The Freeman

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña is pushing to expand the city’s “Mayor of the Night” initiative, calling it a targeted response to long-standing challenges faced by call center workers and a strategic move to strengthen the city’s urban economy. During a press conference, Osmeña said the program may be scaled up depending on demand, including possible support for mental health services and community-building activities for workers.

I spent my whole Friday morning glued to the awarding ceremony of the National Schools Press Conference. Some students, from Central Visayas, were under my wing for column writing. While watching, I was quietly praying for their names to be called. One emerged at a podium finish and at that moment, it felt like a full circle moment for all the hard work to be finally recognized. You see, in coaching or mentoring, winning is often treated as the ultimate goal.

On April 15, 2026, I attended a press conference for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) “Atin Ito!” Cebu Caravan, hosted by the Filipino Cebuano Business Club. Present were Atin Ito Coalition speakers Rafaela David, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, UP economics professor Cielo Magno, and political analyst and former political affairs adviser Ronald Llamas. I would like to thank former Cebu City councilor Alvin Dizon for the invitation. I had met Sec.

While the Cebu Coalition of CSOs will not have one common event this April 22, 2026 Earth Day, we are happy to share that several events have been planned/lined up by certain partners before, during, immediately after this year’s Earth Day. Today, in coordination with Rey Balatayo of the Couples for Christ, Pagtambayayong and RCE-Cebu will join about 40 participants from various parts of Cebu Province, including those from Cebu City.

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) has expanded its Cash Relief Assistance (CRA) payout to reach 19,816 tricycle drivers across 91 municipalities in Central Visayas from April 16 to 18, 2026, as part of government efforts to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices. The latest round of distribution follows the initial rollout on April 8, which covered 10 cities in Cebu and Bohol and benefited 14,858 drivers.

CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City Council has approved a resolution calling for a comprehensive study on a possible salary increase for city employees, particularly Job Order (JO) workers, amid the rising cost of basic goods and services. Councilor Carlo Fortuna, who authored the resolution, said in an interview that the surge in fuel prices has triggered a domino effect on overall expenses.

CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City Council has approved a resolution recommending that the city government enter into a compromise agreement with Asian Energy Systems Corporation over unpaid billings amounting to P9.3 million. The unpaid obligation covers services rendered from 2011 to 2018. Councilor Carlo Fortuna, who authored the resolution, said in an interview that the proposed compromise agreement aims to settle the city’s actual liabilities with the company.

There are those who want to make a spectacle out of Vice President Sara Duterte’s absence from the House Committee on Justice hearings on her impeachment case. Critics have been quick to frame her non-attendance as cowardice, pointing to her earlier fiery remark about welcoming a “bloodbath” in the impeachment process. Others go further, insinuating that her absence is the equivalent of guilt. But such conclusions may be premature --and perhaps even misplaced.

Someone who was supposed to save a life ended up taking one instead. An 18-year-old student died while her classmate was injured after the motorcycle they were riding was hit head-on by a counter-flowing ambulance on the Archbishop Reyes Avenue flyover in Barangay Luz, Cebu City, last Tuesday. According to reports, the ambulance was bringing a patient to the Cebu City Medical Center and flowed against normal traffic on the flyover when it hit the motorcycle.

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is being urged to fast-track the release of Licenses to Sell (LTS) as prolonged approval delays begin to disrupt property launches and housing supply nationwide. Anthony Leuterio, founder of Filipino Homes, said developers are increasingly concerned over the slowdown, with some waiting months for approvals despite having completed requirements. “No LTS for so many months.