Cebu Businesses Explore Deeper B2B Ties with Ukraine

-

December 12, 2025

The 12th Globe Media Excellence Awards (GMEA@12) recognized 15 journalists and digital storytellers whose work brought important community issues to wider public attention and showed how technology and local initiatives influence daily life across the regions.

Guided by the theme “#DigitallyForward: One Barangay at a Time,” this year’s program centered on the role of regional media in amplifying stories on expanding access to technology, helping families reach their aspirations, and contributing to national development.

“We honor journalists and creators who capture how digital tools open doors for families, workers, and communities,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer. “The rapid move into digital spaces shows how ready Filipinos are to embrace change. Through GMEA@12, we reaffirm our commitment to bringing technology closer to every home so people can pursue new paths and strengthen the bonds that drive progress.”

The GMEA@12 winners are:

INTEGRATED NEWS CATEGORY

Radio News Report of the Year
First place went to John Paul Hervas of Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo, who reported on DTI’s assistance to the online businesses of Guimaras MSMEs. Rowena Capistrano of DYRF 1215 Cebu placed second for a story on barangay service delivery. Sheila Gravinez of DYMR Radyo Pilipinas Cebu took the third spot for a feature on farmers shifting to digital selling.

TV News Report of the Year
Jaira Mae Mondez-Alis of PTV Davao won first and second place for a feature on a DICT livelihood beneficiary and a report on Davao City’s aerial patrol effort, respectively. Queenie Grace Joligon of MyTV Cebu placed third for covering an invention developed from waste materials.

Online News Report of the Year
Morexette Marie Erram of CDN Digital topped the category with a report on Cebu City’s flooding concerns and also ranked third for another flooding-related piece. Jonnavie Villa of Cebu’s The Freeman placed second for a story on teacher migration.

Photo of the Year
Alan Tangcawan of MyTV Cebu’s images of flood aftermath and monsoon impact placed first and second place, respectively. Ralph Lawrence Llemit of SunStar Davao earned third for a portrait of a barefoot father and daughter walking through rain and flood.

DIGITAL STORYTELLING CATEGORY

Best Blog Post
Mars Mosqueda Jr. of BusinessNews.ph (Cebu) won first place for a piece on digitalizing sari-sari store operations and second for a feature on solar-powered water access. Third place was secured by Cebu-based blogger Marjorie Maano of Dakilanglaagan, who wrote about Piso WiFi use.

Best Social Media Video
ABS-CBN News’ Annie Fe Perez-Gallardo earned first place for a story on animal population control in Cebu City and third for a video on mangrove protection. Joanne Clarisse Espinosa of MyTV Cebu placed second for documenting a market vendor’s waste-fuel invention.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Newsmaker of the Year was awarded to Mildred Galarpe, Editor-in-Chief of Cebu’s SunStar Publishing Inc. while Editor of the Year was presented to Cristina Alivio of SunStar Davao.

The Globe of Good Story of the Year went to Queenie Grace Joligon of MyTV Cebu for “Paglaum Gikan Sa Basura: Ang Imbensyon ni Benito,” her feature on Benito Samson and his diesel-from-plastic invention. Samson’s group, Carbonhanong Alyansa, was also named the Featured Community and granted ₱20,000.

All first and second place winners will receive cash prizes and an UNOSINOTRA GMEA@12 trophy made with casted sawdust composites, organic corn-based filament and biodegradable polymer sourced from renewable corn starch, demonstrating Globe’s commitment to circular practices. Third place awardees will receive cash prizes and certificates.

GMEA@12 continues to reflect Globe’s three sustainability pillars: Digital Enablement and Inclusion, Societal Well-being, and Climate Action. The recognized stories promote access to technology, support community development, and champion bold action on climate resilience and environmental protection.

US-Based Cebuano Nurses’ Charity Donates 5,364 Diapers to VSMMC

By

-

December 9, 2025

A charity set up by U.S-based Cebuano nurses Lan Cabatingan and his wife has donated 5,364 pieces of diapers to the neonatal intensive care unit of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), one of the Philippines’ largest public hospitals in Cebu City.

Lean & Learn Health Foundation said the donation was inspired by the couple’s own experience after their baby spent three months in intensive care, which they said exposed the financial and logistical strain faced by families with premature and critically ill newborns.

“We know how heavy those days can be,” co-founder Lan Cabatingan said in a statement, adding that the group aims to ease costs for parents while supporting frontline staff who often face shortages of basic supplies.

The foundation said it plans to make the diaper drive the first step in a longer-term effort to support NICU communities in Cebu, and is seeking volunteers, donors and healthcare partners.

Lean & Learn Health Foundation is registered in the United States as a tax-exempt nonprofit, according to an Internal Revenue Service listing.

Cebu Business News

NUSTAR Cebu taps Vivant Energy’s COREnergy for retail power supply

By

-

December 4, 2025

NUSTAR Resort & Casino Cebu said it has tapped COREnergy, the retail electricity arm of Vivant Energy, to supply power for the integrated resort’s operations, as large commercial users look for more tailored energy contracts ahead of expected changes to the retail power market.

As one of Cebu’s premier integrated destinations for luxury hospitality, gaming, retail, and entertainment, NUSTAR requires reliable and high-performing energy solutions to sustain its expanding footprint in the region, the company said.

“At NUSTAR, we are committed to creating a world-class destination where every experience is seamless. Partnering with COREnergy supports that commitment by giving us reliable energy solutions that meet the level of excellence our brand demands,” Trevor Hammond, senior vice president for gaming and integrated resort operations, said.

COREnergy President Francis Del Val said the company will provide competitively priced electricity and usage monitoring via its “My Power Platform.”

“Energy should be simple. Our role is to be an energy solutions provider to businesses by providing smarter and tailor-fitted solutions that add value to them,” Del Val said. “With our Power Platform, NUSTAR is able to understand their consumption patterns so they can better plan how to optimize their energy utilization.”

Vivant Corp said the tie-up comes as it promotes energy solutions for businesses, noting that the Energy Regulatory Commission is set to lower the contestable threshold to 100 kilowatts starting in 2026, allowing more establishments to participate in the retail electricity supply market.

Cebu Business News

Tropical Depression Verbena Hits Cebu; officials cite early evacuations, zero casualties

By

-

November 26, 2025

b8f494f5-c7a9-4e0f-b8c4-40b19a279791 — Governor Pamela Baricuatro received by Mayor Patrick Barcenas when she arrived in the city on Tuesday.

Tropical Depression Verbena battered southern Cebu early Tuesday, triggering flash floods across several towns barely weeks after parts of the province were hit by an earthquake and Typhoon Tino, local officials said.

The weather system made landfall in Talisay City at around 2:14 a.m. and quickly moved toward Negros, leaving flooding in its wake, according to the provincial disaster office.

Dennis Pastor, head of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said early evacuations helped avert deaths. “This is the best response, zero casualties,” Pastor told a noon interview on Tuesday.

Flooding was reported in the towns of Ronda, Dumanjug and Barili, though water levels later eased, Pastor said, adding that provincial and municipal disaster teams were deployed in advance to speed up response efforts.

Carcar City also experienced temporary flooding after a spillway overflowed, leaving some rice fields submerged. Roads were later reported passable, while authorities continued assessments and cleanup operations, including at a hospital area that was flooded.

Residents in several northern towns and cities, including Compostela, Liloan, Cebu City, Mandaue and Talisay, were relocated ahead of the storm’s impact on southern Cebu, officials said. In Carcar City, evacuees had been moved to the city gym as early as Monday.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro praised local officials for the proactive evacuations and said she postponed a planned trip to Manila to oversee relief operations. She also directed the PDRRMO to keep monitoring affected communities and to provide food assistance, with additional support planned for households whose poultry and agricultural livelihoods were damaged.

In Barili, flooding hit multiple barangays after the Sta. Ana River overflowed between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., the municipal disaster office said. As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, 126 families, or 425 people, were affected, though many had started returning home.

Carcar City reported about 300 families affected. Mayor Patrick Barcenas said an unfinished spillway in Barangay Poblacion I and overflowing drainage channels contributed to the flooding.

Cebu remains under a state of calamity, but classes have resumed after the storm, officials said.

Cebu Business News

Starbucks Philippines Brings Back Sticker Season with ‘Invite Joy’ Holiday Collection

By

-

November 18, 2025

Starbucks Philippines is kicking off Christmas as early as November with the return of its much-anticipated Starbucks Traditions Collection, now on its 23rd year in the country.

Starting November 2, customers can once again collect digital or physical stickers for every Tall, Grande, or Venti handcrafted beverage purchased via the Starbucks PH app or a QR Promo Card. After completing 18 stickers, they can redeem an item from the 2026 Starbucks Traditions Collection: a planner, cold cup, tumbler, or mug.

This year’s theme, “Invite Joy,” leans into the familiar warmth of the coffeehouse—where the smell of freshly brewed coffee, the buzz of conversations, and the small rituals of ordering your usual drink all blend into a distinctly Filipino holiday tradition.

Jamie Silva, senior manager for marketing and digital customer experience at Starbucks Philippines, said the collection has long been more than a set of collectibles, describing it as a shared experience between baristas and customers built over more than two decades of holiday visits.

This year’s campaign, she said, is an invitation to rediscover the joy in personal rituals—whether that’s journaling, lingering over coffee, or catching up with friends.

‘Ligaya’ sets the mood

Adding to the nostalgia, the 2026 Starbucks Traditions video is set to “Ligaya” by Eraserheads, a song that cuts across generations of Filipino listeners. The video features real Starbucks baristas behind the counter, echoing the campaign’s focus on everyday connections and small moments of joy in-store.

“Ligaya” will also be played in all Starbucks branches nationwide from November 2 to January 5, threading the tune through the entire holiday campaign.

What’s in the 2026 Starbucks Traditions Collection?

The new lineup is designed to slip easily into daily routines while still feeling gift-worthy:

2026 Siren Planner with Carrier – A daily planner in charcoal and onyx, paired with a matching leather carrier and a sleek pen. It’s meant to double as both organizer and quiet space for reflection during the rush of the season.

2026 Onyx 15oz Stainless Steel Tumbler – A double-walled tumbler in a deep onyx finish with subtle metallic accents, created to keep drinks at temperature for people on the go.

2026 Sandstone 12oz Mug with Pouch – A ceramic mug in warm, earthy tones, paired with a small complementary pouch for essentials—an invitation, perhaps, to slow down a little in the mornings.

Sticker collection runs from November 2, 2025, in all Starbucks stores nationwide. Customers can preview the full 2026 Starbucks Traditions lineup and holiday offers at starbuckstraditions.ph.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Home and Builders Backs Cebu’s Rebuilding With Province-Wide Discounts on Materials

By

-

November 17, 2025

c7723e4c-4be5-4d58-a1d7-da55811314e0 — Maria Cyrina Pascual, director of product development at Cebu Oversea Hardware Inc.

Cebu Home and Builders Centers, the biggest building materials and home and office furnishings retailer in Cebu and the Visayas, is stepping up support for the province’s rebuilding efforts after a succession of earthquakes and the devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Tino.

The construction solutions company, operated by Cebu Oversea Hardware Inc., is launching a 15-day Mega Year-End Sale from November 15 to 30, offering discounts of up to 70 percent across all product categories—covering tiles, construction materials, home furnishings, and office solutions.

In an interview, Maria Cyrina Pascual, director of product development at Cebu Oversea Hardware Inc., said the initiative aims to make quality building and renovation materials more affordable as thousands of Cebuanos rebuild damaged homes and businesses.

“This is more than a sale—it’s our way of helping the community recover,” said Pascual.

“Rebuilding must be cost-effective and accessible. With nearly our entire inventory discounted, we want Cebuanos to have the materials they need without compromising on quality,” she explained.

Private Sector Steps Up as Rebuilding Accelerates

Cebu’s private sector has been increasingly active in post-disaster recovery following widespread flooding and structural damage from Typhoon Tino, which flattened communities across the island province, especially in Metro Cebu.

Retailers, developers, contractors and utilities have rolled out parallel efforts to fast-track reconstruction in hard-hit areas.

For Cebu Home and Builders Centers, the sale is part of what Pascual describes as a long-standing “tradition of giving back” to customers and industry partners.

Now marking 23 years in business, the company has expanded its footprint across Cebu—with branches in Banilad, Mactan, Minglanilla, N. Bacalso and Toledo—and maintains a 30,000-square-meter distribution hub in Mandaue to support rapid deliveries.

“We ensure that what customers see in-store is available for delivery,” Pascual said. “A big part of our commitment is eliminating the frustration of ordering materials that aren’t in stock, especially during urgent rebuilding periods.”

According to Pascual, 100 percent of products are discounted at varying levels, with core categories slashed by an average of 20 percent and select items marked down by as much as 70 percent.

Operations manager Ariel Angus said Cebu Home and Builders Centers has maintained strong relationships with manufacturers in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Spain and Italy to ensure stable supply—a crucial advantage as demand for construction materials spikes.

“We source directly from reputable factories, which allows us to compete with importers and small developers who attempt to buy directly overseas,” Pascual said. “We’ve built decades-long partnerships that give us both competitive pricing and reliable quality.”

Growing Demand for Basic Materials

While the province is still assessing full reconstruction needs, company executives say demand is rising fastest for structural and basic materials such as plywood, reinforcing steel, cement, electrical fittings and roofing.

“Finishing materials will follow, but the immediate priority is strengthening foundations and restoring damaged structures,” Pascual said.

Expansion Beyond Cebu

Cebu Oversea Hardware Inc. is also expanding outside the island, with new retail outlets in Manila and Bulacan under the Overseas Builder Center brand. The company says more store openings are planned as part of its ongoing national expansion strategy.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Prelate Seeks Full Accountability in Alleged P100-billion Insertions

By

-

November 17, 2025

5270201b-baf8-459b-996c-fb226478026f — Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy. Photo from Archdiocese of Cebu

As corruption allegations continue to hound the government and the 2025 national budget comes under scrutiny, Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy has called on Filipinos to seek truth and exercise discernment amid competing claims and mounting controversy.

In a statement, Uy urged authorities to ensure a fair and impartial investigation, free from political interference.

He said no one should be spared from scrutiny, that those found liable must face the law, and that any misused public funds should be returned to the people.

“No cover-ups. No protection for anyone involved. Those found guilty must face the law, and stolen funds must be returned to the people,” he said.

Uy also underscored the need to strengthen government systems and safeguards to prevent future abuses.

He warned that conflicting claims over alleged irregularities in flood-control projects have sown confusion and enabled false narratives to spread, further inflaming anger and fear.

The prelate urged citizens to critically examine the information they consume and to reject any calls for violence or unlawful acts, saying such responses would only deepen the country’s wounds.

He appealed to the faithful to pray for the revelation of truth, courage among leaders, and for justice and peace to heal the nation.

Uy’s remarks came in the wake of allegations by former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, who accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and several Cabinet officials of inserting P100 billion worth of projects into the 2025 national budget.

Co claimed Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman instructed him to handle the projects and to coordinate with Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, who allegedly confirmed the directive. He also recalled a meeting in Malacañang where Bersamin purportedly handed him a list of projects in a brown leather bag said to have come directly from Marcos.

Malacañang has denied the accusations. Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez called Co’s claims “completely without basis and fact” and “pure hearsay,” saying Marcos had moved to expose anomalies and ensure accountability.

Gomez, Pangandaman and Palace press officer Claire Castro have challenged Co to return to the Philippines and maintained that the President was not involved in the budget process.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Typhoon Survivors Urge Marcos to Order Probe Into ‘Man-Made’ Floods

By

-

November 16, 2025

Civic groups and survivors of Typhoon Tino in Cebu have issued an open letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, urging him to order a full investigation into alleged negligence and substandard projects they blame for the deadly flooding.

The letter says the signatories are writing “not as critics and not as opponents, but as survivors,” and appeals for compassion for families who lost homes and loved ones in the storm.

“We, the victims of Typhoon Tino in Cebu, are pleading to be seen, to be heard, and to matter,” the groups said, calling on the president to look at the province “with compassion and genuine concern.”

The letter accuses unnamed officials and developers of turning protected watersheds into “disposable land” and building substandard infrastructure in areas where safety should have been guaranteed. Their “decisions and neglect became the flood that swept away families, dreams, and futures,” it says.

Tino, known internationally as Typhoon Kalmaegi, tore through the central Philippines in early November, triggering flash floods and landslides that left Cebu among the hardest-hit provinces and forced mass evacuations, according to disaster officials and international agencies.

The signatories urge Marcos not to prioritize areas “driven by personal or political interests” over Cebu, stressing that the province’s “suffering has no color” and that their pain “carries no party.”

“We are not asking for favors,” the letter says. “We are asking for justice. For truth. For the dignity of those who did not survive.”

The appeal, ending with the line “Justice for Cebu,” is backed by a range of organizations whose logos appear on the letter, including media, medical and political groups such as the Cebu Press Club, 3-11 Movement, Doctors for Reform and Kilusang Pagbabago Pilipinas.

Cebu Business News

Curtis Go Sees Deeper Ukraine Awareness in Cebu After Nataliya Gumenyuk Visit

By

-

November 16, 2025

Curtis Go Ukraine Cebu Partner — Ukrainian war correspondent Nataliya Gumenyuk talks to Cebu journalists.

The visit of Ukrainian war correspondent Nataliya Gumenyuk to Cebu this week was a powerful reminder of the importance of understanding, dialogue and international solidarity, Ukraine’s local partner Curtis Go said, after students and media heard first-hand accounts of Russia’s invasion.

Go, who planned and co-organised the programme, said he was committed to advancing those values in Cebu and called the engagement “deeply fulfilling” as it showed how much more aware and engaged students had become about the war in Ukraine and global geopolitics.

“Seeing a respected Ukrainian journalist and war correspondent speak directly to Cebuano students is something I could only have dreamed of a few years ago when I was still a student myself. It is deeply fulfilling to witness how much more aware and engaged the students in Cebu have become regarding the situation in Ukraine, and the invaluable opportunity they were given to deepen their understanding of current geopolitics and the global challenges we all share,” Go said.

Gumenyuk, a prominent Ukrainian journalist and war correspondent, spoke at a special lecture titled “The Strength of a Nation: Resilience Through Democracy” at the University of Cebu’s main campus on Thursday.

The event, hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine, gathered civic leaders, journalists, academics, student reporters and youth leaders.

Cebu is one stop on a nationwide Philippine tour that also includes Manila, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga.

Gumenyuk described documenting war crimes in Ukraine and explained how communities were coping with the conflict while defending democratic values and keeping institutions functioning.

She said civil society, government bodies and the private sector had worked together to maintain essential services during the war.

She told participants she was struck by the Filipino concept of “bayanihan”, or communal cooperation. “It’s this idea of the community, and this word resonates a lot to me because that’s how we live,” she said.

After the lecture, Gumenyuk met Cebu-based journalists and said she felt “a genuine level of curiosity and openness and eagerness to learn” from students.

Organisers also briefed her on recent calamities that hit Cebu, including a Sept. 30 earthquake and Typhoon “Tino” on Nov. 4. Gumenyuk said such events showed the importance of collective responsibility, noting that in the face of a major typhoon “you can’t protect your house on your own” and that people are “part of society”.

Go thanked the Ukrainian embassy, partner institutions and local media for supporting the visit, saying he hoped it would mark the beginning of more joint activities between Cebu and Ukraine.

Cebu Business News

Vivant Corp’s Nine-Month Core Profit Up 24% on Power Gains

By

-

November 16, 2025

Cebu-based power and water firm Vivant Corp said on Sunday its consolidated core net income rose 24% to 2.0 billion pesos ($35 million) in the first nine months of 2025, driven by stronger earnings from its power generation business and a turnaround in its water unit.

Including non-recurring items such as foreign exchange gains, insurance proceeds and cost reimbursements, net income attributable to equity holders of the parent climbed 12% year-on-year to 1.9 billion pesos for the January–September period.

“Vivant continued to show strong results despite the slower than expected GDP growth in the first nine months of the year,” chief executive Arlo Sarmiento said, citing contributions from power generation, distribution and wastewater operations.

The company’s energy portfolio contributed 2.5 billion pesos to income, with power generation accounting for 1.7 billion pesos, or 63% of total contributions from strategic business units. Vivant said net income from generation rose 12% despite a 15% drop in energy volumes sold to 3,211 GWh, as trading gains from the Reserve Market and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, along with ancillary services contracts, offset weaker volumes.

Reserve Market nominations across four plants surged 192% from a low base after a temporary market suspension in 2024, with 1590 Energy Corp posting the highest RM volumes at 865 GWh. North Bukidnon Power Corp and Cebu Energy Development Corp recorded year-on-year spot market sales increases of 102% and 36%, respectively.

Its 35%-owned Visayan Electric Co contributed 879 million pesos, marginally higher than 871 million pesos a year earlier, supported by a 3% rise in distribution sales volumes led by residential demand.

Vivant’s water business swung to a 184-million-peso income contribution from an 11-million-peso loss a year ago, helped by finance income recognition from the Isla Mactan Cordova Corp water concession after a 25-year joint venture with Metropolitan Cebu Water District took effect in June. Income from 45%-owned FLOWS also rose 13% to 8 million pesos on higher wastewater volumes and tariff adjustments in Puerto Princesa.

Consolidated revenues were broadly flat at 8.9 billion pesos as weaker power sales and lower equity earnings from associates were offset by concession asset recognition and higher interest income. Operating expenses rose 26% to 1.2 billion pesos on higher headcount, professional fees and depreciation from recent asset acquisitions.

As of end-September, Vivant’s consolidated assets stood at 33.3 billion pesos, with equity attributable to the parent at 21.3 billion pesos and interest-bearing debt at 6.9 billion pesos. Its debt-to-equity ratio eased to 0.44 from 0.49 at end-2024, while the current ratio slipped to 2.10 from 2.40.

Sarmiento said Vivant expects to “close the year strong,” pointing to the September acquisition of a 40% stake in Samal Solar Renewable Energy Corp, which operates a 53.14 MW solar plant in Bataan. The deal lifted Vivant’s attributable operating generation capacity to 471 MW, with a 3.95 MW expansion at the plant due for completion in 2026.

Cebu Business News

Cebu VG Glenn Soco Presses DPWH to Revive Shelved Metro Cebu Flood Masterplan

By

-

November 10, 2025

1cdbb0e1-117a-424c-a1ba-6a5aea833ac9 — Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Soco.

A week after Typhoon Tino unleashed flooding across Metro Cebu, Vice Governor Glenn Soco urged the immediate rollout of the long-pending Metro Cebu Integrated Flood and Drainage System Master Plan, warning that piecemeal projects and stop-start budgets have left communities exposed.

In a privilege speech on Monday, Nov. 10, Soco cited inundation from Nov. 3 in Cebu City, Mandaue, Talisay, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Danao, Carmen, Balamban and Asturias.

“Every time it rains—and floodwaters rise again in Mandaue, Consolacion, Cordova and across Metro Cebu—people lose sleep, property and peace of mind. What hurts most is knowing this could have been avoided,” he said.

The province has declared a state of calamity twice in less than a month after homes were submerged, property damaged and families evacuated.

Drawn up by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and anchored on a 2013 JICA study, the master plan outlines a basin-wide strategy from Carcar City to Danao City to manage runoff amid rapid urbanisation and climate change.

Soco said he first pushed the plan in 2017 as a private citizen and later as chair of the Regional Development Council’s infrastructure committee.

Initial outlays funded river widening and improvement in Cebu City—₱700 million in 2018 and ₱1.2 billion in 2019—but allocations later stalled. Projects proceeded without coordination, he said, resulting in uneven quality and works that diverged from the plan.

Soco asked the Provincial Board to formally endorse the master plan, require rainwater catchment systems in new developments, and summon DPWH and other agencies to report on progress.

He also called for accountability for substandard flood-control projects, saying public funds must deliver durable results.

Welcoming recent discussions with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon on reviving the blueprint, Soco said short-term relief addresses symptoms, not root causes.

Priority fixes include clearing waterways, reinforcing riverbanks and upgrading drainage in critical zones, he added. “Typhoon Tino is another painful wake-up call.”

Cebu Business News

Cebu, Mandaue Tighten Rules for Kalag-Kalag

By

-

October 30, 2025

Oplan Kalag Kalag — Carreta Public Cemetery on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Photo: Neil Villa

Cebu City and Mandaue City have unveiled security and crowd-management measures for the Kalag-Kalag observance from October 31 to November 2, including liquor bans, entry restrictions, traffic rerouting, and on-site medical and sanitation teams.

In Mandaue, Mayor Jonkie Ouano signed Executive Order (EO) No. 2025-053 on Oct. 30 authorizing public cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums to operate 24 hours during the three-day period.

Private cemeteries may extend visiting hours, but interments are suspended until Nov. 3 to ease congestion.

The EO bans the sale, bringing, or consumption of alcohol within cemetery grounds and a 100-meter radius, and prohibits backpacks, jackets, sharp or flammable objects, gambling, videoke, loud music, smoking, and vaping.

Police Assistance Desks will operate in cemeteries with support from the Mandaue City Police Office, the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, and barangay tanods.

A “clean as you go” policy will be enforced, discouraging Styrofoam and requiring waste segregation.

Cebu City has activated a centralized command under EO No. 019, Series of 2025, forming “Task Force Undas 2025” composed of the Cebu City Police Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Cebu City Transportation Office, City Health Department, Bureau of Fire Protection, and other units.

The task force will run visibility patrols, checkpoints, and crowd-control operations around cemeteries and major thoroughfares.

A citywide liquor ban will be in effect from 12:00 a.m. Oct. 31 until 6:00 a.m. Nov. 3. Weapons, explosives, and bladed objects are prohibited, with exemptions limited to uniformed personnel on duty.

The Cebu City Transportation Office will reroute traffic and assign parking and loading zones near cemeteries to prevent gridlock, while the health and environment offices will deploy first-aid stations and oversee garbage collection and sanitation.

Single-use plastics and open burning are discouraged. Prohibited acts include gambling, loud music, unruly behavior, vandalism, and unauthorized vending.

Both local governments urged the public to follow advisories and cooperate with enforcers to ensure a safe and orderly Kalag-Kalag 2025.

Cebu Business News

Cebu LGUs Shine in BLGF 2024 Rankings; Province No. 2 in LSR at ₱3.01B

By

-

October 29, 2025

c502f954-a2a3-424d-ac92-5b2c46626d73 — Photo by Neil Villa

Local government units in Cebu stood out among the country’s top-performing LGUs in 2024, earning high marks for fiscal management and revenue generation, according to the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF).

In Memorandum Circular No. 017-2025, issued on October 1, 2025, the BLGF recognized provinces, cities, and municipalities that excelled in Local Source Revenues (LSR), the ratio of LSR to Total Current Operating Income (TCOI), Year-on-Year Growth in LSR, and Total Current Operating Expenditures (TCOE) per capita.

Cebu Province ranked second nationwide in LSR, generating P3.01 billion in 2024, just behind Bulacan at P3.39 billion. Rizal (P2.82 billion), Pampanga (P2.70 billion), and Quezon (P2.30 billion) completed the top five.

The province also placed fifth in the ratio of LSR to TCOI with 36.25 percent and fifth in Year-on-Year Growth in LSR, posting an 88.15 percent increase.

Highly urbanized cities in Cebu also made strong showings. Lapu-Lapu City led all highly urbanized cities with a 37.35 percent growth in LSR, while Cebu City ranked third with 25.76 percent growth, joining Iloilo City, Pasig, Baguio, Angeles, Taguig, San Juan, Quezon City, and Manila in the top 10.

Cebu City also ranked 10th nationwide in total LSR, collecting P5.9 billion alongside other major revenue-generating cities.

Among component and independent cities, Toledo City recorded an 18.78 percent increase in LSR, placing fourth nationwide in revenue growth, alongside cities such as Tagaytay, Lipa, San Pedro, Santa Rosa, and Naga.

Cebu’s municipalities also performed impressively. Consolacion ranked seventh nationwide in LSR with P711.55 million, ninth in the LSR-to-TCOI ratio at 61.19 percent, and fifth in Year-on-Year Growth with a 158.73 percent increase from 2023 to 2024.

Badian placed ninth in growth with 106.42 percent, joining other rapidly growing towns such as Caoayan (Ilocos Sur), Kapalong (Davao del Norte), and San Felipe (Zambales).

The BLGF based its rankings on the 2023 and 2024 Statement of Receipts and Expenditures submitted by local treasurers in compliance with Department of Finance Order No. 8-2011.

Data were processed and verified by the Local Financial Data Analysis Division with support from BLGF regional offices.

To qualify, provinces and municipalities needed at least 20 percent LSR to National Tax Allotment (NTA), while cities required 80 percent.

All LGUs were also required to maintain a 60 percent ratio of Total Current Operating Expenditures to Total Current Operating Income to ensure fiscal discipline.

The BLGF encouraged the circulation of these rankings to promote best practices in revenue generation and reminded LGUs to align fiscal policies with the Local Government Code and other relevant financial regulations.

With Cebu Province, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City, Toledo City, Consolacion, and Badian all securing spots in the national rankings, the region demonstrated strong fiscal performance across all levels of local government.

Alongside high-performing provinces like Bohol, Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, and Quezon, Cebu solidified its reputation as one of the country’s most fiscally resilient areas in 2024.

Metro Retail Launches New Lifestyle Store Format with Metro Corner at Mandani Bay

By

-

October 29, 2025