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They also asked whether their cities would be included in the Mega Cebu plans.

One of the proponents of the Mega Cebu project said the proposal is assured of sustainability, considering it will be run by the private sector. This will make it less vulnerable to changes whenever new leaders are chosen in local elections.

But in a text message, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza expressed doubts the Mega Cebu proposal will work, given the present political set-up in Cebu.

While they are being urged to join, Radaza said her main concern is whether the proposals will lead to projects that will benefit her constituents.

“Wa man mi naki’g ija-ija (We don’t intend to be isolated and do things only on our own). What is important to me is how it will benefit our constituents,” she added.

Challenges like urbanization and the quality of life, as well as inadequate infrastructure and declining competitiveness, are among the areas a plan for Mega Cebu should address, business leader Roberto Aboitiz said in a forum last month.

The idea, he said, is to plan not just for Metro Cebu, but a larger region, possibly up to the cities of Carcar in the south and Danao in the north.

The plan would be good for the next 30 years, he added, and address challenges that cross boundaries, like reducing the risk of disasters and adapting to climate change.

Fear

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said that while he supports the Mega Cebu project, he fears the proposal might end up like the now-defunct Metro Cebu Development Projects (MCDP).

He said that when MCDP was disbanded, infrastructure projects that were supposed to be place in Mandaue City also stopped. It was then the flooding worsened in the city over the years, he said.

Cortes said the succeeding development boards have not entirely solved problems in the local government units, such as traffic.

“Nindot ang atong damgo (That is a grand dream), but how can we expect cooperation, how can we have a unified traffic system if ang mga jeepneys sa Mandaue dili pasudlon sa Cebu City (Mandaue City’s jeepneys aren’t allowed into Cebu City)?” he added.

The mayor referred to the Cebu City Government’s decision to prevent Mandaue jeepneys from entering main roads, including downtown.

Cortes said that some mayors are considering the idea of letting national agencies, instead of politicians, the task of creating a good developmen handlet plan for Cebu.

These agencies include the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Assurance

Businessman Bunny Pages, one of the members of the Metro Cebu Development Coordination Board (MCDCB), said there is an assurance of sustainability and permanence in the “Mega Cebu” plan, because members of the private sector will keep it together.

He said the project is not political, and thus less vulnerable to term limits imposed on local government officials.

Pages also said the Mega Cebu project is envisioned to remove the focus from individual local governments, and to encourage planners and officials to plan for Cebu as a whole.

“The project is aimed at contributing the expertise of the business and private sector in helping to improve Cebu,” Pages added. (Sun Star)

The principal author of the proposed ordinance, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, said the word “tabloid” has been omitted from the original title.

The proposed ordinance “prohibits the sale, distribution, or exhibition of obscene printed or written materials within the Province of Cebu.”

Under the new proposal, obscene is defined as something lewd, impure, or indecent and is calculated to shock the moral senses of man by a disregard of chastity or modesty.

It also refers to some conduct that tends to corrupt the public morals by its indecency or lewdness.

Printed or written materials include but are not limited to magazines, books, newspapers, tabloids, brochures, pamphlets, leaflets, flyers, tarpaulins or posters and their content whether of local, national, or international coverage and circulation.

The original proposal has met opposition from Cebu news media practitioners and the Cebu Media Legal Aid, which is composed of lawyers who are in media, for being “unconstitutional, unnecessary, and dangerous.”

Committee chairman PB Member Peter John Calderon earlier said the ordinance will not cover radio programs because these already have a self regulating organization, the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster sa Pilipinas.

Movies are also being taken care of by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, he said.

The committee also added a provision for the creation of the Provincial Anti-Obscenity Board under the proposed ordinance.

The proposed creation of PA-OB gets the support of Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, national director of Aids-Free Philippines.

Delighted by the proposal, Bullecer offered his voluntary assistance to Magpale.

“The fight against all forms of indecency in the society is a concern for everybody especially if the church fails to do its part, the government is expected to do its share,” Bullecer said in his letter to Magpale dated November 3, 2001.

Rogel Dinaguit, driver of a 07B jeepney, alleged that Cebu Traffic Operations Management (Citom) Officer Imelda Sabellano slapped him during an argument after he was apprehended for violating the No Loading, No Unloading policy inside the compound.

Dinaguit admitted that a Capitol employee requested that she be allowed to disembark near the Legislative Building since the designated jeepney stop is already outside the compound.

He stopped at the area, alerting Sabellano who called his attention.

Dinaguit said he apologized but Sabellano insisted on getting his driver's license leading to an argument.

“I was about to remove my seat belt but she slapped me in the face. It still hurts,” a teary-eyed Dinaguit told Cebu Daily News.

But Sabellano denied the allegations saying she was calm when she approached Dinaguit.

She said she put her arm through the window of the driver’s seat while asking for Dinaguit’s license.

Sabellano said Dinaguit stepped on the gas, causing the vehicle to move forward and dragging her along.

She said she accidentally hit Dinaguit's head. Sabellano said Dinaguit tried to kick her but missed.

Capitol Security Consultant Cesar Veloso said they are investigating the incident.

He said they had already reprimanded Sabellano but gave the Citom office a free hand in imposing sanctions on her.

“The driver was very arrogant. But still, she should not have done that,” Veloso said.

They are also trying to locate the employee who disembarked from the jeepney.

“We will definitely warn that employee. Nobody is exempted from the implemented rules. Not even Capitol employees. Not even lawyers. I myself follow those rules,” he said.

The Capitol Compound was opened as diversion route last Oct. 24 for vehicles from Escario Street heading to M. Velez Street.

“It’s not winning. It only means that the President is listening to the people. It only means this current administration has the ear to listen to the cry of the people,” Rama said.

His predecessor, Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district, disagreed.

“In my point of view, it’s a loss for Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama ’cause it only means less accomplishment from him and a loss for Cebu since we lost a flyover,” Osmeña said.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson earlier placed on hold two flyover projects in in Gorordo Avenue and M.J. Cuenco in Cebu City.

The projects were suspended pending a review from the Regional Development Council’s (RDC) technical working group.

Singson ordered the suspension of the flyover projects in response to protests from businessmen, religious groups and other stakeholders.

The secretary said he will wait for the completion of a master plan before deciding whether or not to proceed with the projects.

Last Oct. 1, nuns belonging to the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul joined a multisectoral movement in organizing activities aimed at building public opposition to the projects.

Flyover opponents said part of the compound of the Asilo de la Milagrosa at Gorordo Avenue, the nuns’ home, sits on the path of the flyover projects.

DPWH officials earlier said they would redesign the projects to spare the the Asilo compound.

Osmeña said the suspension came because the Palace listened to the mayor’s request.

He said he agreed with the plan to first widen the road at the intersection in the area where the flyovers are supposed to be built.

“It’s not really in conflict with our stand because they are going to widen the road. I am even happy they will widen it. You’ll have to widen it first anyway before constructing the flyover,” Osmeña said.

Rama said he will write the Palace and Singson to personally thank them for suspending the flyover projects in his capacity as mayor and RDC chairman.

Rama has proposed a P10 million appropriation in his 2012 budget for the conduct of a traffic master plan.

He was confident that the private sector would also contribute financially help the city finish its traffic master plan.

Rama said the city's master plan could later be incorporated as part of a Metro Cebu master plan, a precursor to the proposed Mega Cebu program.

For their part, the Movement for a Liveable Cebu ( MLC) wants a permanent seat in the Regional Development Council (RDC).

Joel Lee, one of the proponents of MLC formerly known as the Stop Cebu Flyovers Movement, said they would conduct information dissemination on the barangay level on their proposals for a sustainable and livable Cebu.

“It has become a broad community topic. We want to prepare the people for greater awareness in the aspects of liveability and on what kind of participation we can have,” Lee told Cebu Daily News.

Lee said they will register their group with the Securities and Exchange Commission to give their group a legal personality.

He said public officials should actively consult the public in developing the city’s traffic master plan.

Criminal and Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) 7 Director Jose Pante told Sun.Star Cebu the plan is still in the works and will likely materialize next year.

“Wala na tayong magagawa diyan kasi pag-aari naman nila ito (We can’t do anything about it because the Province owns this lot),” he said when sought for comment.

The plan is to use a Provincial Government-owned lot near Asilo de la Milagrosa Church, about 6,000 square meters going in the direction of the CCCPO compound.

Aside from the CIDG 7 office, the plan may also affect the Highway Patrol Group and the CCPO compound’s entrance.

“Despite this, we we’re assured we’d be relocated properly,” Pante said.

In a separate interview, CCPO Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said he has yet to be informed about the project and declined to comment.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia confirmed the plan last week, during a meeting with CIDG officials in her office.

Paul Entera, head of Capitol’s real estate and properties division, said in an interview that lot is beside Asilo de la Milagrosa.

He also said there are three lots that have already been sold to some individuals. He could not yet say exactly how many establishments or residences will be affected because he had no access to records during the interview yesterday, a holiday.

On the part of the CCPO, only the gate and a building near the road will be affected, said Entera. He said the CCPO already knew about this.

The CIDG currently shares a lot with the Mobile Patrol Group, Crime Laboratory and CCPO.

“Lahat siksikan kami doon (We’re all crammed there),” Pante added. The compound also includes a ten-bed regional hospital.

Capitol officials, though, have not mentioned when the development will start.

When the governor met recently with CIDG 7 Chief Pante, they discussed the Province’s plan to give the unit a building situated in a Capitol property in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.

The governor reportedly explained the Capitol intends to develop the commercially viable property along Gorordo Ave. using a public-private partnership.

A restaurant, among many other possible establishments, may be built there.

“We would be willing to relocate all of you,” the governor assured the CIDG.

She mentioned a plan to build an anti-crime community on the Province’s property in Sudlon, where the provincial police office is already based.

Law enforcers can coordinate better if related agencies, like the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the justice department’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are also placed there.

Helping build offices for the law enforcement agencies like PDEA and NBI, the governor added, is the Province’s “contribution to the effort to fight” crime and make Cebu more attractive to businesses and tourists.

Entera added that the Province already sent letters to some occupants of the property who did not pay the Capitol rent. He said his office received only verbal responses, so far, acknowledging that the Capitol owns the lot.

CEBU CITY -- A long weekend allowed visitors to head for the cemeteries a day or two early and made Tuesday’s crowds, though still large, easier for the police and other authorities to manage.

All Saints’ Day proceeded without major incidents in Cebu’s cemeteries that what stood out, instead, was an infraction by a handful of policemen.

Out of some 3,000 law enforcers and soldiers fielded Tuesday, about five were told they will probably be transferred because they failed to wear their proper caps.

CEBU. Soldiers and police patrol the Pardo cemetery to keep petty thieves from taking advantage of the crowd. (Amper Campaña)

“I am very hard on this order. The police must be seen as being prim and proper,” said Police Regional Office (PRO)-Central Visayas Director Marcelo Garbo, referring to the Tamang Bihis Program of the police.

At the Queen City Gardens in Cebu City, the police confiscated a hunting knife and other dangerous weapons, as well as beer and a plastic bottle filled with gasoline.

Overall, it was peaceful, police and local government authorities said.

“From what I have seen, everything was managed well. The police and everyone involved in Oplan Kalag-Kalag were visible inside and outside the cemetery. I’d like to tell everyone that we are the only ones who can keep our cemeteries secure and safe,” said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

He commended the police and other offices involved in the Oplan Kalag-Kalag for keeping the city secure and safe since Friday.

CEBU. At the Queen City Gardens in Cebu City, a boy samples the skin from a lechon his family prepared for a get-together. (Alex Badayos)

Peaceful

After visiting 11 cemeteries on Tuesday, Rama said he was satisfied with the security provided by the police and the barangay officials, as well as with the traffic plan of the City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Citom Board Chairman Sylvan Jakosalem said the roads were not as congested as in the previous years, perhaps because of the long weekend that allowed the public to visit their loved ones ahead of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.

Traffic signs such as “no entry” and “no parking” signs were also displayed prominently.

“Peaceful” was also how Senior Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador Jr. described Tuesday’s situation in Cebu Province.

“(There were) no celebration-related incidents,” said the director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) who inspected some police stations in the north.

The major cemeteries that the provincial police focused on were the ones in Talisay City, Consolacion, Balamban, Toledo City, Daanbantayan, Minglanilla and Liloan.

In Cebu City, no crimes related to the celebration were reported.

Deterrent

Senior Superintendent Melvin Ramon Buenafe credited the 400-strong police force that patrolled cemeteries and other public spaces.

“The presence of the police is a deterrent to the criminals who would take advantage of the celebration,” Buenafe said.

About 600 volunteers from the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT), non-government organizations and civic groups were also positioned.

“I commend the police for doing their job and maintaining peace and order,” Buenafe said.

With the cemeteries generally safe and orderly, Mayor Rama had the chance to visit the graves of loved ones in the Queen City Gardens Tuesday morning.

“Despite my busy schedule, I still find time to visit because this is the least that I can do for them,” Rama said.

“Even if they are already dead, I know that they will help me in times of trouble.”

The Queen City Gardens was also the last stop for PRO-Central Visayas Chief Garbo, who, together with several top officials, checked and visited the two biggest cemeteries in Cebu City: Calamba and Carreta.

Although thousands filed into these cemeteries to offer flowers, pray, and light candles, no disorder or violence was observed.

Examples

But the five policemen who failed to wear the prescribed police caps now face the prospect of being transferred to Negros Oriental or Siquijor. Some may be sent to Bogo or the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.

The policemen, who were not named as Garbo requested, came from the Cebu and Mandaue City Police Offices.

He said the police must set an example as enforcers of the law.

“Sagot ito sa mga kalokohan at mandarayang pulis (This is how I wish to deal with the shenanigans of some policemen),” he said.

Two days prior to the celebration, he ordered police supervisors to inspect cemeteries in their areas.

The PRO-Central Visayas received hourly reports from all over Central Visayas.

Chief Superintendent Jaime Calungsod of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (Dipo) in the Visayas remarked on the effective security preparations in Cebu.