This Week in Cebu (August 4 to 10, 2019)

It is advisable to pack your rain gear if you are traveling to Cebu this week. Cloudy weather and scattered rain showers are expected on the first two days of the week. There will be a slight improvement in weather conditions on Tuesday, however, as the sun will peek out from time to time. But scattered rain showers are expected in the morning. Evenings will also be wet as thunderstorms may dominate the night sky. This gloomy weather will continue until the weekend. Temperatures for the week will range from 24°C to 33°C [1].

Taking the cue from Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella directed the market administrator to remove stalls set up along M.L. Quezon Boulevard [2]. Over 200 stalls were removed and the vendors have relocated across the Unit 2 building of the Carbon Public Market. The clearing operations started on July 25 and were finished in two days. With the road cleared of stalls, city officials may allow public utility jeepneys to pass through the road during peak hours with the aim of decongesting MC Briones Street.

Cebu City Rep. Raul Del Mar refiled a measure aimed at building a second runway for the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). The House of Representatives already approved the measure on the third and final reading, but it did not receive Senate approval due to lack of time. The lawmaker said the capacity of the current runway may be sufficient only until 2024. Aside from the second runway, House Bill 19 includes the construction of runway lighting systems, navigational and landing equipment, and concomitant access taxiways and rapid exit taxiways. Under the bill, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will conduct and finance feasibility studies and formulate designs for the proposed runway [3].

Priland Development Corporation launched Vertex Coast recently. Consisting of over 700 residential and small office/home office units, the twin-tower development is located close to many premier beach resorts in Cebu while an amenity deck will connect the two towers together. It will feature a gym, garden deck, game room, an infinity pool, and a kiddie pool. The two towers also feature multipurpose rooms for parties and events. The amenities were designed to provide residents and vacationists a suitable blend of activities while staying at Vertex Coast. It will feature studios, one-bedroom units, two-bedroom units, and penthouse units [4].

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella recently met with the management of Cebu Ocean Park, which is set to open in August. Park managers assured the mayor that locals will be prioritized for available jobs. Around 90 percent of employees at the park are Cebuanos. The mayor is also confident that the park will bring more tourists to the city. The one-hectare facility has an Oceanarium with acrylic enclosure allowing a 360-degree view of the main lagoon that houses thousands of the world’s marine species. Cebu Ocean Park also features stingray encounters, bird and sea lion shows, a fish spa, and animal exhibits. Guests can also experience a jungle trek where they can encounter other animals, such as lorikeets and reptiles [5].

Local officials in Cebu expressed their support for the recent move of President Rodrigo Duterte to end all gaming activities. Even as local government units receive funds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia said it should not be an excuse to overlook corruption within the government. For his part, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said the president’s directive will take away the culture of gambling from the people [6].

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