36 to be awarded on Charter day

CEBU, Philippines - Thirty-six individuals and institutions will be awarded by the Cebu City government when it celebrates the city’s 72nd Charter Day Anniversary on Tuesday.

Councilor Arsenio Pacaña said the awardees have contributed to the growth and development of Cebu City that is why the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission recommended that each of them be awarded.

The City Council has already approved the recommendation of the CHAC that was sponsored by Pacaña who heads the council committee on cultural and historical affairs.

The awardees for outstanding individuals are Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, former mayor Florentino Solon, Irene Yusingco, Mary Anne Alcordo-Solomon and Janice Minor.

Solon serves the city as consultant of its malnutrition programs without receiving a single centavo unlike other city consultants.

The outstanding institutions are the Arts Council of Cebu, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Cebu City YLAC Free School Foundation, Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Chong Hua Hospital and Free-LAVA Inc.

Dr. Renato Bautista, the forensic expert of the National Bureau of Investigation, former Bogota, Colombia, mayor Enrique Peñalosa and Ireneo Ylaya will also receive the acting mayor’s special award for the individual category.

For non-government, those who will receive the acting mayor’s awards are the International Police, Meerlanden Youth Cebu, Petrus Steneker, Johaness Hulsebosch, Mattjs Daniel Van Kesteren, Philippine Association of Detective and Protective Agency Operators, Parish Security Group, Bee Pinoy TV 14, and five call centers.

There are some city officials and employees who will also receive the acting mayor’s special award. They are councilors Gerardo Carillo, Edgardo Labella, city consultant Belinda Navasquez, Department of Public Services head Dionesio Gualiza, Social Welfare and Services head Catherine Yso, City Hall building administrator Emiliano Cruz, disaster preparedness personnel Alvin Santillana and General Service Office employee Eduardo Paquibot.

Mayor on-leave Tomas Osmeña had instructed Rama to remove his name from the plaques because he does not know some of the awardees and for what reasons that they are to be awarded.

The awarding ceremony will be held at the Waterfront Cebu Hotel and Casino in Lahug at 6 p.m. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)