Sugbo News - JUST IN: GWEN SUES BAI OFFICIALS

JUST IN: GWEN SUES BAI OFFICIALS

March 29, 2023

Lawyers from the Provincial Legal Office formally endorsed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas at past 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29, the administrative complaint filed by Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia against officials of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Garcia, in her capacity as the governor of Cebu Province, named three national officials and two local officials of BAI as respondents for violating 1) Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; 2) some provisions of the Local Government Code; and 3) the New Civil Code in relation to mishandling the African Swine Fever (ASF) issue in Cebu.

More details to follow.

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P100K FOR LOLA CLEMENCIA OF TABUELAN - Another Cebuana centenarian, Clemencia Gonzales Bacalla received a P100,000 check from the Provincial Government during the Caravan of Services in Tabuelan on Tuesday, August 15.

LAWYER: LGU DOESN'T HAVE JURISDICTION OVER CPA - Republic Act No. 7621, also known as the “Charter of the Cebu Port Authority”, gave the agency autonomy in its areas of jurisdiction which include “all seas, lakes, rivers and all other navigable inland waterways within the Province of Cebu, including waterways within the Province of Cebu, including the City of Cebu and all other highly urbanized cities.”

CAPITOL CRAFTS ITS OWN POLICIES IN DEALING WITH SWINE DISEASES - Cebu is once again blazing trails for other LGUs to emulate after Gov. Gwen Garcia announced that Capitol would not adopt the questionable policies by national line agencies in dealing with the current issues of swine diseases in the province.

PRIVATE HOG GROWERS APPLAUD CAPITOL'S POLICIES VS ASF THREATS - Private hog growers not only in the region but in the entire country are fully supportive of Cebu Capitol’s measures and policies in managing the threats of the African Swine Fever (ASF).

DAMAGED NGCP LINES IN MANDAUE TO BE FULLY REPAIRED IN MAY - The damaged transmission cables of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) along Ouano and UN Avenues in Mandaue City will be fully repaired in May this year.

CAPITOL GLOBE TO REPURPOSE DRUG REHAB CENTER IN PINAMUNGAJAN - The Provincial Government and Globe Telecom have agreed to pursue the plan to "repurpose" the drug-rehabilitation center that the telco giant built in the town of Pinamungajan, Cebu in 2018.

MANDAUE TO PROCEED WITH PLAN TO BUILD GOV'T CENTER AT CICC SITE - The Mandaue City Government will now proceed with its plan to construct a new government center at the site of the now-abandoned Cebu International Convention Center (CICC). (File Photo)

CAPITOL HAS EXTENDED P376.6M IN INFRA AID TO 50 LGUs - The Cebu Provincial Government has distributed a total of P376.6 million in aid to all the seven districts in the Province during the conduct of Cavaran of Provincial Services for the first quarter this year.

CAPITOL PREPARES FOR SUROY-SUROY SUGBO - ENCHANTING 'ONE CEBU' CAMOTES - This year’s 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 leg of Cebu Province`s popular tourism caravan is biggest Suroy Suroy Sugbo in the island yet since it started many years ago because it will be attended by no less than the Tourism Secretary herself, Christina Garcia-Frasco, along with her tourism regional directors, and special guest Senator Robin Padilla.

TIME FOR RECKONING: CAPITOL TO FILE CHARGES VS BAI - The Cebu Provincial Government is set to file administrative and criminal charges against the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) officials for the agency`s economically disruptive moves against Cebu`s P11-billion hog industry in the guise of ASF measures.

FINANCE EXEC JOINS THE PROVINCIAL BOARD - Minuel Carmela Franco, a top finance executive and wife of the late board member Horacio "Raci" Franco officially took her oath as the new member of the Provincial Board on Monday, March 27.

SELECTION OF SUGBO NEGOSYO TOP PERFORMERS SOON TO START - The selection of the top performing entrepreneur-beneficiaries of the Cebu Provincial Government's Sugbo Negosyo program will now start after the program has registered a 95.78% project implementation. Each of the 17 offices of the Provincial Board Members and the Vice Governor will choose their top ten performing beneficiaries whose businesses have shown excellent performance with the help of the program.

MORE STRUCTURES ENCROACH CAPITOL PROPERTY ALONG OSMEÑA BLVD - The Capitol’s real estate division has identified at least 22 structures that went beyond the allocated property line according to the Civil Code of 1949. These included known landmarks such as Cebu Doctor’s Hospital and University, Cebu Gospel Church, Suarez & Sons, Avon, Coco Mall, and Anitas, among many others.

NEW SEA ROUTE FROM CEBU MAINLAND TO CAMOTES MULLED - Governor Gwen Garcia is seeking to open a new route from Cebu mainland to Camotes Islands to create competition and provide better service for travelers.

DOTr TO JUSTLY PAY CAPITOL FOR BRT TERMINALS - The Bus Rapid Transit-National Program Management Office (BRT-NPMO) has committed to justly compensate the Cebu Provincial Government for the road lots along Osmeña Boulevard that would be used as terminals for the Cebu BRT project once they receive Capitol’s formal claim of ownership of the lots where the CBRT terminals would stand.

NEW ROUTE FROM LILOAN PORT TO PORO, CAMOTES TO START BY APRIL 20 - During a meeting with Gov. Gwen Garcia on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, Paul Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Super Shuttle and operator of Asian Marine Transport Corp., and Erik Lim, CEO of Topline Group, which operates the port in Liloan, have agreed to launch the new landmark service between mainland Cebu and Camotes.

TWO LGU CHIEFS WHO ARE ADVOCATES OF LOCAL AUTONOMY MEET - It was a historic meeting of Filipino leaders considered champions of local autonomy.

PBBM GRACES GROUNDBREAKING OF P1.5B EXPO CENTER - President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. attended the capsule-laying and groundbreaking ceremony of the Mactan Expo Center today, April 27.

DMC SIGNS SETTLEMENT TERMS WITH CAPITOL - Alcoy’s Dolomite Mining Corp. has agreed to terms set by the Cebu Provincial Government in settling its tax dues, with DMC president Cesar Omnes signing a compromise agreement with Gov. Gwen Garcia to this effect.

CEBU BUS TERMINALS READY FOR PASSENGER INFLUX - The Capitol-run Cebu north and south bus terminals are now ready to receive the expected influx of passengers who will be going home to the province for the Holy Week observances that also coincided with a long weekend.

PRC TO JOIN CARAVAN OF PROVINCIAL SERVICES - The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will join the Caravan of Services of the Cebu Provincial Government.

CAPITOL CONTINUES TALK WITH PROPERTY OWNERS ON ENCROACHMENT ISSUE - Gov. Gwen Garcia once again met with structure owners along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City on Tuesday, April 11, to continue the dialogue on their lot encroachment violations

CAPITOL OFFERS AID IN CEBU CITY’S BID TO HOST NAT’L GAMES - In the event that next year’s Palarong Pambansa will be held in Cebu City, the Provincial Government would be more than willing to extend a helping hand, including offering the facilities of its towns and component cities as venues for some sporting events.

DUTCH AMBASSADOR VISITS GOV. GWEN - Dutch Ambassador Marielle Garaedts is received by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in her office on April 12, 2023.

BREAKING GLASS CEILINGS: GUV INDUCTS FIRST LADY EAGLE OFFICERS IN NORTHERN CEBU - Gov. Gwen Garcia graced the creation and induction of the first lady eagle officers in Northern Cebu, the Cebu North Bogo Lady Eagles Club headed by its first President, Bogo City Vice Mayor Maria Cielo Martinez.

10K-STRONG CROWD GREETS GOV. GWEN AT “BHW DAY” - Gov. Gwen Garcia joined the 10,000-strong Barangay Health Workers from all over the Province during the BHW Day at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City on Wednesday, April. 12. Gov. Gwen was joined by Bataan First District Rep. Geraldine Roman during the annual event which gathered all BHWs from the 51 LGUs of the province.

PCA, OTHER NAT'L AGENCIES WORK WITH CAPITOL FOR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IN CEBU - Following the lead of other national agencies, the Philippine Coconut Authority Central Visayas (PCA 7) sat down with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to coordinate the programs and projects outlined in their Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan.

P6M FOR PANAGTAGBO MANDAUE FESTIVAL - Impressed by the performances presented during the Panagtagbo sa Mandaue Festival in Brgy. Subangdaku, the Cebu Provincial Government allocated P6 million financial assistance to the city government and the contingents themselves.

OPERATION PAHIYUM 3.O BENEFITS 55 CEBUANOS WITH CLEFT AND LIP PALATE - This is how Operation Pahiyum 3.0 can make a difference to children who have cleft and lip palate. At least 55 patients were given hope to smile again and not be bullied – and be free to dream for a better future after undertaking surgery on Wednesday, April 12.

CAPITOL IS TAKING BACK PRIME LOT OCCUPIED BY NIA 7 - The Provincial Government is proceeding with its plan to revoke the deed of donation of the property that is currently being occupied by the National Irrigation Administration in Central Visayas (NIA 7).

LGU-REGULATED COCKFIGHTING ASSURED OF CAPITOL SUPPORT - Now that the fiesta season in the month of May is fast approaching, cockfighting aficionados will soon be able to engage in this Filipino cultural tradition without fear of police arrest. This as Gov. Gwen Garcia called on the local members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to stop conducting raids against cockfighting activities in the LGUs that are issued special permits by the mayors.

ARTIFACTS FOUND IN MACTANG LIKELY FROM HISPANIC TIMES - PORO, CEBU — Gov. Gwen Garcia and Sen. Robin Padilla took a sidetrip to Purok Mactang, Brgy. Esperanza here to inspect artifacts believed to date back to Hispanic times.

GOV. GWEN LAUDS CEBU CFI’S ROARING SUCCESS - Governor Gwen Garcia congratulated family and employees of the Cebu Court of First Instance (CFI) Community Cooperative during its 53rd anniversary on Saturday, April 15.

CAPITOL ASKS OCEANJET TO CONSIDER LILOAN-PORO ROUTE - Fresh from the successful leg of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Enchanting Camotes over the weekend, Gov. Gwen Garcia is doubling down on her efforts to bring in more tourists to this cluster of islands by finding better modes of transportation to and from Camotes.

INITIAL RENTAL FIGURES FOR OSMEÑA BLVD ENCROACHERS RELEASED - Eleven structure owners whose properties encroached on Capitol lots along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City are asked to pay retroactive rent which initial computation shows amounting to P37.7 million. The figures, according to Capitol finance consultant Yvonne Gomos, are the computed annual raw land lease rates beginning only from 2014 up to 2023 — with the area’s current rental rate of P400 per square meter per month, based on today’s Consumer Price Index.

SIKOY SIKOY FESTIVAL GETS P5.5M SUBSIDY - The seven-year hiatus of the Sikoy-Sikoy Festival of the southern town of San Fernando has come to an end, as six clustered barangays battled it out at the San Fernando Central School grounds on Monday evening, May 13.

GWEN: BAI’S ASF DECLARATION IN CEBU PROVEN WRONG BY LACK OF MASSIVE HOG DEATHS - If African Swine Fever really hit Carcar City, why are there no massive deaths of hogs in this southern Cebu LGU? This was the question posed by Gov. Gwen Garcia which also puzzled Department of Agriculture regional executive director Angel Enriquez during a meeting at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 19.

LILOAN-PORO SEA ROUTE LAUNCHING MOVED - The highly anticipated launching of the Liloan-Poro, Camotes sea route, initially slated on April 20, has been put on hold and moved to another date.

NEW BFP 7 CHIEF TO PUT UP FIRE STATIONS IN FIVE CEBU LGUs - The newly appointed regional director of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Central Visayas, FCSupt. Roberto Genave, said that BFP 7 intends to put up fire stations in five LGUs in Cebu Province that do not currently have one.

P7.7M IN AID AS SAN REMIGIO STAGES LAPYAHAN FESTIVAL - The Capitol has maintained its unflinching commitment to helping develop local culture, artistry, and patrimony through the various festivals of the province.

US CONSUL APPLAUDS GOV’S COVID POLICIES THAT HELPED AMERICANS IN CEBU - The Consul of the Embassy of the United States, Kristofor Graf, has nothing but high praise for the Covid-19 policies of Gov. Gwen Garcia.

PROGRESS IN TALKS WITH OSMEÑA BLVD ENCROACHERS - The Provincial Government is progressing in its negotiation with utility companies and government agencies whose assets encroached on Capitol lots along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City, beginning in front of the Capitol all the way to Fuente Circle.

MAYOR: FUNDS FOR CTU TABOGON TO BE SLASHED BY HALF - Beginning next year, funds to be allocated by the Department of Budget and Management for the Cebu Technological University Tabogon Extension Campus will be slashed by half.

GOV GRACES BLESSING, RIBBON CUTTING OF COOP BANK OF CEBU IN CAMOTES - PORO, CEBU -- Governor Gwen Garcia, alongside the Chairperson of the Cooperative Bank of Cebu (CBC), Director Farla Carolyn Garcia, graced the ribbon-cutting and blessing ceremony of the first satellite office of the CBC in Camotes Island. The event, held in Barangay Libertad, Municipality of Poro, marked a significant milestone in the island's economic landscape.

GOV. GWEN: NO RESTRICTIONS IN CEBU AMID IATF’S ALERT STATUS UPDATE - In what seems to be reminiscent of Cebu’s pandemic story, Gov. Gwen Garcia assured on Monday that there are no restrictions in Cebu despite the IATF placing the province simultaneously under Alert Levels 1 and 2 status.

MEDELLIN OPENS DOCKSIDE ATTRACTION - Governor Gwen Garcia’s series of inaugurations in the town of Medellin, northern Cebu ends at their newest Dockside.

CAPITOL, MEDELLIN INAUGURATE MULTI-PURPOSE GYM IN POBLACION - Gov. Gwen Garcia joined local officials of the Municipality of Medellin in the inauguration of a new multi-purpose building in Brgy. Poblacion in this town.

GOV. GWEN SWITCHES ON UPGRADED WATER SYSTEM IN MEDELLIN - Gov. Gwen Garcia leads the ceremonial switch-on of the Level III waterworks system in Barangay Maharuhay in Medellin town, Northern Cebu.

CAPITOL BREAKS GROUND ON P59M CAPUTATAN NORTE-DALINGDING ROAD WORKS - Gov. Gwen Garcia led the groundbreaking of the P59.1 million road concreting project connecting Barangay Caputatan Norte and Barangay Dalingding in Medellin town, northern Cebu.

1st SENIOR CITIZEN COMMUNITY CARE CENTER OPENS IN MOALBOAL - The first-ever Senior Citizen Community Care Center has been launched in the Municipality of Moalboal, southern Cebu on Friday, May 24.

SUGBUSOG WINNERS OF 7TH DISTRICT GET BRAND NEW VEHICLES - WInners of the Capitol’s Sugbusog backyard gardening program received their brand-new vehicles as prizes from the Provincial Government.

PIGLETS GIVEN TO SUGBUSOG SEASON 4 PUROK WINNERS - At least five Sugbusog Season 4 winners of the Best Purok Category from the 7th district have received their prizes from the Capitol comprised of two piglets each.

BJMP IN CEBU PROVINCE TO JOIN CAPITOL’S SUGBUSOG PROGRAM - Jails in the Province of Cebu under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology may soon be joining Capitol’s Sugbusog vegetable gardening program.

P2M INFRA GRANT FOR ‘PRESENT’ MAYORS, PB MEMBERS - All mayors and Provincial Board members who were present and stayed through the hours-long Provincial Development Council meeting on Thursday, April 27, will receive P2 million each as financial grant from the Capitol.

GOV. GWEN TELLS MAYORS TO ‘LEVEL UP’ IN NEXT ‘PASIGARBO’ - “Level up mo tanan.” This was the challenge posed by Gov. Gwen Garcia to all mayors in Cebu Province as 50 LGUs gear up for the upcoming Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals in August this year.

SUGBO NEWS UNVEILS BRAND-NEW STUDIO AND NEWSROOM - Sugbo News, the official media arm of the Cebu Provincial Government, on Friday, April 28, unveiled its newly retrofitted news center, equipped with a refreshing, creative, and smart look.

CARAVAN OF SERVICES: HOPE AMIDST DARKNESS - Romnick Baylosis lost his vision four years ago after his retina sustained damage due to blood clot. It was a difficult thing to accept for the now 35-year-old native of Alegria in southern Cebu, but life must go on, he said.

CHED EXECS TO MEET GOV GWEN ON FRIDAY TO CLEAR SCHOLARSHIP DELISTING ISSUE - National officials of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will meet Gov. Gwen Garcia and Cebu mayors on Friday, May 5, 2023, to shed light on why the agency delisted some local universities and colleges (LUCs) in Cebu from their scholarship programs.

CAPITOL’S SOCIALIZED HOUSING IN MINGLANILLA NEARS PHASE 1 COMPLETION - The first phase of Capitol’s socialized housing project in Minglanilla town is nearing completion by October this year.

CAPITOL ASKS STRUCTURE OWNERS FOR COUNTER PROPOSALS ON RENTAL RATES - The Cebu Provincial Government on Wednesday, May 3, disclosed the accumulated rental rates that structure owners along Osmeña Boulevard will have to pay to Capitol due to encroachment violations.

BRGY. CAPITOL SITE AGREES TO MOVE TRUCKS OUT OF CAPITOL-OWNED LOT - At least seven garbage trucks will be moved out of the Capitol-owned 577-square-meter property near Fuente Circle as soon as possible.

ONE CEBU PROVINCE: 7 CITY DIVISIONS NOW JOIN PROVINCIAL SCHOOL BOARD - The Provincial School Board, headed by Gov. Gwen Garcia, has now embraced the independent schools divisions of the province’s six component cities and one highly urbanized city as “organic and regular” members of the PSB beginning May 4.

GOV. GWEN ECHOES CALL OF PAG-IBIG FUND TO SAVE IN MP2 PROGRAM - Officials from the Home Development Mutual Fund, or popularly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund, visited Gov. Gwen Garcia on Friday.

CEBU’S BEST TOURISM PRACTICES HIGHLIGHTED AT ‘TOURISM SUMMIT 2023’ - Gov. Gwen Garcia has bannered the best tourism practices of Cebu during the Go Negosyo Tourism Summit 2023 on Saturday, May 6, at the SM Seaside.

CAPITOL EXTENDS P3M AID FOR MANDAUE CITY’S PANAGTAGBO FESTIVAL - The Cebu Provincial Government allocated P3 million as financial assistance to the participating barangay contingents of Mandaue City’s Panagtagbo Festival.

KABKABAN DANCERS TO COMPETE IN SOUTH KOREA’S FESTIVAL CONTEST - Carcar City’s Kabkaban Festival will represent Cebu in the famous Powerful Daegu Festival in South Korea later this month, the only delegation to have been picked by organizers from the entire Cebu Island this year.

KALUNASAN RESIDENTS WELCOME CAPITOL'S OFFER TO SELL LOTS VIA PAG-IBIG FINANCING - Residents of Barangay Kalunasan who are occupying lots owned by the Provincial Government have welcomed Gov. Gwen Garcia's plan to sell these properties through housing loan financing by Pag-IBIG Fund.

CAPITOL ON DOJ OPINION: PREMISE IS WRONG BUT WILL USE ‘SOME INPUTS’ FOR IRR - Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and her legal team agreed that the legal opinion issued by Secretary Crispin Remulla had “some very useful items” that can be used for the crafting of the implementing rules and regulations of Cebu Provincial Ordinance 2023-02.

SINGAPOREAN AMBASSADOR VISITS GOV. GWEN - Her Excellency, Constance See, Ambassador of Singapore to the Philippines, paid Gov. Gwen Garcia a visit at the Capitol today, December 6.

GWEN ISSUES MORATORIUM ON STRUCTURE DEMOLITION AT LAMBUG BEACH - To give structure owners a chance to comply with the easement zone regulation, Gov. Gwen Garcia issued a moratorium on the demolition of structures along the shorelines of Lambug Beach in Badian town. This, until Capitol determines the definite measurement of the easement zone, taking into account the high tide and other historical data along the shorelines of the emerging white-sand beach destination.

GWEN REMINDS DPWH TO WORK WITH LGUs OVER 3 MAJOR INFRA PROJECTS - Gov. Gwen Garcia once again reminded the officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the region to work closely with local government units in the implementation of three upcoming major infrastructure projects aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.

OPAV WANTS TO JOIN CAPITOL’S CARAVAN OF SERVICES - The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) has expressed its intent to join the quarterly Caravan of Services of the Provincial Government.

CAPITOL TO REPLICATE BEEP CARD SYSTEM IN NORTH BUS TERMINAL - To have a more comprehensive ticketing system and collection of fares in the Cebu North Bus Terminal, Capitol plans to replicate the beep card system, a centralized automated ticketing system, used at the Cebu South Bus Terminal.

POWER WOMEN: US ENVOY MEETS GOV GWEN - United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, along with other U.S. Embassy officials, paid Gov. Gwen Garcia a courtesy visit at the Capitol on Friday, May 19.

ABACA HOMEOWNERS WILLING TO PAY CAPITOL - The Alliance of Barangay Apas Community Associations Inc. (ABACA) is willing to justly pay the Cebu Provincial Government for occupying the lots owned by the Capitol.

GAWAD KALINGA LOTS REAPPRAISED AT 9,800 PER SQM - The Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund has reappraised Capitol-owned lots in Brgy. Tunghaan, Minglanilla currently occupied by the Sugbo-Gawad Kalinga Village at P9,800 per square meter. (Alex Badayos)

DALAGUETE, CEBU'S VEGETABLE BASKET, OPENS FIRST BPO CENTER - A Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Center, a first of its kind in Dalaguete, southern Cebu, was inaugurated on Tuesday, May 30.

BIR COMMISSIONER VISITS GOV. GWEN - Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, Jr. paid Gov. Gwen Garcia a courtesy visit at the Capitol on Thursday, July 11.

GOV. GWEN CHALLENGES LGU’S TO LEVEL UP FOR SUROY SUROY MIDWEST - “Own your story.” This was the call of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to all the towns that will be joining the upcoming Suroy Suroy Sugbo Explore Midwest on June 10-12.

NEW JAPANESE AMBASSADOR VISITS GOV GWEN - Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya paid Gov. Gwen Garcia a courtesy visit at the Capitol on Wednesday, July 17.

CONGRESSMAN RODANTE MARCOLETA VISITS GOV. GWEN GARCIA AT THE CAPITOL - Congressman Rodante Marcoleta visits Gov. Gwen Garcia at the Capitol today, August 7.

'WORLD CAT SHOW 2023' IN MANDAUE CITY - Mandaue City First Lady Sara Cortes, with representatives from World Cat Federation (WCF), told Gov. Gwen Garcia in a visit at the Capitol on Thursday that an international pool of judges will be covering over from Ukraine, Poland, and Ireland for the event which will be held at the Mandaue City Sports Center.

COURTESY CALL OF SWISS AMBASSADOR - The Ambassador of Switzerland to the Philippines Nicolas Bruhl paid a courtesy visit to Governor Gwen Garcia at the Capitol today, August 8.

FRASCO BREAKS GROUND ON P10M SOLAR-POWERED WATER SYSTEM IN CATMON - It was a joyous moment for residents of Barangay Tinabyonan in Catmon as their long-held dream of having a clean water source has become a reality.