This Week in Cebu (April 7 to 13, 2019)

A bit of cloud cover at the start of the week provides a brief respite from the summer heat that is bearing down on the Queen City of the South. The cloudy weather will continue until Tuesday before the sun takes a peek at the city on Wednesday. Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may be experienced every now and then, mostly early in the morning or at night. Generally, the weather in Cebu will be partly sunny until the end of the week. Temperatures will range from 23°C to 34°C [1].

The Lapaz-Banban-Cayang Road project in Bogo City remains unimplemented due to lack of funding [2]. The project was already included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) 2019 of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 but it was not included in the 2019 bidding of the agency. The bidding for the project will be conducted once the president approves the General Appropriations Act 2019. The project involves the concreting of the road, which was promised by Senator Richard Gordon when he visited the city last September 1, 2016.

As part of ramping-up the capacity of its Cebu hub, Cebu Pacific will start regular flights between the Queen City of the South and Shanghai, China this month [3]. The Cebu-Shanghai route will have six flights each week from Monday to Saturday. Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said the airline aims to provide travelers from the Visayas and Mindanao another vacation option by connecting Shanghai to its Cebu hub. It also gives Chinese tourists easy access to one of the best islands in the world, Iyog added. The airline currently has flights to Hong Kong and Macau flying out of its Cebu hub. It also has flights from Cebu to Singapore, Incheon in South Korea, and Narita in Japan.

The Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort finally opened its doors to Cebu. The five-star 300-room resort hotel is the centerpiece of AmiSa, a 10-hectare mixed-use complex located in Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City [4]. Its opening comes as tourist arrivals in Cebu are set to increase with the opening of Terminal 2 of Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Last year, 5.6 million of the eight million foreign and domestic tourists in Central Visayas visited Cebu. The resort is the first resort project of Robinsons Land Corporation in Mactan. It is expected to cater to both local and foreign visitors to Cebu and is set to become a top choice for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions activities.

The Association of Kawasan Canyoneering Operators of Badian (AKCOB) made the assurance that extreme sports activities in Badian, Cebu are safe [5]. This announcement came after a Korean national reportedly died after taking a dip in the Kawasan Falls. Authorities said the tourist died while he was being transported to the Badian District Hospital. The organization said they have around 100 accredited guides trained in basic first aid and basic life support. In addition, AKCOB also implements safety measures for its canyoneering activities, including the use of a protective helmet and life vest. Furthermore, lifeguards also monitor tourists visiting the Kawasan Falls.

Looking for a parking spot in Cebu is not an easy task, and this is made more challenging with reports of overcharging by some pay-parking facilities in the city. Councilor Dave Tumulak of Cebu City asked motorists to report facilities that charge more than the PhP20 for the first three hours. City Ordinance 2089 set the standard for privately-owned pay-parking areas in the city. The ordinance set a PhP20 fee for the first three hours and PhP5 for every succeeding hour thereafter [6]. In addition, operators should maintain the cleanliness of their facilities and provide comfort rooms for its users.

To be updated about all the happening in the Queen City of the South, visit Yoorekka!