- Capitol says the Carcar provincial hospital will be upgraded to Level 2
- Police arrest a suspect after a shooting at a Poblacion restobar
- Cebu towns get P1.365 billion to rebuild after the 2025 quake and Typhoon Tino
- Heat index of up to 40°C this week, with afternoon storms
- Airline fuel surcharge is at Level 17 for flights booked to 15 November
Capitol says the Carcar provincial hospital will be upgraded to Level 2
At a Capitol press briefing on Wednesday, 4 November, Provincial Health Officer Sheila Faciol said the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar, now a Level 1 hospital, will be upgraded to Level 2, as will the one in Danao. Bogo and Balamban already reached Level 2. She said the province's 16 hospitals earned about P3 billion together this year but are not self-sustaining, because the income goes back into more staff and better facilities. No date was given for the Carcar upgrade. The hospital itself started preparing for Department of Health Level 2 accreditation in January.
A Level 2 hospital adds things a Level 1 cannot offer, such as intensive care units, a neonatal ICU and more specialist departments. For Carcar and the southern towns it serves, that could mean fewer transfers to Cebu City for serious cases. Until the upgrade is official, keep asking the hospital which services it can handle before you travel there with a serious case.
Sources: SunStar, Province of Cebu
Police arrest a suspect after a shooting at a Poblacion restobar
A fight between two groups drinking at a restobar in Barangay Poblacion, Carcar, ended in gunfire at about 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, 8 November. A 25-year-old college student from Sibonga was hit in the arm and went to the Carcar provincial hospital. Carcar City police, called by a resident, found a 29-year-old man from Barangay Ocaña still holding a gun at the scene, took the weapon and arrested him. Police say an attempted homicide case is being prepared against him.
If you see a fight turning violent, step away and call the Carcar City Police Station or 911 right away. In this case a quick call from a bystander got police to the scene before the suspect left.
Source: SunStar Superbalita
Cebu towns get P1.365 billion to rebuild after the 2025 quake and Typhoon Tino
President Marcos turned over P1.365 billion in national rehabilitation aid to Cebu local governments at Malacañang on Thursday, 5 November. It covers roads, bridges, town halls, schools and health facilities damaged by the 2025 earthquake and Typhoon Tino. Bogo City gets the largest share at P180 million, followed by Liloan at P115 million. The provincial government, Cebu City and San Remigio get P100 million each. A separate P777 million goes to DPWH Central Visayas for its own repair projects. Each amount was based on damage reports filed with the Office of Civil Defense.
Carcar is not on the list of recipients. Most of the money goes to northern and central towns hit hardest by the quake and the typhoon. The provincial share of P100 million is for road repairs, so watch for road work on provincial roads in the coming months.
Sources: SunStar, Daily Tribune, SunStar Superbalita
Heat index of up to 40°C this week, with afternoon storms
PAGASA Visayas said on Sunday, 8 November, that Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas can expect temperatures of 32°C to 33°C and a heat index of 38°C to 40°C in the coming days. That is in the extreme caution range. Warm, moist easterly winds will still bring rain and thunderstorms, mostly around noon and in the afternoon. The weather bureau said the region has had no dry spell yet because October was wetter than normal, but the very strong El Niño should keep it warmer than usual even when the cooler amihan winds arrive.
Drink water often, wear light clothes and keep outdoor work and play between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to a minimum. Bring an umbrella for both sun and the afternoon showers. Check on older relatives and anyone working outside.
Sources: SunStar, Asia News Network
Airline fuel surcharge is at Level 17 for flights booked to 15 November
The Civil Aeronautics Board raised the passenger fuel surcharge to Level 17 for tickets bought from 1 to 15 November, up from Level 16. Airlines may now add P559 to P1,635 on a one-way domestic flight, depending on distance, and P1,846 to P13,727 on international flights. The board reviews the surcharge every 15 days, and the level for the second half of November has not been announced yet. Airline groups are also asking the government to waive airport charges as fuel costs climb.
If you are flying out of Mactan for the holidays, the surcharge is added on top of the base fare, so compare the full price at checkout.
