Philippine Information Agency Central Visayas

  CEBU CITY, Cebu, March 30 (PIA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte will join the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict's (NTF-ELCAC's) joint meeting with the Regional Task Force (RTF) Central Visayas on March 31 in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. To be accompanied by National Security Adviser Sec. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Duterte will lead a large gathering where a number of projects, including the "Barangay Development Program” funded by the President's anti-communist task force, will be presented.  NTF-ELCAC was created by Executive Order (E.O.) No 70 which the President himself chairs while Esperon is its vice chairperson. Dubbed "Pagpapatuloy ng Tamang Pamamahala (Continuing of Good Governance)", the RTF-7 through the regional agencies of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Labor and Employment, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will showcase

Newly Appointed Presidential Spokesperson and PCOO Sec. Martin M. Andanar delivers his message to the members of the Cebu media during the "Salo-Salo with the New Presidential Spokesperson in Cebu" held at the Golden Prince Hotel, Cebu City on Saturday, March 12. CEBU CITY, Cebu, March 13 (PIA) -- Newly-appointed Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Presidential Communications Office Secretary (PCOO) Martin Andanar on March 12 visited Cebu for his first media engagement since assuming his post as the new acting Palace spokesperson on March 8. Andanar met with the officers of the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists (CFBJ) and representatives from PCOO’s attached agencies Philippine Information Agency, Philippine News Agency, PTV, and Radyo Pilipinas at the Golden Prince Hotel, this city.   In his message, Andanar emphasized the importance of revolutionizing the government media by investing in artificial intelligence and algorithm technologies for a smooth, effective, and effi

  (From left) USAID Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn and US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava join Finance Assistant Secretary Paola Alvarez, Philippine Climate Change Commission Commissioner Albert dela Cruz, and Catholic Relief Services Country Representative Karen Janes Ungar at the formal launch of the Php750-million ($15 million) Climate Resilient Cities project. (Contributed photo) MANILA, March 11, 2022 -- On March 10, the United States (US) government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), formally launched a new project to build climate resilience in the Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.  Initially announced during the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in October 2021, the five-year, P750-million ($15 million) Climate Resilient Cities project will help Philippine cities adapt to, mitigate, and endure the impacts of climate change by increasing their access to climate financing and too

  GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corporation, in partnership with the Department of Health and the Lapu-Lapu City Government, has launched a COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination from March 9 to 11, 2022. The three-day vaccination drive is currently taking place at the Terminal 1 Departures Grand Lobby of Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), from 8 AM to 5 AM. We urge the public, especially those traveling through MCIA, to take advantage of this opportunity to get inoculated. Our vaccination hub is open to all individuals and offers First Dose, Second Dose, and Booster (at least three months after primary vaccine) shots. We also accommodate pediatric or those aged 12 to 17. For those who are interested, we advise you to bring one valid I.D. and old vaccination card (for bo oster). In addition to our existing safe management measures at the airport, which continue to be necessary in helping MCIA mitigate any spread and keep community transmission low, vaccination is our next key enabler to protec

  Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 regional director Victor Emmanuel Caindec encouraged renewing license holders to avail of the free Comprehensive Driver's Education (CDE) program and exam using the agency's online portal. Under Republic Act 10930 all applicants renewing their driver's licenses are required to pass the CDE examination to avail of the recently implemented 10-year validity of the driver's license LTO 7 started the roll-out of the 10-year validity of the driver's license last December of 2021. RD Caindec said that the CDE through the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) can be accessed 24/7 via LTO's free online portal. "Our online portal can be accessed anytime and anywhere. It also has the refresher course for the drivers for them to be reminded of the road safety, traffic rules, special laws, regulations, among others," said RD Caindec. The CDE Online Validation Exam has 25 questions where 50% or 13 correct answers is the pa

U.S. Export Control and Border Security Program Advisor Ransom Avilla (right) turns over to Strategic Trade Management Office Director Atty. Luis Catibayan more than Php5 million worth of equipment to aid the agency’s efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. (Information Office, Public Affairs Section, US Embassy in the Philippines) Manila, March 10, 2022 —On March 9, the United States, through the U.S. Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) Program, turned over more than Php5 million ($97,000) worth of equipment to aid the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).     This donation will help DTI’s Strategic Trade Management Office (STMO) speed up its processes and fulfill its role as the lead Philippine government agency for registering and licensing companies and establishing management systems for the trade in goods, under the Philippine Strategic Trade Management Act (STMA).   

  U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) ad interim Heather Variava joins Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama at the launch of the BIDA KID COVID-19 prevention campaign in the Visayas.   Cebu City, March 10, 2022 —On March 8, U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) ad interim Heather Variava joined Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama and representatives from the Department of Health and Department of Education to launch the BIDA KID COVID-19 prevention campaign in the Visayas.     The BIDA KID campaign reminds everyone to continue observing COVID-19 prevention measures as children return to school and people resume in-person activities.  The campaign is a follow-up to the BIDA Solusyon (Be the Solution) COVID-19 prevention multimedia campaign, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which reminds everyone to continue practicing key COVID-19 preventive behaviors.     The U.S. government and Cebu City government also celebrated C

The Mandaya-Mansaka Tribal Executive Council of Elders (MMTECE) -- the highest governing body of the ICCs/IPs of New Bataan headed by Datu Daniel L. Pagantupan, his legislative office counterpart, Municipal IPMR, Hon. Arnel B. Sugnoan and its development arm in the management of Mandaya-Mansaka Ancestral Domain, Ancestral Domain Management Office (ADMO) headed by Datu Jake Hanggam jointly denounce and belies the statements made by Save Our School Network (SOS) and other CPP-NPA-NDF mass-based organizations condemning the death of Chad Booc and four others whom they called “Lumad Volunteer Teacher and Community Health Worker” during the legitimate encounter with the government forces in Purok 8, Sitio Libuton, Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro last February 24, 2022. May we emphasize the following ground for our dismissal of such irresponsible and fallacious statements made by SOS network, bias media outlets, and other CNN sympathizers; 1.  Lumad Reference: The Mandaya-Mansaka tribe of Ne

MAWAB, DAVAO DE ORO – An armed engagement between the troops of 1001st Infantry Brigade against Communist Terrorist Group’s (CTGs) Regional Headquarters, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (RHQ, SMRC) believed to be led by Eric Jun Casilao alias Wally/Ellan and Regional Operations Command, SMRC (ROC, SMRC) led by Leo Lacumbo alias OLE transpired at Purok-8, Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro, early morning of Feb. 24, 2022.   In a series of armed encounters, five members of the CTG were killed in the clash, while it is believed that there are still several others wounded based on the bloodstains in the encounter site.  The fatalities were identified as Jojarain Alce Nguho II alias Rain, Chad Booc alias Chad, a certain alias Daday and two still unidentified males.  The CTG scampered and withdrew southwards after a 15-minute firefight leaving one (1) M653 rifle, one (1) caliber 45     pistol, one (1) hand grenade, one (1) anti-personnel mine, assorted food supplies, and personal