“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. November 23 - 29, 2020 Volume 2, Series 62 www.cebubusinessweek.com 12 PAGES P15.00 ECONOMY IN CV STILL 4TH BIGGEST But NEDA wants to cushion impact of negative GDP DESPITE a slow- gion’s share to the country’s By: ELIAS O. BAQUERO my is expected to slow down sya, Bagong Pagasa (BP2) er growth caused by the Gross Value Added (GVA) considerably. Program. Covid-19 pandemic, Central in Services was 7.1 percent, concerns on the general effect Tourism, including the He said the balanced Visayas remains the coun- and in industry, 5.7 percent,” on human health of ASF-in- hospitality industry, retail management of health risks try’s fourth largest regional Carreon said. fected pork and their prod- trade, manufacturing, and on one hand and economic economy with a Gross Re- “We were fourth biggest ucts affected pork consump- transportation, are antici- risks on the other hand by the gional Domestic Product contributor to the GVA in tion. The resulting lower de- pated to bear the brunt of IATF-Covid at various levels, (GRDP) valued at P1.25 tril- Services and Industry after mand for pork, which in turn the economic fallout from made it possible for the grad- lion. NCR, CALABARZON and affected prices, made hog Covid-19. These industries, ual opening of the economy. National Economic and Central Luzon. It was only in raisers decide to hold back unfortunately, are also the re- He added that construc- Development Authority its contribution to the GVA production. gion’s economic growth driv- tion activities of the govern- (NEDA) 7 Regional Director in agriculture, forestry, and Carreon said the eco- ers. ment agencies have resumed, Efren B. Carreon made the fishing that Central Visayas nomic outlook for 2020 is “As a result, the region is and the implementation announcement during the ranked 11th among the 17 re- not rosy. As in the case of the expected to miss its economic and completion of vital proj- Dissemination Forum on the gions, contributing only 4.5 Philippine economy, growth growth target for the year as ects such as health facilities, 2019 GRDP and the Gross percent,” Carreon added. of the Central Visayas econo- contained in the Regional De- school buildings, and other Regional Domestic Expendi- Carreon, however, said velopment Plan (RDP) 2017- infrastructure have already tures (GRDE) last November that the agriculture sector of 2022,” Carreon said. started. 20, 2020. Central Visayas continued to He said that to cushion Carreon also said that Carreon said the first be weighed down by unfa- the negative impact of the labor statistics for July 2020 three largest regional econo- vorable weather conditions pandemic on the region’s showed a slowing down of mies are National Capital Re- and outbreaks of pests and economy, NEDA spearhead- Central Visayas’ unemploy- gion (NCR) with GRDP val- diseases that affected produc- ed the preparation of the ment rate to 11.7 percent from ued at P6.23 trillion; Calamba tion. Regional Recovery Program 16.7 percent in April 2020 but Laguna Batangas Rizal Zone He noted there was a (RRP) which was approved this is still higher than the (CALABARZON) with GRDP weak El Niño in the first half by the Regional Development January 2020 level of only valued at P2.52 trillion; and of 2019 that affected crop Council (RDC) and the Re- 3.5 percent. This translates to Central Luzon with GRDP production in Bohol gional Inter-Agency Task a drop in the number of un- valued at P2.17 trillion. and Cebu. And al- Force (RIATF-Covid), employed to 371,000 in July Carreon said Central Vi- though the re- inclusion of Cen- from 519,000 in April. sayas also remains the fourth gion’s hog tral Visayas in the He said employment in largest contributor to the industry Bayanihan 1 and July increased by 211,000 Philippine Gross Domestic was spared 2, and prepa- from April and brought the Product (GDP). from the ration of the total number of employed “The share of Central outbreak Regional Ac- persons in July to 2.8 million. Visayas to GDP in 2019 and of Af- tion Plan for Of the 2.8 million employed 2018 was steady at 6.5 per- rican the imple- in Central Visayas, more than cent and this was slightly Swine mentation 475,000 are underemployed higher than its 6.4 percent Flu of Balik or are still looking for more contribution in 2017. The re- (ASF), EFREN B. CARREON, NEDA 7 REGIONAL DIRECTOR Probin- work. 2 November 23 - 29, 2020 Cebu Business Week LOCAL Closure of Alcoy mine impairs construction industry By: ELIAS O. BAQUERO THE local construction the pandemic after Gov. decision to close PMAC. The After the closure, The stores within Alcoy and industry in Cebu which Gwendolyn Garcia ordered only “win-win” solution is for Salvador said the finishing neighboring towns also lost was already affected by its closure. PMDC to pay the local taxes sand which used to be P750 their sales,” Salvador said. the Corona Virus Disease “Even though Alcoy is of its operation for several per cubic meter in the local He said the construction (Covid-19) pandemic has part of Cebu Second District years. market, skyrocketed to activities were stopped due further suffered with the which I represent in the Garcia decided to P1,750 per cubic meter from to lack of materials; hence, stoppage of supply from Cebu Provincial Board, close PMDC until it pays other suppliers who took the hardware stores have no the Philippine Mining I tried to avoid the issue taxes based on a provincial opportunity of lack of supply. sales of steel bars. Development Corporation because if every worker has ordinance of the Cebu “There is no problem Salvador also said that (PMDC) in Alcoy town. at least a family of four, Provincial Government. The for PMDC because it is some Alcoy residents, who Cebu Board Member there are now 1,200 people non-payment of taxes by a billionaire company. used to get sands at the Jose Mari “Tata” Salvador who are hungry,” Salvador PMDC was discovered after it Those who were caught in waterways and sell it to said that there are about said. supplied P450 million worth between are the more than buyers at P25 per bag, are 300 workers at PMDC But Salvador maintained of dolomite that was dumped 300 workers who are on now selling it at P100 per who lost their jobs during that Garcia was right in her in Manila Bay. no-work-no-eat situation. bag. Labella sad over del Mar’s death ONLINE SERVICE CEBU City Mayor Ed- has served with integrity for Mar family in mourning the Cebu City briefs local gardo C. Labella said that it years,” Labella said. loss of one of Cebu’s iconic leg- is with great sorrow that Ce- Labella said that when a islators, Rep. Raul V. Del Mar business on online services buanos mark the passing of great man like Raul dies, Henry (Cebu City North). CEBU City Hall has be- ment is a first in the country. a great man, his good friend Wadsworth Longfellow wrote: Rama said that besides gun briefing accountants of Chiu said businesses in Cebu of many years, Congressman “For years beyond our ken, the serving as Cebu City North local businesses on the inte- City can transact online the Raul V. del Mar. light he leaves behind him lies District congressman, he once grated online services under following: Online Realty Tax Labella said del Mar left a upon the paths of men.” served as deputy speaker of the City Treasurer’s Office Assessment and Payment; legacy of leadership and gov- “The light our friend Raul the House of Representatives that enables the public to do Online Business Permit As- ernance that inspires use in shone by his example of public in 2004-2010. financial transactions. sessment and Payment; and public service and makes us service with empathy and hu- “His longevity in public ser- Cebu City Treasurer the Online Building Permit Cebuanos deeply proud. mility will continue to guide us vice and his dedication to the Mare Vae ‘Ivy’ Fernandez Application and Payment. “Raul is an institution in in serving the city we all love,” people of the North District has Reyes led the seminar series The public can also avail our city, which he has served Labella said. made him a household name. at the 2nd floor of SM City of the Online Appointment for decades. I grieve with the For his part, Cebu City May you rest in peace, Con- Cebu (previously the VECO System for the City Assessors family he leaves behind. I con- Vice Mayor Michael “Mike” gressman Raul V. Del Mar,” office besides the Art Gallery) Office, Office of the City Civil dole with the constituents he Rama said he joined the del Rama said. ELIAS O. BAQUERO last Nov. 21, 2020. This will Registrar, and the Office of be held again on Nov. 28, the Building Official. 2020. Land Bank branch man- Romualdez to help strengthen coops According to the systems ager Vivian Bisnar was pres- HOUSE Majority Floor paying taxes of share capital On the other hand, developer Raymond Chiu, ent to explain the bank’s on- Leader Martin Romualdez and dividends to the Bureau Canama said Coop NATCCO this service of a local govern- line payment gateway. ENM has promised to help of Internal Revenue (BIR).