Newsbriefs

STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS

CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said her State of the Province Address tomorrow will answer every Cebuano’s questions about her governance.

Garcia told reporters she is preparing her speech—a report on her accomplishments during the first year of her third and final term.

The governor said she will also cite achievements from her first two terms in her speech at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Capitol Social Hall.

“I know that we have to take into consideration all of the inputs of all department heads as regard their individual reports on the projects and programs that continue to implement the 12-point agenda that has been my guide and my platform of government,” she said.

Garcia’s 12-point agenda includes services for children and the elderly, women, agriculture and food production, water, health, power, education, business, environment, infrastructure, information technology, tourism and peace and order.

The governor said she will include in her list of achievements having established relations between Cebu and foreign places like Busan in South Korea.

Cebu congressmen, mayors and vice mayors of different towns are expected in the Sopa. The governor said she will also invite Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

She said she will speak of the improving relations between Capitol and Cebu City Hall, “a fact that I believe is warmly welcomed by all Cebuanos.” /CORRESPONDENT CARMEL LOISE MATUS

BLACKOUT, ELECTROCUTION

POWER in some parts of Cebu City was interrupted for 40 minutes yesterday when a power line got hit by a scaffolding and construction worker.

“(The) cause of the blackout was a scaffolding of an ongoing building construction in Tupas, Pasil, that hit our 69kV (primary line),” said Visayan Electric Co. communications manager Ethel Natera.

Natera said a construction worker was hurt.

“When we reached the site, the worker was not there anymore. He was brought to the hospital. We have sent our safety staff to the hospital to check on the condition of the worker,” Natera said.

Parts of the city’s uptown, midtown and downtown areas suffered a blackout at 2:56 p.m., but power was restored at 3:36 p.m. /Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap

DENR CHECKS NEW TALISAY MARKET

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas (DENR-EMB 7) will check if the new market in barangay Lagtang, Talisay City, has not violated any environmental regulations.

EMB-7 Regional Director Allan Arranguez said his office will assess whether or not the new market is within the the 20-meter easement zone and flood prone.

If it is, the market’s Environmental Compliance Certificate of the facility will be suspended.

Arranguez said that they set a technical conference between leaders of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, the City Council and vendors.

The vendors went to the EMB office early this month to raise concerns about the relocation site.

They refused to move to the new 2.7-hectare Lagtang Market constructed by the city since they find the new location hardly accessible and too close to the Mananga River. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya