This Week in Cebu (December 29, 2019 to January 4, 2020)

While spots of rain are expected at the end of the year, the Queen City of the South will see generally sunny weather. Sunday will see some rain showers in the morning, but clear skies will dominate the rest of the day with the chances of precipitation going as low as 3% for the day. The same conditions will continue up to the last day of the year with a couple of showers greeting the New Year. As the new decade comes, the weather will be partly sunny with spots of rain in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures for the week will be between 21°C and 32°C [1].

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) revealed that the number of motorcycle taxis will increase as 12,000 more riders will be added to the current 27,000 riders serving the public [2]. This revelation came after Angkas, a motorcycle taxi-hailing app, claimed that 17,000 of their riders will lose their jobs. The LTFRB added that the 39,000 riders will be divided between Angkas and two new transport network companies, Move It and JoyRide. This will prevent the monopolization of the service by a single company and give commuters additional options. Moreover, the pilot run of these motorcycle taxis was extended by the inter-agency technical working group with the entry of the two new players.

Four new screening and x-ray machines were installed at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) recently. MCIAA General Manager Steve Dicdican said the machines scan the luggage of passengers without their knowledge. While these machines are small, they can thoroughly screen luggage. Moreover, the machines add another layer of security at the airport. Dicdican added that with the machines in place, they can remove the x-ray machines position at the entrance of the domestic terminal. In this manner, the area will be decongested and passenger inconvenience is reduced. The move also enjoyed the support of the Cebu Alliance of Tour Operations Specialists president Alice Queblatin. Queblatin said security should be prioritized in order to create a safe environment that is enticing for tourists to visit [3].

Even as the holidays are in full swing, there are still some rooms available in many hotels in Cebu. These hotels include the ones located within the city and those in Mactan Island. While there are still rooms available, it is advisable to reserve early to ensure you can get a room for the New Year. Additionally, room availability will also change once the Sinulog season is in full swing.

While major malls in the city are open, they adjusted the opening schedule to give employees time with their families for the New Year. Some malls will open at 11:00 AM on January 1 while others will open at noon. Regular malls hours will resume on January 2. In this light, you should check the schedule of the malls before you leave the house. In other news, some malls will hold end-of-the-season sales giving discounts of up to 70% off on selected items [5].

Go to Yoorekka for more updates and things to do in Cebu this New Year!