PRESS RELEASE   Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative Cindi King-Chan formally launched “Pink October,” a month dedicated to breast cancer awareness and prevention, with a series of activities and free screenings and check-ups on Monday, September 30th.   “Ang importante early detection, magpakabana, dili mahadlok ug magpa-check up," Cong. Cindi emphasized during the flag ceremony with City employees.   She also encouraged individuals diagnosed with cancer to seek immediate medical intervention, noting that early detection can be lifesaving. Cong. Cindi shared that her own mother was a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed early with stage 2 cancer and receiving treatment promptly.   The formal launch of “Pink October” took place on October 1. This marked the start of simultaneous free check-ups and screenings for breast cancer at all Barangay Health Centers, City Hospital, and the City Health Office.   Additionally, on October 1, there was a Zumba session held at 4:30 PM at the Liberty Shrine in Mactan, followed by a pink lighting ceremony of the Datu Lapulapu statue at 5:30 PM in celebration of the month-long campaign.   “Our office is always open to provide guarantee letters for free ultrasound and mammogram services, which are available in all major hospitals—both public and private,” said Cong. Cindi. This offer extends to everyone, not just indigent patients. She reminded individuals to bring their prescriptions for further check-up assistance.   Furthermore, she announced that all City office employees will be wearing pink every Friday throughout October as a show of support and solidarity.   “Ang early detection maoy yawe, o key, para maka-survive ta aning usa sa pinaka-dakong mortality rate labi na sa mga kababayen-an,” Cong. Cindi reiterated.

PRESS RELEASE   All barangays in Lapu-Lapu City now have multi-purpose emergency vans, according to Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, after he turned over 14 units of L300 vans to the barangays and one unit to the City Agriculture Office last Wednesday, October 2.   The mayor stated that this is the second batch of vans distributed to the barangays.   “All barangays now have similar vehicles, allowing them to respond quickly when problems arise,” Mayor Chan said.   Mayor Chan and Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Congresswoman Cindi Chan led the turnover and blessing ceremony for the 15 units of L300 vans.   “Dako kaayo ning ikatabang kining atoang multi-purpose service vehicles sa barangay, sa pagronda, labi na sa kagabhion, pag-implimentar sa kahapsay ug kalinaw, ikaduha panahon sa emerhensiya, magamit gihapon ni nila, kung dad-on sa ospital, ug dunay mga gatherings sa atoang taga barangay, gamiton sa asister sa patay, magamit lang gihapon siya,” the mayor explained.   The formal event began with a blessing ceremony.   The parish priest blessed each unit, accompanied by the mayor and the congresswoman.   After the blessing, Mitsubishi Manager Michelle Arsenal handed the ceremonial key to Mayor Chan.   The mayor and congresswoman then turned over the vans to the barangay officials of Babag, Bankal, Buaya, Calawisan, Gun-ob, Ibo, Mactan, Maribago, Marigondon, Pajac, Pajo, Punta Engaño, Pusok, Tungasan, and to Alex Baring, the head of the City Agriculture and Fisheries Office (CAFO).   Vice Mayor Celedonio Sitoy, City Councilors, ABC President Jasmine Marie Chan, and SK Federation President Orland Joseph Carungay, witnessed the blessing and turnover ceremony.   This is the second batch of multi-purpose vehicles distributed to the barangays. The first batch was distributed last year (PIO).

PRESS RELEASE The Office of Congresswoman Cindi King-Chan conducted a profiling of beneficiaries of TUPAD, or “Tulong Pangkabuhayan Alang sa mga Displaced” workers. The profiling activities, held at the City Sports Gym on Friday, are intended for the P1 million fund allocation for TUPAD beneficiaries through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Julieta Soon, assistant program coordinator, said each TUPAD beneficiary will work for 10 days in her barangay and will receive a total of P4,680, or P468 daily. She said the daily rate was increased from the previous P435 per day due to the rising cost of basic commodities. The P1 million is Tingog Partylist fund allocation, coursed through the Alangang Tingog Center (ATC) here in the city, with the assistance of the staff of Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative, Cong. Cindi King-Chan. Today, TUPAD staff processed 204 female beneficiaries. Soon, after processing their documents, the papers will be sent to DOLE. The labor department will then call qualified beneficiaries for orientation and processing of their insurance. Beneficiaries will then be sent to work in their assigned areas to plant and clean the streets. They will then receive their pay after 10 days of work. PIO

PRESS RELEASE Lapu-Lapu City held a public hearing last Tuesday on the proposed rate increase on market stall rentals, and it went smoothly. But market sellers complained of the rate increase but were evasive when Mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan asked then, revealing their profit, or "ginansiya". Market sellers have enjoyed a wide profit margin through the years for their 21-year-old stall rental rates. Fish vendors, for example, enjoy their daily profit but only pay a meager P100 monthly rental, plus P10 for a full bañera fish or P5 for a half-filled bañera. They are complaining about the proposed rent rate increase of P150 per day. Meat vendors pay only P150 per month in rental, which will be increased in the proposed rate to P150 per day. Lapu-Lapu City Public Market has a total of 701 stalls and 400 to 500 ambulant vendors, making it one of the city’s revenue earners. But the mayor reasoned out that the city government will be at a loss if it does not increase its stall rental rates. "Kung alkase pirmi ang gobyerno, aw, manirado na lang ta o pasirad-an ta sa DENR kay wa tay tarong nga STP," he told the vendors. Being a highly urbanized city (HUC), Mayor Chan said it is incumbent upon the city to develop their market facility and have a functional sewage treatment plant (STP). STP is the facility that regulates market waste and odor. And the current STP nowadays costs millions. The mayor added that the high cost of maintaining a public market prompted their neighboring cities to privatize their market or let a private company manage the facility. Then the city just collects revenues from this managing company. During the public hearing, the majority of vendors aired their gripes, saying they incurred huge losses during lockdown and were devastated by Typhoon Odette. They are just now slowly making headway in their business, but they are worried about this proposed rate increase. Mayor Chan told them that if they were at a loss, they should have ceased operating years ago and sold their stall rights because many are waiting to acquire them. But stall owners did not sell their rights. Apparently they are having the heyday of the old, 21-year-old rental rates and raking in big profits. Mayor, Vice Mayor Celsie Sitoy, and city councilors listened to stall occupants who each gave their stall rate counter proposal during last Tuesday’s public hearing. This is the proposed ordinance of Councilors Climaco Tatoy Jr. and Annabeth Cuizon, which is an ordinance amending City Ordinance No. 029-2007, "The Revised Market Code of 2007 of the City of Lapu-Lapu. PIO