Sun.Star Cebu
PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO DE VELA
BANTAL BLUES. Heavy traffic built along the discipline zone of the Banilad-Talamban (BanTal) corridor on M. Cuenco Ave. in Cebu City around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, the first day of the test implementation of Oplan BanTal, which introduced a...
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CEBU CITY’S WATERSHED CRISIS: UPLAND DEV’T FREEZE IN LIMBO
Seven months after City Hall pledged to freeze new mountain developments, Cebu City enters another rainy season without an executive order. As flooding persists, questions remain over whether protecting watersheds has moved beyond public promises WHEN...
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CHOOSING GOOD MANGOES.
Customers wearing face masks choose which mango to buy at Carbon Public Market in Cebu City on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that headline inflation in Central Visayas slowed to 8.7 percent in July from 10.1...
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COUNCIL DEFERS ARCENAS’ TREE-CUTTING REQUEST
A fresh on-site inspection will determine how cutting of 60 trees in Barangay Tisa could impact local drainage and flood risks. While 60 exotic trees face removal, Ccenro recommends preserving a 13-meter heritage dita tree and transplanting native...
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SHRINKING RIVERS FUEL CITY FLOODS
FOLLOWING widespread flooding across the city, the Cebu City Government plans to acquire a one-hectare property in the Tisa-Labangon area this year to serve as a floodwater reservoir, while reviewing its drainage master plan and enforcing stricter...
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PLANTING MANGROVES.
The reflection of a member of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) appears on the water as SK members plant mangrove seedlings during the TreebYOUTH for Kalikupan 2026 activity along the back road of the South Road Properties in Cebu City on Saturday, Aug. 1,...
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LEGAL OFFICE BACKS GAMBLING AD BAN
THE Cebu City Legal Office has voiced support for a proposed ordinance banning all forms of gambling advertisements in the city, confirming that the measure serves a valid public interest in protecting public morals and vulnerable groups. However, the...
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WORK IN PROGRESS.
Development continues on the P10.5-million People’s Heritage Park inside the Cebu Provincial Capitol compound in uptown Cebu City. Funded through the Department of Budget and Management’s Green, Green, Green Program, the park is scheduled for...
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DENGUE CASES RISE PAST 1,200
CEBU City recorded 1,228 dengue cases and 10 deaths from Jan. 1 to July 18, 2026, as continued rains created conditions that allow mosquitoes to breed more easily. While infections have increased compared with the same period last year, health...
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41K FAMILIES TO RECEIVE TINO AID 8 MONTHS AFTER
Administrative backlogs and shared personnel delayed emergency funds until now — here is how the release works and why structural reforms matter. Strict verification rules require beneficiaries to appear in person with valid IDs ALMOST nine months...
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ARCHIVAL QUESTIONS CITY’S BAN FROM BINALIW LANDFILL
CEBU City Mayor Nestor Archival on Monday, July 27, 2026, questioned why the City Government remains barred from disposing of its garbage at the Prime Integrated Waste Solutions (PWS) landfill in Barangay Binaliw while private waste haulers are...
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PRAISE, PUSHBACK GREET MARCOS SONA
ACTIVISTS begin marching along Osmeña Blvd. in Cebu City as they stage a protest against the fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 27, 2026. Carrying colorful banners and chanting calls for systemic...
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TALE OF TWO SURFACES.
An aerial view captures the sharp boundary between pristine, vibrant pickleball courts (top) and the deteriorating, patch-worn lane lines of the surrounding track (bottom). The stark contrast underlines ongoing debate over recreation upgrades and...
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ARCHIVAL CREATES TASK FORCE TO CLEAR CITY’S RIVER SYSTEMS
WHEN monsoon rains inundated at least 11 major areas across Cebu City on July 22, 2026, the floodwaters submerged critical roadways and residential zones alike. N. Bacalso Avenue turned into an impassable waterway, while neighborhoods from Barangay...
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MOUNTAINSIDE LIVING.
A vast sea of colorful rooftops blankets the lower slopes of Nivel Hills between Barangays Lahug and Apas in Cebu City, where generations of families have established their homes along the steep terrain.
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COASTAL WASTE.
Trash and other debris washed downstream by heavy rains on Wednesday afternoon, July 22, 2026, blanket the coastal area near the mouth of the Guadalupe River in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City, on Thursday, July 23. Floodwaters carried large volumes of...
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PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO DE VELA
RAIN clouds hang over Metro Cebu as light showers fall on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 22, 2026, under overcast skies. Pagasa forecasts cloudy conditions with rain showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to...
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CARBON AUDIT SOUGHT OVER UNPAID SHARE
WHEN a local government enters into a multi-billion-peso joint venture to redevelop a public landmark, transparency is critical. That principle came under scrutiny after the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged P150 million in unpaid guaranteed payments...
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CEBU LANDFILL COLLAPSE UNDER SENATE SCRUTINY
A SENATE inquiry into the January trash slide at the Binaliw sanitary landfill in Cebu City, which killed 36 people, shifted the spotlight Monday, July 20, 2026, onto systemic failures in the country’s waste management framework and long-standing...
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VISAYAN ELECTRIC RATES SPIKE TO RECORD HIGH
RESIDENTIAL electricity rates under Visayan Electric will rise to P14.90 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in July, marking the highest rate recorded by the utility so far in 2026. The new rate is an increase from the P13.74 per kWh charged to consumers in...
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COOLER COMFORT FOR MOTHERS.
Patients rest inside the newly upgraded Obstetrics and Gynecology ward at the Cebu Provincial Hospital-Carcar City. The Cebu Provincial Government completed much-needed renovations to the ward, which include the installation of air-conditioning units,...
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PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO DE VELA
OUR CEBU. Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro and Vice Gov. Glenn Soco, together with the mayors of the cities and municipalities of the first district, lead the opening of the Our Cebu trade fair on Friday, July 17, 2026. The joint appearance suggests a...
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CCMC FACES SETBACK AMID PROJECT DELAYS
Defective components in the Cebu City Medical Center project must undergo rigorous technical testing before the City can decide to dismantle or replace them. With over P1.13 billion already spent, the 12-year-old Cebu City hospital project faces yet...
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POLICY, GOVERNANCE GAPS WORSEN CEBU FLOODING
A Cebu City Flood and Drainage Council report says Metro Cebu’s worsening floods and water shortages stem less from a lack of engineering studies than decades of fragmented watershed governance. As officials call for stronger coordination, the Cebu...
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CARBON MARKET DEAL UNDER AUDIT SCRUTINY
THE Commission on Audit (COA) has questioned the financial basis of Cebu City’s revenue-sharing arrangement for the Carbon Public Market redevelopment and reported that the City did not receive its guaranteed annual payments amounting to P150 million...
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COA FLAGS DELAYS IN CCMC PROJECT
MORE than a decade after construction began, the new Cebu City Medical Center remains unfinished, hampered by years of design changes, engineering deficiencies, and weak project management. A recent Commission on Audit report revealed that despite the...
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REMEMBERING FR. RUDY ROMANO.
Members of the Redemptorist Church and civil society groups offer candles, flowers and prayers at the marker of Fr. Rudy Romano along Katipunan St. in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City, on Saturday, July 11, 2026. The gathering marked the 41st anniversary of...
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DOH: ASHFALL POSES HEALTH RISKS IN CEBU
ASH from Mt. Kanlaon, a stratovolcano on Negros Island, reached Cebu after its eruption on Thursday morning, July 9, 2026, raising health, water safety and air quality concerns across parts of the province. Residents in Cebu were advised to stay...
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DISCAYA, CO-ACCUSED ALLOWED TO POST BAIL
A REGIONAL Trial Court (RTC) in Lapu-Lapu City has allowed embattled contractor Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya to post P1 million bail in a P96.5-million malversation case involving an alleged ghost flood control project along the Culaman River in Jose...
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CEBU BANS HOGS, PORK FROM NEGROS
CEBU Province has temporarily banned the entry of live hogs, pork and processed pork products from Negros Island and other areas hit by African swine fever (ASF). Gov. Pamela Baricuatro issued Executive Order (EO) 39 on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, after...
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WORLD BANK PULLS FROM CBRT
THE World Bank has canceled $84.9 million in financing for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project and dramatically scaled back its scope. This move follows a formal request from the Philippine government for a partial cancellation and restructuring,...
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CELEBRATION.
Members of the Moncadista community in Barangay Sudlon 2, Cebu City, gather for a program during their observance of United States Independence Day and Philippine-American Friendship Day on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The celebration also marks the 79th...
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BEATING THE HEAT.
A young boy mid-air leaps off the concrete seawall while other children cool off in the waters at the roro port in Cordova on Wednesday morning, July 1, 2026. Traditional outrigger boats line the harbor in the background.
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CITY COUNCIL REJECTS CBRT ROUTE FOR SRP
THE Cebu City Council approved a resolution Friday, July 3, 2026, opposing the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) plan to prioritize the proposed Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) segment serving the South Road Properties (SRP) and calling for the...
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VISAYAS GRID ‘EXITS’ DAILY YELLOW ALERTS
THE Visayas power grid has been free of yellow alerts after one of its power plants returned to service, ending a stretch of daily power supply warnings that began in May, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP). The improvement...
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LEAKING TENT CLASSROOMS THREATEN STUDENT SAFETY
WITH the onset of the rainy season, rainwater has again entered the tent classrooms of San Miguel Elementary School in Barangay San Miguel, Cordova, disrupting classes and raising safety concerns as the school awaits permanent buildings. While local...
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URBAN BIODIVERSITY.
Fisherfolk gather their daily catch and harvested algae in the coastal waters off the South Road Properties in Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City. Thriving mangrove forests in the area serve as vital nursery grounds for marine life and a seasonal habitat for...
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ALEGRIA FACES WATER CRISIS
THE southwestern town of Alegria, Cebu has officially declared a state of calamity following a severe water crisis that has cut off running water for nearly half of its residents. Mayor Gilberto Magallon announced the declaration on Monday, June 29,...
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PRIDE IN VISIBILITY.
Dancers proudly wave Progress Pride flags with the CCLEX bridge in the background during the firstever Cebu Grand Pride Parade on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Thousands of members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community joined the historic march organized by...
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VENDOR GROUP REFUTES ILLEGAL COLLECTION CLAIMS
THE Cebu Coalition of the United Vendors Association (CCUVA) has rejected allegations of illegal fee collections inside Carbon Public Market, arguing that the figures being cited by local officials misleadingly combine entirely different types of...
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SCAVENGERS
sort through heaps of garbage at the South Road Properties transfer station in Cebu City on June 26, 2026, collecting recyclables they sell for as little as P6 per sack, as garbage trucks continue unloading waste despite a cease-and-desist order issued...
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Gun law reforms pushed after fatal Tacloban school shooting
STRONGER laws on responsible gun ownership are being sought by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who said existing regulations contain gaps that limit authorities from holding firearm owners criminally...
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NO CELLPHONES ALLOWED IN DUMANJUG SCHOOLS
As the Department of Education tightens campus access with scanners and bag checks, a total mobile phone ban in Dumanjug highlights the shifting role of schools as high-security zones. Local governments and educators are clamping down on campus...
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CEBU SCHOOLS TIGHTEN SECURITY AFTER ATTACK
Local officials and law enforcement agencies unite to roll out active response hotlines and non-contact inspections to protect school premises. Educational authorities implement visual baggage checks and metal detector screenings to establish safer...
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Unpaid Naga residents demand expressway ROW payouts
AROUND 65 house and lot owners under Segment 3A of the Metro Cebu Expressway (MCE) have yet to receive right-of-way (ROW) compensation since 2019, when authorities cleared their properties for the project. The unpaid residents gathered at the...
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DPWH ALLOCATES FUNDS TO FINISH ARGAO BRIDGE
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2nd District Engineering Office has secured funding to construct the missing approach roads for the P106-million Argao Bridge in Cebu. The allocation aims to resolve a critical infrastructure gap that...
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A SIMPLER BOND.
A man keeps a watchful eye on a young boy playing along the rocky shoreline of the Mactan Channel, with the majestic Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway spanning the horizon. This serene, everyday scene captures the quiet essence of paternal guidance, care...
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COUNCILORS SEEK REVIEW OF ALL HILLSIDE PROJECTS
SOME Cebu City councilors have called for a citywide assessment of hillside developments, arguing that concerns about flooding and environmental risks should not be focused on the Monterrazas de Cebu project alone. Several families live in communities...
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PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO DE VELA
WEDDING PHOTOS FOR SALE. Photographers display printed wedding photos outside the Nuestra Señora de Regla Parish National Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday, June 18, 2026, hoping to earn from newly married couples and their families after a mass...
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HOUSE PROBE SOUGHT ON VISAYAS GRID ALERTS
Business groups welcomed the push for accountability but urged government to move beyond repeated hearings and prioritize faster power infrastructure upgrades and additional generation capacity. AMID recurring yellow alerts and rotational brownouts in...
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MANDAUE TO CANCEL P32M SOCIALIZED HOUSING DEAL
Aside from legal defects, officials disclosed that the selected property lacks a proper right of way and poses severe flooding risks. City officials are considering invoking mutual restitution to recover millions of pesos in taxpayers’ money from the...
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A MAN
paddles his makeshift raft through the waterways of the South Road Properties (SRP), carrying sacks of plastic collected from the SRP Trash Transfer Station to sell in Inayawan, Cebu City, for P3 per kilo.
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MOTORISTS
and nearby residents expressed concern after passing through the South Road Properties on Saturday, June 13, 2026, citing a persistent foul odor emanating from the trash transfer station.
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PERILOUS DRIVE.
Motorists navigate a dangerous stretch of road in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City, on Thursday, June 11, 2026. The section remains unrepaired months after a landslide triggered by typhoon Tino in November 2025, continuing to pose strict risks to local...
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INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Members of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines carry Philippine flags during the Cebu City Government-led Independence Day parade from Plaza Sugbo to Plaza Independencia on Friday, June 12, 2026. The parade, joined by government agencies and private...
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FLOOD-PRONE VILLAGE ASKS CITY FOR HELP
Floodwaters have reached up to seven feet in some parts of the subdivision during heavy rains. Meanwhile, the runoff from higher areas overwhelms its drainage system RESIDENTS of Guadalupe Heights Village in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, are asking...
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NOT ENOUGH ROOMS BUT LEARNING GOES ON
THE Department of Education (DepEd) 7 is turning to double-shift class schedules across Central Visayas to accommodate students for School Year (SY) 2026–2027, highlighting a persistent deficit of over 10,000 learning spaces. During a media briefing...
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CEBU FACES URGENT CALL TO OVERHAUL WASTE MGT.
CEBU must urgently shift its approach to managing waste and resources to survive a compounding global environmental crisis before international climate deadlines arrive. Speaking at a World Environment Day exhibition at the Cebu Provincial Capitol...
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SILENT PRAYER.
A young girl touches a statue of Jesus Christ in silent prayer inside Sto. Rosario Parish in Cebu City. The quiet moment reflects the deep faith and devotion of local Catholics seeking spiritual comfort and guidance.
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SOLAR CITY HALL.
Cebu City Hall’s legislative and executive buildings will be fitted with an on-grid rooftop solar power system under a P12-million project launched on June 3, 2026. The project is expected to supply about 30 percent of the buildings’ electricity needs...
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SENATE ROW MAY REACH CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS
A DISPUTE over who controls the Senate has raised the possibility of a Supreme Court (SC) case, after two blocs claimed authority to lead the chamber. The Senate cannot function normally if senators disagree over who may preside over sessions, control...
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SOGOD ROAD ROCKFALLS TRIGGER SAFETY PROBE
FALLING rocks along the national highway in Sogod, Cebu have raised concerns over whether ongoing slope stabilization works are being carried out safely, after motorists reported debris falling onto traffic lanes. While rockfalls are often associated...
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FLOOD CONTROL WORK.
Construction continues on the riprap flood control project along the Butuanon River in Barangays Casuntingan and Tingub, Mandaue City, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
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HIGH HAULING COSTS STRAIN WASTE BUDGET
A DEADLY landfill collapse and rising emergency hauling fees force Cebu City leaders to evaluate long-term infrastructure alternatives while temporary dump sites grow congested. Why it matters The choice of waste disposal locations carries severe...
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RELIGIOUS ECO-FASHION.
Youth dressed in gowns made from recycled materials took part in the culminating celebration of Flores de Mayo at the Sto. Rosario Parish in Cebu City on Saturday, May 30, 2026. The traditional Catholic devotion honors the Blessed Virgin Mary through...
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SOLEMN CEREMONY.
The Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission commemorated National Flag Days Friday, May 29, 2026, with a flag-burning ceremony at the Cebu City National Science High School in Barangay Labangon. The solemn event serves to respectfully...
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PROTEST.
Members of the Save Carbon Public Market Movement, a coalition of vendors’ groups and supporters, hold a Santacruzan-style protest march from Barangay Pari-an to Carbon Public Market in Cebu City on Friday, May 29, 2026, to oppose the privatization of...
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MIND GAME.
Fifteen young Filipino chess players take on Russian Grandmaster Ivan Popov in a simultaneous exhibition match held during the 50th anniversary celebration of Philippine-Russian relations at Nustar Resort and Casino in Cebu City on Thursday, May 28,...
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CEBU CITY SEEKS LOAN FOR WASTE FACILITY
It plans to build a P360-million recycling center in Barangay Mabolo that will feature two advanced waste processing machines to manage trash. Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña notes that technical validation is still required to ensure the new system can handle...
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COUNCILORS SOUND ALARM OVER EL NIÑO PREPAREDNESS
THE ability of Cebu City to feed itself and protect its farming communities from the looming El Niño dry spell hinges on a dysfunctional network of broken pipes, missing agreements, and administrative miscommunication. While weather authorities warn...
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NATIONAL FLAG DAY.
The Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Office is preparing for National Flag Day on Thursday, May 28, 2026, by installing Philippine flags at the Rizal Memorial Library and Museum on Monday, May 25. This observance marks the beginning of the...
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CEBU, BOHOL BATTLE HIGH HIV BURDEN
A LONG-TERM perspective on regional data highlights deep transmission patterns, sharp geographical disparities, and clinical retention gaps that challenge progress toward global health targets. Central Visayas continues to witness a sustained public...
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VACCINATION DRIVE.
Members of the Talisay City Veterinary Office conduct an Anti-Rabies Vaccination Drive in Barangay Jaclupan Thursday, May 21, 2026, vaccinating a total of 524 dogs and 230 cats. The activity is part of the City’s responsible pet ownership and rabies...
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Ferry route revives Oslob Port operations
A DORMANT port in southern Cebu has reopened with a new daily ferry route linking Oslob to Larena, Siquijor and Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, aiming to boost tourism and trade across the Visayas. The project traces its roots to former President Gloria...
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CA CLEARS CORTES
THE Court of Appeals (CA) Fifth Division has cleared former Mandaue City mayor Jonas Cortes of administrative grave misconduct charges, reversing a September 2024 ruling by the Office of the Ombudsman that dismissed him from public service and barred...
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LANDFILL GETS PERMIT BEFORE DENR CDO LIFT
A STRUCTURAL conflict within the Cebu City Government has exposed how economic efficiency laws can override public safety during an ongoing environmental crisis. The granting of a business permit to Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. (PWS),...
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