CEBU CITY – The Cebu City Council has finally given the green light for the opening of the Cebu South Coastal Road Project subway after approving rules and regulations governing the use of the tunnel. The City Council Committee on Traffic Management, chaired by Councilor Richard Osmeña, said the ordinance stipulating the regulations in the use of the tunnel is “laudable,” as it prioritizes public safety. The Cebu City councilors want to regulate the use of the tunnel, especially with regards the type of vehicles that will be allowed to pass through the tunnel, to avoid accidents. The tunnel connects the viaduct before the South Road Properties to Sergio Osmeña Boulevard, going under Plaza Independencia. The tunnel was built purposely to ease and make faster the flow of traffic in traveling from the north to the city’s southern areas and vice-versa. In a public hearing, however, the Department of Public Works and Highways suggested that six to 10-wheeler trucks, including those carrying garbage, be banned from using the tunnel. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)

Aquaculture insurance to be introduced

ILOILO CITY, (PNA) – Agriculture stakeholders engaged in aquaculture will soon be covered by crop insurance offered by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC). PCIC Officer-in-Charge Regional Manager Charlito O. Brilleta said they are just waiting for the fund for the program to take off following its approval although it is expected to be kicked off within the year. Currently, the PCIC offers six major insurance to include palay, corn, 44 high value commercial crops, agricultural facilities and farmer members. While waiting for the new program, farmers are encouraged to visit agriculture offices of local government units (LGUs) should they want to learn more about this and programs made available to them by the PCIC. Brilleta said they also have accredited underwriters in the LGUs as well as farmer cooperatives that can also help interested parties wishing to avail of PCIC’s insurance programs.

Kabankalan P.N.P. now equipped with C.C.T.V.

BACOLOD CITY (PNA) – The Kabankalan City Police Station is the first local police station in Negros Occidental to install close circuit television (CCTV) cameras, a high-technology security system expected to boost security measures in this part of the province. The project is a dream come true for Supt. Calixto R. Mabugat, the City police chief, who set his eyes on the procurement of the facility as his priority project for the year. Currently, a number of high-definition CCTV cameras equipped with infrared sensors for night and day surveillance have been strategically installed within the police station premises. This will operate 24 hours the whole week in monitoring persons coming in and out of the police station. Supt. Mabugat stressed that additional CCTV cameras will be added to the system by yearend. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has always been confronted with the challenges of providing appropriate security measures posed by hostile intelligence services, organizations, or by individuals engaged as espionage, sabotage, subversion, infiltration and terrorism.