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SM Prime to Add 60,000 Sqm of Office Space in Cebu by 2026

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SM Prime Holdings’ office leasing arm plans to add more than 60,000 square meters of new leasable space in Cebu City by the fourth quarter of 2026, betting on demand from companies expanding outside Metro Manila as Cebu cements its position as the country’s most active regional office market.

The additional supply will come from SM City Cebu Towers, located along A. Soriano Avenue in the North Reclamation Area, SM Offices said.

The project is targeting both traditional corporate occupiers and business process outsourcing (BPO) firms that want in-city locations with strong transport links and access to talent, while avoiding Metro Manila’s higher operating costs and heavier congestion.

“Cebu is a major economic hub because of its strong infrastructure, exceptional talent pool, and complete business ecosystem,” said Alexis L. Ortiga, vice president and head of SM Offices.

Market data underscore the developer’s push. Cebu accounted for 150,000 square meters, or 55% of provincial office take-up in 2025, representing 33% year-on-year growth, according to Leechiu Property Consultants.

SM Offices said the new towers are intended to support that growth by providing “well-managed high-quality and well-connected” workspaces as requirements evolve for occupiers that prioritize operational continuity, employee experience and proximity to amenities.

The development sits within the redeveloped SM City Cebu North Wing complex, which integrates retail facilities and a National University (NU) campus.

SM said the site offers access to the South Road Properties corridor and Mactan-Cebu International Airport, while also being near the port area and government centers—factors that can influence location choices for firms with logistics needs or frequent client-facing activity.

SM Offices also highlighted the adjacency to NU as a potential hiring and training advantage for office locators, allowing firms to build recruitment pipelines and partnerships with graduating students.

NU Cebu officially opened on June 14, 2025, and is the university’s seventh campus outside Metro Manila. The campus operates with 100% local hires, NU said, positioning it as part of a broader push to expand education and employment opportunities in the province without requiring students to relocate.

SM Prime, meanwhile, continues to pursue mixed-use developments that combine offices with residential, retail, education, MICE facilities and leisure spaces. The strategy is designed to create efficiencies for tenants and support employee retention by offering integrated amenities in a single district-style environment, the company said.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Landmasters, Japan’s NTT UD Team Up for Major Metro Manila Development

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Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) chairman and CEO Jose Soberano III and NTTUD president and CEO Kou Ikeda meet at CLI headquarters Park Centrale in Cebu IT Park, highlighting the expanding partnership between CLI and the NTTUD Group.

Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) is expanding its partnership with Japan’s NTT Urban Development group for a major mixed-use condominium project in Metro Manila, marking the Cebu-based developer’s latest step in building a national footprint beyond its Visayas and Mindanao stronghold.

CLI said it has signed a partnership agreement with NTT UD Asia Pte. Ltd. (NTTUDA), a subsidiary of Japan-based NTT Urban Development Corporation, to develop a multi-tower residential and retail project in Luzon through CLI Luzon Ventures Inc.

The development will be located along a major thoroughfare in Pasig City within the National Capital Region (NCR), and is targeted for launch by end-2026, the company said.

CLI described the project as a multi-phase, Japanese-inspired residential and retail mixed-use condominium development with an eight-tower masterplan. The project will feature efficient space planning, sustainable design, and curated amenities and community areas aimed at improving livability and long-term value.

“This partnership with NTT UD Asia is a defining step in Cebu Landmasters’ growth as a national developer,” said CLI chairman and CEO Jose Soberano III. “Building on the success of our first collaboration in Cebu, this Luzon project reflects the deep trust between our organizations and our shared commitment to quality, discipline, and long-term value.”

NTT Urban Development president and CEO Kou Ikeda said the group is looking to build on its first project with CLI in Cebu and bring its experience from Japan and other overseas markets to Philippine developments that are closely connected to local communities.

The expanded partnership follows CLI’s first international joint venture with the NTT Urban Development group, which produced the two-tower The Wave Towers development in Cebu IT Park in 2024.

For CLI, the Pasig project adds scale to its Luzon expansion at a time when Metro Manila remains the country’s most competitive property market, dominated by large developers and closely watched by buyers for pricing, unit sizes, and access to transport and jobs.

NTT Urban Development is a global real estate developer and a subsidiary of NTT, Inc., one of Japan’s largest conglomerates, with projects spanning residential, office, and mixed-use developments. CLI, founded in 2003, said it has delivered over 132 projects across 18 cities in the Philippines, covering residential, office, hotel, mixed-use and township developments.

The company said the NTT partnership supports CLI’s geographic diversification strategy while bringing Japanese-inspired design and development standards into its NCR portfolio.

Cebu Business News

MOVE IT Targets Commuter Gridlock with ‘Keep Moving’ Initiative

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Rich Manuel, driver engagement lead, MoveIt.

Motorcyle taxi platform MOVE IT is rolling out a new brand promise, “Keep Moving,” as it leans on intelligent routing and in-ride safety technology to position itself as a more reliable option for commuters dealing with heavy traffic in major cities.

The company said the pledge reflects the daily reality of Metro commuters losing hours in congestion, pointing to TomTom’s latest traffic index showing the Philippines among Asia’s most congested markets, with Manila and Davao City again featured in the global city rankings.

“Traffic steals time we never get back. This is time that should have gone to work, family, rest, and building a better life,” MOVE IT General Manager Wayne Jacinto said. “Keep Moving is the confidence that you’ll get there.”

MOVE IT said the promise is backed by platform tools aimed at cutting wait times and improving pick-up accuracy. The app uses GrabMaps and Navigation to provide estimated arrival times, suggest pick-up and drop-off points, and adjust routes based on real-time road conditions.

It also uses “Back-to-Back Bookings” to line up a rider-partner’s next trip before the current ride ends, reducing idle time between bookings, the company said.

On safety, MOVE IT said its in-app Safety Center allows users to add emergency contacts, share trip details, request help, and report issues. A “Share Your Ride” link lets trusted contacts track GPS location in real time.

The company also highlighted “Trip Monitoring,” which uses GPS and telematics to flag risk signals such as unplanned stops, route deviations, crashes, unusual terminations, or extended delays, prompting checks by safety teams.

Another feature, “AudioProtect,” offers opt-in audio recording during rides, with encrypted files accessible only when a safety-related report is filed, it said.

MOVE IT said it continues to reinforce rider screening and training standards. “Our rider community is striving to deliver professional service,” rider-partner and community leader Ronnel Palulan Abastas said at a Cebu media roundtable, citing cleanliness, courtesy and defensive driving.

MOVE IT said it operates across Metro Cebu, including Cebu City, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Cordova, Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla and Talisay.

Cebu Business News

Wolfgang’s Steakhouse Grill Opens First Cebu Branch, Targets Visayas Expansion

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Wolfgang’s Steakhouse Grill
Wolfgang’s Steakhouse Grill

Wolfgang’s Steakhouse Grill has opened its first Cebu branch at SM City Cebu, bringing the New York–born steakhouse brand’s signature dry-aged USDA Prime beef to the Visayas as it accelerates its expansion across the Philippines and Asia.

The restaurant opened to the public on Feb. 3, 2026, at the Upper Ground Level, North Wing of SM City Cebu, offering the brand’s “Grill” concept, positioned as a more relaxed, high-end dining format while keeping Wolfgang’s core standards on beef quality and service.

In remarks during the opening, Peter Zwiener, a co-founder of Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, said the group started the concept 22 years ago in New York and built its reputation on USDA Prime beef and an in-house dry-aging process.

He said Wolfgang’s buys beef fresh from US ranches and purveyors, ships it to the Philippines by air freight “chilled” (not frozen), and dry-ages it on-site for 28 days to improve tenderness and add an “earthy” flavor.

Lydia D’Amato – Co-founder & Vice President of Operation, Wolfgang’s International, and Peter Zwiener – President & Co-founder of Wolfgang’s Steakhouse International during the opening of the restaurant’s first-ever location in Cebu.

Zwiener added that the group focuses on USDA Prime Black Angus, a limited category he said accounts for about 2% of US beef production.

“The concept is all based upon USDA dry-aged beef,” Zwiener said. “We buy all our beef fresh… directly from the ranchers and the purveyors in the United States, and we fly directly here to the Philippines,” he added.

The Cebu opening is part of a broader push into the Visayas. The company said it is also expanding its footprint in the region, with a presence in Iloilo this month.

Zwiener said the Cebu branch is the brand’s second in the Visayas after Boracay, and that an Iloilo location was nearing completion and expected to open soon.

Zwiener said the group does not operate as a franchise model, describing its international rollout as a joint-venture partnership where the company retains an equity stake and stays closely involved in menu standards and operations to ensure the same recipes and experience across markets.

Cebu Business News

Guam Visitors Bureau, Philippine Airlines Deliver Aid to Cebu After Disasters

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CebuBusinessNews
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Guam Visitors Bureau

The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have delivered 500 bags of essential supplies to support recovery efforts in Cebu following recent natural disasters, as the two sides deepen ties between Guam and the central Philippine province.

PAL said the support was facilitated through its corporate social responsibility arm, the PAL Foundation, including assistance in transporting donated goods. GVB said the relief initiative reflected longstanding cultural links between Guam and the Philippines and a commitment to humanitarian support across the region.

“It’s always important to remain connected with our brothers and sisters all over the Philippines, but specifically in Cebu, following this devastating incident,” GVB President Régine Biscoe Lee said, adding that the bureau aimed to strengthen ties with communities in the Visayas.

Lee said GVB would be guided by CHamoru values including inafa’maolek (making things good), geftao (generosity) and respetu (respect), describing the effort as an example of Guam’s “cultural and familial connections” with the Philippines.

Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said Guam would continue to stand with the Philippines during crises, citing deep historical ties and long-running people-to-people links.

“This will not be the first time that we have assisted the Philippines, and it won’t be the last,” she said, adding that support between the two communities had been mutual over time.

The relief effort comes as PAL expands air links between Guam and the Philippines. PAL launched nonstop Cebu-Guam flights in December 2025, offering three services a week, a move Guam tourism officials have said would strengthen partnerships and visitor flows between the two destinations.

Cebu Business News

Aboitiz InfraCapital Airports Log 16.2m Passengers in 2025

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Aboitiz Infra

Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc (AIC) said passenger arrivals across its three Philippine airports reached 16.17 million in 2025, as demand for air travel rose in the Visayas and Northern Mindanao regions.

The infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group said Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) handled 11.6 million passengers last year, up almost 3% from 11.3 million in 2024. Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) recorded 2.35 million passengers, while Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) logged 2.22 million, AIC said.

AIC took over operations of LIA and BPIA in 2025, with the handovers completed in April and June, respectively. Covering only the period after the handovers, LIA recorded 1.6 million passengers and BPIA posted 1.07 million, the company said.

“2025 has been a landmark year for our airports as we continued to expand connectivity for both domestic and international travelers,” AIC Vice President and Head of Airports Rafael M. Aboitiz said in a statement.

AIC said the higher passenger volume supported tourism, business travel and regional economic activity, despite disruptions from natural disasters that hit parts of the Visayas-Mindanao corridor last year, including earthquakes in Cebu and Davao Oriental and typhoons that affected Western Visayas.

MCIA, the Philippines’ busiest airport outside the capital Manila, added new nonstop routes in 2025, including services to Siquijor via Sunlight Air and San Vicente, Palawan via Cebu Pacific, AIC said.

The company also rolled out connectivity initiatives at MCIA, including an air-to-air transfer service aimed at shortening connection times between international and domestic flights, an air-to-sea transfer option linking the airport to Mactan Wharf for nearby island travel, and a facilitation kiosk designed to support overseas Filipino workers and position Cebu as a key OFW gateway.

AIC said MCIA is served by 20 airlines operating 13 international routes, making it an alternative departure point for travelers from Northern Mindanao via Laguindingan.

Cebu Business News

J.CO Launches Premium Reserve Café Concept in Cebu City

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Arianne Abella
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J.Co Cebu City

J.CO Donuts & Coffee said it has opened a J.CO Reserve concept store in Cebu City, rolling out a premium café format that puts greater emphasis on specialty coffee brewing and curated dining offerings.

The company said the new outlet, located at Ayala Terraces Cebu, is designed to deliver an “elevated” coffee experience while retaining J.CO’s core donuts-and-coffee menu.

The store features reserve-exclusive coffee blends, artisanal selections and interiors positioned as a more upscale setting for customers, Dyann Teo-Lim, marketing manager of J.CO Philippines, said in a statement.

The opening was held during the Sinulog season, with guests welcomed by a dance performance from the Sandiego Dancers, J.CO said.

The event included a talk led by coffee expert Micoi Aguilar covering bean sourcing and roast profiles, followed by live brewing demonstrations featuring pour-over, French press, siphon and espresso-based methods, it added.

Jericho E. Eva, assistant marketing manager for J.CO Reserve, presented menu items exclusive to the Reserve format, the company said, adding that the launch also featured interactive activities, games and customer engagement sessions.

J.CO entered the Philippine market in 2012 and now operates 84 stores nationwide, including six in Cebu, it said.

Cebu Business News

Nakakalocal Year 4 Draws Cebu Chamber Support for MSME Growth

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Arianne Abella
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The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) backed the fourth edition of the “Nakakalocal” advocacy bazaar at SM Seaside City Cebu, underscoring its push to expand market access and collaboration for Filipino micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Organised by PhilSTAR Media Group in partnership with SM Seaside City Cebu, Nakakalocal Year 4 is being held at the mall’s Mountain Wing Atrium under the theme “Come Together,” bringing local brands, creatives and enterprises together to connect with consumers and potential partners, the organisers said.

The bazaar features 18 exhibitors from Cebu and Palawan selling products ranging from handicrafts and fashion accessories to local delicacies including kakanin and pasalubong.

Felix Taguiam, a past CCCI president and PCCI regional governor for Central Visayas, represented the chamber at the opening programme and said platforms like Nakakalocal help entrepreneurs turn ideas into opportunities, aligning with the event’s “Love Local, Grow Global” advocacy.

Nakakalocal Year 4 runs until Feb. 18, 2026, the organisers said.

Cebu Business News

End-to-end logistics gives Cebu an edge in attracting investment, says LDL Group CEO Leslie D. Lim

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CebuBusinessNews
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Leslie D. Lim, LDL Group’s chief executive officer. Photo from Cebu Provincial Government.

Cebu is pitching its fast-growing, end-to-end logistics network as a competitive edge to win new investment, with LDL Group of Companies CEO Leslie D. Lim saying on Tuesday that the province’s increasingly integrated ports, airport, trucking and warehousing ecosystem is making it a “deliberate choice” for businesses expanding beyond Metro Manila.

Lim told the Cebu International Investments Summit that the province’s appeal goes beyond its role as a commercial and tourism hub, citing end-to-end logistics capabilities that help businesses move goods across the Visayas and Mindanao and into international markets.

“Logistics is no longer just a support function. It is a strategic advantage,” Lim said, adding that investors now prioritize locations with reliable supply chains, predictable regulations and modern infrastructure.

Cebu’s central location, extensive road network and inter-island connectivity position it as a natural distribution hub, she said, pointing to its major seaports, including Cebu International Port and Cebu South Harbor, as well as the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which handles both passenger and cargo traffic.

Lim said Cebu also benefits from a dense network of logistics service providers such as freight forwarders, customs brokers, bonded warehouses and more than a hundred registered trucking firms with thousands of vehicles supporting island-wide distribution. The ecosystem enables manufacturers and traders to shorten delivery times and reduce costs, she said.

Economic zones across the province further strengthen Cebu’s appeal by offering tax incentives and streamlined procedures for exporters and manufacturers, Lim added, with zones employing hundreds of thousands of workers across industries ranging from electronics and garments to shipbuilding and food processing.

She also highlighted improvements in trade facilitation and digitalisation, particularly in customs and regulatory processes, citing a shift toward electronic documentation and fewer manual procedures that has helped speed up cargo clearance and improve transparency.

Bureaucratic processes have improved in recent years, Lim said, adding that the current administration has intensified efforts to cut red tape. “For me, there’s no red tape, only red carpet service,” she said.

Cebu’s skilled workforce, strong English proficiency and supportive local governments have also underpinned investor confidence, Lim said.

“With the right mix of infrastructure, services and governance, Cebu is no longer just an option for investors,” she said. “It has become a deliberate choice.”

Cebu Business News

New digital media venture DotTV Network debuts in Cebu

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CebuBusinessNews
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Juniño Padilla officially soft-launches DotTV, a new digital media venture in Cebu.

A new Cebu-based digital media platform, DotTV Network, has formally entered the local media scene following the soft launch of its operations, marking another addition to the city’s growing digital media ecosystem.

The network, a member of the Philippine Press Club, held a low-key launch event attended by veteran Cebu journalists, broadcasters and media commentators.

Organisers said the gathering underscored DotTV’s intent to anchor its operations on established journalistic standards while embracing a digital-first distribution model.

Chairman Niño Padilla said DotTV was founded with the aim of contributing to national rebuilding at a time when public discourse has been strained by political divisions, governance issues and declining trust in institutions.

He called on media practitioners joining the network to use their platforms responsibly and to help foster constructive dialogue.

Padilla is a multi-awarded broadcast journalist whose career spans management roles at Cebu radio station DYRC, work as a program handler at DZRH, and a previous appointment at Malacañang under the Presidential Communications Office.

DotTV Network plans to operate as a digital-first media outlet, reflecting shifts in audience behaviour and the growing influence of online platforms in shaping public opinion.

While the network has yet to release details of its programming slate, it said its content will focus on public affairs, commentary and community-centered discussions.

The launch adds to Cebu’s emergence as a regional hub for media and content ventures outside Metro Manila, supported by a strong talent pool and increasing demand for locally grounded, digitally delivered news and commentary.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Businesses Explore Deeper B2B Ties with Ukraine

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Curtis Go
Ukraine's Cebu partner Curtis Go with Ukrainian Ambassador to the Philippines Yuliia Fediv. Photo: Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Cebu’s business leaders are exploring ways to deepen business-to-business links with Ukraine as local companies look beyond traditional markets to diversify trade, technology and investment partnerships.

Pedro “Pete” Delantar, CCCI vice president for international affairs, said Ukrainian officials have reached out to gauge interest among Cebu-based firms in potential trade exchanges and future business missions as Ukraine’s embassy seeks closer ties with chambers across Asia.

“The Ukrainian government, through its embassy, has reached out to gauge the interest of Cebu’s business groups,” Delantar said, adding that discussions are focused on identifying areas for trade, technology and knowledge exchange.

Any engagement would be structured and cautious, CCCI President Jay Y. Yuvallos said, with Cebu companies weighing opportunities against global conditions and the need to comply with international safety and trade standards.

“Our approach is pragmatic,” Yuvallos said. “We focus on industries where Cebu has competitive strengths and where partnerships can deliver tangible value, whether in agriculture, technology or skills exchange, while remaining mindful of global conditions.”

Delantar said agriculture could be an early area for cooperation, citing Ukraine’s role as a major exporter of wheat and other agricultural products and its development of farming technologies that could have local applications. He also pointed to possible collaboration in aquaculture and modern farming systems, including agri-technology and food security initiatives.

He said Cebu-based companies are also assessing potential partnerships in software and artificial intelligence, areas where Ukraine has a growing talent base and where Cebu firms could pursue joint work in IT services, digital solutions and innovation-driven ventures.

The chamber said initial engagement would likely prioritise internationally coordinated platforms such as virtual exchanges and institutional cooperation, with trade missions considered only when conditions allow.

Momentum for closer ties was reinforced by a recent visit to Cebu by Ukraine’s ambassador to the Philippines, Yuliia Fediv, her first official trip to the province, during which she met local officials across Metro Cebu and the provincial government.

Curtis Go, described as Ukraine’s local partner in Cebu, said he would work with public and private stakeholders to advance economic and cultural linkages, calling the visit a milestone in laying the groundwork for future projects.

Cebu Business News

GMEA@12 honors regional media and digital storytellers who helped drive inclusive digital progress

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The 12th Globe Media Excellence Awards (GMEA@12) recognized 15 journalists and digital storytellers whose work brought important community issues to wider public attention and showed how technology and local initiatives influence daily life across the regions.

Guided by the theme “#DigitallyForward: One Barangay at a Time,” this year’s program centered on the role of regional media in amplifying stories on expanding access to technology, helping families reach their aspirations, and contributing to national development.

“We honor journalists and creators who capture how digital tools open doors for families, workers, and communities,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer. “The rapid move into digital spaces shows how ready Filipinos are to embrace change. Through GMEA@12, we reaffirm our commitment to bringing technology closer to every home so people can pursue new paths and strengthen the bonds that drive progress.”

The GMEA@12 winners are:

INTEGRATED NEWS CATEGORY

Radio News Report of the Year
First place went to John Paul Hervas of Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo, who reported on DTI’s assistance to the online businesses of Guimaras MSMEs. Rowena Capistrano of DYRF 1215 Cebu placed second for a story on barangay service delivery. Sheila Gravinez of DYMR Radyo Pilipinas Cebu took the third spot for a feature on farmers shifting to digital selling.

TV News Report of the Year
Jaira Mae Mondez-Alis of PTV Davao won first and second place for a feature on a DICT livelihood beneficiary and a report on Davao City’s aerial patrol effort, respectively. Queenie Grace Joligon of MyTV Cebu placed third for covering an invention developed from waste materials.

Online News Report of the Year
Morexette Marie Erram of CDN Digital topped the category with a report on Cebu City’s flooding concerns and also ranked third for another flooding-related piece. Jonnavie Villa of Cebu’s The Freeman placed second for a story on teacher migration.

Photo of the Year
Alan Tangcawan of MyTV Cebu’s images of flood aftermath and monsoon impact placed first and second place, respectively. Ralph Lawrence Llemit of SunStar Davao earned third for a portrait of a barefoot father and daughter walking through rain and flood.

DIGITAL STORYTELLING CATEGORY

Best Blog Post
Mars Mosqueda Jr. of BusinessNews.ph (Cebu) won first place for a piece on digitalizing sari-sari store operations and second for a feature on solar-powered water access. Third place was secured by Cebu-based blogger Marjorie Maano of Dakilanglaagan, who wrote about Piso WiFi use.

Best Social Media Video
ABS-CBN News’ Annie Fe Perez-Gallardo earned first place for a story on animal population control in Cebu City and third for a video on mangrove protection. Joanne Clarisse Espinosa of MyTV Cebu placed second for documenting a market vendor’s waste-fuel invention.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Newsmaker of the Year was awarded to Mildred Galarpe, Editor-in-Chief of Cebu’s SunStar Publishing Inc. while Editor of the Year was presented to Cristina Alivio of SunStar Davao.

The Globe of Good Story of the Year went to Queenie Grace Joligon of MyTV Cebu for “Paglaum Gikan Sa Basura: Ang Imbensyon ni Benito,” her feature on Benito Samson and his diesel-from-plastic invention. Samson’s group, Carbonhanong Alyansa, was also named the Featured Community and granted ₱20,000.

All first and second place winners will receive cash prizes and an UNOSINOTRA GMEA@12 trophy made with casted sawdust composites, organic corn-based filament and biodegradable polymer sourced from renewable corn starch, demonstrating Globe’s commitment to circular practices. Third place awardees will receive cash prizes and certificates.

GMEA@12 continues to reflect Globe’s three sustainability pillars: Digital Enablement and Inclusion, Societal Well-being, and Climate Action. The recognized stories promote access to technology, support community development, and champion bold action on climate resilience and environmental protection.

US-Based Cebuano Nurses’ Charity Donates 5,364 Diapers to VSMMC

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Lan and wife (Right) with Kate Gillamac NICU staff nurse (left) of VSMMC.

A charity set up by U.S-based Cebuano nurses Lan Cabatingan and his wife has donated 5,364 pieces of diapers to the neonatal intensive care unit of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), one of the Philippines’ largest public hospitals in Cebu City.

Lean & Learn Health Foundation said the donation was inspired by the couple’s own experience after their baby spent three months in intensive care, which they said exposed the financial and logistical strain faced by families with premature and critically ill newborns.

“We know how heavy those days can be,” co-founder Lan Cabatingan said in a statement, adding that the group aims to ease costs for parents while supporting frontline staff who often face shortages of basic supplies.

The foundation said it plans to make the diaper drive the first step in a longer-term effort to support NICU communities in Cebu, and is seeking volunteers, donors and healthcare partners.

Lean & Learn Health Foundation is registered in the United States as a tax-exempt nonprofit, according to an Internal Revenue Service listing.

Cebu Business News

NUSTAR Cebu taps Vivant Energy’s COREnergy for retail power supply

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(L-R) NUSTAR Resort & Casino General Manager Roel Constantino, NuStar Senior Vice President for Gaming Operations & Integrated Resort Operations Trevor Hammond with COREnergy President Francis Del Val, COREnergy Sales Head Marko Sarmiento.

NUSTAR Resort & Casino Cebu said it has tapped COREnergy, the retail electricity arm of Vivant Energy, to supply power for the integrated resort’s operations, as large commercial users look for more tailored energy contracts ahead of expected changes to the retail power market.

As one of Cebu’s premier integrated destinations for luxury hospitality, gaming, retail, and entertainment, NUSTAR requires reliable and high-performing energy solutions to sustain its expanding footprint in the region, the company said.

“At NUSTAR, we are committed to creating a world-class destination where every experience is seamless. Partnering with COREnergy supports that commitment by giving us reliable energy solutions that meet the level of excellence our brand demands,” Trevor Hammond, senior vice president for gaming and integrated resort operations, said.

COREnergy President Francis Del Val said the company will provide competitively priced electricity and usage monitoring via its “My Power Platform.”

“Energy should be simple. Our role is to be an energy solutions provider to businesses by providing smarter and tailor-fitted solutions that add value to them,” Del Val said. “With our Power Platform, NUSTAR is able to understand their consumption patterns so they can better plan how to optimize their energy utilization.”

Vivant Corp said the tie-up comes as it promotes energy solutions for businesses, noting that the Energy Regulatory Commission is set to lower the contestable threshold to 100 kilowatts starting in 2026, allowing more establishments to participate in the retail electricity supply market.

Cebu Business News

Tropical Depression Verbena Hits Cebu; officials cite early evacuations, zero casualties

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Neil Villa
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0
Governor Pamela Baricuatro received by Mayor Patrick Barcenas when she arrived in the city on Tuesday.

Tropical Depression Verbena battered southern Cebu early Tuesday, triggering flash floods across several towns barely weeks after parts of the province were hit by an earthquake and Typhoon Tino, local officials said.

The weather system made landfall in Talisay City at around 2:14 a.m. and quickly moved toward Negros, leaving flooding in its wake, according to the provincial disaster office.

Dennis Pastor, head of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said early evacuations helped avert deaths. “This is the best response, zero casualties,” Pastor told a noon interview on Tuesday.

Flooding was reported in the towns of Ronda, Dumanjug and Barili, though water levels later eased, Pastor said, adding that provincial and municipal disaster teams were deployed in advance to speed up response efforts.

Carcar City also experienced temporary flooding after a spillway overflowed, leaving some rice fields submerged. Roads were later reported passable, while authorities continued assessments and cleanup operations, including at a hospital area that was flooded.

Residents in several northern towns and cities, including Compostela, Liloan, Cebu City, Mandaue and Talisay, were relocated ahead of the storm’s impact on southern Cebu, officials said. In Carcar City, evacuees had been moved to the city gym as early as Monday.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro praised local officials for the proactive evacuations and said she postponed a planned trip to Manila to oversee relief operations. She also directed the PDRRMO to keep monitoring affected communities and to provide food assistance, with additional support planned for households whose poultry and agricultural livelihoods were damaged.

In Barili, flooding hit multiple barangays after the Sta. Ana River overflowed between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., the municipal disaster office said. As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, 126 families, or 425 people, were affected, though many had started returning home.

Carcar City reported about 300 families affected. Mayor Patrick Barcenas said an unfinished spillway in Barangay Poblacion I and overflowing drainage channels contributed to the flooding.

Cebu remains under a state of calamity, but classes have resumed after the storm, officials said.

Cebu Business News

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