This Week in Cebu (June 16 to 22, 2019)

It seems the rainy season is already here in Cebu as the sun can barely peek from behind the clouds the whole week [1]. While the sun may shine at times from Sunday up until Wednesday, cloudy weather is expected to dominate the first half of the week. By Thursday, it is advisable to bring your rain gear as rain showers and thunderstorms are expected all throughout the day. You may have to stay indoors over the weekend as the gloomy weather will continue until the end of the week. Temperatures will range between 25°C and 34°C.

A newly-constructed bridge was turned over to a barangay in Minglanilla by outgoing Governor Hilario Davide III [2]. The 30-meter concrete bridge will replace the old wooden bridge connecting Barangay Guindaruhan to a provincial road that leads to the main highway. The old bridge only allowed light vehicles to pass while in comparison, the new PhP6.2-million can handle heavy loads. The project is a joint effort of the Cebu Provincial Capitol, Barangay Guindaruhan, and JLR Construction and Aggregates Inc. The Capitol provided the funds for the project while the bridge’s approach was constructed by the barangay. On the other hand, the construction company provided aggregate materials for the construction of the bridge.

It seems that dashboard cameras will not be limited anymore to private vehicles and taxis as free dashboard cameras were distributed to qualified public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers by the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) recently [3]. Around 1,000 drivers were qualified to receive the free cameras. Photocopies of the driver’s license, franchise, official receipt, and confirmation were provided by the drivers when they claimed the dashboard cameras. They have until June 28 to claim the free cameras, which was made available to improve peace and order as well as deter criminality.

Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa proposed the idea of using water taxis in bringing guests of luxury resorts in Mactan Island to Cebu City [4]. The five-star resort is asking incoming local government officials to allow the use of a docking area fronting Corso mall at the South Road Properties for the water taxis. The area was once used as a seaplane terminal by a company operating Air Juan. Using water taxis will allow guests to avoid traffic when they go to the city. The resort is also planning to discuss the idea with other resorts in Mactan, including Movenpick. Shangri-La Mactan is currently ferrying guests to and from Lapu-Lapu City to the resort using water taxis at the docking area in Lapu-Lapu City.

Outgoing Vice Governor Agnes Magpale encouraged the incoming administration to reduce the number of tourists allowed to participate in whale watching activities in Oslob [5]. An online booking system will reduce the current daily average from 1,000 tourists to 800 tourists every day. A 2018 study conducted by the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) showed the carrying capacity to sustain tourism activities in Oslob should be limited to 800 individuals every day. If the online booking system is continued, it will make Cebu as the first province to limit the number of tourists visiting a tourist destination.

Samboan’s Aguinid Falls is scheduled to be closed for at least one month for restoration [6]. The upcoming closure was announced through the Aguinid Tangbo Facebook Page, which is the official social media page of Barangay Tangbo. The post indicated that the closure will allow nature to heal itself and allow officials to make changes and reforms before it is opened once again to the public. New fees and the use of safety gears will be discussed by officials during the closure. Currently, the entrance fee to the falls is PhP40 per visitor and it averages around 100 visitors each day. The closure is scheduled from June 17 to July 17 but may be extended upon the discretion of the barangay.

For the latest travel updates on the Queen City of the South, visit Yoorekka.com.