Seized with gun, grenade: Joavan arrested in dad’s house

CEBU, Philippines - After a month-long surveillance, Talisay police finally arrested Joavan Fernandez, the notorious and controversial adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, in the mayor's house in Southgates, Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City, around 7 p.m.
Talisay City police chief Supt. Elmer Lim, who personally came to arrest Joavan, said they knew where he was hiding all this time. He said it was just a matter of determining the best time to get him, specifically when Mayor Socrates Fernandez would not be around to intervene.
“Sakripisyo ni siya sa akong kinabuhi… Makatulog na gyud intawn ko,” Lim said in a phone interview.
Lim was armed with an arrest warrant signed by Municipal Trial Court Judge Mario Manayon. The warrant was for a physical injury case filed against Joavan some time ago.
Lim told The FREEMAN they have been conducting surveillance for about a month against Joavan just to arrest him following orders from Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador.
Police already knew that Joavan was being kept by the mayor in his house and they were just waiting for the right time to arrest him. The mayor was not around when police carried out the operation.
Lim said Joavan did not resist arrest as Lim covered him with his 9mm pistol. Confiscated from Joavan was a 9mm pistol with four live rounds and a hand grenade.
“Aw, ug musukol siya pusilon man gyud nako,” Lim said.
Joavan is now detained at the Talisay City police stockade.
Lim said he was dismayed by the protection given by the mayor to Joavan. He said that they expected the mayor to cooperate but instead of heeding their advice, Socrates hid his son from the police.
“Di gyud ni siya angayan makadaug bisan mayor o konsehal kay nganong motago man siya og tao nga kriminal," Lim said.
He added that if Socrates had been around and tried to stop them from arresting Joavan he would have probably arrested him for obstruction of justice.

CAPTURED

Joavan arrested in front of Talisay mayor’s house
Policemen finally caught up with Joavan Fernandez on the doorstep of the house of his father, Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez.
Three weeks after Joavan was the subject of a manhunt for allegedly shooting a watch man outside a car shop in Talisay, he was spotted last night sitting on a curb outside his father’s house in Southgate Subdivision, barangay Bulacao, Talisay City.
The young Fernandez had just arrived on a motorbike with a female companion, said police.
He did not resist arrest after lawmen led by Supt. Elmer Lim, Talisay chief of police, served a bench warrant ordering Joavan’s arrest for a previous case of slight physical injuries.
The warrant was issued by Judge Mario Manayon of Branch 1 of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities.
The controversial son of the mayor, who has been in and out of jail for various offenses, has been the subject of a manhunt after he was charged with frustrated murder before the Talisay City Prosecutor Office.
He was accused of shooting 36-year-old Eduardo Largo Jr., a watchman and brother of the shop owner, last April 12, a Friday.
The mayor had assured Talisay police he would turn over his son on Monday, only to change his mind, saying he would wait for a court warrant.
The mayor maintained that his son is innocent and that he will no longer surrender him to authorities.
Under surveillance
Police said they had placed the mayor's residence in Southgate Subdivision under surveillance.
SPO1 Mike Espina said police noticed Joavan entering the village.
The arresting team was positioned near the house and closed in when Joavan, together with a female companion identified only as Gay-gay, arrived in a motorcycle at around 7 p.m.
Two female police decoys who posed as insurance agents circled the house and gave the arresting team the green light after positively identifying Joavan who was sitting on the curb in front of the mayor's house.
Supt. Lim drove his car and stopped in front of Joavan and showed him the bench warrant before effecting his arrest.
Police said they seized a revolver with several rounds of bullets, a fragmentation grenade, two lighters and foil with cigarettes.
The police will file a complaint for illegal possession of firearms and explosives and violation of the election gun ban against Joavan.
Joavan refused to show himself in the jail when reporters arrived. He stayed deep inside a cell and would only speak aloud when asked questions.
In an interview, Joavan said the gun, grenade and other items were “planted” by the police.
He also claimed that Supt. Lim hit him three times in the face while they were riding in his car.
A slight commotion ensued at the police station where Joavan was taken after a man identified as a companion of Mayor Fernandez tried to block Cebu Daily News photographer Lito Tecson from entering the detention center.
“Dili pwede mosulod diri (No one is allowed to enter),” the man said as he tried to shut the door.
Mayor Fernandez, who was already inside, also accosted the CDN photographer.
“Nganong wala man ka mananghid na ma-micture ka nako?” (Why were you taking my picture without asking my permission?) The mayor then took a closer look at Tecson's press I.D. card and tried to grab his camera.
“Ayaw pag-ingon ana, mayor kay dili man imo ning camera,” the photojournalist said. (Don't do that, mayor. You don't own this camera.)
Mayor Fernandez then threatened to file a complaint before the Commission Human Rights.
“Ireklamo ta ka sa Human Rights,” he said.

How to detect jammers? Check phones, voters told

Cebu voters can help detect the presence of jamming devices in their polling precincts by checking their cell phones, the regional National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said yesterday.
“Check your mobile phones. If you can't call or send a message in your phone even if the signal in your area is strong, then it's possible that someone is using a jamming device,” NTC Regional Director Jesus Laureno said.
Laureno showed some jamming devices that NTC personnel confiscated from an electronics shop in downtown Cebu City. He spoke during a security meeting with police, military and Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials yesterday.
He showed a device slightly bigger than a Wi-Fi router with four antennae.
Laureno said the jammer's range could reach several kilometers.
“All electronic devices within its radius won't receive a signal,” he said.
A smaller jamming device can disrupt signals 10 to 20 meters near it.
Laureno said these devices made in the US, China, Hong Kong and Singapore and were being sold for P15,000 to P20,000 each. “So far, we only seized a unit in one store but usually, they are sold in electronic shops. That's why we are investigating that in our routine inspection,” Laureno told reporters.
Regional Comelec Director Temie Lambino said while these devices can block and delay the transmission of election results, they won't affect the election data stored in the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines used for voting.
He said many polling precincts experienced delay in the transmission of results in the 2010 elections.
Contingency plans are already in place if ever signals get jammed, Lambino added.
He said one alternative is to transmit voting results using the signal from a Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) and Very Small Apperture Satellites (VSAS).
He said the jammer's frequency will only affect the signal from telecom networks like Smart, Globe and Sun but not from the BGAN and VSAS.
“If the PCOS cannot transmit, we can use manual transmission,” Lambino said.
He said those planning to use jamming devices near polling precincts are only wasting time because they can be easily traced by the police and military authorities.
Anyone caught using a jamming device on election day faces criminal charges and a jail sentence of seven to 12 years. “We have complete security operations. We are 101 percent ready,” he added.

NBI tells camera operator Show up, tell your story

WHERE is Jeffrey Aquino? That's what the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) wants to know as it invited the security camera operator to tell his account of the death of shopper Mario Alfie Ducayag. “He was eager at first (to cooperate in our investigation). I don't know what happened to Aquino. I hope he will come forward and make good on his word,” NBI-7 Agent Bernard dela Cruz told reporters yesterday.
Aquino's lawyer Salvador Solima said he has not seen nor communicated with his client since he was arrested last week then released the next day by police. Solima urged Aquino to cooperate with the NBI in its investigation on Ducayag's death.
“I'm calling on Aquino to heed the NBI's request for him to come out and tell the truth. See what has happened now. Aquino has been pointed to as the one who killed Ducayag,” the lawyer said.
Solima asked the family to convince Aquino to appear before the NBI.
Cebu Daily News tried to contact Aquino by phone but he didn't answer the calls. A text message sent to him was also left unanswered.
The 31-year-old employee of Gaisano Metro Colon was accused by two store security officers as the one who mauled Ducayag for failing to produce a receipt for a pair of sandals in his possession.
In a previous interview, Aquino accused the department store's chief security officer Mauricio Doblados of killing the suspected shoplifter.
Regardless of the testimonies of those who had custody of Ducayag, dela Cruz said they have other evidence to prove what really transpired inside the security office of Gaisano Metro Colon where Ducayag was mauled last April 12. Dela Cruz said he's about to finish the investigation and that charges will be filed this week against those responsible for Ducayag's death.
“We're almost done. But I won't say who the respondent/s will be. We will file the case based on evidence on hand which includes the CCTV footage, accounts of witnesses and the time element involved here,” he said.
While there were a handful of persons inside the security office when Ducayag was mauled, dela Cruz said the NBI needed clear evidence.
“We can't do a shotgun filing of cases just because they were there. If you didn't participate in the crime, you should be protected. We have a law against malicious prosecution. We will file the case based on evidence,” he said.
Aquino, the security camera operator, in an earlier interview said he handcuffed the shopper on orders of Doblados and later saw how the young man was allegedly beaten up by the security officer.
He said the victim was punched three times on the chest until he was unconscious and then whipped with an electrical cable.
Aquino was by the Cebu City police last April 28 but was released a day after due to the refusal of Ducayag's family to file charges against him as they believed the police case was weak.
Ducayag's family, who earlier tapped the NBI's assistance, were wary of the police’s autopsy report that said the shopper died of “asphyxia due to pulmonary tuberculosis”, which was later disputed by the NBI autopsy.

Yellow Submarine told to submit results of in-house inquiry

PRESSED to explain a coral rock mishap with their Yellow Submarine, Korean operators wrote to Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza – but forgot to include supporting documents.
The Lapu-Lapu City Legal Office ordered the management of Cebu Yellow submarine and Undersea Tour Corp. to send attachments mentioned in their written reply.
Yuri Benluan of the Lapu-Lapu City Legal Office said the mayor's office found insufficient the management's written explanation about last month's incident that was videotaped and uploaded by a Japanese diver on YouTube.
Mayor Radaza last April 29 issued a cease and desist order against the operator and required them to explain why their business permit, which she suspended, should not be revoked.
General manager Kim Jun and Lee Dong Gun, President and CEO, in their letter said that contrary to earlier reports, they already submitted a written reply on the incident to the mayor's office on April 29 before she issued the cease and desist order. They said they received the notice of violation issued by the City Administrator on Friday, Apr. 26 and sent their reply two days after.
In their May 1 letter, the Korean businessmen said they were attaching the results of their in-house inquiry with their written explanation given during a press conference also on the same day.
“We are one with the City of Lapu-Lapu in promoting tourism, as it was our intention in bringing here the first and only tourism submarine in the country, and at the same time protecting our environment. We will cooperate and comply with the city’s present and future requirements in protecting the environment,” they wrote.
A clerical error must have occured.
Benluan said they received the letter nt last May 2 without any attachments.
He said this leaves their reply invalid but that the management will be given another day to send the papers.
Yellow Submarine officials earlier denied that their seacraft hit any corals in Mactan, adding that the diver’s video posted on YouTube was misleading as the “cloud of dust” seen in the tape was actually caused of propeller motion and not proof of impact.
Benluan said the mayor's office will review their papers and the recommendation of the Maritime Industrial Authority (Marina) and the Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu before deciding whether or not to lift the suspension.
Last Saturday, Coast Guard personnel inspected the Kontiki Drop and took footage of the damaged coral walls located 20 meters deep. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza

No rebuilding in Mahiga Creek, Mandaue settlers told

Fire victims of sitio Sapa-Sapa Dos, barangay Subangdaku in Mandaue City won't be allowed to rebuild their homes within the three-meter easement zone along the Mahiga Creek.
City Legal Officer Giovanni Tianero said the displaced families should transfer to the 6.5 hectare relocation site in barangay Paknaan because the creek is a danger zone and should be cleared of any houses or structures.
The relocation site could accommodate 1,200 households and is intended to house beneficiaries who live in the city's danger zones. Tianero said his office will coordinate with barangay officials in preventing settlers from rebuilding on the site.
“Wala pani sila naka balhin kay ilahang gihulat ang demolition team pero na clear naman ni mao amoa nalang gi-awhag sila nga mubalhin nalang (They haven't transferred yet because they were waiting for the demolition team but the area is already cleared so we advised them to transfer),” he said.
At least 36 house owners or 261 persons were left homeless by the fire that razed 13 houses in sitio Sapa-Sapa Dos last Thursday afternoon. Mandaue City fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire.
The barangay council earlier approved a resolution asking the Mandaue City government to extend financial assistance to the fire victims that will be channeled through the Philippine Red Cross.
Manatad said the number of fire victims were not enough to declare the sitio under calamity status but said city officials can still access their quick response fund.
In Cebu City, three fires hit barangays Pahina Central, San Nicolas and Zapatera yesterday.
Fire investigators pegged the fire damage at Pahina Central at P250,000 while damage caused by the fire that hit the stock room of the Zapatera National High School was worth P50,000.
Chief Insp. William Tacaldo, Cebu City fire marshal, said the second floor of the two story building owned by Roger Balila in C. Padilla Street, barangay San Nicolas was gutted by a fire.
The second floor was rented by a certain Anthony Wang who sells surplus TV sets.
The fire broke out 12:15 noon and was put out 20 minutes after. No one was injured.
Some Koreans and other Chinese businessmen rented floors in the building.

Talisay vendors pin hopes on transfer to old market

TALISAY City Hall officials have a lot of work to do to make the old Tabunok market building suitable for re-occupation by vendors and stallholders.
The building lacks adequate water supply, and has a dilapidated roof and poor drainage.
Its toilets are unfit for use, said .Domincos Fernandez, one of 17 workers assigned to clear the public market. The market building's walls pose a threat to vendors and shoppers.
The new Lagtang market building a kilometer away has a better drainage system but vendors still prefer the old location near the national highway in attracting customers.
The clearing operation started last Apr. 30.
“Mag-unsa man nang safety, wa man ta'y makaon (What is safety, if we don't have anything to eat),” market vendor Eugene Abad said. He said customers who live nearby prefer to buy at the Carbon Public Market in Cebu City. Abad said vendors were forced to raise their prices to pay to recover their losses.
He said he hopes they can be transferred after the May 13 elections.
“Ang problema, nahatagan og pagtagad sa eleksyon na (The problem has been given attention due to the elections),” Abad said.
With the market a hot election issue, Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu's 1st district pushed for the re-opening of the old Tabunok public market after consulting vendors in barangay Lagtang.
Gullas, who's running for mayor, earlier said the old market, which was vacated two years ago, needs repairs for its power and water supply and building structure.
He said he intends to convert the Lagtang public market into an extension of the Talisay City College (TCC). Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao

NEWS BRIEFS

Vietnam rice to be sold after polls
THE 600,000 sacks of confiscated Vietnam rice smuggled into the country recently will be sold after the May 13 elections, the Bureau of Customs-Cebu said yesterday.
Cebu City Customs collector Edward dela Cuesta said the first batch of rice has undergone inventory.
“We already arranged and processed the schedule which would be after the elections since people are busy this week,” he said.
Dela Cuesta said he wanted to invite the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce to witness the public auction. “We want the sale of the rice to be transparent,” he said.
These container vans containing the rice reportedly valued at more than P1 billion are still awaiting inspection by Deputy Customs Commissioner Danilo Lim in Cebu City. Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag
Traders gripe about Mandaue city jeepney re-route scheme
Several busines establishments along the national highway in MC Briones Street complained of low profits with the jeepney re-routing scheme enforced by the Mandaue City government since last December.
Justin Ouano, operations manager of Vel-Ouano Realty Inc., said their business and others in the area have been losing customers, a problem raised in a letter to Mayor Jonas Cortes.
Vel-Ouano Realty Inc. owns the commercial building in the North Atrium.
“When the rerouting was implemented we were not informed about it,” he said.
The re-route scheme will run until June 27 this year. Under the scheme, passenger jeepneys from Cebu City traveling to M.C. Briones should turn left to A.S. Fortuna St toward the J. Centre Mall Terminal.
Jeepneys from A.S. Fortuna will take a back road leading to M.L. Quezon St. then back to M.C. Briones.
Ouano said the new traffic scheme makes it inaccessible for the public to visit commercial establishments from the intersection of M.C. Briones and A.S. Fortuna to the intersection of M.L. Quezon and M.C. Briones.
Edwin Ermac, Traffic Enforcement Agency in Mandaue (TEAM) chief, said the re-routing scheme aims to decongest traffic along M.C. Briones Street and help attract more customers to J. Centre Mall.
He said they are also helping other commercial establishments in the city like Parkmall with the re-route scheme. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos

Two indies, a Team Pinoy bet complete Team Rama's senate list

Rival BOPK to go 12-0 for administration bets
Two independent and one Liberal Party bets complete the list of 12 senatorial bets that Team Rama is supporting in the May 13 polls. Mayor Michael Rama said his group is adopting LP candidate Alan Peter Cayetano and independent candidates Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Edward Hagedorn since the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) only has nine senatorial candidates.
Rama said he will not commit to make all their supported candidates win in the May 13 elections in Cebu City “pero tan-awon lang nato ug kinsa ang maka-deliver [but we will see who can deliver] the votes for our national candidates.”
The Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) group of Rep. Tomas Osmeña is endorsing all of the 12 Liberal Party/ Team Pinoy senatorial candidates.
Osmeña said they will especially be giving emphasis on Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Sonny Angara, Cynthia Villar and Chiz Escudero in their sample ballots because of the help they have given to the city.
Rama said the election will be a test as to who between him and Osmeña can deliver votes to the national candidates they are respectively supporting.
Rama said his group will be supporting Cayetano because of his medical assistance program which benefited city residents while he approved of Villanueva's pro-life campaign.
He also shares Hagedorn's crusade for the environment. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporter

CV police placed on full election alert

POLICE forces in Central Visayas has been placed in full alert by the Police Regional Office 7 eight days before the mid-term election on May 13, 2013.
With the full alert declaration, Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, chief of PRO-7 said all members of the police force who are on leave are called to return to their assignments and all leave of absence applications will be put on hold.
Garbo said this is to make sure that all policemen are ready to respond to any election incident.
Garbo made this pronouncement in yesterday's final conference before election day of the Regional Joint Security Control Committee (RJSCC) composed of PNP, AFP, Comelec, and other government agencies playing a role in the elections.
Garbo said they made some adjustment for deployment of troops in Bohol because of an election-related incident that occurred in Buenavista town.
A supporter of a local candidate in Buenavista town in Bohol was killed in a shootout last Sunday. Initial police investigation pointed out that the violence is election-related.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (CentCom) meanwhile will have an inspection of their troops in Camp Lapu-Lapu today, before they are deployed for election duties.
Lt. Col.Christopher Tampus, spokesman of the Centcom said the inspection is made to make sure that all troops called for election duty are ready for deployment.
Areas declared by the Comelec as under Election Watchlist Areas (Ewas) will receive augmentation forces from the PNP and the AFP.
All set
Temie Lambino, regional director of Comelec for his part said they are 100 percent ready for the election.
Different government agencies and non-government organizations are also ready to cooperate police security measures for the election.
According to Marilu Chiongbian, executive director of C-Cimpel (Cebu – Citizens Involvement and Maturation in People's Empowerment and Liberation), a multi-sectoral election watchdog said all their members in the Central Visayas are ready for election duty. /Chito O. Aragon, Correspondent

Team Rama happy with endorsement of pro-lifers

TEAM Rama standard bearer Mayor Michael Rama welcomed the endorsement of the Unity for Life of his reelection bid. “All endorsements will always be welcome,” said Rama.
Rama said the endorsement of support which he received from the Unity for Life group was mainly because of his opposition to alleged “vigilantism” in the city and his stand against the Reproductive Health Law.
The Unity for Life group gathered at the Plaza Independencia on Sunday for a mass and to formally endorse local and national candidates they thought are exemplars of the pro-life values.
While Rama was not formally endorsed during the gathering, he was given a special mention because of his pro-life stand.
Meanwhile, Team Rama claimed yesterday that a survey commissioned by a Manila-based business group revealed Mayor Rama's high approval rating of 61 – 65 percent.
Although they did not divulge the identity of the group that did the survey, Team Rama campaign manager Joey Daluz said the survey reaffirmed their own survey.
But Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña assailed the credibility of the survey of his political opponent.
“It's not the first time or the last time you will hear claims by unknown if not fictitious persons. If there are fools who believe it, I also have friends who will wager against it,” Osmeña who is trying to regain the reigns of the City Hall said./Edison Delos Angeles and Doris C. Bongcac

PCOS delivered in Talisay City polling centers

ALL of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines that will be used in Talisay City arrived yesterday and were immediately brought to their respective polling centers for final testing and sealing.
The 128 PCOS machines were arranged according to their designated polling precincts, in front of the City Hall around 1 p.m. yesterday.
Watchers from different candidates also monitored the arrival and delivery of the machines to polling centers.
These were later transported to the principal's offices of schools that will serve as polling center on May 13.
According to Gallardo Escobar, Jr. the machines will be stored there for final testing and sealing on May 8.
The machines, powered by Smartmatic, were previously used during the May 10, 2010 elections.
Earlier, Arthur Patiga, election assistant of the Cebu provincial Comelec office, said there are 3,169 PCOS machines intended for Cebu province based on the number of the total clustered precincts in the province.
After the final testing and sealing, the PCOS machines will be secured by policemen until election day.
The Talisay City Police Office said they were surprised by the unexpected arrival of the PCOS machines.
“But we were already prepared to secure election paraphernalia,” PO1 Ryan Baculi said despite the surprise.
Each of the 21 polling centers in Talisay City will have police security, said Talisay City police chief Supt. Elmer Lim. /Tweeny M. Malinao, Correspondent

Loren charged with 5 counts of graft

Senator Loren Legarda was yesterday charged at the Office of the Ombudsman with five counts each of graft and non-declaration of a property in the United States in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth from 2007 to 2012 as required by law.
In a complaint-affidavit, businessman Louis “Barok” C. Biraogo, 52, of Biñan, Laguna accused Legarda of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials (RA 6713) for allegedly not disclosing in her SALN her cash purchase of a $700,000 (P36 million) condominium unit at No. 77 Park Avenue in New York City on May 9, 2006.
In the complaint, Biraogo, who claimed to be an advocate of constitutionalism and good governance, said the peso-dollar exchange rate at that time was P51.40 to $1, thus the cost of the property’s acquisition was P35.98 million.
MOST EXPENSIVE
He said that Park Avenue in New York City is one of the most expensive residential areas in the world where rich families like the Rockefellers reside.
As of the filing of the complaint, Biraogo said Legarda is still the registered owner of the unit, and that there are no co-owners thereof, and the property is not mortgaged or encumbered.
Biraogo said it was Legarda’s obligation under Section 8 of RA 6713 to declare the property in her SALN when she reassumed her post as senator in May 2007.
“There is nothing in her SALN for 2011 which indicates where the Park Avenue unit is located in the US, how respondent acquired the said residential condominium unit, its current fair market value, and whether or not there is any improvement on the property,” he said.
The complaint said Legarda should be criminally held liable for failure or refusal to disclose the property in her SALN for five consecutive years.
“Since respondents earn only an estimated P75,000 monthly, the condominium unit in Park Avenue, New York City—which respondent acquired during her incumbency as a public official—is manifestly out of proportion to her salary and other lawful income,” the complainant said.
“There is nothing in any of her SALN which shows that acquisition of these luxurious properties can be through legitimate means,” it added.
Attached in the complaint were copies of the Real Property Transfer Report; the Recording and Endorsement Cover Page issued by the City Register of the City of New York dated May 9, 2006, Bargain and Sale Deed issued in the name of Loren Legarda; the Recording and Endorsement Letter Page relating to the Power of Attorney executed by Loren Legarda in favor of the Board of Managers of the 77 Park Avenue residential condominium; the said Power of Attorney, and copies of Legarda's SALN.

PCOS source code to be released within the week

MANILA — The Commission on Elections yesterday announced that the controversial source code for the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines to be used in the 2013 elections would be finally released within the week.
The source code is the computer program that runs the PCOS machine when it counts the votes.
“Dominion is coming in anytime. We are just waiting. They have already agreed that they will open the source code,” Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said.
However, the Comelec chairman said the source code review by political parties and other interested groups would have to be completed after the elections.
“We are opening it for review to all people interested but this will have be completed after the elections. It cannot be completed at this time since it is not easy to review the source code,” Brillantes said.
agreement
Brillantes said that an agreement has been reached between the Dominion Voting Systems Inc. and Smartmatic to pave the way for the release of the source code.
The release of the source code had been held back by Dominion, owner of the technology, due to a legal dispute between Dominion and Smartmatic.
“Last Friday, Smartmatic and Dominion signed an agreement in America to allow the 2013 source code to be brought to the
Philippines,” Brillantes said.
“I also signed my conform to their agreement and after that we called Systest Labs Inc. (SLI) for them to come here,” he said.
SLI is the international company that conducted an independent certification of the source code.
Brillantes refused to confirm if the actual source code has been placed in the hands of Comelec.

2 dead in Tanzania church blast

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania — Two people died and 43 people were seriously wounded when a bomb exploded in a Roman Catholic church in northern Tanzania, a Tanzanian police official said Sunday
The Vatican’s ambassador to Tanzania, Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla, a Cebuano, was attending the official opening of the church when the explosion occurred. He escaped unhurt.
The fatalities died in hospital as a result of the bombing in the Arusha church just before Mass,, said Magesa Mulogo, the regional police commissioner of Arusha.
Mulogo said eyewitnesses report that the bomb was thrown from a motorcycle into the church. Mulogo said the driver of the motorcycle has been arrested.
Mulogo said the motive of attack is not known but Tanzania has in the recent past experienced sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims.
Four Saudi citizens have been arrested.
Mulogo said they were among six people arrested.
Nuncio's profile
Archbishop Padilla has been the papal nuncio to the Republic of Tanzana since 2011.
Padilla, who was born in Cebu City on Sept. 17, 1953, was ordained priest by the late Julio Cardinal Rosales in 1976.
In 2006, he was ordained bishop and was appointed by the Holy See as apostolic nuncio to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and was later assigned to Pakistan.
Francisco is the younger brother of Archbishop Osbaldo Padilla, also a papal nuncio.
Padilla is a product of Cebu Catholic schools. He entered his intermediate education at the St. Theresa's College and the Colegio del Santo Niño, finished high school at the San Carlos minor seminary, took his Theology course at University of Santo Tomas in Manila before he was ordained priest in 1976./AP and Ador Vincent Mayol

Citom endorses SRP bus routes

THE public may soon find it easy to go to establishments at the South Road Properties (SRP) after the City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) Board endorsed the opening of two bus routes that will serve the area.
SM Prime Holdings Inc., which is building the largest mall in the Visayas and Mindanao on its 30-hectare lot at the SRP, sought the opening of four bus routes there.
Residential and commercial buildings in SRP will start to open later this year, but there is still no public transport system there at present.
Among the proposed bus routes is the Talisay-SRP-Talisay route, while another one will start from Talisay to the North Bus Terminal, passing by the SRP, the downtown area near Cebu City Hall, SM City Cebu, the North Bus Terminal, and back to Talisay via SRP.
Citom approved only these first two routes, since these are the only ones consistent with the City Government’s transport strategy for the SRP.
The new routes will be operated by only one concessionaire, who will be selected through open bidding.
Another proposed route was supposed to start in Mambaling passing by SRP, downtown Cebu City (near City Hall), SM City Cebu, North Bus Terminal and back to Mambaling via downtown area and SRP.
The fourth proposed route would start from Bulacao going to SRP, downtown Cebu City, SM City Cebu, North Bus Terminal and back to Bulacao via downtown area, SRP and Mambaling.
In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, Citom executive director Atty. Rafael Yap said the Citom board endorsed the opening of the two bus routes because there is no public transport system serving the estimated 300-hectare property at present.
“It is right to open routes for a development area,” said Yap, who is also chairman of the Citom Board.
In the plan
Yap said the opening of bus routes is already part of the plan for the operation of the SRP and that it has a technical basis.
Yap was referring to the final report of the transport study conducted by the Integrated Transport Planning that was commissioned by the Asian Development Bank and the Cities Development Initiative for Asia.
The final report states that an interim high quality public transport service should operate between the North Bus Terminal and Talisay City, in order to support the early development within the SRP, before the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is set up.
The transport study report has already been submitted and approved by the City Council in June 2011.
“Considering that the request is consistent with the City Government’s overall transport strategy for the SRP, Citom board is favorably endorsing routes one and two,” the board said in a statement.
Mall route
In Mandaue City, a rerouting scheme that allegedly favors a newly opened mall is causing some business establishment owners a problem.
Close to 40 business owners complained against the rerouting of jeepneys in favor of JCentre Mall on A.S. Fortuna St.
Since December, jeepneys traveling on M.C. Briones St. from Cebu City have to turn left to A.S. Fortuna toward the terminal of JCentre Mall.
Jeepneys traveling M.C. Briones from northern towns have to turn right on L. Jayme St. toward the mall.
Foot traffic
The rerouting has made establishments from the intersection of M.C. Briones and A.S. Fortuna to the Maguikay flyover less accessible to the public, said Justin Ouano, operations manager of Vel-Ouano Realty Inc., which owns the commercial building North Atrium.
“It has lowered the foot traffic in the area, causing lower sales for the businesses in our building,” Ouano said in a phone interview yesterday.
In March, the number of persons entering North Atrium decreased by 11,000, he said.
The dry run for the rerouting, which was supposed to end last March, has been extended until June 27.
In a letter dated March 26, 37 business owners asked Mayor Jonas Cortes to revise the rerouting scheme.
Balance
“We understand that the City has to support new businesses, but with all due respect, we are of the opinion that it should also do its best to balance all interests,” read the letter.
Edwin Ermac, head of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, said the rerouting is not only meant to help make JCentre Mall accessible but also to decongest traffic on M.C. Briones.
Ermac said the City has implemented the rerouting to make large commercial establishments accessible to the public.
The City implemented a jeepney rerouting before to help commercial establishments in the Mandaue Reclamation Area.
Ermac denied the City favors certain businesses, saying all interests are considered when implementing a rerouting plan.
Ouano said he understands the need to make JCentre Mall more accessible.
“What we want is to get some routes back. If some routes can be reinstated, I think it’s not asking too much,” he said.
Ouano said the rerouting has made it difficult for pedestrians to cross the street because of more vehicles passing A.S. Fortuna.
Traffic
Ermac said traffic personnel are assigned to assist pedestrians in the area. He also said not all jeepneys passing M.C. Briones are diverted to A.S. Fortuna.
“We cannot stop the rerouting just because of the interests of customer-oriented businesses. Our main concern is the flow of traffic,” he said.
Last month, the City Council passed a resolution extending the dry run for the rerouting until June 27.
The Council extended the dry run because it could not conduct a public hearing for an ordinance implementing the rerouting because of time constraints and the election period, Ermac said.
He said the affected business owners can air their grievances once the City Council holds a public hearing after the elections.
New routes
As for the operations of the new bus routes at the SRP, the Citom Board said it should only be awarded to one operator who will be selected through open and transparent bidding.
“This is in order to maximize chance of positive financial performance and limit the possibility of the breakdown of services,” the board said.
The board specifically said that sub-franchising should be strictly prohibited.
The monitoring of the performance of the operator will be a joint responsibility of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the City.
Six years
The franchise shall be for a period of six years only and shall include its eventual migration and inclusion in the Cebu BRT network.
Also, the board said that the franchisee’s bus operation plan shall be reviewed by the City and approved by the LTFRB.
As to when the City will open the bus routes, Yap said they are still waiting for the approval of the SRP-Project Management Office (PMO) chief and City Administrator Atty. Jose Marie Poblete, BRT-PMO chief Maricon Encabo and the BRT-Technical Working Group head Collin Brader.
Yap said they will meet with SM City Cebu Mall Manager Sherry Tuvilla on Thursday to discuss the matter.

Environmental groups issue guidelines on which candidate is eco-friendly

AS A coalition of environmental groups urge voters to pick candidates who have concrete programs to address garbage and pollution, repro­ductive health advocates look beyond the bets’ stand on the Reproductive Health (RH) Law.
Ecowaste Coalition drafted guidelines to help voters choose can­didates who will make a “greener and toxic-free” Philippines.
The coalition approves of voters who are against coal power plants and have clear solid waste management plans.
They disapprove of candidates who:
* Staple, nail or glue campaign materials on trees;
* Use smoke-belching vehicles;
* Profess to protect the environment but cannot say how;
* Support large dams, mining and logging; and
* Those who do not act on pollution and climate challenge.
Promises
“As the campaign heads into the home-stretch, we are bombarded with promises of good health, clean environment, plentiful jobs and a better future,” said EcoWaste Coalition vice president Ochie Tolentino. “It is the duty of voters to be discerning, to differentiate candidates and make sound choices, beyond name-recall, celebrity endorsements and partisan affiliations.”
Catholics for RH (Reproductive Health) spokesperson Leny Ocasiones, on the other hand, said they do not just assess a candidate based on his or her stand on the RH law.
“We also look at their track record and position on violence against women, agrarian reform, nationalist industrialization, corruption and human rights violations,” she said in an interview.
The Ecowaste Coalition also urged voters not to support candidates who use the 5Gs: guns, goons, gold (money), gin (liquor) and garbage.
“Support candidates for their simple, pro-people, healthy and ecological lifestyle,” the group suggests.

Gwen asks CA to nullify ombud decision

SUSPENDED Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has asked the Court of Appeals (CA) Cebu Station to declare as null the joint decision of the Office of the Ombudsman finding her and five former Capitol officials guilty of grave misconduct for the allegedly anomalous purchase of the Balili property.
Tranquil Salvador and Jomini Nazareno, lawyers of Garcia, filed the petition for certiorari with prayer for a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction asking the CA to stop the Office of the Special Prosecutors (OSP) from “further persecuting” the governor.
“(The ombudsman) has glaringly acted with capriciousness and arbitrariness in holding, and publicly announcing that Governor Garcia is administratively liable for grave misconduct despite having been exonerated by her reelection as governor of Cebu in 2010,” read the petition.
The CA’s Special 18th Division yesterday tackled Garcia’s petition. After the brief hearing, the petition was referred to the senior and junior members of the division, as required by the 2009 Internal Rules of the Court of Appeals.
CA Associate Justice Gabriel Ingles confirmed yesterday that Garcia’s lawyers withdrew the application for temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction.
“We will treat the main petition after the respondent has filed a comment and the petitioner a reply,” Ingles told Sun. Star Cebu in a text message.
In July last year, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales charged Garcia before the Sandiganbayan with two counts of graft and technical malversation in relation to the Capitol’s purchase of a 24.92-hectare property in Tinaan, Naga City.
The governor pleaded not guilty to both cases during her arraignment on March 22.
Garcia asked the CA to issue an order setting aside the ombudsman’s joint decision for committing grave abuse of discretion and lack of jurisdiction.
The ombudsman allegedly committed grave abuse of discretion when it found Garcia guilty of misconduct without requiring her to file her counter-affidavit, therefore, violating her constitutional right to due process.
The ombudsman, the defense argued, also committed grave abuse of discretion when it failed to dismiss the grave misconduct charge.
Other respondents
The ombudsman also charged with one count of graft former Provincial Board Juan Bolo, Provincial Assessor Anthony Sususco, Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre, and Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre, who were all members of the Provincial Appraisal Committee; and Provincial Budget Officer Emme Gingoyon.
The ombudsman also indicted lot owner Amparo Balili and Romeo Balili, the estate’s executor.
In February, Morales declared the public respondents administratively liable of grave misconduct, saying the lot buy was “grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the government.”
Excluding Governor Garcia, Ombudsman Morales dismissed the respondents from the service and forfeited all their benefits.
Garcia escaped administrative liability since her reelection in 2010 mooted the penalty under the Aguinaldo Doctrine.
The penalty imposed on Bolo, who allegedly broached the idea of buying the Balili lot to Garcia, was also rendered moot since he is no longer in the government.
The Province bought the Balili lot for P99.6 million and paid P98.9 million. The ombudsman learned that a big portion of the lot is submerged.

Signal jammers a waste of time

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections-7 is advising those who are attempting to use signal jammers to disrupt the May 13 elections not to bother with their plan as it will just be a waste of time as these will only delay, not change, election results.
National Telecommunications Commission-7 Regional Director Jesus Laureno presented to members of the Regional Joint Security Control Center the signal jammer they seized last month during a routine inspection in a store along Manalili St., Cebu City.
He said that they have been intensifying their inspections since the last election when the issue of signal jammers was raised after the shift to automated elections from manual elections.
Laureno explained that a signal jammer, depending on its range, can block the signal of one cell site. Small signal jammers can bar signals within 10 to 20 meters while bigger range jammers can block signals within kilometers. One signal jamming device can cost P15,000 to P20,000.
He cautioned that the signal jammers look like an ordinary wireless router but these have more than one antenna.
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba earlier said in a press conference in Manila that these devices are regarded as smuggled since they have not issued any permit for signal jammers to be sold in the country.
Vendors of signal jamming devices will be fined while those caught using the device face two years in prison for violating NTC regulations and another 12 years for violating Comelec rules.
Comelec-7 Regional Director Temie Lambino said that they are not worried about the presence of jamming devices in the region since it would just hamper or block the signal of the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines but will not affect the result of the election.
“Magsasayang lang sila ng panahon,” he said.
If in case the signal of a PCOS machine is jammed, Lambino said they still have the Broadband Global Area Network and the Very Small Aperture Satellite options. They can also resort to manual transmission.
Meanwhile, with the coming May 13 election considered as a critical time for energy supply to be sufficient, the Visayas Electric Company is asking the public to refrain from flying kites on this day, considering the increase number of outages in Cebu so far caused by tangled kites.
According to the records of VECO, kite entanglement cases since the start of the year have been on the rise.
Last March, VECO removed 252 entangled kites in their electrical wires which have caused 18 outages and a combined total of 47 hours of power lost. Last month, VECO removed 236 entangled kites consequently causing 31 outages for a collated 87 hours of power lost.
According to Theresa Sederiosa, corporate communications manager of VECO, most of the entangled-kites they responded to that caused outages were in Cebu City specifically in Talamban, Labangon, and Pardo as well as Talisay city, Mandaue, Consolacion, Liloan, Minglanilla, Naga City and San Fernando.

MCWD: Low water pressure in some areas

CEBU, Philippines - Water consumers in Metro Cebu have to bear low pressure to no water as extremely high temperatures and the absence of rain these past few weeks have decreased the water production of Metropolitan Cebu Water District.
Astrophel Logarta, MCWD Production and Distribution department manager said in a statement that the water supply is expected to normalize when the rainy season starts in June.
Logarta said the water production of MCWD's Jaclupan wellfields dropped by 10,000 cubic meters, or from 30,000 cubic meters to 20,000 cubic meters a day, as the Jaclupan River dried up.
MCWD's Jaclupan facility, which is the water's district's biggest source of water for Metro Cebu serve consumers in some areas in the cities of Talisay, Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu and the municipalities of Consolacion and Liloan.
He said the water pumping level of the Jaclupan facility started to drop at the end of March.
A drop in the water pumping level means the extracted water was more than what was recharged.
This is because the source of water for the recharging of the Jaclupan wellfields is the river.
Water is stored in a catchment basin and is allowed to seep through the ground before it is pumped out for distribution.
The areas in Talisay City that will be experiencing low pressure to no water are upper Lagtang, Lawaan, the upper part of Nonoc, San Isidro, Tabunok and Mojon 2.
In Cebu City, the areas affected are Bulacao, Pardo, Sunrise Village, St. Jude (upper), Holy Cross (back area), Villa Bulsita, upper Bulacao (Sto. Nino), Bontores, Basak, N. Bacalso Ave., Mambaling, Dapdap, Alaska, Alumnos, Riva Ridge Subdivision, Felina Village, Climaco, Tisa, San Jose Village, F. Ramos St., Sikatuna, M. Velez St., Oprra, Capitol Site, Osmeña Blvd., B. Rodriguez, V. Rama Ave., Calamba, Manalili, V. Gullas, Reclamation Area, M.J. Cuenco Ave., Villagonzalo 1 and 2.
In Mandaue, the areas affected are Subangdaku, Tipolo, Guizo, Alang-alang, Umapad, Opao, Looc, Cambaro, Pakna-an, Pagsabungan, Hermag Village and Mantuyong while in Lapu-Lapu, Mactan island, Ibo, Buyong, Buaya, Mactan, Punta Engano, Soong, Maribago will be affected.
Elevated areas of Casili in Consolacion will also be affected as well as areas in Liloan, like Tagaytay, Calero, Mahayahay and upper San Vicente.
The water district has an average daily production of 180,000 cubic meters to serve its over 146,000 service connections.
MCWD advised the public to store water as it is temporarily managing the distribution of the supply to ensure all consumers will be served despite experiencing low pressure to no water at some hours of the day.
It is best to store water during the night, MCWD advised.
According to the Seasonal Climate Outlook of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Central Visayas is among the areas expected to experience below normal rainfall conditions during the month of May.
Rainy season is expected to start during the latter part of May or the early part of June.
Logarta however assured that MCWD's wellfields in Tisa, Lahug, Casili, Consolacion and Liloan are not experiencing any decrease in water production as the sources are underground.

Bets’ backers throng Tuburan Treasurer and Comelec offices

CEBU, Philippines - There was tension for about two hours last Saturday afternoon in the offices of the Municipal Treasurer and the Commission on Elections in Tuburan town after supporters of former mayor and mayoralty candidate Rose Gerona Suezo, and her running mate Daphnie Lagoon, thronged to the said offices.
According to a police report Suezo and her supporters angrily arrived at the municipal treasurer's office to question why they were not informed about the delivery of the official ballots for the May 13 election.
Some of Suezo's supporters reportedly chased Election Officer Gilbert Pepito who immediately ran towards the police station for security.
“Gipangita siya sa mga tawo ni Suezo mao nga diri ni-proceed sa ato area kay ang mga tawo nadungan man nga nato nga nag-demand nga ipa-Comelec control ang lugar. Ato siya gi-secure,” said police station chief Sr. Insp. Florendo Fajardo.
Fajardo admitted that they were even caught off-guard when the ballots arrived without prior notice. He assured that the ballots and the Precinct Count Optical Scan Machines that also arrived yesterday will be secured and well-guarded.
Lagoon denied there was any commotion.
She said that on that day, their supporters were dismayed after learning that Mayor Democrito “Aljun” Diamante will not attend the debate initiated by the Commission on Elections in the said town.
“Pero na-threaten gyud ang among mga supporters sa dihang nahibaw-an namo nga dili mopirma ang mayor sa peace covenant,” said Lagoon.
Lagoon added that with the refusal of Diamante to sign the peace covenant, they suspect that there will be some trouble on election day.
“Nganong mupirma man ko og peace covenant? Dili ko mupirma ana. Sila man ang nagdala og gubot sa Tuburan, dili man ako," said Diamante.
Diamante added that the supporters of Lagoon and Suezo were very rude when they "attacked" the municipal hall, where the election ballots were kept.
Lagoon added that their supporters' fears mounted especially when the election ballots arrived without their knowledge.
“Nganong mahadlok man sila nga naa ra man na ang mga balota ngadto sa munisipyo. Ngano hadlok silang matikasan? Kay ngano? Mao tingale na ilang binuhatan,” said Diamante.
Suezo was not available for comment yesterday.

Ma of cop in alleged duel claims foul play

CEBU, Philippines - The mother of one of the two policemen who allegedly shot each other dead has claimed foul play and called that justice be served for her son.
The National Bureau of Investigation has exhumed last Friday the body of PO1 Rey Gabutan for reautopsy.
Gabutan’s mother, Emma, yesterday said that they are now waiting for the report of the NBI. Although she is morally convinced that there was foul play in her son’s death.
Emma said the result of the earlier ballistic examination conducted by Dr. Nestor Sator, chief of the PNP Crime Laboratory 7, would already suffice foul play in the incident.
“Naglibog gyud ko nganong moingon sila nga draw, di gyud ko motoo (I am confused why they would say that it was a draw. I don’t believe it),” an emotional Emma told The Freeman.
Emma said that they could not pinpoint anybody as suspect and would trust the NBI to find out who was the real culprit and bring him/ her before the court.
“Ikiha gyud, mangita gyud mi sa hustisya, kaboutan sa ako anak anaon lang nila (We will really file charges to seek justice for my son),” Emma said.
Emma cited some findings which could establish foul play in the death of her son and cousin, PO1 Anthony Gonzales.
Gabutan was detailed at the Guadalupe Police Station while Gonzales was assigned in Siquijor Provincial Police Office but they both reside in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.
They were drinking inside the house of PO3 Arnel Palanas, who is assigned in Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Dental Service when the incident happened last March 23.
They were PO2 Lejay Gumandal who is assigned in Bohol Provincial Police Office and Palanas’ reported girlfriend Natalie Apostol.
Gabutan was shot in the right temple, nape, right arm and right chest.
“Sa tangkugo ang igo sa ako anak, kanang upat ka igo, makabawos pa diay? (My son was shot in the nape and was hit four times, would you believe he can return fire?)” asked Emma.
Sator’s autopsy results also show that Gonzales was seated when he was shot in the upper left chest. The bullet hit his aorta and right lung.
Like, Emma, the father of Gonzales, Victorio, also raised the possibility of foul play. Both families of the two policemen are now entrusting to the NBI their quest for justice.

PB commends Dalaguete cops

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board has commended the Dalaguete police chief and seven of his men for a successful buy-bust operation last month that resulted in the arrest of eight suspected drug pushers and users.
Aside from the commendation, Inspector Dexter Basirgo, SPO2 Cleto Pia, PO3 Alan Sanoy, PO3 Noeh Rosales, PO2 Arnel Balansag, PO1 Christopher Romarate, PO1 Ulysses dela Torre, and PO2 Godofredo Glipa will also receive cash incentives from the provincial government.
The resolution sponsored by board member Carmen Meca however did not specify the amount to be given to each of the policemen, which will be charged to the intelligence fund of Acting Governor Agnes Magpale.
The resolution was passed yesterday during the board’s regular session.
“We salute men and women from the PNP and PDEA for their dedication sa ilang trabaho,” Meca said.
Basirgo’s team conducted a buy-bust operation last April 21 in Barangay Tuba, Dalaguete town resulting in the arrest of eight suspected pushers and users and the seizure of assorted firearms and explosives.
Charges for violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act, illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and Comelec gun ban have been filed against Mark Raymund Muñoz, Alvin Gonzaga, and Jumel Paz, among others.

Adam Richman shares his hit list of America’s most amazing eats on TLC

CEBU, Philippines - Adam Richman from the hit series Man vs. Food has shortlisted his favorites for Amazing Eats premiering on TLC every Wednesday, starting May 15 at 9:00 p.m.! Encores every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Over 13 weeks, Adam takes viewers on a culinary journey from coast-to-coast in search of the best of the best in each category - be it the juiciest, meatiest, cheesiest, spiciest, or most comforting dishes. He explores the wonders of pork, seafood, sauces, cheeses, fried food, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, and sausages in all forms – featuring the top five or more eateries with the best preparations of each dish. In each themed 30-minute episode, we embrace it all – from the most massive of meals served at a single table, to the tallest-standing sandwiches in history.
They say “everything’s bigger in Texas” and Adam shows you why as he tests his limits on the 42-inch (1 metre), 30-pound (13 kg) pizza and behemoth bucket-sized two-pound (0.9 kg) glazed donut there. Watch him devour smoked alligator ribs smothered with “goo” in Florida, the “Apocalypse Now” burger (made up of four bacon cheeseburgers topped with pork belly and foie gras) in Maine, and the four-pound (1.8 kg) grilled cheese sandwich filled with 14 different cheeses in Ohio! And vicariously savour devilish dishes with fiery flavour like the ghost chilli-riddled “Pasta from Hell” in Boston or enjoy a mountain of French fries with Utah’s favourite condiment, the Fry Sauce.
America’s best food comes in all shapes and sizes, and in this montage clip show, you get to see them all. Indulge in an out-of-this-world spread unlike any other featuring the most memorable eats that is guaranteed to make your taste buds tingle with excitement.

All Spice and everything nice

CEBU, Philippines - A new addition to one of the metropolis’ thriving gastronomic enclaves shows promise. Cuisine is basically Tex-Mex (Texan-Mexican) with Spanish and Italian selections to complete the magnificent spread of anything that spells good food, hence the name All Spice.
At the helm are two 20-something lads from Leyte who are well-versed in things gastronomic: Chad Anthony Mercado, an alumnus of Le Cordon Bleu in California, USA. He was formerly under the wings of celebrity chef and restaurateur Bobby Flay as Chef Tournant at Mesa Grill in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada; at Ghirardelli Chocolate Company; at Japonais, Sous Chef at Tsunami Asian Bistro, and Line Cook at America Cafe. Francis Ed Saberon, who graduated top of his class at the Academy for International Culinary Arts Cebu was formerly with Beau Rivage Hotel, Line Cook at Stalla and at Terrace Cafe . Taking cues from the specialties they used to whip up in their previous stints, the kitchen stars of All Spice Bistro have prepared a menu that a typical Filipino can take notice, even impress those with fussy palates. Each serving is either good for sharing or enough for a hungry tummy.
Leading the appetizers corner is typically Tex-Mex, Chicken Fajita Quesadilla – sandwiched between a triple stack of crusty homemade flour tortilla are chicken, homemade refried (braised and boiled in chicken stock with cumin, paprika, and other necessary spice staples) three kinds of beans (white, red and kidney beans) & mozzarella cheese topped with sunny-side-up egg. A perfect beer match is Buffalo Chicken Wings bathe in a choice of buffalo mild, atomic hot, sesame Asian zing (top seller) and garlic parmesan sauces, served with either Ranch or Bleu Cheese dip. This should be your default order! The two friends are hands-on and make everything from scratch, including the sauces and tortillas.
I was won over by the thick and creamy bowl of Seafood Chowder that contains all the fresh catch of fish, shrimp, clams and mussels gathered in a crisp bread bowl.
Equally stellar is the hot pan of Paella Valenciana with chorizo, meat & seafood. Also available in the line-up are Marisco (seafood) and Paella Negra that uses squid ink.
Surprisingly light is their Callos a la Madrilena, a traditional Madrid style dish with beef & tripe. The slow-cooked Caldereta de Cordero, a Moorish-Spanish lamb stew with potatoes, carrots & olives, impresses with its homey comfort, savory and rich. The succulent slab of medium-cooked Grilled US Angus Beef atop a bed of pesto mashed potatoes (with a choice of sidings such as coleslaw, fries, mash potatoes and corn), is also packed with flavor which is surprisingly affordable at P280!
Cap the feast with a slice of Vanila in Peaches.
Open daily from 11AM to 1AM, All Spice Bistro welcomes its patrons at the 2nd floor of the edifice, with an al fresco (casual dining) and indoor classy setting replete with a full bar. It’s located across CNT-Guadalupe branch.
Come hungry!

Cebu’s Culinary Heritage

CEBU, Philippines - Preserving history does not just involve maintaining artifacts and landmarks but also by observing traditions. To this day, Cebuanos still recreate what were made by their ancestors centuries ago, specifically the classic local delicacies.
During the upcoming Gabii sa Kabilin, or Night of Heritage, on May 31, various participating sites will include presentations that not only appeal to the eyes but also to one’s sense of taste and smell, as it will also feature the delectable native delicacies of the cities of Mandaue, Talisay, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu.
Aside from cooking demonstrations, tips and techniques passed down through the centuries will likewise be shared with Gabii sa Kabilin guests.
Mandaue City is known for its version of the Filipino rice cake or bibingka. The traditional recipe of the delicacy is usually galapong (milled glutinous rice), coconut milk, margarine, and sugar. However, Mandauehanons give it a twist by using tuba (coconut wine) instead of yeast, adding an alcoholic tinge to the delicacy’s soft texture. Alongside the added ingredient are the buko strips and the rich coco milk lavishly mixed in.
Another original delicacy of the city is the tagaktak rice fritter, which is a triangular net-like snack. The word tagaktak comes from the Cebuano word tagak, meaning “to drop;” its derivative word tagaktak means “continuously dropping.” The name is in reference to the batter falling out from a cracked shell. The main ingredients are ground sticky rice batter with coconut milk and sugar. Its fine and crispy strands resemble those of twisted noodles.
The original taste of Mandaue’s budbod can be distinguished through its juicier coat compared to most budbod. Its moist sweetness is credited to the extra fudge lacing over its chewy sticky rice, which is the main ingredient.
The Mandaue version of the crispy cookie salvaro is made of flour, sugar and coconut milk. This special pastry is usually wrapped in paper to preserve the freshness of each wafer.
Another delicacy known to have originated from Mandaue is the sweet masareal. The mouth-watering treat is made of crushed peanuts mixed with starch and sugar. Little nibbles on the dough leave a lasting flavor as it melts and crumbles in the mouth with each bite. Masa Real in Spanish means “king’s dough,” indeed a fitting name of a ruling delicacy business in the Philippines.
Talisay City also reigns in the food business, with the very popular lechon being dubbed as the best by TIME magazine in its Best of Asia 2009 list. Food guru Anthony Bourdain said on his hit travel-food show “No Reservations” that the roasted pig he tasted was “the best pig ever”. The lechon is famous for its very thin and crispy skin with tasty tender meat. Savor the roasted-to-perfection scrumptious pigs at the Museo de Talisay lechon fair during the Gabii sa Kabilin.
The City of Lapu-Lapu, on the other hand, will have a food fest where Filipino food are served at the Poblacion plaza. Hotels will showcase a wide array of traditional food at affordable prices for guests.
In Cebu City, explore foreign meals with the Cebu City Museum offering global dishes such as Korean, Chinese, and Indian cuisines. Street food like barbeque will also be served at the Plaza Parian, while the nearby Casa Gorordo museum will prepare conveniently packed dinner for the night.
With all the sumptuous dishes and delicacies being offered, the Gabii sa Kabilin is an expedition best taken with an empty stomach. Surely, the experience would not just result to a quenched thirst for more knowledge on Cebuano culinary heritage but also a satisfied tummy.
The featured delicacies is just one aspect of the exciting Gabii sa Kabilin on May 31 when 34 destinations will open their doors to the public from 6 p.m. to midnight to encourage visitors to understand and appreciate these destinations as venues for cultural understanding, fun and dynamic learning.
The Gabii sa Kabilin ticket worth Php 150 is an admission ticket to all destinations, unlimited Gabii sa Kabilin-designated bus rides, and one tartanilla trip within the city’s old district. Admission is free for children aged seven and below. Tickets are available at any of the participating museums.
For more information about Gabii sa Kabilin, please contact (032) 418-7234 loc. 703, or visit www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph or follow @rafiorgph on Twitter. To reserve your tickets, you may also visit www.rafi.org.ph/event/2013-gsk-reserve. (Some photos are by Aldo Nelbert Banaynal)

Medjok Padin scores twinkill in Lapu-Lapu City netfest

CEBU, Philippines - Medjok Padin shone the brightest among the top performers after taking home two championship trophies in the recently-concluded 2013 Lapu-Lapu City Summer Lawn Tennis Tournament at the city's tennis courts.
Padin and Allen Mangubat outlasted the tandem of Jonjie Dieparine and Carlo Dizon to lord it over in the B+ catergory.
Padin then teamed up with Junard "Ahong" Chan in dominating the B- class where they shackled Ken-Ken Tuñacao and Jan-jan Dizon in the finals.
Bobit Solis and Jun Diaz stole part of the limelight after they edged out Roger Veloso and Jigs Sorono to reign supreme in the C+ category.
Mario Villanueva and Jojo Romano completed the winners' circle after they tamed Edwin Tuñacao and Boy Kilantang to rule the C- division.
Aileen Corro Radaza, congressional aspirant of the lone district of Lapu-Lapu City, was on hand to personally award the trophies to the winners.
The games were supervised by tournament director Nick Silawan.
The event was made possible through the support of Haier Phils., Sanyo Phils., Cecile Enterprises, and Fredzon Furniture and Appliance Center.

Badings

A lot of scandals have rocked the sporting world through the years, remember athletics cheats Ben Johnson and Marion Jones and not so long ago, Lance Armstrong? Just recently, another bomb exploded when NBA player Jason Collins, formerly of Washington and Boston came out of the closet and made a stunning announcement that he is gay . What? a 7- footer giant revealing “bading” siya. Collins who played for six teams in 12 seasons, however received a big support with President Barack Obama even praising him for coming out in the open. Being gay in the United States and Europe is no big deal. Some of the celebrities who admitted that they are “pusong mamon” are Elton John (who got married with a male, of course), George Michael, Ricky Martin, Ellen Degeneres and John Travolta who was charged with molesting a male friend. And if you don’t know, Earvin Johnson III the son of Magic Johnson,one of the NBA”s greatest players, revealed as early as age 14 that “bayot siya”. Earvin III better known as EJ, is currently enrolled at New York University taking up Event Management and Design, which also include fashion designing. Move over Mother Rene Salud. Magic Johnson however supports his son and must have said “kung saan ka maligaya na andiyan lang ako”. Ano va yan? wailed Cris Relatado (a.k.a Manang Krisanta) who said “Mader pud diay siya parehas namo”.
Elvis serenades the moms
Speaking of “maders” Elvis and Company will seranade the real mothers (kadtong naa jud matres) on May 18 at Robinsons Fuente. Elvis will be joined by Cebu’s veteran entertainers that include Sam Costanilla and Max “Daloydoy” Andrino, Ate Ging Montesclaros, Jun Villahermoso the Frank Sinatra of Cebu and Chokolet, comedian-magician. The free mini-concert starts at 5pm and is backed by Summit Circle, V12 Radgear, Metrografix and Casa Ilongga. Robinsons’ top honcho Madam Lily Ngochua said she is sure to watch the show together with mall manager Mae Vega, Donabelle Acebuque and marketing officer Avigeail Maningo. Also confirming their attendance are Ben and Naida Yapjoco, Relly and Noemi Mercado, Gavin Bagares and Robinsons Bank personnel led by Joy and Joan.
Masters Trackfest
Looks like it’s all systems go for the Masters Athletics Championship this, after Cebu City Sports Center GM Ricky Ballesteros and Cebu City Sports Commission executive director Brando Velasquez promised their support of this national event which fires off at the CCSC on June 29-30. The Masters is a competition is for athletes 35 and above. The tournament will have 10 track events namely 100m,200m,400m,800m,1,500m,5000m walk ,5000 walk, 10,000m run ,4x100m relay, 4x4m relay and 6 field events, shot put, javelin, discuss throw, long jump and triple jump. Former Olympians Roy Vence and Elma Muros, Sea Games veterans John Lozada, Julio Bayaban, Ernie Candelario, Emerson Obiena, Perla Balauitan, Renato Unso, Satunino Salazar and Manuel Oyao already confirmed their participation according to NCR-Masters and Seniors Athletics Association president Manny Ibay. Noel Diel of IloILo and Manny De Oro of Negros Occidental said they will also be sending their teams. Meanwhile, Atty. Guillermo Iroy executive director of the Philippine Sports Commission has appointed yours truly Masters Athletics Regional Director for Visayas. I’m also organizing the Cebu Masters Athletics Association (CMAA) which will be the organizing committee and will include Brando Velasquez,Audie Marte, Lerma Binaoro, Al Solomon, Raffy Osumo, Precing Capangpangan, Honorato Corpin and Nilo Villadolid. Watch out for further details.

Global FC excited to carry the fight for Phl in AFC tilt

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippines' Global FC is all set to fight for the flag and country in the AFC President’s Cup set to kick off tomorrow at the Cebu City Sports Center.
“We are looking forward to a great game here. It’s our first. It’s going to be tough, but we will be trying our best,” said Global coach Brian Reid in a press conference sponsored by KIA Motors yesterday.
Prior to the presscon, the team also visited the BMW, Peugeot and Kia showrooms for autograph-signing and picture-taking sessions.
The Scotland-native Reid, who had been calling the shots for Global FC only last January, is not worried so much about the team’s cohesiveness, saying most of his wards are already familiar with each other.
For instance, defender Juani Guirado had been playing with the Azkals for sometime already. Some of his Azkals teammates are also hooked up with Global FC including Carli de Murga, Denis Wolf, Jeffrey Christiaens, Jason de Jong and goalkeeper Ed Sacapano.
Two other new foreign players have been inserted to the Global FC the lineup in defender Ben Starosta and Moussa Sagono.
The entire cast are still able to practice together before the battle begins.
On the other hand, Fil-German Patrick Reichelt, whose mom is from Argao, bared that he too is excited and ready to take the challenge given upon him.
Reichelt, along with fellow Azkals Misagh Bahadoran and Jeff Christiaens, are expected to step up their games and get a chance to shine on the international stage.
“I’m 100 percent ready now. My voice does not sound so good yet,but I’m good to play already,” said Reichelt, who just recovered after being downed by flu last week.
Another Cebuano player in Paolo Pascual, also a goalkeeper under Global FC, is just as ready and fit.
Coach Reid said fielding in Pascual will still depend on how the game goes.
Global FC will be playing against Yeedzin of Bhutan for their first match tomorrow.
The other teams competing against Global are Pakistan’s KRL and Kyrgyzstan’s Dordoi Bishkek.

Prime Asia makes it 8-0 in Enervon Partner’s Cup

CEBU, Philippines - The Prime Asia Lending-UV Lancers stretched their unbeaten streak to eight following a 70-40 massacre of Raphael's Café/USJ-R Jaguars in the Enervon CESAFI Partner's Cup 2013 men's basketball tournament last Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.
In the other games, Jan Michael Auditor hit a clutch triple and Arnud Noah completed an all-important three-point play to lift the Gaisano Capital South-UC Webmasters to a hard-earned 84-80 victory over San Marino Tuna/CIT-U Wildcats, while the Cebu Landmasters-USC Warriors again rode on the heroics of Charles Pepito to hang on to a 67-60 win over the Lion Tiger-USPF Panthers.
All of the 14 players fielded in by Prime Asia coach Felix “Donbel” Belano, Jr. scored led my Mico Marquez with 13 points. There was nothing special about the 30-point romp though as Prime Asia pulled it off against the spiritless Raphael's Cafe, which wallowed to its seventh straight defeat.
Earlier, Gaisano could not get off the hook against the gritty San Marino until the last two minutes of the contest.
San Marino was on top by two, 74-76, with still 2:39 left to play, but Auditor sank a booming trey then Noah completed a 3-point play to give Gaisano Capital an 80-76 breather.
Auditor finished with 12 points, but it was Gerald Ampoon who topscored with 14 points for Gaisano Capital, which stayed at solo second place with a 6-2 win-loss record. Vincent Menguito, who gave Gaisano a headache, led the 3-5 San Marino with 24 points.
In the nightcap, Pepito had 11 points to power the Cebu Landmasters to its fifth win in eight starts.
The scores
First game
Prime Asia (70) - Marquez 13, Cabañero 10, Arong 8, Codilla 8, Santillan 7, Escocio 6, Perolino 4, Abad 3, Mendoza 2, Octobre 2, Babia 2, Fajardo 2, Akomo 2, Soliva 1
Raphael's Cafe (40) - Bancale 7, R. Senining 5, Lajato 5, Regalado 4, M. Parker 4, Sanchez 3, Villarosa 3, Silay 3, C. Senining 2, Diaz 2, Cinco 2
Second game
Gaisano Capital-UC (84) - Ampoon 14, Auditor 12, Smith 10, Noah 7, Montilla 7, Quijntao 7, Mangyao 6, Cabrera 6, Alocillo 4, Yburan 4, Tamparong 3, Asis 2, Miranda 1, Misa 1
San Marino (80) - Menguito 24, Brigoli 8, Dimco 7, Eboña 6, Taghoy 6, Taboada 5, Pono 5, Infante 5, Limalima 4, Graf 3, Dela Cerna 3, Bucao 2, Batiquin 2
Third game
Cebu Landmasters (67) - Pepito 11, Ortega 10, Laude 10, Ypil 7, Que 5, Duran 5, Guardiario 4, Romaguera 4, Adlawan 3, Magat 2, Seno 2, Bensig 2, Rabat 2
Lion Tiger (60) - Sedurifa 12, Cavalida 9, Camello 7, Escanilla 5, Pogoy 5, Batucan 4, Ceniza 4, Sollano 4, Abesia 4, Sastrillas 2, Borces 2, Virtucio 2

Double knockout match in CECABA tonight

CEBU, Philippines - The semifinal stage of the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association's 12th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup concludes with an exciting double knockout match tonight at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
The top seeded New Millennium Hardware '95 will square off with Shell '80s in the 7:30 pm opener, while Dewfoam '88 and the First Family Appliance Circle '96 with slug it out in the other sudden-death duel scheduled at 9 pm.
Expect the playing venue to be transformed into a suspense theatre as the four teams will surely fight to the death considering that the winners will advance into the best-of-three championship round that will commence on Thursday.
The second-ranked Class '96 denied No.3 qualifier Shell '80s of an outright finals entry after it scored a 69-66 cliffhanger over the Chester Cokaliong-led squad last Sunday, while Donald Anthony Ting fired 31 points as Class '95 kept its title hunt alive with a 73-55 rout of the already ousted Dimsum Frito 2003.
It was no less a heart-wrenching loss for Class '80s as it led for most of the way aside from drawing an MVP-like performance from top gunner Chester Cokaliong, who charted 22 points despite being held off to only four triples. The streak-shooting league founder and incumbent president went 6-of-7 from the foul line including a pair of pressure-packed free throws that put them on top for the last time, 66-65, with less than a minute left to play.
Joel Chan could have wrapped the match for Shell '80s, but the flashy guard missed a potential game-winning layup.
Compounding the woes of Shell '80s was the burly Shaun Cristopher Wang, who completed a 3-point play off a foul by Edwin Lim to push Class '96 ahead, 68-66, for good. After a failed offensive by Shell '80s, Rex Alinson split his charities to settle the final outcome. Wang topped Class '96 with 15 points followed by Rushmarc Lariosa and Mark Ryan Babor, who scattered 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Cokaliong had been performing par excellence this season, averaging 20-plus points in three semifinal games but his teammates should realize that he couldn't do it all alone. They must step up bigtime at all the time, especially now that there is no room for them to commit mistakes when they collide against a league heavyweight in what could be their last battle for survival tonight.
In their crucial loss to Class '96, Shell '80s drew only 10 points each from Chan and Wilson Yu. The missing factor was Stephen Tan, who was held off to only eight points, a far cry from his 23-point ouput during their win against Dewfoam '88 last Thursday.
Like Shell '80s, Dewfoam '88 is also stuck between a rock and a hard place as it lock up horns with Class '96 capping what could be a CECABA 'Double Thriller' today.
The scores
First game
Class '96 (69) - Wang 15, Lariosa 14, Babor 13, Alinson 11, Go 9, Donayre 5, Renejane 2
Class '80s (66) - Cokaliong 22, Chan 10, Yu 10, S. Tan 8, Z. Tan 7, Cokaliong 4, Lim 3, S. Co 2
Second game
Class '95 (73) - Ting 31, Arjona 14, Yu 12, Gollon 8, Tiu 6, Dy Teves 2
Class 2003 (55) - Uy 16, Cuizon 13, Ciao 10, H. tan 8, Ang 8

LOTTO RESULTS MAY 06, 2013

PCSO GRAND LOTTO MAY 06, 2013 6/55 RESULTS
26-17-23-30-50-28
Jackpot Prize of Php 30 M (minimum)
no winner
winning numbers in any particular order
PCSO MEGALOTTO MAY 06, 2013 6/45 RESULT
33-42-45-36-30-35
Jackpot Prize: Php 12,595,728.60
no winner
numbers in any particular order
PCSO 4D LOTTO MAY 06, 2013 RESULT
Evening Draw 9pm: 3-5-8-9
numbers must be in exact order
SWERTRES LOTTO MAY 06, 2013 RESULTS
Morning 11:00 am: 9-7-5
Afternoon 4:00 pm: 9-5-5
Evening 9:00 pm: 9-3-3
winning combination must be in exact order
Php: 4,500 per P10 play
EZ2 LOTTO RESULTS MAY 06, 2013
Morning 11am: 15-21
Afternoon 4pm: 06-29
Evening 9pm: 14-22
numbers must be in exact order
Php 4,000.00 per P10 play

DTI-Cebu: Prices of school supplies stable

CEBU, Philippines - Early shoppers might want to take advantage of the so far stable prices of school supplies in Cebu about three weeks leading to the opening of classes on June 3, a trade official noted in an interview.
Zaide Bation, chief of consumer welfare and business regulation division of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu Province, told The FREEMAN that they continue to monitor the prices of basic school items in the province and are so far seeing no prominent price increase or decrease.
She said as the new school year draws near, DTI-Cebu is keeping a close watch on the prices of school supplies among business establishments specifically within the months of May and June.
Agency officials visit malls, public markets and educational supply stores to inquire on the prices and then make a report showing the prevailing market price of pad papers, notebooks, ballpens, pencils and crayons, she said.
Bation, however, clarified that their price watch does not include high-end commodities.
“Sa pagkakaron, stable man ang mga presyo kay wa may gi-ingon nga naay shortage sa supply (As of yet, the prices remain stable since there are no reports saying there is any shortage of supply),” she said.
In their first weekly report on the prevailing prices of basic necessities and prime commodities for May, a grade one pad paper with 80 leaves still has a prevailing market price of P9, the same price that the report showed one year ago.
An 80-leaf composition notebook so far costs P13.75 to P15.50 in supermarkets and grocery stores while an 80-leaf spiral notebook is selling at P10.00 to P14.75 depending on the brand.
The prices of other common school items have not also moved to this point with the cheapest pencils pegged at P9.50, ballpens at P5.75 and eight-piece box of crayons at P11.
Traders are not prevented from increasing their prices, however, the DTI official said they will determine the reasonableness of the price hike citing traders to present papers to support their bids.
Bation also said that establishments would normally announce first that they intend to make price hikes prior to their effectivity.
“I doubt pud if naay mupataas pag-maayo sa presyo kay daghan pud raba kaayo’g manindahay (If there would be price increase, I don’t think it will be that much since competition is very alive),” she said.
The DTI in Manila will be issuing suggested retail prices (SRPs) for school supplies ahead of the opening of classes, which DTI-Cebu expects to receive in a few days.
Earlier, trade undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said they will monitor whether the SRPs are reflected in school supplies being sold in the market, adding that retailers have committed not to raise prices until the end of June.
“Anyone found selling above SRP will get a show cause letter to explain why they can’t sell within SRP levels,” she added. “If found to have no justifiable reason, (they) may be charged for overpricing with fine up to maximum of P150,000.”
Consumers are also encouraged to compare the quality of the products by checking the label of school supplies before purchase.
The DTI said labels of school supplies should have the brand name as well as the name and address of the manufacturer.
Labels for pencils should indicate the hardness symbol, while labels of ballpens should identify the tip classification.

CACCI urges members to adopt modern food production methods

CEBU, Philippines - The members of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) are urged to assist their respective governments and local industries to embrace modern and novel food production techniques and the sharing of knowledge across farmers throughout the CACCI area of influence.
This was one of the resolutions made by the group during the recently concluded 27th CACCI Conference held in Cebu.
In a statement, CACCI director-general David Lui said that food security is among the topmost concerns identified within the Asia Pacific region and that proper support from the group is currently being worked out.
In a resolution, CACCI emphasized that in a short paper it is hard to cover such a wide-ranging topic, but sufficed to say that the issue of ensuring food security for 9 billion as expected in 2050 is a massive challenge.
“A challenge that for humanity’s sake must be addressed. If the world is not able to provide the necessary food, then simply many people will starve. Those affected first will not be the developed countries and not the rich,” it said.
The group advocates that governments across the world must allow and encourage human ingenuity to prosper and rise to this challenge of future food security.
“Governments must not prevent countries with supply from trading with countries with demand. Freely operating markets, underpinned by appropriate social policies and without trade distortion, will be the most efficient way to assure human survival,” the resolution said.
According to CACCI, policies related to food security should be based on a strong market based system which provides incentives to producers to increase production and to be able to deliver that to a consumer.
“The trade in commodities must be free from government interference and ensure that food can easily move between production and consumption centers. Trade distortions should also be minimized.”
It said that food security must consider the entire supply chain and allow for improved investment in the infrastructure along the entire process of food production to consumption. Wastage must be minimized.
Technology for increasing the supply of food, CACCI added, should not be inhibited. Consumers should be informed about their food supply and able to choose food produced across a range of production systems.
Similarly, food production should be a valued and desired career choice. Farmers are the most valuable people on earth. They must be able to generate appropriate returns.
CACCI members should encourage their governments to implement unilateral trade reforms, outside of the WTO and FTA’s to encourage improved trade and investment which in turn creates greater opportunities for farmers and consumers.
There are currently over 1 billion people who do not receive enough food to support their daily existence. While the world has enough food to feed everyone, it is not always produced and available in the places where it is most needed.
Accordingly, poor people in least developed and some developing countries are often caught in a vicious trap: they live in rural areas in a subsistence lifestyle where their time is consumed in a traditional process of procuring food and shelter.
Often they may struggle to meet their daily needs, particularly in times of extreme weather such as floods and drought. Often they will produce little more than their own needs but if they have a surplus, may be able to take it to the local market to sell for money that can be used to advance themselves.
Without money, however, these farmers cannot afford modern crop and livestock husbandry systems such as those in developed countries. This means that production is low, but with further inputs could be improved.

Buri weaving generates income for Bogo locals

CEBU, Philippines - Given the institutionalization of their organization and the skills development trainings conducted, local weavers of the eastern part of Bogo City seem to enjoy the strong market demand for buri hats and bags, thus providing them with a good source of additional income.
Weaving has been the livelihood among plain housewives and women living in the coastal and farming barangays in Bogo City.
They earn an extra amount of income for such living, adding to the earnings of their husbands who are mostly lowland farmers and fishermen.
The local government of the city thought of institutionalizing an association for these weavers for a more systematized production.
Last June 2009, Weavers of Bogo City United for Improvement and Livelihood Development (WE BUILD) was established.
At present, there are 32 members of WE BUILD with only one male member.
Weavers of WE BUILD reside in the eastern part of Bogo City particularly those barangays in Odlot, Marangog, and Siocon.
The local organization is headed by Agnes VIllarin with Evelyn Luaton as secretary, Maribel Barte as treasurer and Maricar Dinsay as marketing officer.
With P50,000 as seed money provided by the local government as funding assistance, the group started to produce buri bags. However, the products seemed to be unprofitable for the organization due to less demand.
They then diverted to weaving of buri hats and have since then enjoyed good profit from it for over a year.
Dinsay said they have found a stable market demand for the buri hats with an average order of 1,000 pieces every month. She added that the figures could even reach to 2,000 to 3,000 pieces during peak seasons especially in Sinulog Festival.
WE BUILD still produces buri bags but upon order basis. Dinsay cited that they receive orders for buri bags which are usually used as giveaways. Orders range from five pieces during lean season and 50 pieces during peak season.
They sell the buri hat at P12 to the organization while the bags are priced at P25 to P100.
The association then sells the finished products to the network of clients and buyers referred by the local government and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - 7. Most of their buyers come from Cebu City, Negros and Bacolod.
Barte said that a member could weave five pieces of buri hats in a day. She added that a weaver could finish one piece of the product in two hours.
She said that such livelihood does not need a huge capital since a bunch of buri leaves only costs between P5 to P10.
The processing of raw materials, however, requires labor and time since they have to boil the buri leaves, dry, wash and rinse them before they would be able to strip and dye them.
Although some members do not devote strong commitment to the organization, Luaton expressed gratitude for the establishment of the association since they are being trained to be more productive in quality given the volume of orders from the market.
DTI-7 regularly conducts enterprise development seminar and capacity building workshops for the members. Last year, the trade department conducted a series of three trainings. They are also planning to have another skills enhancement training for WE BUILD members within this month.
The buri hats and bags of the organization are considered to be part of the One Town One Product for the northern city. They are displayed during trade fairs and showcased during the festival in Bogo.
Currently, WE BUILD has an ongoing application for the accreditation of the group as a livelihood association from the Department of Labor and Employment, hopefully to be approved next month.