This Week in Cebu (May 5 to 11, 2019)

Bringing an umbrella may be practical as the weather will turn from sunny to rainy all in one week. Since the sun will be out the whole day on Sunday, an umbrella will ward off harmful UV rays from damaging your skin. While cloud cover will gradually increase as the week goes on, ditching the umbrella may not be a good idea since rainy weather is expected in the evenings. By Thursday, a thunderstorm may come in the morning [1]. Over the weekend, scattered rain showers are expected throughout the day. Temperatures for the week will range from a high of 350 C to a low of 220 C.

Pet lovers rejoice! Your pets can now ride with you if you take public transportation. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) released a memorandum allowing pet owners to bring their pets in public utility vehicles (PUVs) [2]. The move was in response to the request of different groups to give access to pets based on the Animal Welfare Act of 1998. However, the pets should be put in carriers and placed in a designated compartment in the PUV. Pet lovers welcomed the move particularly those who take public transportation in going from one place to another.

A new traffic plan could be implemented when the underpass project along N. Bacalso Avenue will be opened to the public [3]. This was revealed by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-7 Project Engineer Roy Dela Cruz. When the project started, delivery trucks, buses, and mini-buses were rerouted to the Cebu South Coastal Road. But once the underpass opens in June, these vehicles may be allowed to pass through the main roads in the area. Dela Cruz also said a conference meeting among the Cebu City Traffic Office (CCTO), DPWH-7, and other offices to work on a new traffic scheme will be held once the project is completed this June.

Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Director Shahlimar Tamano advised tourism stakeholders to always practice safety [4]. These remarks were made during a recent counter-terrorism training conducted by the British Embassy. Tamano made the remarks as the tourism industry in Cebu continues to grow. He added that even though the region is free from threats, tourism stakeholders should remain vigilant. Tamano also said safety should be in the DNA of all stakeholders in the region. The region has seen an increase in tourist arrivals from 6.9 million in 2017 to eight million in 2018.

Netlix’s “Street Food Asia” recently featured Cebuano street food during its launch at Toyo Eatery on April 24 [5]. The producers of the show decided to feature Cebu after they spotted an article in an in-flight magazine written by veteran Cebuano journalist, Jude Bacalso. Among the Cebuano street food highlighted on the show were the Nilarang Bakasi (soured stew reef eel) of Florencio “Entoy” Escabas, the Tuslob-Buwa of Ian Secong, the Cebu lechon of Leslie Enjambre, and the lumpia (Chinese-style spring rolls) of Rubilyn Diko Manayon.

A city ordinance currently prohibits the sale of alcoholic drinks within 100 meters of churches, hospitals schools, and public plazas. Despite this prohibition, a Cebu City councilor noted the presence of bars close to churches and schools along General Maxilom Avenue. Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera has urged the City Zoning Board to check if these establishments are following City Ordinance 1413 [6]. He said some of these establishments are located adjacent to religious and educational institutions. Councilor Garganera added that he wants to make sure business owners are following the ordinance aimed at protecting the interest of the general public.

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