LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — The continued thrust by the Lapu-Lapu City Government to boost sports tourism in Cebu has factored in the growth of occupancy rate in a resort-hotel here.

Plantation Bay Resort and Spa General Manager Efren Belarmino recognized the positive ripple effect of the City Government’s efforts to aggressively promote sports tourism in the city, where the resort-hotel posted an average occupancy rate of about 73 percent last year.

Last year, Plantation Bay hosted the Davis Cup, which sparked interest among sports enthusiasts. Because of this, Belarmino noted an increase of foreign guests from Japan.

To further strengthen Lapu-Lapu’s positioning as a sports tourism destination, Belarmino said they have lined up several sports activities this year such as a tennis match this March and a triathlon in April. (Malou M. Mozo)

Ceramic Firm

CEBU CITY — In its aim to provide better living solutions to its consumers, the Mariwasa Siam Ceramics Inc. (MSCI) during its Cebu warehouse launching recently, introduced techno-enhanced and eco-driven designs.

MSCI is considered the country’s biggest ceramic tile manufacturing company and is the result of the merger of two huge companies in the Philippines and Thailand. The ceramic firm introduced its innovative products like the safety tiles, scratch-free tiles and high-definition tiles.

Scratch-free tiles have high resistance to scratch, making them suitable for medium to high traffic areas, while safety tiles have anti-slip technology which reduces the risk of accidents and falls. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

Water Sensors

ILOILO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will install three more automated water level sensors (AWLS) in Western Visayas, particularly in the Tigum-Aganan River System in Iloilo.

The additional units will be installed in the towns of Alimodian, San Miguel and Sta. Barbara, said DOST Regional Director Engr. Rowen Gelonga. This is part of the agency’s weather monitoring system project to assist in disaster risk reduction program of the government, Gelogna said.

Power Outage

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced the scheduled shutdown of several of its transmission lines in several parts of Eastern Visayas today, March 10. For about 30 minutes between 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., power shutdown will be experienced in the franchise area of Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative (DORELCO).

The reason for the shutdown is the normalization of load, in line with the annual preventive maintenance at Maasin substation and the Ormoc-Maasin 138kV transmission line.

COMELEC Listing

DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will conduct a special voters’ registration for persons with disabilities (PWD) today, March 10. Qualified to register are PWDs aged 18 years old and above in five cities in Negros Oriental.

The voters’ registration for PWDs will be held simultaneously in the cities of Bayawan, Dumaguete, Tanjay, Bais and Canlaon. Comelec is holding the special registration in coordination with the Social Welfare and Development Offices in said cities. “This day will be exclusively for PWDs to be registered as voters,” said Hazel Aurea.