ARE the low health care facilities utilization—hospital bed capacity and isolation centers—and minimal coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in densely populated areas, the only gauge and justification for our local officials to claim that the situation is under control and manageable despite increasing number of cases daily? I pose this question because these are the justifications […]
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Gwen bans export of hogs for 6 months
GOV. Gwendolyn Garcia has imposed a six-month moratorium on the export of live hogs to other areas in the country. On Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, Garcia issued Executive Order (EO) 8 prohibiting live hogs from being sold outside Cebu Province to protect the local P11 billion livestock industry from the ravages of the African swine […]
Bidding for BRT civil works ‘to be finished’ in February
CIVIL works on the 39.88-kilometer Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will begin in the first week of April this year. Cebu City Councilor James Anthony Cuenco, committee on transportation chairman, said the bidding for the undertaking of the civil works is expected to be done in February with the awarding of the contract taking place […]
PH travel ban on 35 countries with new variants to end Jan. 31
AS THE end of the travel ban on arriving foreigners from 36 areas affected by new and more contagious variants of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) nears, around 1,200 passengers have arrived at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) from these areas with travel restrictions. GMR Megawide, MCIA’s operator, said all the passengers were returning overseas […]
Local leaders urged not to be complacent
ALTHOUGH Cebu is better prepared now to deal with a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, local officials are urged not to be complacent. This was University of the Philippines (UP) assistant professor and Octa Research member Ranjit Rye’s reaction to the negative feedback the group has received from local officials, including Gov. Gwendolyn […]
Council approves noise ban from Monday to Saturday
THE Cebu City Council has amended the Anti-Noise Ordinance to include the ban on the use of karaoke machines or other items that cause loud noises in residential areas during weekdays and Saturdays while the city is in a state of public health emergency. The council approved the amendment to City Ordinance 309 on Wednesday, […]
Only 55 Covid-19 patients in school isolation unit
DESPITE the rise in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases, only 20 percent of Mandaue City’s isolation facility is being used. Dr. Ligaya Lakambini Dargantes, head of patient care and management of the city’s Emergency Operation Center, said she is referring to the isolation unit at the Mandaue City Central School. She said […]
Benefits: Learning the guitar during the lockdown
On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus pandemic. The financial markets plummeted, driving the rest of the world into fear and uncertainty. Early on, people learned to cope in their own little ways: the slew of K-Dramas on Netflix, the TikTok hype with everybody dancing to some meme beat, the […]
Eugenio: Prepare to shape your destiny
In the study of Chinese Metaphysics, there are three factors which can influence human success or failure. Each of these factors contributes one-third of a whole in the likelihood of one’s destiny manifesting a certain way. Bazi or “heaven luck” is considered to be predetermined or set in stone, yet this destiny can still be […]
Solon: Are you still on track with your health goals?
If you’re a normal person, you probably put in a New Year’s resolution that has something to do with health. A lot of us start out guns blazing with that goal, and fizzle out somewhere in the third week of January. Are we still on track with our health goals? If you are, then good […]
Palmares-Moises: How can I say sorry?
M: Tina eloped with her boyfriend last year. She’s now eight months pregnant. Her mom died of Covid-19 last November. Tina can’t forgive herself how she hurt her mom. She was not able to ask for her forgiveness before she died. How can she heal? In time, through prayers, and asking for forgiveness from the […]
SC acquits Sibonga mayor of graft
The Supreme Court First Division has acquitted Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for receiving a P17,512 Philhealth honorarium in 2015. It also reversed and set aside the May 17, 2019 decision of the Sandiganbayan that found Bacaltos guilty. The SC decision was promulgated on July 28, 2020, […]
Gwen shrugs off OCTA research group’s warning
CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has shrugged off the serious concern aired by an independent research group on the trend of increasing Covid-19 cases in the province. In a press conference on Jan. 29, 2021, Garcia said she was more concerned about Cebu’s economy. “I wonder why Dr. Leachon does not look at other cities that […]
Highest cases logged in 6 months
CEBU City’s daily Covid-19 cases made a return to the three-digit level Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, when 103 new cases were recorded, the highest daily new case count recorded in six months. This constitutes a 7.74 percent positivity rate out of the 1,304 individuals tested on Jan. 27. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC), however, emphasized […]
Unstable ground hinders search, retrieval efforts
MORE than a month after a deadly landslide hit the Carmen Pit of Carmen Copper Corp. in Toledo City, authorities have yet to recover the bodies of six missing workers. Biga Barangay Captain Pedro Sepada, Jr. on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, said the search and retrieval operations are challenging because the ground remains unstable and […]
Cebu CHD to set up appointment system
THE Cebu City Health Department (CHD) will soon implement an appointment system for all transactions to ensure physical distancing. CHD officer-in-charge Jeffrey Ibones on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, said this will prevent people from flocking to their office. He was reacting to a photo sent to SunStar Cebu page, which showed a crowd gathered at […]
DOH 7 launches ‘Chikiting Ligtas’ in Consolacion
TO ADDRESS the drop of immunization coverage in Central Visayas, the Department of Health (DOH) 7 launched the “Chikiting Ligtas” Measles, Rubella, Oral Polio Vaccine Supplemental Immunization Activity at the Consolacion Covered Court on Jan. 29, 2021. Phase two of the supplemental immunization activity will be on Feb. 1 to 28. Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, […]
February 6 declared holiday in Consolacion
A SPECIAL non-working holiday will be observed in Consolacion on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in commemoration of the town’s 101st founding anniversary. Consolacion Mayor Joannes Alegado said the special non-working holiday in his town was made possible after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 1082. But even though they have scheduled activities in line with […]
City Council to revert to online sessions
THE Cebu City Council will temporarily go back to holding virtual sessions four months after it resumed its physical sessions held at the session hall in the Legislative Building of Cebu City Hall. Vice Mayor Michael Rama said the Council will have the regular session on Feb. 3, 2021 via Zoom. This, after the number […]
Cebu a priority area in Australia’s vaccine aid
AUSTRALIA Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson has assured that Cebu is one of the priority areas in the Philippines for the 500 million Australian dollars (AUD) in aid his country has committed in three years to support access to safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines for the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Robinson reiterated the strong […]