CEBU, Philippines – Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and representatives of the six congressional districts of Cebu are set to meet next week to discuss the proposed redistricting of the province, which means adding or taking out towns or cities to adjust a congressional district.

Cebu province has six congressional districts while Cebu City, which is a chartered city that is not directly under the Provincial Capitol, has two congressional districts, but some congressmen are clamoring to add a new congressional district in Cebu.

Second District Rep. Pablo Garcia and Sixth District Rep. Luigi Quisumbing have both filed separate bills seeking to divide the second district into two and creating Mandaue City into a lone congressional district, respectively. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)

Solon barred from leaving
CEBU CITY (PNA) – A Cebu City Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge has issued an order barring Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr., who is facing a parricide case for the killing of his wife, from leaving the country.

Judge Soliver Peras, presiding judge of RTC Branch 10 in Cebu City, on Wednesday ordered the issuance of a hold-departure order (HDO) against the embattled lawmaker.

Peras said the hold order may be lifted only if Ecleo can prove that his trip abroad is of “utmost importance” and related to the treatment of his heart ailment.

Meeting on K+12 program begins
ILOILO CITY (PNA) – Western Visayas was the first stop of the House Committee on Education for its series of consultations and advocacies on the Enhanced K+12 Basic Education Program.

The proposed K+12 means kindergarten and 12 years of elementary and secondary education. Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, one of the members of the committee, said the “government is correct on focusing first on basic education.”

“Essentially there’s need for two more years because what we have is a 12-year program squeezed into 10 years.

Lavish graduation exercises nixed
DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) — Department of Education (DepEd) Negros Oriental Division Superintendent Dr. Ma. Milagros Velez has issued a memorandum to all principals and teachers-in-charge of the different schools in the province to refrain from extravagant graduation exercises.

Velez said they are encouraging the school heads to be more creative and innovative by not spending too much and to refrain from collection contributions from the parents in holding their graduation exercises.

All graduating classes are advised to use their school uniforms to save on expenses instead of buying a new dress for graduation.

Dumaguete sets library upgrade
DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) has spearheaded a strategic planning session for the development of the Dumaguete City Public Library, which the city government wants to transform into a more suitable facility for a university town.

Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria earlier expressed his intention to support the development of the city public library.

According to Gima Cornelia, the city public library is a recipient of the DoST grant of P200,000 for the first phase of the implementation.