By Junex Doronio

CEBU CITY — Five hundred years ago, the Spaniards came as invaders. Now, they are back as investors.

Thus observed Governor Gwen Garcia when she signed on Saturday (16 March 2024) the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Spain-based Consortium Acciona Energia Global and Freya Renewables Inc. for a 25-year build-transfer-operate scheme for the construction of a 150-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Daanbantayan, Cebu’s northernmost town.

The solar power plant is expected to lower electricity bills in the island province of Cebu.

Acciona Energia Global and Makati-based Freya Renewables Inc. will build the solar power plant, one of the country’s largest renewable energy facilities, on a 185-hectare lot in Barangay Talisay in Daanbantayan.

It was gathered that 24 lot owners in Daanbantayan have already agreed to sell their properties to the Cebu Provincial Government.

Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura said they have explained to the lot owners the benefits of a solar power plant as it will lower electric bills in the province.

Garcia and Vice Gov. Hilario Davide III, Ignacio Domecq of Acciona Energia Global Ltd. and Fermin Alvarez of Freya Renewables Inc. led the MOA signing.

Witnessing “another historical event” was Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, among others.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

CEBU CITY — In what appears to be a test of political will, Mayor Mike Rama has stood pat in his decision to hold the traditional Catholic festival Sinulog Ritual Showdown in 2024 Sinulog Competition and the Sinulog Grand Parade in 2024 at the South Road Properties (SRP) and not at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) as proposed by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn ‘Gwen” Garcia.

On Tuesday, December 12, Rama reiterated his strong preference for SRP as the venue for the traditional Catholic event that originated in Cebu.

“As I would like to repeat, my stance has not changed. SRP, we had it last time [there], we should have it [there] again… In God we trust,” Rama said.

Last December 6, Garcia said she would support the Sinulog 2024 celebration if the activity would be held at the Abellana Sports Complex again, now known as CCSC.

“We will support it if it takes place in Abellana. We are all for it,” Garcia said.

During his online program “Ingna’ng Mayor”, Rama claimed that preparations for the Sinulog have been underway since August.

“Those who want to help, just help, help, and help without attaching any conditions, because if we offer help, we should offer it in faith to Señor Sto. Niño,” Rama said but stopped short in mentioning the feisty Cebu lady governor.

Local political observers told Maharlika NuMedia that Rama must have sensed that “Gov Gwen will run for mayor” in Cebu City while his younger brother former Cebu 3rd district Representative Pablo John “PJ” will run for governor in 2025.

Such a move is aimed at fortifying the hold of the Garcia political dynasty in the entire Cebu island province, the same sources said.

(ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

CEBU CITY — Frustrated by the apparent inaction of the national government, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia has decided to purchase the land near the airport on Bantayan Island to extend the runway and accommodate commercial flights.

On Friday, Capitol insiders told Maharlika NuMedia that the governor was optimistic that commercial aircraft from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) may be able to land at the Bantayan airport once the project is completed.

“We cannot wait for the National Government to fund us, and I want this to be happening already because Bantayan is ripe for tourist arrivals. It’s so difficult to get there for hours,” Garcia said in exasperation during a December 6, 2023 meeting with the officials of the different airline companies.

It was learned that the island’s airport currently has a 1.2-kilometer runway but some experts have advised that to handle commercial flights, this must be extended to 1.5 or 1.8 kilometers.

Bantayan Airport currently serves chartered flights.

Garcia also ordered the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) to assess the areas surrounding the airport that they plan to purchase for the runway expansion project.

Several Garcia supporters were egging her to run for senator in 2025 and, ultimately, vice president in 2028.

(ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

CEBU CITY — Paraphrasing the famous quote of the late US President John F. Kennedy and to show her strong support to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Cebu Government Gwen Garcia has led the Provincial Capitol in launching the “Sugbo Merkadong Barato” (SMB), a pop-up store that will be installed in all local government units (LGUs) in Cebu and sell rice at P20 per kilo for indigent families.

Garcia said the SMB launching serves as a fulfillment of the President’s promise to bring the price of rice to P20 per kilo.

“It is incumbent upon us — upon each and every one of us — to help our President, to help our national government. Ask not what your country, the Philippines, can do, but rather ask what you can do for the Philippines and for our beloved President Bongbong Marcos,” Garcia stressed in her speech on the SMB launching on Tuesday, November 28.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez who represented the President, lauded the capitol’s program.

“Marami ang nagsasabi na imposible ‘yan. But as Cebu has done, as it did many times in the past, it has made dreams a reality. And you, governor, and all of you congressmen, board members, and the mayors — you have made this dream possible,” Romualdez said.

Garcia said the program focuses on providing affordable NFA rice at P20 per kilo and other basic goods at a lower price.

“This is all a collaborative effort, a synergy of several sectors that have only one goal in mind, and that is to help those that need help the most,” Garcia noted.

Farm and sea products and processed goods by Cebu’s micro and small entrepreneurs are also available at all SMBs, the governor added.

“Let this be a challenge to all Cebuanos. You pride yourself in being recognized as the number one province in the entire country and the richest province in the entire country. The provincial government is doing its best that it can to support the President that we cast our votes for,” Garcia said.

Marcos Jr. got 1,515,812 votes in the country’s most vote-rich province which has had 3.2 million voters as of 2022.

PBBM’s votes were higher than his predecessor Rodrigo Roa Duterte who only bagged over 1.1 million votes in Cebu in the 2016 presidential race.

(ai/mnm)