The Freeman
₱1.1 billion ‘fake’ cigarettes seized
Over P1.1 billion worth of cigarettes believed to be counterfeit, along with manufacturing equipment, were seized from at least four Chinese nationals and a Filipino cohort who were arrested during a joint search warrant operation inside a warehouse...
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Tomas backs MCWD rate hike
Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has expressed support for the Metropolitan Cebu Water District’s (MCWD) water rate increase even as the Cebu City Council has called for its suspension. “I’m in favor of the increase in water rates. It’s necessary. We have to...
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Suspend water rate increase
The Cebu City Council, led by Acting Vice Mayor Winston Pepito, is seeking the suspension of the 10-percent water rate increase implemented by the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) on April 1, citing the growing burden on consumers amid rising...
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Capitol creates mineral task force
The Cebu Provincial Government has created an inter-agency task force aimed at strengthening the monitoring and regulation of quarry, sand, gravel, and other mineral resources, amid continued concerns over compliance and proper documentation of mineral...
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Capitol shifts to legal front
The executive department of the Cebu Provincial Government is set to pursue its legal battle with Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC) after the Provincial Board effectively rejected the proposed P211.56-million compromise agreement, returning it to...
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M5.1 quake shakes Cebu, triggers panic
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake jolted parts of Cebu on Monday afternoon, triggering panic among residents—particularly in northern Cebu, where communities are still recovering from the deadly quake in September last year that left 79 people dead and...
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LTFRB-7 suspends taxi over Soobin complaint
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7) has issued a show cause order (SCO) and placed a taxi operator under preventive suspension after its driver was accused by Choi Soobin, leader of the K-pop group...
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RDC-7 okays P97B budget
A total of P97.21 billion worth of budget proposals for 2027 from 40 regional agencies has officially been approved by the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC)7, which comprises big-ticket projects aimed at fostering economic growth,...
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MCWD braces for dry season
The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has begun rolling out early contingency measures, including water rationing and supply augmentation, as it braces for a projected daily deficit of 43,000 cubic meters amid the possible onset of El Niño this...
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Archival asks P981.9M more
The largest share—P500 million—has been earmarked for garbage hauling and disposal services, amid rising costs that have already exceeded P400 million. Archival said the city is exploring measures to reduce landfill dependence by converting waste into...
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Rising prices, unemployment
Central Visayas is facing the prospect of rising prices, reduced investment, and possible job losses as escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran ripple through the region’s economy, as revealed by Department of Economy,...
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Archbishop Uy leads Palm Sunday, start of Holy Week
Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy leads Palm Sunday celebration at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, marking the official start of Holy Week. Hundreds of faithful gathered at the historic cathedral, waving palm fronds in commemoration of Jesus’ triumphant...
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Mandaue City College gets CHED recognition
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has officially handed over the certification for institutional recognition to Mandaue City College (MCC), to provide quality and accessible education to the students of the city. The Institutional Recognition...
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LABOR GROUPS PETITION RTWPB-7 ₱100 daily wage increase sought
A coalition of 18 labor organizations in Central Visayas has formally filed a petition yesterday seeking a ₱100 across-theboard daily wage increase, citing the urgent need to shield workers from the impact of rising global oil prices and persistent...
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THIS TIME, SEVERAL GROUPS OPT NOT TO JOIN PUVstrikehitsCebu
Transport group PISTON-Cebu is set to stage a transport strike on today (March 27), from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., as drivers take to the streets anew to protest rising fuel prices, while calling for the scrapping of the oil deregulation law, and pushing for...
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Capitol prepares subsidy for habal-habal drivers
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7) is close to completing the list of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers who will benefit from the government’s fuel subsidy program, its regional director...
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Capitol rolls out ₱360M rice aid
Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said the distribution is expected to begin early next month, with funding sourced from the ₱720-million Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) provided by the national government. Empaces confirmed that...
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Mayor defends BRT lane setup
Cebu City’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will continue with its mixed-use setup for the time being, allowing public utility buses and jeepneys to share with BRT lanes. Mayor Nestor Archival, in defending the arrangement, said the decision to allow...
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Council eyes private bulk water suppliers to serve upland brgys
The Cebu City Council is considering an ordinance that would allow private bulk water suppliers to directly serve the mountain barangays. This measure aims to alleviate chronic water shortages and reduce dependence on the Metropolitan Cebu Water...
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Unified waste action pushed
Speaking at the Cebu Provincial Waste Management Summit at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu last March 19, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano described waste management as one of the most persistent challenges that local governments face, citing its...
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New ferry service
Daily commuters traveling between Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City are expected to benefit from lower transport costs and reduced road congestion with the introduction of the seabus, a new passenger ferry service set to begin operations in April. The...
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Cebu transport strike cut short
A militant transport group in Cebu scaled down its planned two-day strike, limiting the protest to a single day on March 19, even as their counterparts in Metro Manila continued with a second day of nationwide transport actions. Cebu City Mayor Nestor...
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BBM suspends PUV fare hike
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has ordered the suspension of the planned fare hike for public utility vehicles (PUVs) that was set to be implemented today (March 19, 2026), as part of the government’s effort to ease the financial burden on...
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Fare hike approved
LTFRB said the implementation of fare increases will take effect on Thursday, March 19, 2026. LTFRB Chairman Vigor D. Mendoza II, in a press conference yesterday, explained that the computation for the fare hike was carefully deliberated, relying on...
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PBBM leads series of events in Cebu
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) led a series of engagements across Cebu on Monday, highlighting education reforms, tourism development, disaster recovery initiatives, and preparations for a major international summit. During four separate...
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Missing college student found, returned to Bohol
After eleven days of searching, the missing 21-yearold female college student was finally found and reunited with her parents on Saturday morning, March 14. However, the reasons for her disappearance remain unclear. Jannah Balag Sarabosing, a...
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Suroy-Suroy goes private
Baricuatro disclosed the move during the opening of the International Travel Festival 2026 on Friday (March 13) at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, where tourism stakeholders gathered for the annual travel event. The governor said the...
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LGUs vow to revive price councils
Responding to concerns over possible price manipulation, at least 25 city and municipal mayors in Cebu Province have committed to revive their Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) following an appeal from Governor Pamela Baricuatro to strengthen...
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Soco defends PB decision
Flashing a smile and a peace sign, Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco defended the Provincial Board’s decision to review a proposed tax compromise with Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC), saying the move is part of their mandate despite being...
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‘Soco’s hypocrisy’
Tensions filled the Cebu Provincial Capitol as Governor Pamela Baricuatro branded Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco a ‘hypocrite” over his criticism of the proposed P211million tax compromise settlement between the provincial government and Apo Land and...
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Shipping firms increase fare
Several domestic shipping companies have announced fare adjustments through their respective Facebook pages, temporary fuel surcharges, and trip cancellations as rising global fuel prices— linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East—continue to...
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Rice prices hit historic high
Rice prices in Cebu have already reached historic highs even before the Middle East conflict, and retailers warn that the ongoing war could push costs further upward. Local rice retailer Erwin Gokong of the Cebu Market Vendors Multi-Purpose...
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Garbage cost swells to P2B
Cebu City’s garbage crisis is anticipated to swell into a billion-peso burden. Mayor Nestor Archival warned that the city’s ₱500 million annual disposal budget may no longer be enough, with costs expected to double or even triple because of...
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Fuel subsidies at the ready
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said the government is prepared to roll out targeted fuel subsidies should Dubai crude prices breach the $80-per-barrel threshold, as authorities also intensify efforts to safeguard Filipinos in the Middle...
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Mayor-of-the-night program ready to roll
The Cebu City Government on Monday formally signed, with Eklestos Estates, the lease agreement for its pioneering 24/7 Government Office, known as the “Mayor of the Night” program, in a ceremony led by Mayor Nestor Archival at the Mayor’s Office...
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Alcover demands transparency on Health Emergency Allowance
Complaints from health workers who have yet to receive their Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) continue to reach the Cebu City Council, prompting Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. to demand accountability from the city government. Alcover told The...
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Cop chief relieved
The Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) confirmed Avergonzado’s relief, but denied reports that the move was related to the heavy traffic in Consolacion during President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s visit to Cebu last week. Police Major Sam...
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Archival eyes WTE solution
LOTTO RESULTS His broadened appreciation for WTE comes from his official benchmarking mission in Japan, where he has been examining how cities like Yokohama and Tokyo convert trash into electricity, reduce landfill dependence, and integrate circular...
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BBM inaugurates Liloan center, visits Mandaue
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (PBBM) yesterday (Feb 26) led the inauguration and blessing of the Pag-Abot Processing Center (PPC) in Liloan town before proceeding to inspect the upgraded Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) in Mandaue...
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Archival wants to test BRT in actual operations
With no definite date yet for Malacañang to formally hand over what has long been described as its “gift to the Cebuanos”—the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT), Mayor Nestor Archival wants the system tested locally ahead of time, to check its impact.
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City eyes Binaliw
“For now we have enough budget to haul to Aloguinsan in the next few months,” Archival said before leaving for Japan, “but the cost is times two. Dako gyud kaayo, dili gyud ni siya sustainable.” He stressed that while segregation remains the city’s...
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Cityhaulstrash to Aloguinsan
Consolacion has shut its doors to Cebu City’s garbage ahead of the agreed extension, leaving the city with no choice but to haul its daily waste farther — to a private landfill in Aloguinsan, some 58 kilometers southwest away— with the South Road...
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LTO starts crackdown on “illegal” mufflers
The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) will intensify its crackdown on motor vehicles fitted with illegally modified mufflers starting today, February 23, 2026, in line with a nationwide directive to curb noise pollution on public...
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Save the Philippines Coalition inks covenant with Barug Lumad Talisay
The Save the Philippines Coalition formally strengthened its collaboration with local organizations this afternoon through a covenant signing with Barug Lumad Talisay, signaling a unified push for good governance and political accountability. The...
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CBRT launch set
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is considering a new schedule for the start of Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) operations, now set for March 2026. This launch will take place even without the Capitol Station, which is still under review due to...
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PSB approves P1.7B budget
The funding, sourced from the Special Education Fund (SEF), was approved during the Board’s first meeting of the year, chaired by Governor Pamela Baricuatro. Of the total amount, around P1.4 billion has been immediately allocated for priority programs...
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Capitol view at stake
This, as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has called on the provincial government to act as the proposed BRT Capitol Station along Osmeña Boulevard threatens to block the visual corridor of the historical Cebu Provincial...
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P76.4B bridge, coastal road
Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have formally presented to Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito Ouano a proposal for the construction of a fourth bridge with a coastal road linking the cities of Mandaue and LapuLapu. The...
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Charter Day bonus stalled
As Cebu City marks its 89th Charter Day this February 24, City Hall employees face a sobering reality: the traditional bonus is unlikely to be released this year, and past incentives may have to be returned following Commission on Audit (COA) notices.
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‘Unified stand’ on WTE eyed
No date and venue have been revealed for this summit yet, but Archival revealed that the issue of garbage and WTE was already raised during their Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting in Manila. “Usa gitan-aw sa grupo, mao ang Waste to Energy,”...
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Prosecutors bare names
MANILA --- Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court identified several senior Philippine officials as alleged co-perpetrators in the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte, saying they helped carry out a...
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Bar liability law drafted
A proposed ordinance is currently being drafted that would hold establishments--serving alcoholic drinks---accountable when they knowingly serve already intoxicated persons who later cause injury, death, or property damage.
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Unified scheme
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has announced that he will convene all barangay captains and other concerned entities on February 19 to establish a unified scheme for localized class suspensions, stressing that the safety of schoolchildren must be the...
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LTO chief wants lifetime ban on Pajarillo driver’s license
Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief, Assistant Secretary Markus V. Lakanilao, yesterday (Feb. 11) recommended a lifetime ban on the driver’s license of Sean Andrew Pajarillo, the suspect in the hit-and-run incident that killed pedestrian,...
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Landslides, no classes
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival announced the suspension of onsite classes early Tuesday morning, citing safety concerns and upon the recommendation of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC). All public and private...
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DOLE assures aid for victims
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has assured immediate assistance and access to benefits for injured workers and the families of those who died in the Binaliw landfill tragedy in Cebu City, following the conclusion of local...
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Signature drive vs WTE facility
Residents of Barangay Binaliw have formally launched a petition opposing any plan to establish a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility in their community, a move spurred by recent pronouncements from local officials and deepened by the painful legacy of the...
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Sea travel ban lifted
In an advisory, CGDCV announced that its Coast Guard Stations have issued travel clearances allowing vessels to resume normal operations. The following Coast Guard units have officially lifted the temporary suspension of travel: Coast Guard Station...
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P2.5M bounty on Pam’s life?
In a Facebook post addressed to Cebuanos, the governor confirmed that she has received intelligence information indicating that a contract killing has allegedly been arranged against her. “If they can't destroy me, the next move is to kill me,”...
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Developer to start collecting fees
The Cebu2World Development, Inc. (C2W) has formally notified Mayor Nestor Archival that it will begin collecting market fees at the Carbon Public Market on March 1, pursuant to the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) it entered into with the Cebu City...
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Town execs suspended
Minglanilla’s top officials—including Mayor Rajiv Enad and Vice Mayor Lani Peña – are set for a one-year suspension without pay after failing to issue a key permit tied to public safety. The suspension was ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman. Other...
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Binaliw captain open to hosting WTE
Binaliw Barangay Captain Viviene Ruste has taken a strong stance on the city's Waste-to-Energy (WTE) debate. In an interview with The Freeman after the recent Binaliw landfill collapse, Ruste indicated her barangay is open to WTE, but only if the city...
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Tourism forum a success - DOT
The three-day ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026, held from January 28 to 30 in Cebu City, was a success, according to Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, citing positive feedback from regional tourism leaders on the Philippines’ hosting...
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Cortes loses poll protest
The First Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) released a decision on January 29, dismissing the election protest filed by former mayor Jonas C. Cortes against incumbent Mayor Jonkie M. Ouano in relation to the 2025 mayoral elections in...
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5-year tourism plan launched
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has formally unveiled its roadmap for the region’s tourism development with the official launch of the ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan (ATSP) 2026–2030 during ASEAN Tourism Conference held in Cebu. The...
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Expressway work resumes
After nearly eight years of delays and setbacks, construction of the long-stalled Metro Cebu Expressway (MCE) has resumed. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now focused on rehabilitation and completion works for its assigned...
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Major river rehab eyed
With the rainy season and potential typhoons looming in the coming months, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has called for the immediate acceleration of rehabilitation works along major river systems in Cebu affected...
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CA denies Cortes plea
The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld the Office of the Ombudsman’s ruling finding former Mandaue City mayor Jonas C. Cortes guilty of Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service over the irregular designation of an...
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Closure vs WTE
The fate of the Binaliw landfill resurges as a contentious issue as Barangay Panuypoy Captain Ares Balaba demands its permanent closure after years of complaints and a deadly trash slide. Cebu City Councilor Pastor Alcover, on the other hand, pushes...
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