After Cebu City has been placed under general community quarantine (GCQ), the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu announced on Friday that it will now re-open to pilgrims and devotees starting today, August 1, 2020, from 6:00AM to 7:00PM.
The Santo Niño Church will also be holding Sunday masses again starting this Sunday, August 2, 2020 at the Pilgrim Center but can only accommodate a limited number of attendees with strict physical distancing and other health protocols in place.
Below is their new mass schedule:
The Basilica also assured that live streamed masses will still continue through their official Facebook Page and YouTube channel.
The church’s candle area will be open while veneration of the Sto. Niño image will be inside the church (in front of the Marble Chapel). Confessions are still suspended and the adoration chapel remains closed.
If you’re planning to visit the church soon, make sure to read and understand first their safety protocols below:
If you have been stranded in Cebu City, or somewhere else in the country, and been wanting to go back to your hometown, Cokaliong Shipping Lines has formally announced its resumption of operations starting August 1, 2020 now that Cebu City has been placed under general community quarantine (GCQ).
These are 12 routes set to resume operations:
Cebu – CDO
Cebu – Surigao
Cebu – Iligan
Cebu – Ozamis
Cebu – Iloilo
Masbate – Cebu
Nasipit – Cebu
Surigao – Cebu
Dumaguete – Cebu
Dumaguete – Dapitan
Dapitan – Dumaguete
Dapitan – Cebu
Schedule & Rates
Cebu City to CDOCebu City to Dumaguete CityCebu City to Masbate CityCebu City to Ozamis CityCebu City to Surigao City
Cebu City has been placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) on July 31, but border controls will still continue.
Since Cebu Province is under Modified GCQ status, the strict border control will still be implemented, according to Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia.
Garcia emphasized how needed the gradual transition for border controls is. According to her, this will ensure that there will be no spike in the COVID-19 cases in the Province.
“Di man ta pareha gihapon og classification kay kung ma-GCQ ang Cebu City, MGCQ man ang Province. So, we’d rather nga hinay-hinay sa ta kay nakahinumdom mo adtong na GCQ ang Province, GCQ ang Cebu City, unya atong giablihan ang borders nato, diha ni-shoot up ang atong (Covid-19) positives,”
Checkpoints in the barangays will also remain in effect. The entrances in Bulacao and Talisay City will remain closed, leaving the Talisay City border in the South Road Properties (SRP) the only entrance towards the southern part of Cebu Province.
After two weeks under modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Cebu City has finally been eased to general community quarantine (GCQ) from August 1 to 15, 2020 as announced by President Rodrigo Duterte in a televised speech on Friday morning.
Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City also remain under GCQ, including Minglanilla, Consolacion, and Talisay City. The rest of the Cebu Province are still placed under the less strict modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
Under GCQ, more movement of people for non-essential purposes will be allowed and more workers will be able to go back to their offices.
GCQ Guidelines:
Allowed under GCQ:
Public transpo: Buses, jeepneys, v-hires, taxis, Grab at 50% capacity and strict physical distancing
Private transpo: All private vehicles are allowed. Number coding has been suspended; residents can use their vehicles depending on the codes of their quarantine passes.
More business sectors; returning employees may present company ID or COE
Dine-ins at 50% capacity
Malls and commercial centers are allowed to operate
Quarantine Pass is still required for non-workers and QR coding is still in effect.
Holders of quarantine passes ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) can go out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Those ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 5, 8) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Employees may present Company ID or Certificate of Employment (COE)
Wearing of face masks is mandatory
Number coding scheme for vehicles still in effect
There will still be border control and checkpoints (Must present vehicle/quarantine pass or company ID/COE)
Vehicle number coding scheme:
Vehicle number coding has been suspended in Cebu City under GCQ and Cebu Province under MGCQ.
Meanwhile, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City still implement this policy.
Mon, Wed, Fri
Tue, Thu, Sat
Sun
Mandaue City
Ending in: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (ODD)
Ending in: 2, 4, 6, 8, 0 (EVEN)
12:00AM-11:59AM (ODD) 12:00NN-11:59PM (EVEN)
Lapu-Lapu City
Ending in: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (ODD)
Ending in: 2, 4, 6, 8, 0 (EVEN)
5:01AM-11:59AM (ODD) 12:00NN-9:59PM (EVEN)
NOTE: Numbers above refer to the last number of the vehicle’s plate number.
Public Transportation
Buses, jeepneys (modern & public), v-hires, taxis, and Grab will now be allowed to operate at 50% capacity, strict physical distancing, and other health protocols mandated by the LTFRB.
Cebu North:
Temporary bus terminal: CityMall in Consolacion town
Routes: Consolacion to Tabuelan, Tuburan, Bogo City, Maya in Daanbantayan, Lambusan in San Remigio via Hagnaya, and on to Bantayan Island.
Cebu South:
Temporary bus terminal: Cebu South Coastal Road on the Lantaw Restaurant property
Routes: Talisay City to Samboan, Balamban, Pinamungajan, Asturias, Barili, Carcar, Dumanjug, and Sibonga.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said there are “conditions” for GCQ areas, such as continuing strict localized lockdowns, wherein hotspot areas can be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Cebu City Executive Order:
Here are the updated General Community Quarantine (GCQ) guidelines under Executive Order No. 086, as announced by Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella starting this August 1 until August 15, 2020.
Ready your wallets and score big discounts on VANS’ shoes, sweatshirts, apparels, and more!
While Adidas at Ayala Center Cebu is dropping huge discounts on most of their shoes and apparels, VANS at Robinsons Galleria Cebu is also offering up to 50% off on selected items until August 31, 2020.
Note:
Although Cebu City is now under general community quarantine (GCQ), the only movement allowed is still for essential purpose only. But if you’re heading to Robinsons Galleria Cebu to buy from grocery or pharmacy, you might want to drop by the Vans store and check out some items on sale.
With this, the following must be observed:
Quarantine pass is required to enter the mall.
Must wear a face mask at all times.
Observe physical distancing.
Also don’t forget to wash your hands frequently and disinfect thoroughly as soon as you get home.
Robinsons Galleria Cebu is open from Mondays to Sundays, 10AM to 6PM.
Discover.cebu.gov.ph will now host the booking of all the tourism activities offered by the towns and cities in the Cebu province. Intended to limit the number of guests at a given time and observe social distancing protocols, this portal is the new normal for tourism in Cebu.
Portal features
Booking mechanism
Online Payments – through money remittance firms and online banking
Releasing of radio frequency ID (RFID) code- presented to tourism site in exchange of an RFID bracelet which can be reloaded to serve as their e-wallet.
In preparation to the ‘new normal’, Barili has revamped its tourism packages in lieu to their reviving of their tourism.
The town of Barili now offers dolphin-watching and all-terrain vehicle adventure (ATV) as their new tourism activities. With these, they have been poised as the “new rockstar in ecotourism adventure in Cebu Island.”
Dolphin Watching
Because of the continuous dolphin-sighting in the waters of Japitan and Hilasgasan, a dolphin-watching activity will be opened to tourists.
Barili Mayor Garcia said that a resolution is being crafted to establish guidelines most especially in striking a balance between ecotourism as an economic opportunity in Barili and the continued conservation initiatives in Tañon Strait and its marine species as stipulated in Proclamation No. 1234 signed by former President Fidel Valdez Ramos in 1998.
ATV Adventure
If you’re up for an extreme activity, their ATV Adventure is now officially open. Sure to give all adrenaline junkies their cravings, this adventure covers a total of 12 kilometers of rough road, mud, cliff and limestone wall, and an awesome vantage view of Tañon Strait, the western skyline and its perfect display of sunset moments.
There are three phases to the finishing line in the Bangaglapus Cave, another tourist spot in the municipality.
The Barili ATV Adventure costs from around ₱350-840 per head promo rate (regular rate is ₱600-800) depending on the package or level of difficulty.
Book online, no walk-ins
To control the number of visitors of tourism-related activities, the Cebu Provincial Government launched discover.cebu.gov.ph as an online booking portal. These attractions in Barili will up in the online booking portal starting August 1, 2020.
Health protocols and guidelines limit the number of visitors to half of the original carrying capacity of each site or activity.
As par of their preparation to the new normal, disinfecting foams and an ultraviolet germicidal light gave been used to disinfect and sanitize your protective protective gears after every use. They also have a handwashing station in place.
Changes in the City’s quarantine status left many people living in neighboring cities, towns, and islands stranded in Cebu City. In the same way, residents of the City have also been stranded in other localities.
After four (4) months since the outbreak started, the Cebu City Government has finally acted on the concerns of the Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) in the city through financial assistance and guidance on how they can get back to their home provinces.
On a Facebook Page, Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella announced that the City Government has closely coordinated with the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) over its request to the IATF that stranded locals be allowed to travel back to their hometowns after complying with the necessary health and safety guidelines.
“I assure our locally stranded individuals here that the City Government is aware of your difficulties. We received the information you provided and have almost completed verifying them. Many of those who have given us their names by filling up the forms provided here have already coordinated with their barangay officials and received tracking numbers for their respective cases. I urge those who haven’t yet to visit their barangay office and register as LSIs.”
– Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella
If you are among the locals stranded here in Cebu City, please check the infographics from the Cebu City Government below:
For the past few nights, the skies weren’t as clear as how we hoped it would be. Let’s just hope that tonight, and the nights to come, we’ll be able to have clear skies.
On July 12, Delta Aquariids have started to become active. Because from July 12 to August 23, these Delta Aquariids will be gracing our night skies.
The meteor shower though will peak on predawn hours of the 29th with a zenithal hourly rate of 16 and the Philippines will be experiencing a 95% activity rate.
However, these meteor showers are difficult to be spotted, especially if the moon is visible. Otherwise, your get to see the Delta Aquariids when meteor rates rise during the shower’s peak at the end of July.
“The Southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower will be best observed from July 28 to 31 and is estimated to peak before midnight and onwards on July 29/30.”
– DOST-PAGASA
Figure 1 | DOST-PAGASA
Figure 2 | DOST-PAGASA
Figures 1 & 2 show the position of the constellation Aquarius-the Water Bearer, where the radiant will originate.
These are part of a complex of radiant in Aquarius, Capricornus and Piscis Austrinus, all of which combine with sporadic and early Perseid activity to provide a nice display of meteors in the last week of the month.
The stream normally produces about 5-10 meteors/hour with overall activity of about 15 meteors/hour under good sky conditions.
FAST FACTS
Comet of Origin – Unknown, 96P Machholz (suspected)
The Municipality of Cordova in the island of Mactan is being groomed to be the ‘Sentosa’ of Cebu.
Sentosa is an island resort off Singapore’s southern coast popularly known as the state of fun. Just like Sentosa, Cordova will be positioned as the “crown jewel” of tourism and business in Metro Cebu.
Photo from MASA Group Properties
The 1,500-hectare reclamation in Cordova will be developed into an integrated ‘world-class lifestyle’ destination featuring a cruise terminal, marina, beach, eco-parks, golf course, churches, retail centers, civic centers, cultural centers, and promenades with inland transportation consisting of buses and a train with a railroad.
Targeted to be completed by 2028, this multi-billion project will compose four artificially-made islands.
Photo from MASA Group PropertiesPhoto from MASA Group Properties
Under the law, a proposed reclamation project would need to be supported by an area clearance, a feasibility study, an environmental impact statement, and environment compliance certificate (ECC), and local government resolutions posing no objection to the project, among others.
SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPH) has already renewed their commitment to invest in Cordova town during an online meeting with the government agencies on July 9, 2020.
“During the meeting, SM asked permission and approval from the local government, DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and PRA (Philippine Reclamation Authority) to bid the DED (Detailed Engineering Design) to a contractor,”
Photo from MASA Group Properties
Photo from MASA Group Properties
Photo from MASA Group Properties
Design Concept
Cordova also takes pride in its abundant marine resources and habitats. As the municipality lies on the southern coast of Mactan Island, both municipalities have a similar cultures which is fishing and their admiration for marine biodiversity.
Whereas, the development is called “Dolphin Island” since a dolphin symbolizes ‘Marine Life and Beauty’ and from time to time a pod of dolphins can be seen around the vicinity and other marine lives.
