Cebu candidates present plans for Mega Cebu during 2nd Candidates Forum

By Rachelle M. Nessia

CEBU CITY, May 1 (PIA) — Electoral bets for Cebu province mostly coming from the Liberal Party were among those who discussed their vision for Mega Cebu during the second and third rounds of the Mega Cebu Candidates Forums held April 25.

Candidates present during the forum were Atty. Hilario “JunJun” Davide for the gubernatorial position, Agnes Magpale for vice-gubernatorial, Ace Durano as congressman for the 5th district, Teresita Alegado for mayor of Consolacion town, reelectionist mayor Adelino Sitoy of Cordova, and Efrain Pelaez for the mayoral position in LapuLapu city.

Davide said he aims to restore trust and cooperation between the government and its constituents.

He also aspires to reduce rural poverty and establish a farmers’ training program in all barangays.

Acting governor Agnes Magpale, on the other hand, intends to focus on the development of the women sector, children, and family welfare.

Magpale is currently acting governor of Cebu after the suspension of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Magpale said she plans to continue Garcia’s scholarship program but enhance it by increasing its budget.

Former Tourism Secretary Ace Durano who is running for the congressional seat in the 5th District said he will focus on sustainable and equitable growth while enhancing tourism and develop Cebu’s rural countryside.

On the other hand, Alegado plans to develop roads and highways in Consolacion town as part of her major projects.

The influx of people is the reason why there is a need to improve the system of transportation here, she said.

On the other hand, incumbent mayor of Cordova Adelino Sitoy wants the people to open their eyes to the potential of Cordova.

Sitoy’s vision is to transfer both the airport and University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu campus to Cordova as it can cater to both infrastructures.

The improvement and establishment of a national hospital are also some of his programs when elected.

For LapuLapu mayoral bet Efrain Pelaez, his goal is to create a housing program for the poor and relocate illegal settlers.

Pelaez emphasized on the importance of decency and transparency in running the government.

For the Candidates Forum afternoon event, only two candidates showed up: incumbent Liloan mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco of UNA and Atty. Victor Cortes Biano of BBayan.

Re-electionist Duke Frasco said that for five and a half years, his main focus was on his “A-point” agenda tackling the different policies he has laid down for infrastructure, health, and social services.

In a span of two terms, Frasco said he has increased the social services budget of Liloan to 11 times and has availed of advance deposit funds at Vicente Sotto Memorial Hospital to benefit the underprivileged in his town.

Biano, on the other hand, called for a moral transformation as he said most government officials are perceived as corrupt by the public.

His main platform covers youth and sports development, education, health care, environment protection, and empowerment of the people. (rmn/RRA/PIA Cebu)

DOE assures no power interruption on election day

By Ferliza Contratista

CEBU CITY, April 27 (PIA) –There will be no brown-outs during the elections.

Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla recently assured that there will be no brown outs during the elections.

Petilla was in Cebu during the Visayas Wide Power Summit to brief the stakeholders about the power outlook.

“We have no shortfall this May, so there is no problem, we don’t want the DOE to be blamed for failure of elections,” Petilla said.

He told reporters that there will be enough power supply unless there is a sudden normal tripping.

Uninterrupted service is assured days before and after the elections.

Petilla during his presentation of the power supply outlook for 2012-2030 said that during this year, there is a slight shortfall in the Visayas for the reserve. It will still be bought but just place on stand by, he added.

He told participants from Regions 6, 7, and 8 that the issue on power is a long-term problem that needs a long-term solution.

“When there is outage, we deal with it, so this power summit is really a big help,” Petilla said.

He credited Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, the current head of the Regional Development Council 7, for bringing him the idea of a convergence with all the stakeholders to discuss power or electricity issues and concerns.

Rama who gave his welcome remarks in the event said that the reforms needed in the power sector should not only come up with strategies for sufficient and reliable supply but also cheap or affordable power rates.

The event ended with a covenant signing by all stakeholders from the three regions towards a competitive power in the Visayas. (FCR/FCC-PIA7)

Second leg of Mega Cebu Candidates’ forum on April 25

CEBU CITY, April 23 (PIA) — The second leg of the Mega Cebu Candidates Forum will take place on April 25 at the Cebu Cultural Center.

The morning session will feature electoral bets for Cebu province, 5th and 6th Districts, and Lapulapu City coming from the Liberal Party, Lakas, local Bakud party and independents.

The afternoon session on the same day will feature another set of candidates from Lapulapu City and the 5th and 6th Districts, this time from the United Nationalist Alliance, One Cebu, and independents.

The forums are open to the public for free.

Mega Cebu Candidates’ Forums is the first of its kind in Cebu for electoral bets that focus on issues rather than debates, according to Carol Ballesteros of Ramon Aboitize Foundation, Inc. (RAFI).

During the forum, candidates will present their platforms of government in response to the forum’s focus question: “What is your vision of growth for Cebu?”

Candidates will also answer questions from a panel composed of representatives from the academe, business, sector, youths, civil society, and the government.

The audience will also be given a chance to send in their questions either by writing them down or through Twitter by using the hashtag #mcebuforum.

The forums are spearheaded by Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) through its Mega Cebu project, an urban development vision and cooperation among the seven cities and six towns that comprise Metropolitan Cebu.

Organizers also include the Philippine Information Agency, National Economic Development Authority, RAFI, Couples for Christ, Cebu Daily News, Cebu Business Club, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, among others. (rmn/Rizelle Adriatico/PIA Cebu)

First leg of Mega Cebu Candidates Forum held

By Juju Manubag-Empuerto

CEBU CITY, April 11 (PIA) — The first round of the Mega Cebu candidates forum wrapped up with four mayoral candidates who showed up to present their platforms of government particularly their vision for economic growth for Mega Cebu.

Present during the forum held at the Cebu Cultural Center were mayoral bets for Carcar City, reelectionist Nicepuro Apura and Mariano Alegarbes; San Fernando mayoral candidate Lakambini Reluya; and First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Talisay City.

Mayor Val Chiong of Naga City, reelectionist Mayor Antonio Canoy of San Fernando, and lone congressional candidate Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas did not make it to the forum.

Candidates presented their plans and platforms of government that will address the economic growth of Metro Cebu.

The series of forums, according to organizers, are issue-based and not a debate.

The electoral aspirants answered questions from a five-member panel that included Emeritus Prof. Felisa Etemadi of UP Cebu for the academe, Atty. Frank Malilong Jr. of TV 5 for the media sector, Joel Lee of the Movement for a Livable Cebu for civil society, Antonio Chiu of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Jenny Lea Tan of the Young Minds Academy and Dilaab for the youth sector, and Aina Hubahib of National Economic Development Authority-7 for the government.

The candidates were asked to share for three minutes their views and plans in the following key areas: infrastructure, urban planning, zoning and land use, traffic, transportation; poverty alleviation, housing; peace, order, leadership; water, environment, health, waste management; culture,heritage, tourism, people, and identity.

Reelectionist Nicepuro Apura of Carcar City said he will develop a commercial hub, maintain Carcar as the Heritage City, quality education for all, a new city center, and a comprehensive land use plan.

Apura’s rival in the mayoralty race, Mariano Alegarbes, wants cooperativism to thrive, to first develop responsible parenthood, and to let his constituents have forced savings associations.

The 82-year old 1st District Representative Eduardo Gullas who will run for mayor in Talisay City said that he will work harder for the completion of his projects that he started on his last term as congressman.

Said project include the expansion and widening from two lanes to four lanes of the Naga-Carcar and Tinaan, Naga to San Fernando Roads, and the realization of the Light Rail Transit (LRT).

Reluya who is a running rival of Mayor Abe Canoy of San Fernando has four platforms of government: people resource; health programs; polices and programs on environment; and promotion of community youth empowerment.

The next forum wiil be on April 19 for the mayoralty and congressional candidates from the 5th and 6th districts and of Lapu-Lapu City.

On April 25, it will be the turn of Cebu City candidates, as well as the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial race. (rmn/JSME/PIA-Cebu)

Unconventional’ candidates fora to kick off April 10

By Ferliza C. Contratista

CEBU CITY, April 8 (PIA) –“Not a debate but clear presentation of stand on issues for Cebu’s development.”

This was the clarification made by Cebu Daily News (CDN) pulisher, Eileen Mangubat during the press conference of the Mega Cebu Candidates Fora 2013 which will start its first series this Wednesday April 10.

The format to be used in the series of fora is different from the usual election campaign debate, according to Mangubat.

“It has a different format; it’s not the conventional debate, not sabong. It is a more productive way of getting their platforms,” Mangubat added.

She said that it is an avenue where the audience, listeners and followers and the residents of Metro Cebu can compare the responses of the candidates over specific issues raised.

CDN is one of the partner initiator of the Candidates Fora 2013 along with Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc (RAFI), Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Cebu Business Club (CBC), Movement for a Liveable Cebu and Alcordo Advertising.

RAFI communication and stakeholders relationship manager for Mega Cebu, Carol Go-Ballesteros said there are three schedules for the fora, April 10 will cover the first district of the province; April 19 will accommodate the fifth and sixth districts and April 25 will have Cebu City and Cebu Province.

Only the congressional and the mayoral candidates will be invited to present their specific action plans on five points; 1. infrastructure, urban planning, zoning and land use, traffic, transportation, 2. poverty alleviation, housing 3. environment, waste management, health, education, 4. culture and heritage, tourism.

Candidates from the different parties will be given different time slots and may not see each other on stage.

During the forum, netizens can ask their questions using Twitter hashtag #mcebuforum or post questions at the Facebook Account Mega Cebu MCDCB.

Tickets for the fora are released at the Philippine Information Agency Office Region VII in Machay Building and at RAFI.

Metro Cebu is composed of the cities of Lapulapu, Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay, Naga, Danao and towns of San Fernando, Minglanilla, Cordova, Consolacion, Liloan and Compostela. (mbcn/FCC/PIA7-Cebu)

First Metro Cebu candidates’ forums to kick-off on April 10

By Rachelle M. Nessia

CEBU CITY, April 4 (PIA) — Candidates running for elected positions in Metro Cebu areas will have the opportunity to present their platforms of government in a series of candidates’ fora organized by private and public sectors.

“Mega Cebu Candidates Forums” will be held at Cebu Cultural Center on April 10, 19, and 25 divided into morning and afternoon sessions.

This is the first of its kind held in Cebu for local electoral bets that will focus on issues rather than debates, said Carol Ballesteros of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI).

Invited candidates are those running for mayoral positions in Metro Cebu areas, namely: Carcar, Naga, Talisay, Minglanilla, San Fernando, Danao, Compostela, Liloan, Mandaue, Consolacion, Cordova, Lapu-Lapu, and Cebu City (mayors and vice mayors).

Congressional bets from the First, Fifth, and Sixth Districts have also been invited, while for the provincial level, invited are gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial candidates.

The fora will kick-off in the morning of April 10 featuring the mayoral candidates from Carcar, Naga, Talisay, Minglanilla, and San Fernando along with congressional candidates of First District.

Although the forums are open to the public for free, tickets will be issued as the seats inside Cebu Cultural Center are limited.

Candidates will answer questions from a panel composed of representatives from the academe, business, sector, youths, civil society, and the government.

Questions from the audience will also be accommodated.

The public can also send in their questions via Twitter by either tagging @mega_cebu and using the official event hashtags #mcebuforum and #MegaCebu.

The fora are led by Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) through its Mega Cebu project, an urban development vision and cooperation among the seven cities and six towns that comprise Metropolitan Cebu.

The candidates fora are held in cooperation with Philippine Information Agency, National Economic Development Authority, RAFI, Couples for Christ, Cebu Daily News, Cebu Business Club, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, among others. (RMN/PIA Cebu)

iCebu Episode 5: “Election Security Workshop”

iCebu Episode 5 is now online: “Election Security Workshop” initiated by Police Regional Office-7 to generate action plans of “unforeseen” events during elections.

What are these unforeseen events? Watch and learn:

 

Election security workshop for Cebu police, military held

By Ferliza C. Contratista

CEBU CITY, April 3 (PIA) — The Police Regional Office-7 initiated a series of Election Security Workshops among law enforcement members here to generate action plans on “unforeseen” events.

The workshop was participated by over a hundred policemen from the entire Cebu province and several members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

P/Supt. Clifford Gairanod, PRO7 information officer, said the main purpose of the workshop is to gather information from the police stations on the issues and concerns they experienced during the past elections, the action taken, and lessons learned.

He said the workshop is a convergence of specific issues encountered in the past so that other stations can also learn from it with several inputs from the PRO7 chiefs.

“But what is important is the generation of ‘unforeseen’ events, or events which are not man-made but maybe brought on by nature or unexpected happening,” Gairanod said.

P/SSupt. Erson Digal, Regional Operations and Plans head, said the “unforeseen” events include fire, landslide, typhoon and other incidents that are out of the ordinary.

“It is not just assassination or grenade throwing, it can be food poisoning or sudden explosion of the PCOS machine,” Digal said.

Speakers during the workshop include lawyer Clarence Paul Oaminal who briefed them about possible incidences of vote buying; P/Supt. Julian Entoma who was the chief of Police of Bogo City in the 2010 stand-off incident; and P/Supt. George Ylanan of the Regional Intelligence Division for his talk on “How Goons and Guns Work.”

The workshop will cover Siquijor and Negros Oriental as well as the province of Bohol in the next days.

Included among the participants are representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Eelections (Comelec).

The activity was initiated by PRO7 head PCSupt. Marcelo Garbo Jr.

Also present in yesterday’s workshop was Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director P/SSupt. Patrocinio Comendador and Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director P/SSupt. Mariano Natuel.

In the 2010 elections, there were 4.68 million registered voters in Cebu province. (rmn/FCC/PIA7)

TSIP Forum on Security Preparations for May 2013 polls

Police officers and chiefs from Cebu police stations discussing the security measures being undertaken to secure the conduct of clean, honest, accurate, meaningful, and peaceful elections this coming May during the “Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis” (TSIP) Forum at the Police Regional Office, Cebu. The forum is moderated by PIA-7 Regional Executive Director Fayette C. Rinen and Wen Celen of Radyo ng Bayan, Cebu. (VVV/PIA Cebu)

Comelec seeks help of Cebu info officers in disseminating election updates

By Ferliza C. Contratista

MANDAUE CITY, CEBU, Feb 27 (PIA) — Commission on Elections here has asked city and municipal officers to help in disseminating procedural changes on the conduct of this year’s national and local elections.

Mandaue Election Officer Atty. Ann Flor Grujilde said the information officers play a vital role in spreading some changes related to the May elections.

Grujilde represented Cebu Provincial Election Commissioner Atty. Eddie Aba as main guest for the first gathering this year of the Cebu Association of City and Municipal Information Officers (Caocampio) held in Mandaue City recently.

Some of the changes include local absentee voting for members of the police force, fire, military local teachers and members of the media which will be conducted on April 28, 29 and 30.

She said application forms should already be filled up by those interested to avail of the local absentee voting.

Grujilde said there will be no need for voters to put their thumb marks after they had already voted contrary to the usual practice.

“We are doing away with the thumb marks in order to save time,” Grujilde said.

She said city and municipalities should make sure that there are established Accessible Polling Places for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

These rooms should be on the ground floors.

“However only those that marked senior citizens and PWD’s on their registration forms are allowed to vote at the accessible polling places,” she said.

They also encouraged Department of Education and Comelec staff to write in big fonts all instructions and should be made visible to everyone.

Grujilde also announced that the templates of Official Ballots are already available in the Commelec website http://www.comelec.gov.ph.

Caocampio president Cebu City Public Information Officer Carlo Dugaduga expressed the group’s appreciation to Grujilde for allocating time with them and for recognizing the essential role of information officers for the upcoming elections.

Information officers present during the first assembly were Dugaduga, Ricky Derecho of Bantayan Island; Lavina Campos of Balamban; Roger Serna of Cebu Province; Engracia Birondo of Argao; Ramil Jerusalem of Ronda; Venicio Dajuya of San Remigio; Arturo Bas of Talisay City; Rydal Cisneros of Dalaguete; Edgardo Maningo of San Francisco; Joel Durante of Compostela and Roger Paller of Mandaue City. (rmn/FCC/PIA)