Cebu to feature ship building in Pre-SONA event this afternoon
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, July 25 (PIA) -- Before the 2nd State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno S. Aquino III scheduled at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon, live remote points across the country including Cebu will feature their respective strength that made a huge difference in the lives of the community in a PRE-SONA Event starting at 2:00 in the afternoon.
For Cebu, ship building was identified as one of its major strengths as the province particularly the Municipality of Balamban is home to the 4th largest ship builder in the world --- the Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Cebu, Incorporated (THICI).
The pre-SONA event will be on live telecast over NBN 4 while in Cebu, the activity will be held at the Plaza Sugbo fronting Cebu City Hall to capture the Magellan’s Cross as back drop.
Two resource persons will be featured for Cebu, a town official of Balamban and a woman worker of THICI as the beneficiary of the featured strength. Both resource persons will be given three minutes each to talk on the featured strength and the benefits gain.
Balamban Councilor Dave John Karamihan will cite how the THICI has uplifted the quality of lives among the rural folks by providing jobs and how economic activity increased since the company began its operations in 1994.
Likewise, Karamihan will is also expected to touch on how their local government unit (LGU) is adopting the essence of efficiency and transparency in processing business permits to ensure that their town is conducive to investors.
Yuge Cuizon, a lead man of THICI will also talk on how she was given the chance to work in a company that sees men and women equal in job opportunities. Before her promotion as lead man, Cuizon used to be a welder, a job primarily handled by men.
Cebu’s featured strength will not only focus on the benefits gain by the LGU but will also place emphasis on how ship building has contributed much to the national economy through revenues generated.
The pre-SONA event is undertaken by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) through the Philippine Information Agency on the ground. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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Sogod town holds 1st triathlon
By: Aileen S. Lariba
SOGOD, Cebu, July 25 (PIA) -- The municipality of Sogod in Cebu and Aquasports department of Alegre Beach resort launched its 1st Triathlon Series on the eve of the town’s Panag Sogod Festival recently.
Seventy seven (77) swimmers and triathlon buffs from Bohol, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Danao City, Mandaue City and Cebu City gathered at the beach resort for the 1.5 km swim at the Alegre’s marine sanctuary.
From the swim, the participants rode on their bikes for the 40 km bike trail to Tabogon town where each biker has to make four loops and off to the 10 km run going back to Sogod for the finish line.
Sogod mayor Moonyeen Durano, a runner herself said, she chose the triathlon event to mark her term and the town’s fiesta celebration.
“It is a means to advocate the call for healthy living and preservation of nature,” the mayor said.
The Aquasports Department of Alegre Beach Resort and Spa headed by Marine Biologist, Geraldine Sola has been the town’s partner in setting up marine sanctuaries, sports development and nature conservation, Durano added.
“I use to run a lot and as much as my schedule allows I try to stay fit in a gym for healthy living. I want to advocate that not just to my people in Sogod but to everyone, and what better way to start emphasize such but through a triathlon with a partner such as Alegre Beach Resort, that also advocates preservation of nature including one’s lifestyle” the mayor explained.
Aquasports manager and marine biologist Gerrie Sola on the other hand noted that Alegre supports such activity to advocate the value of clean water; promotes health and fun and at the same time, they get a chance to glimpse life underwater.
“With this, we hope that our call for environmental preservation can be echoed through initiating activities such as a triathlon,” Sola said.
“Since this is the 1st then definitely there is going to be a second and a third and so forth with bigger prizes to come” said Durano in her closing message. (PIA-7/mbcn with reports from Aileen S. Lariba/DSWD-7)
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KALAHI-CIDSS to resume in Bohol, Siquijor
By: Kaye Pantinople
CEBU CITY, July 25 (PIA) -- Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) to resume another round of implementation in the provinces of Bohol and Siquijor.
Spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), KALAHI-CIDSS launches its “Makamasang Tugon” approach to reduce poverty in Bohol and Siquijor on July 14 and 15, respectively.
Bohol governor Edgardo Chatto and the municipal mayors, vice mayors, and municipal representatives from the 12 identified municipal beneficiaries in Bohol and two (2) in Siquijor expressed their full support by participating in the project launching activity held separately at Talibon Cultural Center and at Capitol Square in Siquijor.
In his message, governor Chatto expressed his full support and appreciation to the government's program and DSWD’s efforts to address the widening gap of the rich and poor sectors in the community.
He also applauded DSWD’s initiative to invite all barangay chairmen from the participating barangays in the project launching activity and challenged them to empower communities and create developmental undertakings suitable to the needs of the citizens.
The project launching activity in Bohol and Siquijor highlighted the Awarding of Notice to Proceed and the Commitment Signing Ceremony.
The 'Awarding of Notice to Proceed' urges the municipalities to begin implementing the KALAHI-CIDSS process as soon as members of their Municipal Coordinating Team completed the required technical training.
The 'Commitment Signing Ceremony' on the other hand asks all provincial and municipal leaders to sign a commitment to fully support the program until its projected completion in June 2012.
To recall, KALAHI-CIDSS was first established in 2003 and has already adopted 4,583 barangays in 200 towns.(PIA-7/mbcn/hfg & DSWD-7)
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NGO provides P1.4M educl assistance to 100 voc-tech students of Don Bosco
By: Minerva BC Newman
CEBU, July 25 (PIA) -- The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) will provide education assistance worth P1.4M to 100 vocational technical students of the Don Bosco Training and Youth Center-Pasil over the next five years starting this year.
After signing a Memorandum of Agreement with the Don Bosco Training and Youth Center-Pasil, RAFI will provide for the one-year training cost of 10 voc-tech students every year for five years in the amount of Php 22,565 per student.
RAFI will also shoulder the six-month training cost of 10 garment technology students every year for five years in the amount of Php 6,700 per student.
Don Bosco administrator Fr. Abundio Bacatan said, this assistance will have an immediate and long-term impact. This can go a long way because it will help keep the center going and will help the entire community as well.
According to Fr. Bacatan, Don Bosco Training and Youth Center-Pasil is a training and oratory center for the children and youth from the surrounding depressed communities in Pasil.
Through grants, sponsorships, and donations from various benefactors and donors, the center has helped over 1,500 individuals and over 500 families from the surrounding communities.
Don Bosco’s educational assistance program also caters to academically deserving children and youth from impoverished families and has provide technical and academic trainings to children and youth in the barangays of Ermita, Sawang Calero, and Mambaling in Cebu City.
RAFI provided Don Bosco the educational assistance through its grants program since it was established in 1967.
Grants program is one of the capabilities in RAFI’s comprehensive approach to elevating lives and communities. (PIA-7/mbcn & RAFI-Nancy R. Cudis)
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Over 650 folks in Ronda town plant native trees to help green Cebu
By: Minerva BC Newman
CEBU, July 24 (PIA) -- Some 650 folks from Ronda, Cebu braved the early morning cold winds to run and plant native tree species in their town during the recent Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines in support to the National Greening Program of the Aquino government.
Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco III, municipal officials and employees, teachers, parents, students, and volunteer-professionals came in green shirts.
They gathered at the town hall at 5 a.m. and ran to the planting site in Barangay Butong to plant some 3,200 native tree species and fruit tree seedlings.
“We want to contribute to the sequestration of carbon dioxide by developing forests in this part of the country and promote a healthier environment for the next generation,” said the town agricultural officer Lilibeth Montano.
Montano added that they collaborated with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Cebu Provincial Government to develop real forests.
The Municipality of Ronda will continue to coordinate with RAFI in monitoring the planted native tree seedlings to ensure that they develop into vibrant forests, Mayor Blanco said.
At the same time, the municipality will continue to support the Provincial Government’s greening efforts by executing the town’s solid waste management system, Blanco added.
The Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines is an initiative under the GREENIN Philippines (Generation REdemption and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines ) Program of RAFI.
The program’s strategies and approaches are holistic, focusing more on tree- growing and post-planting activities to ensure the survival of the native trees planted and the growth of vibrant forests. (PIA-7/mbcn & RAFI-Nancy R. Cudis)
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RAFI’s micro-finance promotes values of credit, savings among countryside women
By: Minerva BC Newman
CEBU, July 24 (PIA) -- Thirty-six clients of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) micro-finance program received Loyalty Awards in recognition of their support in promoting the values of credit and savings at the countryside.
Micro-finance is a program under the Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship focus area of RAFI that provides financial resources and know-how to women micro-entrepreneurs to nurture financial independence and entrepreneurship.
RAFI Micro-finance executive director, Maria Theresa Catipay said in a news release that RAFI recognized loyal clients who have been members of the program for five to six years now.
CAB Bogo president, Milagros Repuerto organized this year’s CAB event in coordination with RAFI Micro-finance Bogo branch manager Jacob Tanza, to continuously promote client retention and outreach, the release read.
The RAFI Micro-finance branch in Bogo has been operating since August 2005 and is currently serving 700 women micro-entrepreneurs in the municipalities of Medellin , Daanbantayan, San Remegio, Sogod, Tabogon, Borbon, and Bogo.
Over 420 clients attended the Client Advisory Board (CAB) on July 2 at the Don Celestino Martines Sports Complex in Taytayan, Bogo, Cebu to join in the celebration of the awardees.
It is an event where the successful “micro-financiers” get to meet, gather, and induct into office the newly-elected CAB officers.
Catipay added, this is also the time that they get to enjoy various activities such as the Search for the Matron Queen of RAFI Micro-finance Bogo, dance showdown contest and raffle promo.
Elvira Pantaleon of Medellin was crowned the Matron Queen award while the Gibitngil Women’s Group got the Best Crowd award and the Challenger Group, the Best Uniform awards. The Magmauswagon group on the other hand won dance showdown.
For the raffle promos, the fourth prize of P1,000 worth of kitchenware went to Alma Conde while the third prize of one sack of rice to Fleurdeliza Pantaleon.
The second prize of an Orocan cabinet went to Leonida Dagoy, and the grand prize of 21” Sanyo TV to Babilyn Bahayan. There were also 25 clients who got P250 worth of groceries. (PIA-7/mbcn & RAFI/ Haidee Emmie K. Palapar )
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Mayor says no new typhoid cases reported in Alegria
By Eli C. Dalumpines
By Eli C. Dalumpines
CEBU CITY, July 23 (PIA) – The situation in the southern Cebu town of Alegria has calmed down with no new cases of typhoid fever being reported as of yesterday.
Alegria Mayor Emelita Guisadio, in a radio interview, said she has not received reports from their Municipal Health Office (MHO) about new cases of typhoid fever. There are also no new admissions in their local hospital or in the hospitals in the neighboring towns, Guisadio added.
Guisadio informed that her medical staff has set up a free clinic in Barangay Valencia, one of the affected barangays, to provide medical care to residents who show signs of illness.
She confirmed though that one of the victims, Letecia Guardiario, who was brought to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City died of typhoid on Wednesday.
But she refused to confirm that typhoid fever was the cause of death of the other victim, a 64-year old man, who was reported to have been declared dead on arrival at the Velez Hospital here saying she has yet to check on the patient’s record at the Reinhard Wirtgen Memorial Hospital in Alegria where he was said to have been admitted earlier.
According to Guisadio, after the outbreak they have intensified the chlorination of all their water sources, including those that are privately-owned, to stop the spread of the typhoid-causing bacteria.
She also said they are planning to take over the operation of all the town’s water sources to make sure that the supply of community water is really safe.
She also said they are planning to take over the operation of all the town’s water sources to make sure that the supply of community water is really safe.
She admitted though that coming up with a single water source for the whole town may not be possible. Considering the town’s vast land area, a lot of money would be spent in installing pipes before the water reached to the different barangays, she noted.
Meanwhile, Alegria Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Samson dela Pena, informed that seven patients have already been discharged from the Badian District Hospital since yesterday morning.
At the height of the outbreak, 11 people have been admitted in the said hospital for fever, according to dela Pena. (FCR/ECD/PIA 7-Cebu)
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No ban for Saudi Arabia, POEA clarifies
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, July 23 (PIA) -- Amid fears that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia are at risk of losing their jobs due to the Saudization Policy, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) here clarified that there is no ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia.
“We continue to process documents for Filipino workers to be deployed abroad including Saudi Arabia,” Fenita Berdon, the information officer of POEA-7 said.
Berdon said no official advice has been given that deployment to Saudi Arabia is banned due to fears on the Saudization policy issue.
A total ban however, exists in countries such as Iran, Libya, Afghanistan and Yemen which means there is absolutely no deployment of Filipino workers to said war-torn nations, Berdon stressed.
Deployment of domestic helpers to Saudi Arabia (SA) is also discouraged as the Philippine Government through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) stands pat on its policy that Filipino domestic helpers should be paid not lower than US $400 monthly, this is learned.
DOLE - 7 Acting Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga said the Ministry of Labor in SA has requested that the salary be lower than US $400 but which government firmly refused as it has to also protect the rights of our OFWs.
“Unskilled workers such as domestic helpers are vulnerable to maltreatment and sexual abuses that is why we need to protect them starting with their salary,” Sarcauga said.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the number one destination for our OFWs, based on the data of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
OWWA-7 Regional Director Wilfreda Misterio said that their office recorded 13,765 OFW-members in the region deployed to SA and that 75 percent come from Cebu followed by Bohol, Negros Oriental then lastly, Siquijor.
Also making it to the top 10 work destinations are United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Singapore,Canada, Kuwait, US and China, Indonesia, South Korea and Norway. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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DSWD-7 distributes cash, rice to fire victims
by: Hazel F. Gloria & Jaybee Binghay
CEBU CITY, July 23 (PIA) --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Field Office-7 with conressman Tomas Osmeña and his wife Cebu City Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña distributed cash assistance amounting to P459 thousand pesos to the 227 fire victims of the recent fires that ravaged Brgys. Mambaling and Tejero in Cebu City.
In Tejero alone, at least 110 houses were totally burned and three others were partially damaged aside from the 91 families who were identified as house sharers or renters who lost their houses after a two hour blaze.
In a similar incident, another 5 houses were totally burned by the fire that hit Barangay Mambaling. Majority of which were shanties made of light materials. Two other houses were partially damaged with 16 house sharers and renters.
In Tejero. house sharers and renters got P500.00 each as financial assistance. Owners of the destroyed houses received P3,000.00 while damaged houses were given P2,000.00 from the representative’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
In the South District, families who were victims of the fire particularly in Bry. Mambaling who totally lost their houses received P10,000.00 from the congressman through DSWD-7 while those whose dwellings were partially damaged received P5,000.00 each. Meanwhile, renters were given P1,000.00 each.
During the distribution, the congressman with her wife Margot also gave sacks of rice and conducted an ocular inspection in the fire site as well as talked with the community’s leaders about their security of tenure considering that some of the lots are privately owned.
Osmena further assured the residents to help find ways to re-build their structures the Bayanihan way with the help of the benevolent GOs and NGO partners.
Also present during the distribution were DSWD-7 regional director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre and her staff, brgy. officials and local social workers both from DSWD-7 and DSWS in Cebu City.(PIA-7/mbcn/hfg& jb)
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DOST, CTU lead 1st Farmer’s Field Day in Cebu
by: Maryknoll B. Lague and Kristina Maries Ocio
CEBU CITY, July 23 (PIA) --The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in partnership with the Cebu Technological University and other government agencies hosted the first Farmer’s Field day in Cebu recently at Barangay Caurasan, Carmen with about 90 participants from local government agencies, CTU academe and beneficiaries.
The activity is part of the DOST-Philippine council for Agriculture, Forestry and National Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) program that aims to encourage small-scale farmers and their families to use the most of their resources life farm lands and affordable seedlings to improve their production.
A total of 41 farmer-beneficiaries with their families were able to benefit from the various services offered during the activity.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Abaca intercropped products with some other root crops like sweet potato “camote” and “gabi”.
The program STBF on Abaca Intercropping was formally launched on September 1, 2009 through planting the Abaca seedlings that is already seen in one hectare land in the Barangay Caurasan.
This project is being assisted by the technical experts from FIDA-7, and with the help of the Magsasaka Siyentista Tirso Andales and members of NAMACO in maintaining and cleaning the fields.
Farmers information implementing partners were the LGUs of Danao, Borbon, Sugod and Catmon.
Other agencies that participated were Central Visayas Consortion for Integrated Regional Research and Development and Municipality of Carmen.(PIA-7/mbcn/mbl/kmo-CTU)
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DSWD, NSO extend free birth registration for Pantawid Pamilya kids
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 22 (PIA) The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) and National Statistics Office (NSO) have extended the free birth registration for the children of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) until July 31, this year.
The NSO issued a memorandum circular directing the provincial statistics officers and local civil registrars to continue accepting free birth registration up to the end of July in support of the program.
The memo covers timely or delayed birth registration children of indigent parents, those enrolling in public schools, public school students who have no birth certificates, and all other beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya.
Pantawid Pamilya is a poverty reduction strategy of the government that aims to provide conditional cash grants to extremely poor household with children 0-14 years old to augment their immediate needs particularly along health, nutrition and education.
The grants include P500 a month per household for health and food, and P300 a month per child for a maximum of three children for their educational expenses.
Since the program started in 2009, it was discovered that some children of 4Ps beneficiaries do not have birth certificates, thus some were disqualified due to insufficient supporting documents such as birth certificate.
The number of beneficiaries in Central Visayas has risen from less than 50,000 last year to 148,000 in 2011 with 58, 689 recipients from Cebu Province, followed by Negros Oriental with over 40,000, and Bohol with more than 28,000 impoverished families. Siquijor has 1,989 household-beneficiaries. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
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Filipinos urged to vote for PPUR as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature
by Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, July 22 (PIA) -- A show of patriotism is needed as Filipinos are urged to show their love for their country by voting for the Philippine’s lone entry to the New 7 Wonders of Nature --- thePuerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR).
The country is rooting for the PPUR to make it to the top list as currently, it is in the top 28 at the end of the second of three phases of the voting period. The global competition is expected to draw billion votes worldwide.
Votes can be done through online or through text as the government undertakes an aggressive campaign to ensure the nation’s bet makes it to the New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN).
For text or SMS voting, one can text the keywords PPUR, PPUR7, and/or PPUR15 to 2861 (for Sun, Globe and Smart networks). The keyword will determine the number of votes you cast, which varies from one to 15 votes. Rates range from P2.00 to P30.00, depending on the number of votes cast and the network used, this is said.
The voting period for SMS or text ends on September 25, this year.
For online voting, one can directly access the addresswww.new7wonders.com/community/en/new7wonders/news7wonders_of_nature/voting and following the simple five step process, which requires an e-mail address. Rach e-mail address is given one chance to vote seven nominees at once.
Online voting is allowed even right before the official declaration of the N7WN slated on November 11 at 7:00 p.m., this is learned.
The N7WN started with 441 entries representing 220 countries. Millions voted to narrow the nominees to 77, which the list was further tapered to 28 finalists, including the PPUR, in the third and final phase.
The PPUR is a protected area, a full mountain-to-sea ecosystem, and is a heritage site. The global competition is tight as it is pitied against the Amazon Rainforest of South America; the Dead Seaof the Middle East; the Grand Canyon in Colorado, USA; and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
Punta Princesa Mayor Eduard Hagedorn meanwhile, will be in Cebu tomorrow to solicit the votes of the Cebuanos and will show a presentation of the PPUR at 5:00 p.m. at the Radisson Blu Hotel. The activity to be attended by media is in coordination with the Department of Tourism in Region 6.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - 7 is also requesting all government agencies to join in the simultaneous Regional Launch for the Vote on the PPUR on Monday at 8:00 in the morning during the respective Flag Raising Ceremony. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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DENR-7 creates river basins management
By: Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, July 23(PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) forged a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) with 32 institutions representing the national government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, religious group, and other stakeholders for the organization of the Central Cebu River Basins Management Council (CCRBM).
“This partnership with local executives of Cebu , national government agencies, and other stakeholders is proof that the DENR is serious and relentless in the pursuit of our mandate for an integrated watershed management as a national strategy, and we are committed to extend the necessary assistance to those who will help us implement it,” Dichoso said.
Dichoso said that the people of Cebu recognized the urgency to satisfy the various accessibility and water quality that influence the Cebuano’s health, social welfare, and economic progress.
Dichoso explained that potential water for domestic, industrial and agricultural use is fast becoming scarce with evident increase in salinity in the highly populated urban aquifers in the lowland areas.
It adds to the present state of Central Cebu ’s river-basins. The memo of cooperation calls for the immediate rehabilitation, protection and conservation of the river basins.
It also wants to improve the water yield capacities of its aquifers and rivers to ensure sustainable water supply for domestic, agricultural and industrial use.
The MOC adds that “the process of and Integrated Water Resources Management promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources.
The cooperation also establishes the Central Cebu River Basins Management Council (CCRBMC) to serve as a coordinative, advisory and management body for the Central Cebu River Basins.
It shall respect the mandates and authorities of the respective government entities, inherent in their creation.
It also adheres to the Integrated Watershed and Ecosystems Resource Management (IWERM) as an overarching strategy to environment and natural resources management.
It adapts to the Integrated River Basin Management, Integrated Watershed and Ecosystems Management (IWERM) and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) as approaches to development.
“We will seek the endorsement of the Regional Development Council-7 for support and in order to strengthen the organization also,” Dichoso said.
The DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso leads the signing of the MOC with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, Toledo City Mayor Aurelio Espinosa, Danao City Mayor Ramon Durano, Jr.
Local government units of Asturias Mayor Alan Adlawan, Balamban Mayor Ace Stefan Binghay, Compostela Officer-in-Charge and Department of Interior and Local Government-7 Regional Director Pedro Noval, Jr., Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado, Liloan Mayor Vincent Duke Frasco also inked the cooperation.
National government agencies that also signed the MOC included the Metro Cebu Water District General Manager Armando Paredes; DA-7 regional executive director Leo Cañeda; DOH-7 regional director Susana Madarieta; DPWH-7 regional director Pedro Herrera Jr.; TESDA-7 regional director Rosanna Urdaneta; NIA-7 regional director Diosdado Rosales; BFAR-7 Andres Bojos; and DOF- Atty. Cesar Olaer.
Non-government organizations included William Granert of Soil and Water Conservation Foundation Inc.; Jose Gapas of Mag-uugmad Foundation; Renato de Rueda of Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation; Rafael Lopa of Philippine Business for Social Progress; Joy Caceres of Environmental Legal Assistance Center; Evelyn Castro of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.; Fe Walag of University of San Carlos-Water Resources Center; Fr. Mar Alingasa; Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water Executive Director Socorro Atega; and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Samuel Chioson. (PIA-7/mbcn/hfg & DENR-7)