CEBU CITY (PNA) — The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) board wants to defer the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10054, or the Mandatory Helmet Act of 2010. In a resolution, the Citom board asked Transportation and Communication Sec. Manuel Roxas II and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo to put the implementation of the law on hold. The Citom board noted that majority of motorcycle owners are in the lower income group. This means a new helmet or acquiring an import commodity clearance (ICC) sticker could be too stiff for them.
CONSERVATION
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — Seeing the need to put in place programs related to disaster mitigation and adaptation within the Cebu river basins, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo in a recent action planning workshop for the Cebu River Basins Management Council (CCRBMC) has stressed the importance of water and soil conservation measures. Montejo said the council should operationalize programs related to disaster mitigation and adaptation within the Cebu river basins so that communities would be able to respond appropriately to certain disasters. (Phoebe Jen Indino)
WATER SAFETY
ARGAO, Cebu — The Cebu Provincial Board has urged the local government units (LGUs) in the province of Cebu, through their respective health offices, to come up with preventive measures and conduct an information drive regarding water-related diseases. Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano, who sponsored the resolution that urges LGUs, declared the need to provide precautionary measures, such as putting chlorine in water tanks and giving out Tryclosene Sodium tablets, which can be used to purify water. He also suggested the use of a water chlorinator in the component cities and municipalities all throughout the province. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)
POWER RATES
CEBU CITY — The Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC 7) has called for the suspension of the operations of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) due to high power rates in the region. The council, upon the motion of Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto, also agreed to request Congress to conduct “immediate investigation” on WESM’s rate hikes. It likewise asked for the suspension of the collection of the rate hike pending investigation. The committee said it has not seen indications that WESM was able to bring down power rates through competition. Chatto said the Philippine Electric Market Corp. (PEMC), which manages WESM, even raised the possibility of suspending market operations when “significant spikes in prices remain a problem.” (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)
T.E.S.D.A. ASSESSMENT
ILOILO CITY (PNA) — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is conducting free assessment for technical/vocational trainers, industry workers and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) of Negros Occidental this month of July. TESDA Negros Occidental Provincial Director Lorena T. Yunque said that this free assessment is conducted under the National Synchronized Competency Assessment and Certification Program to interested individuals. Those interested to avail are advised to submit their application and requirements namely: application form, birth certificate, photo (passport size, four pieces), and certificate of employment related to the competency assessment they are applying for.