The Freeman
DENR closes SRP dumpsite
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7, through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), has issued a notice of violation and ordered the Cebu City government to stop dumping garbage at the South Road Properties (SRP) after...
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MCWD supply falls
The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has confirmed a daily water supply deficit of more than 16,000 cubic meters across its franchise area, a situation aggravated by the ongoing hot weather and expected to worsen as El Niño conditions...
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Mandaue eyes criminal case
The Mandaue City Legal Office has recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against individuals involved in a controversial land acquisition flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) after auditors found that several of the supposed...
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CV inflation remains highest in Phl
Central Visayas recorded the highest inflation rate among the country’s 18 regions in May 2026, with prices of basic goods and services rising by 10.8 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-7. PSA-7 Officer-in-Charge Wilma A....
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Baricuatro calls on mayors to direct requests to Capitol
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro called on local chief executives to directly communicate their concerns and requests to the provincial government, stressing that problems cannot be addressed if they are not formally brought to the Capitol's...
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HUNDREDS INJURED, MASSIVE DAMAGE M7.8 quake kills dozens
A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off Sarangani on Monday morning, June 8, killing at least 31 people, injuring hundreds, damaging buildings and critical infrastructure, and triggering tsunami warnings across parts of Southern Mindanao. The...
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1.6M learners back to school
A new school year opens today. With approximately 1.6 million learners projected in Region 7, according to the Department of Education (DepEd)-7, Cebu City continues to grapple with a shortage of 1,200 classrooms. DepEd-7 Regional Director Arturo...
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Capitol’s tourism office to launch online booking system
To strengthen Cebu’s thrust toward becoming a premier tourist destination, the Cebu Provincial Government is elevating its digitalization efforts in tourism with the development of a P1.9 million online booking system. According to Provincial Tourism...
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Reading woes persist in Cebu
Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu Province Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Senen Priscillo Paulin has admitted that reading comprehension remains a persistent challenge among learners in Cebu and other parts of Central Visayas, prompting them to...
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Ex-Marines reiterate allegations
The group of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano forced its way into the Senate plenary hall yesterday to proceed with a scheduled “Blue Ribbon Committee” hearing that gave the so-called “18 ExMarines” a platform to repeat allegations that they delivered...
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Cayetano loses grip on Senate
In a dramatic last-minute power shift on the final day of the legislative calendar, the 11-member minority bloc seized control of the Senate floor after capitalizing on the continued absence of the majority, electing Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate...
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Mandaue City seniors’ aid hike passes first reading
The Mandaue City Council has approved on first reading a proposed ordinance increasing the annual financial assistance for qualified senior citizens in the city to P12,000 starting in 2027. The measure seeks to amend City Ordinance No. 16-20241867,...
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DOE admits no quick fix
The Department of Energy (DOE) has admitted that there is no immediate solution to the power supply shortage in the Visayas, which continues to trigger yellow and red alerts across the grid and cause rotational brownouts affecting businesses and...
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18 “coercive” vendors fall
At least 18 street vendors believed to be part of an organized group were arrested on Saturday, May 30, after Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival ordered a police crackdown following numerous complaints from the public. Archival personally confronted the...
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Free meals for Cebu’s homeless individuals, low-income earners
Homeless individuals and lowincome earners in Cebu City may soon have access to an open kitchen that offers free meals under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Walang Gutom Program. Expected to open in June, the kitchen is set...
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‘Unprepared for drought’
Cebu City’s agriculture department is facing mounting criticism over its apparent lack of preparedness for the looming El Niño phenomenon, with reinstated City Agriculturist Joelito “Joey” Baclayon once again coming under fire from councilors. An...
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Nearby relocation assured
Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano on Wednesday assured residents affected by the proposed P76.412billion fourth Cebu-Mactan bridge project that they would be relocated within the same area and not far from their current homes. Ouano said...
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Archival urged to submit plan
The Cebu City Council is demanding transparency on the city’s current waste management situation and has requested Mayor Nestor Archival to submit a transition plan to phase out operations at the South Road Properties (SRP), which has been turned into...
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Group blocks new EV taxis
The United Cebu Taxi Operators Association (UCTOA) has challenged the legality of the entry of an additional 1,000 electric vehicle (EV) taxi franchises in Metro Cebu and has sought court intervention through a petition for certiorari and prohibition...
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Firefighting drones tested
Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano, joined by city officials, representatives from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Bureau of Fire Protection, oversees the testing of Taiwanese-made firefighting drones at the...
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Council backs mayor’s plan
The Cebu City Council has reinforced Mayor Nestor Archival Sr.’s declaration of a solid waste management emergency by approving a resolution mandating stricter waste segregation, composting, recycling and controlled disposal of residual...
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PDEA-7 nets P138M in illegal drugs
Authorities netted at least 20 kilos of suspected shabu valued at P138 million during a buybust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7, which resulted in the arrest of two individuals in Barangay Uling, Naga City,...
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Cebu City urged to review anti-mendicancy ordinance
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has urged the Cebu City Council to revisit and amend the city’s Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance, warning that provisions penalizing beggars and almsgivers may run contrary to national laws and human rights standards. In...
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Motion against Cortes junked
The Court of Appeals (CA) has reaffirmed its earlier decision that cleared former Mandaue City mayor Jonas Cortes of administrative liability for allowing a cement batching plant to operate in Barangay Labogon despite posing serious health risk to the...
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Power woes weaken Cebu
Business leaders in Cebu warned that recurring yellow alerts in the Visayas power grid are beginning to threaten investor confidence and raise operating costs, adding pressure on industries already grappling with inflation, weak global demand, and...
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Kin won’t claim “rebel” remains
The family of a slain University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu alumnus and former student leader who was among the five individuals killed in a series of military encounters in Cauayan, Negros Occidental on Saturday, May 16, has decided not to claim his...
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Impeachment court convenes
The Senate officially convened as an impeachment court on Monday afternoon, May 18, to try Vice President Sara Duterte, ordering her to file her response to the articles of impeachment within 10 calendar days from receipt of the summons. Unlike last...
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Fire displaces 247 families
At least 247 families were left homeless after a massive fire razed a residential area in Sitio Silangan, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City on Saturday evening, May 16, causing more than P2 million in property damage. The Department of Social Welfare and...
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‘Very unhealthy’
Metro Cebu is once again blanketed with varying air quality conditions, with Talisay City recording a “very unhealthy” breeze. Just weeks after the haze experienced in Cebu thinned, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-7 reported that air quality...
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Schools urged: Lead the fight against garbage
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has renewed his call for the Department of Education (DepEd) to strengthen environmental practices in schools, linking the city’s waste management campaign directly to the education sector. Speaking during the Division...
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Mayor, council tackle options, rising costs
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival finally met with members of the City Council the other day to address the city’s worsening garbage disposal crisis, a move seen by some officials as long overdue amid mounting public frustration. The meeting was...
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P95M smuggled cigarettes seized
The alleged illegal shipment was found inside two container vans reportedly smuggled into the port area. The operation was launched after Coast Guard intelligence operatives received reports of allegedly misdeclared cargo bound for Gothong Wharf at...
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MCWD readies for rationing
The dry season has begun affecting the operations of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), with the agency warning of possible water rationing as El Niño is expected to intensify later this year. So far, our supply has already been affected by...
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Impeached anew
The House of Representatives has impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, May 11, voting 257 to 25 to send her to a Senate trial on charges of plundering public funds and plotting to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. killed.
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ASEAN backs nuclear-free Southeast Asia
ASEAN leaders reaffirmed their commitment to preserving Southeast Asia as a nuclear weapon-free zone through the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty and called for stronger engagement with nuclear-weapon states to advance global...
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ASEAN Summit hailed a success
Hailed as a success, the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings staged in Cebu is touted as a showcase of the Filipino spirit. Following months of preparations, the organizers of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings consider the event a...
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ASEAN seals key accords
Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached key agreements in Cebu aimed at strengthening regional energy security, food stability, and the protection of citizens across Southeast Asia amid growing global...
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BBM calls for peace
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to peace, dialogue, and ASEAN solidarity as he addressed concerns over the border situation between Cambodia and Thailand during a regional meeting.
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ASEAN leaders meeting today
“It has been nine years since the Philippines last chaired ASEAN. Since then, our region has shown remarkable resilience, overcoming major obstacles and making meaningful progress.” PRES. FERDINAND MARCOS JR.’s ASEAN Summit message As regional...
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Palace declares Mactan holidays
Malacañang has declared May 6 to 8, 2026 as special non-working days in Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova as part of the security measures in line with Cebu’s hosting of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related...
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66 families relocated
A total of 66 families from a community near the Mactan Expo—one of the main venues of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit on May 7 and 8—have been temporarily relocated to a resort in Cordova since April 27.
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Cebu City College eyed after ACT row
The Cebu City Government is pushing to revive plans to establish its own city college following the Asian College of Technology (ACT) scholarship accreditation controversy, with Councilor Pastor M. Alcover Jr. proposing satellite campuses in upland...
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BBM to join leaders
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will join fellow leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the summit proper on May 8, 2026, alongside representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia,...
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EMB-7 defends Binaliw landfill
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources– Environmental Management Bureau Region VII (DENR EMB-7) has defended its decision to partially lift the cease and desist order (CDO) against the Binaliw landfill, following strong objections from...
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NBI-7: Inmate dies of ‘torture’
Prajes died on April 26, more than a month after being committed to the Cebu City Jail–Male Dormitory on charges of statutory rape involving an 11-year-old girl. Dr. Rene Cam, medicolegal officer of NBI-7, presented photographs of Prajes’ injuries,...
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Capitol speeds up water projects amid supply shortage
With only half of Cebu Province’s current daily water demand of 350 million liters being supplied by existing systems, the provincial government is working double time to fast-track water projects and address the widening gap, especially with a looming...
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Kadaugan rites echo global call for peace
Calls for world peace took center stage during the commemoration of the 505th Kadaugan sa Mactan yesterday, April 27, 2026, as LapuLapu City honored its historic legacy at the Mactan Shrine. Around 2,500 spectators and guests gathered at the Mactan...
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Human waste sparks concern
Reports of human waste being dumped along a roadside on busy Magallanes Street near Carbon Public Market in Cebu City have raised concerns over sanitation and labor conditions, as the Cebu City Council approved amendments to the city’s waste management...
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Nuclear back on the table
Nuclear energy is back on the table as part of the Philippines’ longterm power strategy, but industry leaders and stakeholders remain split, with some raising skepticism about whether it should be pursued now or later. During a recent energy forum...
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Mayor backs JVA review
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has expressed support for the City Council’s move to review the joint venture agreement (JVA) between the Cebu City Government and Megawide Corp. for the Carbon Market redevelopment project, even as councilors grappled...
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Air quality improved
Metro Cebu remained under a “very unhealthy” air quality classification on Monday, April 20, despite a slight improvement in readings, as hazardous levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) continued to linger over the metropolitan area. Data from the...
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Metro air hits hazardous level
Metro Cebu’s air quality index (AQI) reached the “very unhealthy” level yesterday, prompting Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival to issue a public advisory urging residents to take immediate protective measures. At 1:30 p.m. yesterday, April 19, official...
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Metro Cebu air unhealthy
In an advisory, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Central Visayas reported that hazy conditions were observed in parts of Metro Cebu. Its evaluation revealed that Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 levels near the Talisay City Station had exceeded...
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PRO-7 gets new director
Central Visayas’ top police command entered a new leadership phase on Thursday, April 16, as Police Brigadier General Arnold Evangelista Abad assumed command of Police Regional Office 7 (PRO-7). Abad took over from Brigadier General Redrico Maranan...
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Unified truck ban pushed
The Cebu Provincial Government is pushing to standardize truck ban hours across Metro Cebu, citing fragmented local regulations that worsen traffic congestion, disrupt the flow of goods, and contribute to rising commodity prices. Governor Pamela...
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Alegria oil, gas field revived
An Indonesian-backed firm is set to revive oil and gas production in Alegria, Cebu after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. awarded a new service contract allowing the company to take over operations of the oil field from a Chinese firm that previously...
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Upland farm crisis
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival is considering placing the city’s mountain barangays under a state of calamity following mounting complaints from farmers over collapsing crop prices, rising fuel costs, and the punishing heat of the dry season.
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Osmeña pushes plan to solve garbage woes
Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has stepped in to help Mayor Nestor Archival address the city’s worsening garbage crisis, outlining a plan aimed at cutting costs and restoring efficiency to a system that has long burdened residents and strained...
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₱1.1 billion ‘fake’ cigarettes seized
Over P1.1 billion worth of cigarettes believed to be counterfeit, along with manufacturing equipment, were seized from at least four Chinese nationals and a Filipino cohort who were arrested during a joint search warrant operation inside a warehouse...
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Tomas backs MCWD rate hike
Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has expressed support for the Metropolitan Cebu Water District’s (MCWD) water rate increase even as the Cebu City Council has called for its suspension. “I’m in favor of the increase in water rates. It’s necessary. We have to...
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Suspend water rate increase
The Cebu City Council, led by Acting Vice Mayor Winston Pepito, is seeking the suspension of the 10-percent water rate increase implemented by the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) on April 1, citing the growing burden on consumers amid rising...
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Capitol creates mineral task force
The Cebu Provincial Government has created an inter-agency task force aimed at strengthening the monitoring and regulation of quarry, sand, gravel, and other mineral resources, amid continued concerns over compliance and proper documentation of mineral...
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Capitol shifts to legal front
The executive department of the Cebu Provincial Government is set to pursue its legal battle with Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC) after the Provincial Board effectively rejected the proposed P211.56-million compromise agreement, returning it to...
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M5.1 quake shakes Cebu, triggers panic
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake jolted parts of Cebu on Monday afternoon, triggering panic among residents—particularly in northern Cebu, where communities are still recovering from the deadly quake in September last year that left 79 people dead and...
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LTFRB-7 suspends taxi over Soobin complaint
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7) has issued a show cause order (SCO) and placed a taxi operator under preventive suspension after its driver was accused by Choi Soobin, leader of the K-pop group...
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RDC-7 okays P97B budget
A total of P97.21 billion worth of budget proposals for 2027 from 40 regional agencies has officially been approved by the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC)7, which comprises big-ticket projects aimed at fostering economic growth,...
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MCWD braces for dry season
The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has begun rolling out early contingency measures, including water rationing and supply augmentation, as it braces for a projected daily deficit of 43,000 cubic meters amid the possible onset of El Niño this...
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Archival asks P981.9M more
The largest share—P500 million—has been earmarked for garbage hauling and disposal services, amid rising costs that have already exceeded P400 million. Archival said the city is exploring measures to reduce landfill dependence by converting waste into...
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