This Week in Cebu (June 19 to 25, 2016)

The Municipality of Daanbantayan announced on its Facebook page that diving activities at Monad Shoal, Malapascua Island is not suspended contrary to reports on TV and newspapers.

Cargo ship MV Bella ran aground the renown diving spot last June 12, 2016, damaging over 2.4 hectares of coral reefs in the area. The Philippine Coast Guards (PGC) along with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRMO) is managing the operation to remove the vessel.

Nonetheless, diving activities continue around Monad Shoal and other diving spots at Malapascua Island. According to Malapascua Exotic Island Dive Resort, the only area that is off limits to divers will be waters close to the ship, which is 150 meters+ away from the cleaning stations in the area. Further, they said that no oil spill was found by the PGC and that the thresher sharks, which are living in this marine protected area are safe and not disturbed by the vessel’s presence.

Floods should be expected for most part of the week due to thunderstorms in the afternoon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) expects Cebu to receive between 101 and 200 millimeters of rainfall for the month of June. The increased rainfall comes as the country transitions from the northwest monsoon or the Amihan to the southwest monsoon or the Habagat. Despite this, the lingering effects of the El Niño has contributed to a lesser than normal amount of rainfall in the city for the month. Among the flood-prone streets in Cebu are Colon Street, Skiatuna Street, Vicente Gullas Street, and F, Cabahug Street, among others.

A new route for the MyBus from select parts of Mandaue City to SM City Cebu aims to help reduce traffic congestion by encouraging car owners to leave their vehicles at home and take the bus instead. The bus will pass through J Center Mall and Parkmall before proceeding to SM City Cebu. Three Daewoo buses were provided by the Metro Rapid Transit Service Inc. (MRTSI) for a 60-day test run that started on May 30. SM senior manager for Visayas Special Projects Joy Climaco said the test run was in coordination with the Mandaue City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) to allow the company to determine the feasibility of the route, which passes through selected major streets in Mandaue City.

The Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO) continues to monitor dengue cases in the province as the Dengue Awareness Month is observed for the month of June. Dengue, a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, typically becomes more prevalent during the rainy season when pools of water gather on streets and around houses and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. In line with this, efforts are being done by the PHO to inform and educate the public on dengue prevention and control, including removal of mosquito breeding grounds.

The PHO also gave some tips to the public such as going to the physician immediately if they have skin rashes with fever for two days. Self-protection against mosquito bites such as wearing of protective clothes is advised.