Tourism

One of the booming industries in our province today is the tourism industry. Truly, our
province is endowed with so many gifts of nature, such as magnificent beaches and breathtaking
sceneries. Indeed, to tap these gifts is what God wants us to do mindful, however, that such
gifts are not given to be abused and misused, but to protect and cherish. In line with this, we have
made the following activities, not only to make use of and appreciate such gifts, but also to
preserve them for the generations to come.
First, [Tourist Destinations: newly-identified tourist destinations (what actions were
taken - opened access/new road, improved and cleaned area)]

Also, we have the famous Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, which admittedly has been a customary
activity by the local government when we assumed office. Dissecting politics from public
service, we intentionally retained such activity To innovate and to make this activity more
efficient, we have thought and implemented a few methods and variations which sets this years
Suroy-Suroy apart from the previous ones and to alleviate the expenses that it entails: [(how
many paying guests compared to previous year, how much was saved)]
Moreover, our province is not just rich in gifts of nature, but also we are rich in terms of
the memoirs of the past. Indeed, what we are right now is a product of what has happened in the
past, and we can say that we, as Cebuanos are rich, in a more transcendental manner, because we
are conscious of our past as a people. Verily, we have made efforts to further promote such
consciousness, one of which is earnestly supporting our very own Museo Sugbo, which
modesty aside was declared as the Best Museum in the year 2013 by Sun Star in its Best of
Cebu 2013 awards. Truly, such recognition is a proof of what we have done so far, and a
challenge of what we will do in the future.
Local Government Support Program
Popularly known as LGSP, this support program is in coordination with the Department
of Tourism and aims to attain a sustainable local economic growth, improve economic climate
investment and protect economic interests. One of the means to achieve these goals is the effort
to develop a tourism circuit to string together tourist attractions, getaways and service centres for
an improved tourism product quality as well as guide private companies to funnel investments.

TRANS-AXIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
In relation to the aim we have pointed out earlier, it is our utmost priority to take steps
that are geared toward taking care of the environment and slowing down the negative effects of
humankinds unmindful exploitation and destructive neglect of Mother Earths welfare. In our
vision to maintain a sustainable environment, as well as to promote the prudent and responsible
use of our natural resources, we vowed to vigilantly protect our environment against those who
are determined to destroy it for their own selfish goals and build a greener and liveable Cebu
which every Cebuano deserves. In this connection, one instrumentality is worthy of mention.
PENRO
PENRO, or the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, is that
instrumentality charged with the implementation of the laws seeking to provide protection to the
environment.
Thus, we have initiated the following activities:
First, we have been doing more apprehensions of cargo trucks carrying illegally hauled
sand and gravel, lime stones and other minerals, totalling up to 392 apprehensions from July
2013 to June 20, 2014, as compared to the previous administrations 62 apprehensions from the
2
nd
semester of 2012 to the first semester of 2013. In addition, we have collected a total of Php
1,814, 141 as fines and penalties in the 1
st
semester of 2014 for alone, and a total of Php
1,222,183.50 in the second semester of 2013, as compared to only Php 561,175.60 collections of
the previous administration. The increased collection is due mainly on our efforts to strictly
implement and enforce the Environmental Code and the Revenue Code of Cebu and to eliminate
corruption in the rank of the implementing officers.
Second, as part of the concerted efforts to protect our environment, we have intensified
our vigilance in reviewing and evaluating applications for quarry permit. We adopted a more
rigid and scrutinizing set of standards in granting such permits. But our vigilance does not end
after the issuance of the permit. We have institutionalized new policies aimed at ensuring sound
quarry/mining practices, including the strict monitoring of the permit holders compliance with
their Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). Furthermore, we have finally ordered the
closure of quarry operations in the Sapangdaku River Channel in Toledo City, taking into major
consideration the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Office and the DENR. Admittedly, this meant a decrease in revenues but this should not be
construed as a negative effect for truly, money can be valuable, but no amount of it can pay off
the damage we have been causing the environment. Instead, we see this as an achievement: for in
the past administration, the operations in the said area were not strictly monitored, which led to
severe environmental damage in the area and posed serious disaster risks in that city and its
neighbouring municipalities. As part of our joint effort to protect this part of the province, we
have intensified our enforcement activities by establishing mobile checkpoints and conducting
random check/operations.
Third, by way of performing our duty as parens patriae or the defender of the weak of
society, we have provided livelihood assistance to the small-scale Pala-Pala Sand Gravel
Illegal Operators in Sapangdaku River Channel. In our efforts to help them find alternative
sources of income, a demo farm was established in Sta. Rita, Asturias, Cebu which will soon be
replicated in other areas specifically to help address the livelihood concerns of some of the SAG
illegal operators in the municipality. The farm is now administered by an association of farmers
and SAG Pala-Pala operators in close coordination with PENRO and PGO Community
Organizing Team.
As a little something in return, these guys serve as active agents in monitoring illegal
quarrying activities in the area.
Fourth, on forest management, we have held onto the idea that trees are vital to the
preservation of the environment and to the alleviation of the adverse effects of mankinds
industrial activities. Hence, we have planted a total of 1,228,708 trees, which were planted in
school sites or in school identified areas all over the province of Cebu with the help of DepEd.
Further, some 350,200 mangroves were planted in the coastlines of Cebu Province in partnership
with LGUs, NGOs and POs. Also, we were able to collect 11,414 seedlings from Sand and
Gravel Permit Holders as part of their obligation under their ECCs.
But after having said all these, I must hasten to add that, despite all these activities by our
government, the results which we aim to attain would not be possible, if we as a community
would not cooperate with one another. This task of preserving our environment does not depend
on one person. It depends on us on our concerted efforts, on our being a community, on our
being truly Cebuanos. We do not need a superhero. We already have what we need each other.
DISASTER RISK PREPAREDNESS
Our journey so far has never been easy. A number of tragedies welcomed us, but we
never lost faith. We were put to the test, but we emerged victorious. We expect many more tests,
and we are up to the challenge. Thus, we say that one very important aspect on which the
government is currently focusing is disaster risk preparedness. The times have changed, and the
environmental situations require greater pro-activeness on the part of our government. So, in
order to aid us satisfy this requirement, The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Office (PDRRMO) was set up, with active and responsive personnel.
PDRRMO
A month after our administration assumed office, we were greeted by an awful tragedy
the August 16 2013 sea mishap at Lawis Ledge off Talisay City. Many lives were lost. Many
tears were shed. Many hopes were shattered. But we were undaunted we were mindful that
being the government, we should be a beacon of hope for those who thought that hope would
have never existed. As part of its duties and responsibilities, the PDRRMO deployed its
personnel to the area who helped in transporting the survivors to refuge areas, where they were
given assistance. Truly, your government stood by your side during the time when you need it
most.
On October 15, 2013, another test came, which shook the whole province the 7.2-
magnitude earthquake hitting the Visayas region, with its epicentre located in Bohol. That
earthquake caused varying degrees of damage to many of the buildings and houses in the
affected areas, including the Capitol Building and the former Palace of Justice, Cebu Internation
Convention Center. Again, we were undaunted by such occurrence. It did not hold us back from
doing what we are expected to do. Hence, in order to respond to the need, a PDRRMO team was
dispatched to Maribojoc, Bohol to assist in the relief operation. These operations included setting
up a High Frequency Radio Communication system to Cebu for damage assessment and
information dissemination and management.
Despite all the damage which the facilities of the Cebu Province sustained, we were still
able to respond to various fire alarms in Cebu and Mandaue cities, to a tornado rampage in
Talisay City and Minglanilla, and to the typhoid outbreak in Tuburan.
Then, when everyone thought the worst have happened, super typhoon Yolanda, one of
the strongest that this Province has experienced in recent years, came. It brought havoc and
destruction in many areas of the country and disorientation and pain to many people, especially
to those who are living in Northern Cebu. In response to the situation, various teams from
PDRRMO, in coordination with LGUs and other private organizations, conducted search and
rescue operations, as well as debris clearing operations in affected areas. It has organized and
mobilized the Provincial Emergency Rapid Assessment Team, and conducted Disaster Relief
Distribution to 16 municipalities. The relief goods worth over Php 80.5M benefitted 181,082
individuals. We are glad to say that the planned time-frame in extending help to those affected
was complied with.
The PDRRMO took steps further in ensuring that help would be extended to every
affected barangay, to every affected person. Thus, it organized an Inter-Agency Working Group
with members from the Regional Government Offices to assist the areas affected by the
devastating typhoon. Subsequently, the Cebu Province Rehabilitation Plan and Cabinet Cluster
was developed and approved with a total budget of over Php 12.02 billion.
After having all external concerns attended to, internal concerns were tended. Hence, the
retrofitting of the Capitol Main Building and the Legislative Building were done in the second
quarter of this year. Thankfully, the delivery of basic services has once again resumed to normal
conditions and pace.
The retrofitting of the Museo Sugbo and the Cebu Cultural Centre has, however, been put
on hold, until the assessment on what materials to use and what procedures to take in
rehabilitating them would be finished.
Provincial Engineering Office also deserves credit for having satisfactorily done its part
in the clearing of buildings, in assisting in the restoration and erection of 74 pieces of electrical
posts in the Camotes Island Groups, installing tents at the Talisay City Fish Port after the sea
tragedy there, and many more.
Indeed, everything that we have enumerated were done, not because there was only one
person who was capable of doing everything, but because there was everybody capable of being
one one as a team, one as a community, one as a family. Yes, I dare say, that no super typhoon
can be that strong, when our will the Cebuanos will to live on and fight on, is stronger.