- Two southern Cebu towns are being watched for suspected African swine fever
- Mandaue schools shorten class hours under the 4H heat rules
- DPWH lists about P17 billion for Cebu in the proposed 2027 budget, with five dams
- Central Visayas police have a new regional director
- Direct flights from Cebu to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have started
Two southern Cebu towns are being watched for suspected African swine fever
Cebu's provincial veterinarian told the Provincial Board on Thursday, 12 November, that two towns in southern Cebu are being watched for suspected African swine fever. Her office investigated but cannot confirm the cases until Department of Agriculture laboratory results come back, and she did not name the towns. Ginatilan had a confirmed outbreak in September that was later declared contained, and Santander has required hog inspection before slaughter since 30 October. The province's limits on bringing in live hogs stay in place, except for hogs going straight to slaughter for lechon.
Carcar is not named and nothing is confirmed yet. If you raise pigs, keep visitors and outside vehicles away from the pens, do not feed kitchen scraps that contain pork, and report sick or dying pigs to the city veterinary office or your barangay at once instead of selling or slaughtering them. Lechon and chicharon makers should keep the papers for every hog they buy.
Mandaue schools shorten class hours under the 4H heat rules
DepEd's Mandaue City division is now applying the heat rules known as 4H in its schools, The Freeman reported on 13 November, and Lapu-Lapu City is working out its own guidelines with city hall. The four levels are Hayo (heat index below 27°C, normal classes with water breaks), Hinay (27°C to 32°C, shorter or shifted hours), Hinga (33°C to 41°C, no face-to-face classes, tasks at home) and Hinto (42°C and up, no classes or tasks). In Mandaue, classes on Hinay days ran from 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. School heads read the heat index on campus and must tell parents at least a day ahead.
The temperature levels match the DepEd heat memo that also covers Carcar's public schools, so shortened or split shifts like Mandaue's are possible here on hot days. Check your school's page or group chat each afternoon for the next day's schedule, and send children with a full water bottle.
Sources: The Freeman, GMA News
DPWH lists about P17 billion for Cebu in the proposed 2027 budget, with five dams
The new public works secretary, Giovanni Lopez, said on Thursday, 12 November, that DPWH has set aside about P17 billion for its projects in Cebu in the proposed 2027 national budget. About P1.1 billion of that is for five dams meant to hold back floodwater after Typhoon Tino: two in Cotcot and one each on the Mananga in Talisay City, the Butuanon in Mandaue City and the Bulacao in Cebu City. He spoke while inspecting flood works on the Mananga River. Bidding and construction are targeted for 2027. The budget is still a proposal, so the amounts can change before it is passed.
None of the five dams is in Carcar or the south, and the reports do not break down the rest of the P17 billion by town. If flooding is a problem in your barangay, now is the time to ask city hall which Carcar projects are on the 2027 list.
Sources: The Freeman, BusinessMirror
Central Visayas police have a new regional director
Brig. Gen. Rogelio Raymundo Jr. took command of Police Regional Office 7 on Thursday, 12 November, in a turnover at the PRO 7 grounds. He replaces Brig. Gen. Arnold Abad, who had led Central Visayas police since April and moves to the office of the PNP chief under an order dated 11 November. Raymundo, a 1995 graduate of the PNP Academy, last headed the national bomb disposal and K-9 group. One report describes his post as acting regional director. He told officers to give honest and accountable service and to build ties with communities.
The Carcar City Police Station reports up through the Cebu provincial police to this office. Nothing changes day to day for residents. In an emergency, call 911 or the Carcar police station.
Sources: SunStar, The Philippine Star, Journal News Online
Direct flights from Cebu to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have started
Vietjet began direct flights this month between Mactan-Cebu airport and Vietnam's two biggest cities. Cebu to Hanoi leaves at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Cebu to Ho Chi Minh City leaves at 3 a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and the flights coming back land in Cebu at about 2 a.m. on those same days. Each route runs three times a week. Philstar reports the flights started on 10 November. Neither report lists fares. The airline also opened a Clark to Ho Chi Minh City route.
This saves a connection through Manila for trips to Vietnam. The departures are very early, so plan the trip from Carcar to Mactan the night before.
Sources: The Manila Times, Philstar
