Starbucks Philippines Brings Back Sticker Season with ‘Invite Joy’ Holiday Collection

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November 17, 2025

c7723e4c-4be5-4d58-a1d7-da55811314e0 — Maria Cyrina Pascual, director of product development at Cebu Oversea Hardware Inc.

Cebu Home and Builders Centers, the biggest building materials and home and office furnishings retailer in Cebu and the Visayas, is stepping up support for the province’s rebuilding efforts after a succession of earthquakes and the devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Tino.

The construction solutions company, operated by Cebu Oversea Hardware Inc., is launching a 15-day Mega Year-End Sale from November 15 to 30, offering discounts of up to 70 percent across all product categories—covering tiles, construction materials, home furnishings, and office solutions.

In an interview, Maria Cyrina Pascual, director of product development at Cebu Oversea Hardware Inc., said the initiative aims to make quality building and renovation materials more affordable as thousands of Cebuanos rebuild damaged homes and businesses.

“This is more than a sale—it’s our way of helping the community recover,” said Pascual.

“Rebuilding must be cost-effective and accessible. With nearly our entire inventory discounted, we want Cebuanos to have the materials they need without compromising on quality,” she explained.

Private Sector Steps Up as Rebuilding Accelerates

Cebu’s private sector has been increasingly active in post-disaster recovery following widespread flooding and structural damage from Typhoon Tino, which flattened communities across the island province, especially in Metro Cebu.

Retailers, developers, contractors and utilities have rolled out parallel efforts to fast-track reconstruction in hard-hit areas.

For Cebu Home and Builders Centers, the sale is part of what Pascual describes as a long-standing “tradition of giving back” to customers and industry partners.

Now marking 23 years in business, the company has expanded its footprint across Cebu—with branches in Banilad, Mactan, Minglanilla, N. Bacalso and Toledo—and maintains a 30,000-square-meter distribution hub in Mandaue to support rapid deliveries.

“We ensure that what customers see in-store is available for delivery,” Pascual said. “A big part of our commitment is eliminating the frustration of ordering materials that aren’t in stock, especially during urgent rebuilding periods.”

According to Pascual, 100 percent of products are discounted at varying levels, with core categories slashed by an average of 20 percent and select items marked down by as much as 70 percent.

Operations manager Ariel Angus said Cebu Home and Builders Centers has maintained strong relationships with manufacturers in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Spain and Italy to ensure stable supply—a crucial advantage as demand for construction materials spikes.

“We source directly from reputable factories, which allows us to compete with importers and small developers who attempt to buy directly overseas,” Pascual said. “We’ve built decades-long partnerships that give us both competitive pricing and reliable quality.”

Growing Demand for Basic Materials

While the province is still assessing full reconstruction needs, company executives say demand is rising fastest for structural and basic materials such as plywood, reinforcing steel, cement, electrical fittings and roofing.

“Finishing materials will follow, but the immediate priority is strengthening foundations and restoring damaged structures,” Pascual said.

Expansion Beyond Cebu

Cebu Oversea Hardware Inc. is also expanding outside the island, with new retail outlets in Manila and Bulacan under the Overseas Builder Center brand. The company says more store openings are planned as part of its ongoing national expansion strategy.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Prelate Seeks Full Accountability in Alleged P100-billion Insertions

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November 17, 2025

5270201b-baf8-459b-996c-fb226478026f — Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy. Photo from Archdiocese of Cebu

As corruption allegations continue to hound the government and the 2025 national budget comes under scrutiny, Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy has called on Filipinos to seek truth and exercise discernment amid competing claims and mounting controversy.

In a statement, Uy urged authorities to ensure a fair and impartial investigation, free from political interference.

He said no one should be spared from scrutiny, that those found liable must face the law, and that any misused public funds should be returned to the people.

“No cover-ups. No protection for anyone involved. Those found guilty must face the law, and stolen funds must be returned to the people,” he said.

Uy also underscored the need to strengthen government systems and safeguards to prevent future abuses.

He warned that conflicting claims over alleged irregularities in flood-control projects have sown confusion and enabled false narratives to spread, further inflaming anger and fear.

The prelate urged citizens to critically examine the information they consume and to reject any calls for violence or unlawful acts, saying such responses would only deepen the country’s wounds.

He appealed to the faithful to pray for the revelation of truth, courage among leaders, and for justice and peace to heal the nation.

Uy’s remarks came in the wake of allegations by former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, who accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and several Cabinet officials of inserting P100 billion worth of projects into the 2025 national budget.

Co claimed Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman instructed him to handle the projects and to coordinate with Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, who allegedly confirmed the directive. He also recalled a meeting in Malacañang where Bersamin purportedly handed him a list of projects in a brown leather bag said to have come directly from Marcos.

Malacañang has denied the accusations. Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez called Co’s claims “completely without basis and fact” and “pure hearsay,” saying Marcos had moved to expose anomalies and ensure accountability.

Gomez, Pangandaman and Palace press officer Claire Castro have challenged Co to return to the Philippines and maintained that the President was not involved in the budget process.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Typhoon Survivors Urge Marcos to Order Probe Into ‘Man-Made’ Floods

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November 16, 2025

Civic groups and survivors of Typhoon Tino in Cebu have issued an open letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, urging him to order a full investigation into alleged negligence and substandard projects they blame for the deadly flooding.

The letter says the signatories are writing “not as critics and not as opponents, but as survivors,” and appeals for compassion for families who lost homes and loved ones in the storm.

“We, the victims of Typhoon Tino in Cebu, are pleading to be seen, to be heard, and to matter,” the groups said, calling on the president to look at the province “with compassion and genuine concern.”

The letter accuses unnamed officials and developers of turning protected watersheds into “disposable land” and building substandard infrastructure in areas where safety should have been guaranteed. Their “decisions and neglect became the flood that swept away families, dreams, and futures,” it says.

Tino, known internationally as Typhoon Kalmaegi, tore through the central Philippines in early November, triggering flash floods and landslides that left Cebu among the hardest-hit provinces and forced mass evacuations, according to disaster officials and international agencies.

The signatories urge Marcos not to prioritize areas “driven by personal or political interests” over Cebu, stressing that the province’s “suffering has no color” and that their pain “carries no party.”

“We are not asking for favors,” the letter says. “We are asking for justice. For truth. For the dignity of those who did not survive.”

The appeal, ending with the line “Justice for Cebu,” is backed by a range of organizations whose logos appear on the letter, including media, medical and political groups such as the Cebu Press Club, 3-11 Movement, Doctors for Reform and Kilusang Pagbabago Pilipinas.

Cebu Business News

Curtis Go Sees Deeper Ukraine Awareness in Cebu After Nataliya Gumenyuk Visit

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November 16, 2025

Curtis Go Ukraine Cebu Partner — Ukrainian war correspondent Nataliya Gumenyuk talks to Cebu journalists.

The visit of Ukrainian war correspondent Nataliya Gumenyuk to Cebu this week was a powerful reminder of the importance of understanding, dialogue and international solidarity, Ukraine’s local partner Curtis Go said, after students and media heard first-hand accounts of Russia’s invasion.

Go, who planned and co-organised the programme, said he was committed to advancing those values in Cebu and called the engagement “deeply fulfilling” as it showed how much more aware and engaged students had become about the war in Ukraine and global geopolitics.

“Seeing a respected Ukrainian journalist and war correspondent speak directly to Cebuano students is something I could only have dreamed of a few years ago when I was still a student myself. It is deeply fulfilling to witness how much more aware and engaged the students in Cebu have become regarding the situation in Ukraine, and the invaluable opportunity they were given to deepen their understanding of current geopolitics and the global challenges we all share,” Go said.

Gumenyuk, a prominent Ukrainian journalist and war correspondent, spoke at a special lecture titled “The Strength of a Nation: Resilience Through Democracy” at the University of Cebu’s main campus on Thursday.

The event, hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine, gathered civic leaders, journalists, academics, student reporters and youth leaders.

Cebu is one stop on a nationwide Philippine tour that also includes Manila, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga.

Gumenyuk described documenting war crimes in Ukraine and explained how communities were coping with the conflict while defending democratic values and keeping institutions functioning.

She said civil society, government bodies and the private sector had worked together to maintain essential services during the war.

She told participants she was struck by the Filipino concept of “bayanihan”, or communal cooperation. “It’s this idea of the community, and this word resonates a lot to me because that’s how we live,” she said.

After the lecture, Gumenyuk met Cebu-based journalists and said she felt “a genuine level of curiosity and openness and eagerness to learn” from students.

Organisers also briefed her on recent calamities that hit Cebu, including a Sept. 30 earthquake and Typhoon “Tino” on Nov. 4. Gumenyuk said such events showed the importance of collective responsibility, noting that in the face of a major typhoon “you can’t protect your house on your own” and that people are “part of society”.

Go thanked the Ukrainian embassy, partner institutions and local media for supporting the visit, saying he hoped it would mark the beginning of more joint activities between Cebu and Ukraine.

Cebu Business News

Vivant Corp’s Nine-Month Core Profit Up 24% on Power Gains

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November 16, 2025

Cebu-based power and water firm Vivant Corp said on Sunday its consolidated core net income rose 24% to 2.0 billion pesos ($35 million) in the first nine months of 2025, driven by stronger earnings from its power generation business and a turnaround in its water unit.

Including non-recurring items such as foreign exchange gains, insurance proceeds and cost reimbursements, net income attributable to equity holders of the parent climbed 12% year-on-year to 1.9 billion pesos for the January–September period.

“Vivant continued to show strong results despite the slower than expected GDP growth in the first nine months of the year,” chief executive Arlo Sarmiento said, citing contributions from power generation, distribution and wastewater operations.

The company’s energy portfolio contributed 2.5 billion pesos to income, with power generation accounting for 1.7 billion pesos, or 63% of total contributions from strategic business units. Vivant said net income from generation rose 12% despite a 15% drop in energy volumes sold to 3,211 GWh, as trading gains from the Reserve Market and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, along with ancillary services contracts, offset weaker volumes.

Reserve Market nominations across four plants surged 192% from a low base after a temporary market suspension in 2024, with 1590 Energy Corp posting the highest RM volumes at 865 GWh. North Bukidnon Power Corp and Cebu Energy Development Corp recorded year-on-year spot market sales increases of 102% and 36%, respectively.

Its 35%-owned Visayan Electric Co contributed 879 million pesos, marginally higher than 871 million pesos a year earlier, supported by a 3% rise in distribution sales volumes led by residential demand.

Vivant’s water business swung to a 184-million-peso income contribution from an 11-million-peso loss a year ago, helped by finance income recognition from the Isla Mactan Cordova Corp water concession after a 25-year joint venture with Metropolitan Cebu Water District took effect in June. Income from 45%-owned FLOWS also rose 13% to 8 million pesos on higher wastewater volumes and tariff adjustments in Puerto Princesa.

Consolidated revenues were broadly flat at 8.9 billion pesos as weaker power sales and lower equity earnings from associates were offset by concession asset recognition and higher interest income. Operating expenses rose 26% to 1.2 billion pesos on higher headcount, professional fees and depreciation from recent asset acquisitions.

As of end-September, Vivant’s consolidated assets stood at 33.3 billion pesos, with equity attributable to the parent at 21.3 billion pesos and interest-bearing debt at 6.9 billion pesos. Its debt-to-equity ratio eased to 0.44 from 0.49 at end-2024, while the current ratio slipped to 2.10 from 2.40.

Sarmiento said Vivant expects to “close the year strong,” pointing to the September acquisition of a 40% stake in Samal Solar Renewable Energy Corp, which operates a 53.14 MW solar plant in Bataan. The deal lifted Vivant’s attributable operating generation capacity to 471 MW, with a 3.95 MW expansion at the plant due for completion in 2026.

Cebu Business News

Cebu VG Glenn Soco Presses DPWH to Revive Shelved Metro Cebu Flood Masterplan

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November 10, 2025

1cdbb0e1-117a-424c-a1ba-6a5aea833ac9 — Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Soco.

A week after Typhoon Tino unleashed flooding across Metro Cebu, Vice Governor Glenn Soco urged the immediate rollout of the long-pending Metro Cebu Integrated Flood and Drainage System Master Plan, warning that piecemeal projects and stop-start budgets have left communities exposed.

In a privilege speech on Monday, Nov. 10, Soco cited inundation from Nov. 3 in Cebu City, Mandaue, Talisay, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Danao, Carmen, Balamban and Asturias.

“Every time it rains—and floodwaters rise again in Mandaue, Consolacion, Cordova and across Metro Cebu—people lose sleep, property and peace of mind. What hurts most is knowing this could have been avoided,” he said.

The province has declared a state of calamity twice in less than a month after homes were submerged, property damaged and families evacuated.

Drawn up by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and anchored on a 2013 JICA study, the master plan outlines a basin-wide strategy from Carcar City to Danao City to manage runoff amid rapid urbanisation and climate change.

Soco said he first pushed the plan in 2017 as a private citizen and later as chair of the Regional Development Council’s infrastructure committee.

Initial outlays funded river widening and improvement in Cebu City—₱700 million in 2018 and ₱1.2 billion in 2019—but allocations later stalled. Projects proceeded without coordination, he said, resulting in uneven quality and works that diverged from the plan.

Soco asked the Provincial Board to formally endorse the master plan, require rainwater catchment systems in new developments, and summon DPWH and other agencies to report on progress.

He also called for accountability for substandard flood-control projects, saying public funds must deliver durable results.

Welcoming recent discussions with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon on reviving the blueprint, Soco said short-term relief addresses symptoms, not root causes.

Priority fixes include clearing waterways, reinforcing riverbanks and upgrading drainage in critical zones, he added. “Typhoon Tino is another painful wake-up call.”

Cebu Business News

Cebu, Mandaue Tighten Rules for Kalag-Kalag

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October 30, 2025

Oplan Kalag Kalag — Carreta Public Cemetery on Thursday, October 30, 2025. Photo: Neil Villa

Cebu City and Mandaue City have unveiled security and crowd-management measures for the Kalag-Kalag observance from October 31 to November 2, including liquor bans, entry restrictions, traffic rerouting, and on-site medical and sanitation teams.

In Mandaue, Mayor Jonkie Ouano signed Executive Order (EO) No. 2025-053 on Oct. 30 authorizing public cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums to operate 24 hours during the three-day period.

Private cemeteries may extend visiting hours, but interments are suspended until Nov. 3 to ease congestion.

The EO bans the sale, bringing, or consumption of alcohol within cemetery grounds and a 100-meter radius, and prohibits backpacks, jackets, sharp or flammable objects, gambling, videoke, loud music, smoking, and vaping.

Police Assistance Desks will operate in cemeteries with support from the Mandaue City Police Office, the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, and barangay tanods.

A “clean as you go” policy will be enforced, discouraging Styrofoam and requiring waste segregation.

Cebu City has activated a centralized command under EO No. 019, Series of 2025, forming “Task Force Undas 2025” composed of the Cebu City Police Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Cebu City Transportation Office, City Health Department, Bureau of Fire Protection, and other units.

The task force will run visibility patrols, checkpoints, and crowd-control operations around cemeteries and major thoroughfares.

A citywide liquor ban will be in effect from 12:00 a.m. Oct. 31 until 6:00 a.m. Nov. 3. Weapons, explosives, and bladed objects are prohibited, with exemptions limited to uniformed personnel on duty.

The Cebu City Transportation Office will reroute traffic and assign parking and loading zones near cemeteries to prevent gridlock, while the health and environment offices will deploy first-aid stations and oversee garbage collection and sanitation.

Single-use plastics and open burning are discouraged. Prohibited acts include gambling, loud music, unruly behavior, vandalism, and unauthorized vending.

Both local governments urged the public to follow advisories and cooperate with enforcers to ensure a safe and orderly Kalag-Kalag 2025.

Cebu Business News

Cebu LGUs Shine in BLGF 2024 Rankings; Province No. 2 in LSR at ₱3.01B

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October 29, 2025

c502f954-a2a3-424d-ac92-5b2c46626d73 — Photo by Neil Villa

Local government units in Cebu stood out among the country’s top-performing LGUs in 2024, earning high marks for fiscal management and revenue generation, according to the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF).

In Memorandum Circular No. 017-2025, issued on October 1, 2025, the BLGF recognized provinces, cities, and municipalities that excelled in Local Source Revenues (LSR), the ratio of LSR to Total Current Operating Income (TCOI), Year-on-Year Growth in LSR, and Total Current Operating Expenditures (TCOE) per capita.

Cebu Province ranked second nationwide in LSR, generating P3.01 billion in 2024, just behind Bulacan at P3.39 billion. Rizal (P2.82 billion), Pampanga (P2.70 billion), and Quezon (P2.30 billion) completed the top five.

The province also placed fifth in the ratio of LSR to TCOI with 36.25 percent and fifth in Year-on-Year Growth in LSR, posting an 88.15 percent increase.

Highly urbanized cities in Cebu also made strong showings. Lapu-Lapu City led all highly urbanized cities with a 37.35 percent growth in LSR, while Cebu City ranked third with 25.76 percent growth, joining Iloilo City, Pasig, Baguio, Angeles, Taguig, San Juan, Quezon City, and Manila in the top 10.

Cebu City also ranked 10th nationwide in total LSR, collecting P5.9 billion alongside other major revenue-generating cities.

Among component and independent cities, Toledo City recorded an 18.78 percent increase in LSR, placing fourth nationwide in revenue growth, alongside cities such as Tagaytay, Lipa, San Pedro, Santa Rosa, and Naga.

Cebu’s municipalities also performed impressively. Consolacion ranked seventh nationwide in LSR with P711.55 million, ninth in the LSR-to-TCOI ratio at 61.19 percent, and fifth in Year-on-Year Growth with a 158.73 percent increase from 2023 to 2024.

Badian placed ninth in growth with 106.42 percent, joining other rapidly growing towns such as Caoayan (Ilocos Sur), Kapalong (Davao del Norte), and San Felipe (Zambales).

The BLGF based its rankings on the 2023 and 2024 Statement of Receipts and Expenditures submitted by local treasurers in compliance with Department of Finance Order No. 8-2011.

Data were processed and verified by the Local Financial Data Analysis Division with support from BLGF regional offices.

To qualify, provinces and municipalities needed at least 20 percent LSR to National Tax Allotment (NTA), while cities required 80 percent.

All LGUs were also required to maintain a 60 percent ratio of Total Current Operating Expenditures to Total Current Operating Income to ensure fiscal discipline.

The BLGF encouraged the circulation of these rankings to promote best practices in revenue generation and reminded LGUs to align fiscal policies with the Local Government Code and other relevant financial regulations.

With Cebu Province, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City, Toledo City, Consolacion, and Badian all securing spots in the national rankings, the region demonstrated strong fiscal performance across all levels of local government.

Alongside high-performing provinces like Bohol, Bulacan, Pampanga, Rizal, and Quezon, Cebu solidified its reputation as one of the country’s most fiscally resilient areas in 2024.

Metro Retail Launches New Lifestyle Store Format with Metro Corner at Mandani Bay

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October 29, 2025

Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. (MRSGI) has launched a new premium convenience format, Metro Corner, opening the first outlet at Mandani Bay in Mandaue City as the Philippine retailer targets fast-growing vertical communities and condo dwellers.

The store, located on the ground floor of Mandani Bay Suites Tower 1 along Oceanview Avenue, blends curated essentials and lifestyle merchandise with faster checkout and a smaller, boutique layout, MRSGI said.

“Metro Corner represents the next chapter of Metro Retail’s innovation in serving our customers,” President and Chief Operating Officer Joel Orense said, adding the compact format is designed “around convenience without losing the warmth and quality Metro is known for.”

Positioned between a neighborhood convenience store and a specialty shop, Metro Corner carries everyday goods alongside artisan, organic and international items.

The chain said interiors and layout were designed to enable quick trips while keeping a “more intimate” shopping experience and personalized service.

“As more communities embrace urban living, we see an opportunity to reimagine convenience through well-designed, right-sized stores that bring essentials and lifestyle selections closer to home,” Orense said.

He added the concept aims to serve residents “more efficiently” while maintaining brand standards.

MRSGI said the Mandani Bay location, within a mixed-use district drawing residents, professionals and visitors, provides a suitable testbed for the format. The company is offering opening promotions, giveaways and early-shopper perks.

Metro Retail operates 79 branches across Luzon and the Visayas under Metro Supermarket, Metro Department Store, Super Metro Hypermarket, Metro Value Mart and Metro Home Improvement and Lifestyle.

The company said it continues to expand its network as part of a sustainable growth strategy.

MRSGI has appeared for two consecutive years in the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 ranking by revenue, which the retailer cited as reflecting its focus on customer service, partnerships and sustainability.

The company did not disclose rollout targets or capital spending for Metro Corner.

Cebu Business News

Marcos Names Cebu Gov Baricuatro RDC Chair

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October 28, 2025

CEBU ASEAN Summit 2026 — Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Cebu Governor Pamela Silagan Baricuatro as chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC)–Region VII (Central Visayas) for a three-year term.

An Oct. 24, 2025 transmittal letter from the Office of the President, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin and addressed to NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, said the RDC chair’s term will coincide with Baricuatro’s tenure as a local elective official. The document was stamped received by NEDA’s Central Receiving Unit on Oct. 27, 2025.

Baricuatro confirmed she has accepted the role. In a media ambush on Oct. 28, she described the appointment as “a welcome surprise”, noting she had earlier yielded her nomination to support Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival “for the sake of unity.”

She added that the move reflects a vote of confidence from the administration and pledged to “do [her] best” in the post.

The RDC is the primary regional planning and policy-coordinating body that aligns local development priorities with national strategies.

As chair, Baricuatro will preside over council meetings, help set investment priorities, and coordinate with national agencies and local governments across Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.

The Malacañang letter requested that the appointee be notified and furnished with the appointment within seven days of receipt. No immediate changes to the council’s current agenda were disclosed.

Baricuatro’s selection comes two months after her public withdrawal from consideration for the chairmanship.

Her appointment is expected to accelerate coordination on ongoing infrastructure, tourism, and social development programs in Central Visayas, while providing a single point of leadership for regional planning alongside NEDA and line agencies.

Cebu Business News

PAL Launches Cebu–Calbayog Flights, Expands Domestic Network

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October 27, 2025

image (13) — PAL, the local government of Calbayog and other industry officials officially open the new daily service with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Calbayog Airport (CYP). From left (1st row): Mr. Carmelito Escuadra, CAAP Manager; Mr. Joery Falloria, PAL Tacloban Branch Manager; Hon. Rex Daguman, Calbayog Vice Mayor; Mr. Matthew Tamaray, PAL express VP-Ground Operations; Ms. Roselia Sumagang, City Councilor; Mr. Bombie Enriquez, City Councilor; Ms. Aileen Cuevas, PAL express Manager Ground Services Outstation. From left (2nd row): Mr. Jessie Gianan, City Councilor; Mr. Rosendo Morales, City Councilor; and Mr. Dan Quincy Moquia, PAL Airport Associate Manager Tacloban.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has launched a four-times-weekly service between Cebu and Calbayog, expanding its domestic network and adding connections through its Cebu hub, the flag carrier said.

The inaugural flights on Oct. 26, PR 2668 from Cebu and PR 2669 to Calbayog, marked the start of the route, which will be operated with 86-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 Next Generation turboprops.

Officials from PAL, airport operators and tourism agencies attended send-off and arrival events at Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Calbayog Airport.

“This new route between Cebu and Calbayog boosts leisure and business travel, promotes economic activity, and strengthens Cebu’s role as a gateway to various parts of the Philippines and the rest of the world,” PAL Express President Rabbi Vincent Ang said in a statement.

PAL said the service offers same-day links via Cebu to domestic destinations including Bacolod, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Davao and Cagayan de Oro, with onward international connections available through its Cebu and Manila hubs.

The carrier credited cooperation with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, Aboitiz InfraCapital’s GMCAC and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for facilitating the expansion.

PAL is continuing to add point-to-point routes as it rebuilds capacity in key regional markets.

Cebu Business News

Gov Pam Sets Up Cebu Committee to Steer ASEAN Summit Prep

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October 27, 2025

All roads will soon lead to Cebu, as the province prepares to host activities of the ASEAN Summit next year.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro has established the Cebu Organizing Committee through Executive Order (EO) No. 62, Series of 2025, to oversee the province’s preparations and coordination efforts for the international gathering.

The order directs the committee to ensure that Cebu meets the logistical, security, and diplomatic standards required for the successful conduct of the ASEAN Summit Meetings.

The creation of the committee comes as the Philippines readies to host the 2026 ASEAN Summit, which will bring together regional leaders, diplomats, and thousands of delegates from across Southeast Asia and partner countries.

Baricuatro emphasized the need to mobilize local resources, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and maintain Cebu’s standing as a leading venue for international conferences and events.

The governor will chair the Cebu ASEAN Committee, with Provincial Administrator Atty. Joseph Felix Mari Durano serving as her alternate. Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr., Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito M. Quano, and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia King-Chan have been designated as vice chairpersons.

Baricuatro retains the authority to invite other agencies, private sector representatives, and resource persons as needed to support Cebu’s hosting activities.

The executive order defines the committee’s scope of wor, which includes from planning and logistics to inter-governmental coordination and public communication.

It will oversee all aspects of Cebu’s hosting, including transportation, accommodation, protocol, and event management.

The committee will coordinate with national agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to ensure compliance with international standards.

“Coordinate with relevant national government agencies, local government units, private sector partners, and international organizations involved in the ASEAN Summit,” the EO states.

Security will be a central focus, with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expected to play key roles in safeguarding delegates and communities.

The EO authorizes the committee to manage its own budget, which will come mainly from provincial funds, supplemented by grants, sponsorships, and donations.

To support its operations, a Secretariat will be formed under the supervision of an Executive Director to be designated by the Chairperson.

pThe Secretariat will handle administrative, technical, and logistical tasks, as well as documentation and coordination among agencies.

Baricuatro’s order also directs the committee to implement public information programs that promote transparency, counter misinformation, and highlight Cebu’s readiness to host the event.

Progress reports will be regularly submitted to the Office of the Governor and relevant national government agencies to ensure accountability and timely updates.

The 2026 ASEAN Summit will be the first time in nearly a decade that the Philippines hosts the event, following the country’s last hosting in 2017 under then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

“This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon signing and shall remain in force until the completion of all activities related to the ASEAN Summit 2026,” the EO states.

Cebu Business News

Cebu Setting Up Satellite Bus Hubs Oct 30–31 to Ease Kalag-Kalag Rush

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October 27, 2025

569037285_1231497459004738_2669411361316736509_n — Photo from Cebu Provincial Government.

The Cebu provincial government will open two satellite bus terminals this week to ease congestion as thousands of residents travel home for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, which fall on a weekend this year.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro ordered the move to help decongest the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) and Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT), where heavy passenger buildup is expected ahead of the long weekend. The initiative marks the first time the province has set up satellite terminals for the Undas season.

Ahmed Cuizon, manager of both CSBT and CNBT, said the temporary terminals will operate from Oct. 30 to 31 to disperse crowds from the main hubs during peak hours. Northbound passengers can head to the Ceres garage beside S&R in Mandaue City, while those bound for the south may go to the Ceres garage in Kinasang-an, Pardo.

“The goal is to lessen queues and waiting times at the main terminals by providing nearby alternative sites,” Cuizon said. “This is a dry run that we hope to replicate during Christmas and other peak travel seasons.”

Cuizon said the arrangement adheres to Cebu City’s “discipline zone” policy since all loading and unloading will occur within the satellite terminals, not along public roads. Traffic enforcers from Cebu and Mandaue will be deployed to maintain order and ensure safety.

Governor Baricuatro commended the terminal management’s initiative, saying it supports the provincial government’s broader effort to improve commuter experience and reduce holiday traffic bottlenecks.

Cuizon added that the province will evaluate the results of the two-day operation and use the findings to guide transport planning for future holidays.

Cebu Business News

CLI, NTT UD Break Ground on ₱9.2bn Wave Towers in Cebu

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October 25, 2025