.) fully Europe and South America. “people in precarious work it deliberately not address- kets in a liberalized economy described the precariat as an People everywhere, it lack job security and general- es the decades-long injustice works best when it is freed emerging class of people fac- seems, are suffering from pre- ly have lower salaries, limited workers under the highly ex- from restrictive labor laws ing insecurity, moving in and carity as a result of economic social protection, face more ploitative end-of-contract or regulations. out of precarious work that and financial crisis, and weak difficulties to exercise their “Endo” work arrangements. Equally important is the gives little meaning to their government policy respons- rights, notably to join union It constitutes labor-only 45th Anniversary Celebration lives. es to these, stated the Inter- and bargain collectively for contracting which has been of TUCP Labor Center under The author warns that the national Labor Organization better wages and working a prohibited practice. The the leadership of Congress- growth of the precariat is pro- (ILO) Bureau for Workers’ conditions, among others, the bill does not meet President man Raymond DC Mendo- ducing instabilities in society. Activities (ACTRAV). IndustriALL statement said. Duterte’s promise to end con- za, a lawyer, with the theme: Mr. Standing is a political The same observation Though by simple under- tractualization. More impor- “Rise Up to the Pandemic To- economist and a former ILO mentioned by the ILO AC- standing precariat is defined tantly the TUCP adheres to wards A New Normal of De- official. TRAV, stating among oth- as a mass class by unstable ILO Convention 181, thus de- cent Work and Empowered The book was written ers, that with the advent of labor arrangements, lack of claring, private employment Unionism”. Cebu Business Week April 26 - May 2, 2021 7 BUSINESS DA urges farmers, fisherfolk to join coops UNDERSECRETARY PHP875,764,798 in sales for High-Value Crops and from March 17, 2020 to Rural Credit Evelyn Laviña March 27, 2021. said farmers and fisherfolk DA’s assistance for must join cooperatives to high-value crop farmers benefit from various as- ranges from seed distribu- sistance programs of the tion to hosting a storage Department of Agriculture facility for their produce. (DA) as benefits cannot be The DA can also offer fi- disbursed individually. nancial assistance, Laviña “Farmers and fisherfolk said. have to be a part of cooper- “There is also a provi- atives or associations,” she sion for them to transport said in a citing eKadiwa as their goods. It is handled one such program. by the DA-Agribusiness eKadiwa is an online and Marketing Assistance marketing platform that di- Service,” she added. rectly links producers and According to the Phil- agripreneurs to consumers. AGRI AID. AGRICULTURE UNDERSECRETARY FOR HIGH-VALUE CROPS AND RURAL CREDIT EV- ippine Statistics Authority ELYN LAVIÑA URGES FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK DURING AN ONLINE BRIEFING ON THURSDAY DA Assistant Secre- (APRIL 22, 2021) TO JOIN COOPERATIVES TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AGENCY ASSISTANCE. SHE SAID THE showed that banana, cala- tary Kristine Evangelista, DA OFFERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORT SUPPORT, AND TRAINING. DA mansi, mango, and pineap- who leads the e-Kadiwa ple are the four major fruit program, said more than been assisted to boost online marketplace. ing the mobile Kadiwa crops produced from Octo- 16,000 producers have their income through the The program, includ- initiative, has generated ber to December 2020. ALU-TUCP frowns on police clearance requirement for DoLE dealings THE Associated Labor ALU-TUCP, in a state- would further delay the in- rard R. Seno. ed as saying that the PNP Unions-Trade Union Con- ment said the proposal, justice among aggrieved Seno said, adding a bu- proposal is under consider- gress of the Philippines made by the head of the workers and would drive reaucratic layer to these ation. (ALU-TUCP) said a police Philippine National Police away those seeking redress processes will mean addi- Other labor groups, in- clearance requirement for (PNP), Debold M. Sinas, in- in DoLE’s conciliation, me- tional costs for workers. cluding the Bukluran ng transacting with the De- volves obtaining a National diation and dispute resolu- Industrial peace processes Manggagawang Pilipino, partment of Labor and Em- Police Clearance to conduct tion and workplace inspec- are necessary “to make our the Kilusang Mayo Uno and ployment (DoLE) would dealings with DoLE. tion processes and many economy productive and the Nagkaisa Labor Coali- mean an “added burden” “From the looks of it, other services,” according competitive,” he added. tion have likewise expressed for workers, deterring the the proposed police clear- to ALU-TUCP National Ex- Labor Secretary Silves- opposition to the police resolution of labor cases. ance in DoLE transactions ecutive Vice-President Ge- tre H. Bello III was quot- clearance requirement. Chua is new NEDA secretary Reduce business permit fees, DTI to LGUs KARL Kendrick T. Chua continuously and consis- TRADE and Industry Sec- higher. Lopez also stressed that the is officially the Socioeconom- tently perform well in his retary Ramon M. Lopez has “We will certainly work on speedy transition to digitaliza- ic Planning secretary and present but crucial task of called on local government the lowering of business permit tion has made it even more de- director-general of the Na- jump-starting our economic units (LGUs) to reduce busi- fees,” he vowed adding the DTI manding as business processes tional Economic and Devel- recovery amid the COVID-19 ness permit fees to help micro, will discuss this with the De- needed to adapt to the obstacles opment Authority (NEDA). pandemi.” small and medium enterprises partment of Interior and Local of the pandemic. “These real- Presidential Spokes- To recall, at the height of (MSMEs) thriving amid the Government (DILG). ities on the ground and more person Herminio “Harry” the coronavirus pandemic, pandemic. The DTI also supports the have led to the wait-and-see at- L. Roque said that Presi- then NEDA Secretary Ernes- DTI will work for the low- proposal of Labor Secretary titude of some,” he said. dent Rodrigo R. Duterte ap- to M. Pernia resigned. Con- ering of business permit fees, Silvestre Bello III for gov- Also equally challenged, proved Chua’s appointment sequently, Chua was named Lopez said at the Task Group ernment grants of P3,000 to he said, is the workers’ sector on April 22 after a year of acting NEDA chief on April on Economic Recovery-Na- P5,000 to micro enterprises as they faced the vulnerability holding the positions in an 17, 2020. tional Employment Recovery as livelihood subsidies under of keeping their jobs or adjust- acting capacity. As Socioeconomic Plan- Strategy (NERS) Pre-Summit the proposed Bayanihan 3. ing to newer functions, and “Secretary Chua has ning secretary, he pushed Dialogue for Worker. The DTI has also urged even shifting their require- served the Duterte adminis- for the fast-tracking of the Lopez noted the irony that establishments to tap the col- ments to different skill sets. tration with professionalism, rollout of the national ID LGU assessors are using 2019 lateral-free and easy financing “We will adjust, we will competence and integrity as program, creation of an eco- sales as basis for the computa- offered by the SB Corp. Oth- reform, we will re-structure to Undersecretary of the De- nomic recovery plan and ac- tion of business permits instead er government agencies such survive and win. Adjusting in partment of Finance (DoF) celeration of the infrastruc- of 2020. He pointed out that as the Development Bank of the right way is important so and Acting Secretary of the ture program. this has been the common com- the Philippines and the Land we can reopen gradually and NEDA,” Roque said. Chua was formerly un- plaints of MSMEs as they try to Bank of the Philippines are in a calibrated manner, with Roque added that with dersecretary at the DoF and renew their business permit. also providing loans to enter- strict compliance to minimum Chua’s aforesaid traits “we the country’s economist for Naturally, sales revenues prises while the Philguarantee public health protocol stan- are confident that he would the World Bank. before the pandemic were extends guarantees to loans. dards,” he said. 8 April 26 - May 2, 2021 Cebu Business Week BUSINESS Community pantries also sprout in Cebu; NAPC lauds effort FOUR community pan- food amid kung hindi viduals who want to do their tries of the grassroots group the pan- maging sa part in easing hunger and in Abante Barangay in different demic. It iba’t ibang caring for those who have areas in Cebu City are among also provid- mga prob- less in life. those that sprouted in var- ed a venue insya sa Pil- The mushrooming of ious locations in the island for private ipinas para community pantries is also the province. donors to sa mga higit essence of Kasambayanihan This developed even the help. na nangan- (https://www.facebook.com/ National Anti-Poverty Com- The gailangan groups/2606369266349150/ mission (NAPC) lauded the other com- ngayong about) where volunteers even efforts of community - pan munity pan- panahon ng formed barangay command tries in different parts of the tries in Cebu pandemya,” centers to help other residents country to help provide food City are he said. by gathering and distributing for the needy amid the pan- in Guada- relief goods during the height demic. lupe, Punta “Tunay nga of the community quarantine. Inspired by the first com- Princesa, na sa mga Kasambayanihan is munity pantry in Maginha- Tisa, and ganitong tasked with implementing wa, UP Teachers Village, in Lahug. Pantries also sprout- an exemplary example of hamon at pagsubok, ang pag- the programs of Sambayani- Quezon City, the pantries in ed in Cordova and Consola- the Bayanihan spirit of the kakaisa at pagtutulungan ng han Serbisyong Sambayanan, Cebu urged to donate what cion towns. Filipinos as he underscored bawat isa ang higit na kail- the NAPC’s five-year poverty they can, while beneficiaries Meanwhile, Sec. Noel the importance of working angan upang ang mga ito ay alleviation development plan. to get based on their need. Felongco said the commu- together to overcome the nu- mapagtagumpayan,” Felong- One of the plan’s primary Members set up the first nity pantries complements merous challenges that the co added as he expressed goals is to enhance food se- Abante Barangay communi- NAPC’s Kaisa ng Sam- nation is currently facing. desire to partner with the curity by enabling local agri- ty pantry in Aznar Road in bayanan Laban sa Kahirapan “Nais kong ibahagi sa la- community pantries to help cultural production to satisfy Sambag 1, said Atty. Totol (Ka-sambayanihan) Volun- hat ang mga balitang nakaka- meet the government’s goal local food demand and priori- Batuhan. The subsequent teers Program which under- pagpataba ng puso na ating of ending poverty. tize local food requirements. pantries are in Bulacao, In- takes similar efforts at the natutunghayan online, kung The community pantries This will allow communi- ayawan, and Mambaling. barangay level. saan napakarami ng komu- share processed and packed ty members who are usually Batuhan said the sponta- Speaking before the nidad ang nahimok ng Mag- goods as well as rice and financially-strapped, to buy neous growth of community NAPC’s second virtual gen- inahawa Community Pantry fresh produce to anyone who their own produce. It up- pantries in the country num- eral assembly for April, Sec- at nagtatag ng kani-kanilang needs them free of charge. holds their right to consistent bering over 500 manifests retary Noel Felongco cited mga community pantries The food items are provided access to safe, nutritious, and the need for the poor to get the community pantries as hindi lamang dito sa NCR by the organizers and indi- culturally acceptable food. GenCos with prolonged outages may face economic sabotage raps POWER generation the department has engaged timeframes. icy guide on the scheduling nance that are going beyond companies (GenCos) that the help of the Department “The DOE asked for as- of preventive maintenance of the period that they commit- are practicing prolonged of Justice (DOJ), Philippine sistance from the ERC, PCC electric generating facilities. ted, which should not have outages on their genera- Competition Commission and DOJ for enforcement One case that could be been the case.” tion facilities could face an- (PCC) and the Energy Regu- assistance and case build-up filed against the power com- Fuentebella explained ti-competitive behavior and latory Commission (ERC) to on any violation of laws and panies will be on anti-com- that “the move to have the economic sabotage raps . determine the culpability of other policies by the industry petitive behavior, especially legal services involved is: be- These GenCos have been the power companies whose players,” Fuentebella said. if it will be established that cause when we talked to PCC, violating government-en- facilities are on extended This shall include the de- they have been intentionally ERC and even the DOJ, these forced laws and policies. shutdowns including those partment’s Circular DC2020- perpetrating acts that could are the legal matters that Department of Energy which preventive mainte- 02-0004 which casts the Grid result in artificial supply we’ve been talking about.” (DOE) Undersecretary Felix nance schedules are already Operating and Maintenance shortage in the market. Fuentebella stated that the William B. Fuentebella, said going beyond committed Program (GOMP) or the pol- Such can be referred concern on simultaneous to as “market gaming” that and extended outages of consequently results in power plants had also been Facebook probes malicious video tags higher electric bills for con- raised to the Cabinet As- FACEBOOK said it was person said. dia. sumers. sistance System (CAS) in a looking into reports of ma- Facebook also reminded Meanwhile, those tagged “We would even go up meeting that was convened licious tagging after social users not to “open any suspi- were advised not to “click” for economic sabotage--- a in Malacanang on March 23 media users in the Philip- cious links or messages.” the links, Kaspersky general graver offense, considering this year. pines claimed they have been Anyone can use the plat- manager for Southeast Asia that this is a very delicate in- In spite of the recurring tagged with pornographic form’s tools to report any Yeo Siang Tiong earlier said. dustry..Any outage and their predicaments of the coun- content from people not on suspicious activity or con- He said users should violation of policies could try’s power system, Energy their friends list. tent that violates community follow these steps to protect result in major damage to Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi “We’re continuing to in- standards, the spokesperson their accounts: the economy, so it even goes reiterated that “the govern- vestigate the reports, how- added. • think before clicking as far as that,” Fuentebella ment is on top of the situa- ever, we have not found Facebook users have the • set a strong password said. tion and has undertaken the evidence that specific indi- option to adjust their privacy • take advantage of se- He stressed “we have necessary actions to ensure viduals are being targeted,” settings with controls on who curity and privacy feature of policies, then they submit energy security this sum- a Facebook company spokes- can tag them on social me- social media platforms. schedules for plant mainte- mer.” Cebu Business Week April 26 - May 2, 2021 9 CEBU CITY HALL Cebu City to experience French hospitality brand CEBU Landmasters Inc. tria de Cebu is a result of a (CLI) on Monday announced collaboration between the its partnership with French Archdiocese of Cebu, CLI hotel giant Accor to operate and key stakeholders. It is a the Mercure Cebu Down- celebration of Cebuano his- town hotel at the soon-to-be tory and culture in today’s redeveloped Patria de Cebu. setting,” said CLI chief exec- Mercure Cebu Down- utive officer Jose Soberano town is set to open in 2024. III in a statement. It will occupy 21,000 square With the approval of the meters (sqm) of gross floor NGCP to retain the main area and house the 182-room Patria building in its final international hotel right at design, CLI and the Archdio- the heart of Cebu City’s her- cese of Cebu commit to pre- itage trail. serve the historic edifice of Patria de Cebu’s redevel- Patria de Cebu —not just its opment will offer 4,320 sqm frontage— thereby keeping of food, dining, and enter- its rich heritage intact. tainment spaces and 4,400 The new practical struc- sqm of offices. ture will be integrated while A collaboration between preserving the heritage of the CLI and the Archdiocese of main Patria building that will Cebu, the mixed-use complex have dining, entertainment, was planned to revitalize this and office hub while show- historic center of Cebu. This casing a large central interior was envisioned by architect plaza for cultural and other Jose Pedro Recio to “visually gatherings. bridge the old and the new,” CLI’s collaboration with with the approval of the Na- the Archdiocese of Cebu tional Historical Commission covers the development and of the Philippines (NHCP). operation of the mixed-use “The final design of Pa- PLANNED REDEVELOPMENT OF PATRIA DE CEBU. project for 40 years. Cebu City hospitals CHAMP releases reimbursements ANOTHER ing government and batch of beneficia- private hospital or now in safe zone ries of the City Hos- institution. ADMISSIONS due to months of the year. pitalization Assis- Another reason for coronavirus (Covid-19) cas- He said this positive de- tance and Medicines the huge savings was es in Cebu City have signifi- velopment was the result of Program (CHAMP) because patients who cantly dropped in both pri- the city’s efforts to contain of the Cebu City Gov- must undergo swab vate and public hospitals, the spread of the dreaded ernment received testing in the hos- indicating that the city is in virus and the people’s will- their reimburse- pitals had to pay in a safe zone in terms of hos- ingness to comply with the ments on Friday, cash as hospitals re- pital occupancy. government’s enforced min- April 23. quire cash payments The drop in Covid case imum health protocols. Frances Aban- Since swab fees are admissions was seen at 16.4 “Although we have been gan, head of CHAMP, covered by CHAMP, percent in private hospitals, seeing an increase in new personally conveyed the latter reimburses while those in government cases in our reports, bed oc- the message of Ma- the amount provided hospitals was at 44 percent. cupancy in our hospitals re- jor Edgar Labella to the patient presents Councilor Joel Garanera, mains to be our best barom- the beneficiaries. the hospital bill. the deputy chief implement- eter,” he said. Aside from the The Champ’s 2020 er of the Emerge4ncy Opera- The necessity to main- reimbursement of their hos- patient-beneficiaries decid- budget for medical expenses tions Center (EOC) said that tain a low Covid-19 case in pital bill payments, the ben- ed to refrain from going to and maintenance and oth- the occupancy rate in both Cebu City is vital with the eficiaries received rice, face the hospitals and instead, er operating expenses was private and government hos- current vaccine roll-out masks amd alcohol from the have their medical checkup P292 million. pitals was down by 5 percent here, Garganera empha- city government through the in health facilities for fear of For 2021, CHAMP has compared to the first three sized. CHAMP. contracting Covid-19. proposed an annual budget Amid the coronavirus Under the CHAMP, of P111 million---:P96.2 mil- disease 2019 (Covid-19) qualified registered voters of lion of it for maintenance pandemic CHAMP was able Cebu City may avail them- and other operating expens- to save P74.7 million on selves of financial assistance es, medical expenses and for medical expenses in 2020. for in- and out-patient ser- the salaries of 25 job order This was because many vices from any participat- (JO) workers. 10 April 26 - May 2, 2021 Cebu Business Week CEBU CITY HALL Cebu City await fresh supply of vaccines CEBU City cannot re- April 23, after five days of sume the vaccine rollout inoculation. yet as the vaccines were all Ibones said they’re wait- exhausted and they are still ing for the Department of waiting for a fresh supply. Health (DOH) 7 to give them The Vaccine Advisory an update on when the next Board (VAB) announced batch of vaccines will be de- that Cebu City residents un- livered and once they receive der Priority Codes A2 and A3 a fresh supply this week, the have registered online to be City will start vaccinating vaccinated against coronavi- persons with comorbidities rus disease 2019 (Covid-19) (Priority Code A3). but “we don’t have any vac- As of April 25, 26,215 cine to inject.” senior citizens and 27,520 Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, of- persons with comorbidities ficer-in-charge of the City have registered online to be Health Department (CHD), vaccinated. said the three vaccination The VAB aimed to fast- sites in the city – Robinsons track the City’s vaccine Galleria, University of Cebu rollout, which was why it Banilad campus and SM opened the third vaccination Seaside City – will remain site at SM Seaside City at the closed on Monday, April 26, South Road Properties on 2021. Thursday to cater to more The 4,600 doses of Sino- senior citizens. vac intended for senior citi- Ibones asked for the zens (Priority Code A2) that public’s patience, saying no the City received last week one is in control of the situa- were all used up on Friday, INOCULATION. A SENIOR GETTING VACCINATED AT ONE OF THE VACCINATION SITES tion, not even the DOH 7. 9 Cebu hotels get ‘safe travels’ stamp City Hall to expropriate 9 CEBU hotels were • Tambuli Seaside Re- be globally recognized as a among the 40 hotels in the sort and Spa (Lapu-lapu fun and ‘safe travels’ facili- perpetual roads Philippines that have se- City) ty,” Tourism Secretary Ber- cured the World Travel and • The Hotel Elizabeth nadette Romulo-Puyat said CEBU City Councilor lot owners of their heirs in Tourism Council (WTTC) (Cebu) during the awarding cere- Jerry Guardo has suggest- a competent court so the Safe Travels Stamp--- signi- • Waterfront Airport mony. ed to the City Government Local Government Unit fying an increase in tourism Hotel and Casino “Now that the coun- to expropriate the perpet- can own it,” Guardo said. establishments that have • Waterfront Cebu City try’s vaccination program ual roads in various parts He said the people adopted global health stan- Hotel and Casino is in full swing, we antici- of the city so they can im- will conveniently pass the dardized protocols. The WTTC Safe Travels pate that parallel initiatives prove it. perpetual roads under the The Department of Stamp is the world’s first across the globe will hasten In an interview with names of private persons Tourism on Wednesday, safety and hygiene stamp the resumption of inter- “Yagyagan” program over if the court expropriates April 21, awarded the stamp for travelers to recognize national travel. As early as DYRC radio, Guardo, the it in favor of the City Gov- to 33 hotels and resorts governments and business- now, we need to prepare chairman of the Commit- ernment which will later from six regions, 9 of which es that implement global our facilities and destina- tee on Infrastructure, said introduce concrete drain- are in Cebu, seven in Bohol, health and safety guidelines tions to be visitor-ready, that the original lot own- age and road cementation. nine in Palawan, three in amid the pandemic. with health and safety as ers of the perpetual roads On the other hand, Boracay, three in Zamboan- In September 2020, the key concerns,” she said. failed to submit deeds of Guardo said that they are ga, one in Baguio City, and Philippines received the The WTTC Safe Travels donation. now trimming down the one in Davao City. stamp for putting in place Stamp, on top of our accred- As a result, the Cebu spaghetti wires all over the The Cebu hotels to se- health and safety guidelines itation, will hope to restore City Government cannot city because aside from cure the stamp are: aligned with the WTTC’s travelers’ confidence in the improve the perpetual being eyesores, firetrucks • Bai Hotel (Mandaue core requirements. Philippines as a ‘safe and roads by constructing con- and other vehicles cannot City, Cebu) “In March, we received fun’ destination, she added. crete drainage or cement pass in several areas be- • Cebu White Sands Re- more than 100 applications Romulo-Puyat clari- the roads itself due to lack cause the wires hang very sort and Spa (Mactan) coming from the different fied that the stamp is not of deed of donation, oth- low. • C Suites at 8 Newtown regions, which also include a requirement for hotels to erwise, city officials can Guardo said the spa- (Lapu-Lapu City) Mabuhay accommodation operate under the new nor- be charged for technical ghetti wires are not appro- • Jpark Island Resort establishments and desti- mal, but getting one comes malversation. priate for Cebu City which and Waterpark (Lapu-Lapu nations. This surge of in- with the opportunity to get “I suggest that the is a center of trade, educa- City) terest is reflective of their global exposure through Cebu City Government tion and livelihood in the • Plantation Bay Resort readiness to adapt to the the vast network of WTTC shall file expropriation Visayas. ELIAS O. BAQUE- and Spa (Lapu-Lapu City) new normal and desire to member organizations. proceedings against the RO Cebu Business Week April 26 - May 2, 2021 11 BOHOL NEWS FOR ARRIVING OFWS, ROFS Bohol re-imposes 14-day quarantine DUE to the escalating in their localities to com- COVID-19 cases in the coun- plete the required 14 days. try, the Provincial Govern- Local government units ment of Bohol have re-im- (LGUs) can similarly allow posed the 14-day mandato- home quarantine if there is ry quarantine for arriving a separate room with its own Overseas Filipino Workers restroom, and the OFW and (OFWs) and Returning ROF shall also be monitored Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) by the local health author- upon their arrival in their ities during the mandatory localities. quarantine. Bohol Governor Arthur The new E.O. was signed Yap signed Executive Order by the governor after the No. 24 on April 16, 2021, Department of Interior and requiring Boholanos arriv- Local Government (DILG) ing in the province to go on issued an advisory on March quarantine in designated 31, 2021 directing local chief quarantine facilities, includ- executives to review their ing hotels and pension hous- local quarantine protocols es. for OFWs and ROFs to as- The E.O. took effect im- certain the compliance of mediately upon signing by ing Boholano has undergone E.O. stipulates that the days ited and they shall only be the mandatory 14-day quar- the governor. quarantine in Metro Manila they spend on quarantine required to undergo the re- antine upon arrival in their However, if the return- or in any port of entry, the upon arrival shall be cred- maining days of quarantine localities. Barangay fiesta masses, mass events in Tubigon suspended UPON recommenda- that has pushed for the close contact sports, be orandum issued the same gious activities like Baran- tion of the Municipal Inter measure especially during they public or privately or- day, the mayor clarified gay Fiesta Masses, novenas Agency Task Force (MI- the stretch towards the fil- ganized, Zumba activities, that suspension of religious that bring along the fiesta ATF), Tubigon Mayor Wil- ing of candidacy in the up- fiesta activities, graduation activities does not mean the celebration and the sched- liam Jao issued a memo- coming election. rites, religious activities, suspension of masses in the ule of monthly barangay randum suspending events This has earned the ap- birthday parties, trainings parishes, but these gather- masses at the main chapels. that draw mass gatherings preciation from the public and seminars and all other ings must follow the strict With the fiesta month and the cancellation of such as the move was a manifes- mass gatherings. observance of the mini- approaching, the memo- events until further notice. tation that Tubigon MIATF Moreover, upon the mum health protocols set randum is set to further The move was a mea- and local officials look to MIATF recommendations, by the Inter-Agency task minimize the risk of con- sure to control the resurg- their constituents’ safety Tubigon also reminded Force on the management tracting Covid-19 virus. ing cases of coronavirus first amidst the pandemic. barangay chief executives of emerging infectious dis- Barangay executives are disease (Covid-19) in the In his unnumbered to restrict gambling activi- eases (IATF). directed to disseminate town. memorandum dated April ties such as mahjong, card However, the MIATF the information and strict- Tubigon is the first lo- 23, Mayor Jao lists such games, among others. here recommends the tem- ly implement minimum cal government unit (LGU) suspended activities as In a succeeding mem- porary suspension of reli- health standards. St. Joseph The Worker Cathedral to be declared a Diocesan Shrine on May 1 IN TIME for the feast 1870. op Al- Worker to the status of a day of St. Joseph on May 1, Bishop Uy berto S. diocesan shrine, ” the Ca- the St. Joseph the Worker will preside over Uy, D.D., thedral announced on Sat- Cathedral will be declared a Mass to de- come urday. a diocesan shrine because clare the St. Jo- May 1, Built in the 18th centu- of its historical significance seph the Work- 2021, ry, St. Joseph the Worker and appeal to pilgrims. er Cathedral in at 9AM Cathedral is the seat of the Tagbilaran Bishop Abet Tagbilaran City Fiesta Diocese of Tagbilaran in the Uy made the announcement as a shrine. Pontifi- province of Bohol. After be- in his Facebook post, that “As a way of cal Mass, ing gutted by a fire in 1798, Pope Francis declared 2021 deepening our will be the church was reconstruct- as the “Year of St. Joseph” devotion to the declar- ed in 1839. As the Catholic to commemorate the 150th person of St. Jo- ing the faithful grew in number, the anniversary of St. Joseph seph in a more Cathe- cathedral had to undergo being solemnly declared profound way, dral of several renovations to ac- Patron of the Universal we, as a diocese, St. Jo- commodate the religious Church by Pope Pius IX in headed by Bish- seph the flock. 12 April 26 - May 2, 2021 Cebu Business Week WORLD NEWS Biden to ‘propose hiking tax on rich Americans’ US PRESIDENT Joe gains tax, the total bill some Biden is purportedly set to investors could face might propose a tax hike on the exceed 50%. wealthiest Americans, the The plan is widely ex- proposal would raise the pected to encounter resis- top marginal rate and in- tance from Republicans in crease taxes on investment Congress. gains for the rich. Although the Demo- The tax rise would help crats hold a slim majority, pay for childcare and educa- they may not support the tion, but would not be used plan unanimously. for healthcare, according to Nevertheless, the news reports. was enough to cause a few The White House said jitters on Wall Street. the American Family Plan, The Dow Jones Indus- which Biden is expected to trial Average fell 420 points lay out in full next week, before reigning in its losses will not affect any family slightly. earning less than $400,000 can afford it,” said White York Times and Bloomberg. nearly double taxes on cap- “If it had a chance of a year. House Press Secretary Jen The move would ef- ital gains to 39.6% for peo- passing, we’d be down 2,000 “His view is that that Psaki. fectively reverse Donald ple earning more than $1m. points,” Thomas Hayes, should be on the backs... of The proposal would in- Trump’s 2017 income tax It’s a dramatic increase from Great Hill Capital told the wealthiest Americans crease the top marginal in- cut for highest income earn- from the current rate of 20%. Reuters. who can afford it and corpo- come tax rate to 39.6% from ers. In some states which The tech-heavy Nasdaq rations and businesses who 37%, according to the New The plan would also impose their own capital index also slipped 0.9%. Musk offers $100 million prize for carbon removal TESLA CEO Billionaire rules. What organizers called ity need to be addressed. Is set their climate impacts. out what the best economics entrepreneur Elon Musk of- the “largest incentive prize it going to be enough carbon The technology is not are for CO2 removal.” fered inventors $100 million in history” will last for four to matter, and can we afford yet commercially viable. Re- Musk’s $100 million in prize money to develop years through Earth Day, it as a civilization? Those moving carbon can cost more XPRIZE Carbon Removal ways to remove carbon diox- 2025. are two things that matter,” than $300 per metric ton in is aimed at finding a viable ide from the atmosphere or Carbon capture and stor- Musk said on a video feed a world that each year emits solution for taking 1,000 ocean to fight global warm- age has drawn growing inter- that showed him outdoors, greenhouse gases equiva- tons out of the atmosphere ing. est as a warming climate has barefoot in a black shirt with lent to about 50 billion tons annually, with potential to “Right now, we’ve only melted glaciers, intensified water and trees in the back- of carbon dioxide. By 2050, scale up dramatica got one planet,” said Musk. tropical storms and resulted ground. some 10 billion tons of car- Musk has built a repu- “Even a 0.1 percent chance of in “sunny day flooding” of Carbon capture projects bon capture may be needed, tation as an industrialist fo- disaster -- why run that risk? more and more coastal areas. have already earned support by some estimates. cused on environmentalism. That’s crazy!” Scientists say carbon removal from Silicon Valley startups, “I think this is one of He had conversations about In January, Musk an- technology will also be crucial public officials worried about those things that are going to the prize with Peter Diaman- nounced his intention to to the goal of getting emis- the slow pace of cutting emis- take a while to figure out what dis, founder and executive offer $100 million in -priz sions to net zero by 2050. sions, and emitters including the right solution is,” Musk chairman of the XPRIZE es and set out the contest “Both cost and scalabil- oil companies seeking to off- said. “And especially to figure Foundation. Rich nations to stop funding ‘bridge fuel’ gas overseas AFFLUENT govern- Summit on Climate orga- exports of fossil fuels “as sci- Export Finance for Future ate 70,000 formal jobs over ments have been pressured nized by US President Jo- ence and justice require.” (E3F) coalition endorsed 20 years from 2022. to quit funding coal projects seph R. Biden, Jr., on Thurs- The move came after principles including ending Clean energy advocates in developing nations--- with day and Friday. Kerry said that “gas, to some trade and export support disagreed, saying such proj- more countries expected to South Korea, Japan, degree, will be a bridge fuel”, for coal power that does not ects could result in “strand- announce that they will stop and Canada would soon join meaning it could smooth the have technology to lower its ed” assets and job losses as granting money for coal. them, and a some European transition from the dirtiest emissions, reviewing finance the world moves away from Britain has led the way nations, in pledging to phase energy sources (coal and for fossil fuels more broad- fossil fuels to curb climate among major donors, saying out overseas aid for coal. oil). ly, and assessing how to best change. it will no longer provide fresh Last week, 57 US green This month, Denmark, phase that finance out. According to a govern- government financing for groups wrote to US climate France, Germany, the Neth- On Wednesday, Mozam- ment source, Mozambique fossil fuel projects overseas envoy John Kerry urging him erlands, Spain, Sweden, and bique President Filipe Nyusi considers gas from the proj- from this month, with “very to “unequivocally declare Britain agreed to harness told an energy conference the ect an important part of its limited” exceptions. that gas is not part of the public export finance as “a government foresees “direct transition to cleaner energy The United States is also solution” and to immediate- key driver in the fight against benefits” of more than $100 in line with its national cli- ready to announce restric- ly end all fossil fuel support climate change.” billion from the gas projects, mate action plan and its Par- tions, possibly at the Leaders internationally as well as US Governments in the new which are expected to gener- is Agreement commitments.