Lokal na pamahalaan ng Tacurong, mas pinapalakas ang pagsusulong sa gender-sensitive governance

Pinapalakas pa lalo ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Tacurong ang pagsusulong sa gender-sensitive governance. Isang paraan na dito ang pagtatag sa Gender and Development o GAD Focal Point System na binuo sa bisa ng Executive Order na inilabas ni Mayor Lina Montilla noong Agosto 29 nitong taon.

Ang Gad Focal Point System ay tumutukoy sa grupo ng mga tao taglay ang layunin na pahalagahan ang karapatan ng mga kababaihan sa lipunan at isulong ang mga programang nag-aangat sa kanila. Ang GAD Focal Point System na pinagtibay ng Republic Act Number 9710 o Magna Carta of Women ay binubuo ng Executive Committee, Technical Working Group at Secretariat. Para sa lungsod ng Tacurong, tumatayong chairperson ng ExeCom si Mayor Lina Montilla at Vice Chairperson naman si Vice Mayor Joseph Lechonsito.

Mga kasapi naman ng EceCom ang lahat ng department heads ng LGU ganundin si City Councilor Charito Collado na pinuno ng SP Committee on women, Children and Family, Councilor Cirilo Flores na pinuno ng SP Committee on Finance, Liga ng mga Barangay President Hernani Fermo at City Local Government Operations Officer Alberto Sero, Jr.

Kasama din sa mga myembro ng Execom ang mga kinatawan ng City Schools Division, Department of Labor and Employment, Tacurong PNP, Kapisanan ng Liping Pilipina, at Women with Disability. Kasama naman sa Technical Working Group at Secretariat ang mga kawani ng LGU na kumakatawan sa ibat ibang mga tanggapan nito.

Magugunitang bago pa man maitatag ang GAD Focal Point System, nauna nang nakabuo ng GAD Task Force ang lungsod ng Tacurong. At dahil kailangang mas palakasin pa ang pagsulog sa gender-sensitive programs, binuo ang GAD Focal Point System.  Sa pagkakabuo nito, ang mga opisyal at kawani ng LGU ay responsable sa pagsusulong ng gender and development sa pagbalangkas ng mga batas sa gobyerno, pagplano sa budget, at pagpapatupad ng mga programa kabilang na ang monitoring at evaluation.

Noong Setyembre 9 ay nagdaos ng unang meeting ang mga kasapi ng GAD Focal Point System na pinangunahan ni Mayor Montilla. Nagbigay din ng orientation at briefing si CLGO Officer Sero sa mga isinasaad ng mga kaukulang batas at memorandum circular sa pagbuo ng GAD Focal Point System.

Inaasahan naman na sa pagbalangkas ng budget para sa susunod na taon, lubos pang mabibigyang-pansin na ang GAD programs. Isinasaad sa batas na limang porsyento ng kabuuang budget ng isang LGU ay nakalaan sa GAD. Sa ilalim ng GAD, ang mga babae ay binibigyan ng patas na oportunidad sa mga lalaki sa lahat ng aspeto ng pamumuhay sa lipunan. Isinusulong din nito ang lahat ng mga proteksyon sa mga babae laban sa diskriminasyon at pang-aabuso. (LGU Tacurong City Information)

Tacurong City Employees Association celebrates 20th anniversary

LGU-Tacurong City employees’ association dubbed as TACEA (Tacurong City Employees Association) celebrated its 20th foundation anniversary on June 30, 2014.

In time for the celebration of this milestone, TACEAns gathered for their annual general assembly after their morning parade around the city. During the assembly, TACEA’s new set of officers were elected. The annual financial and accomplishment reports were also delivered.

“TACEA had been very active in advocating for employees’ benefits and privileges. We are very thankful that the city officials have been very supportive in all our programs,” said TACEA President Amelia Bochorno.

Mayor Lina O. Montilla and City Councilor Benjamin Fajardo Jr., chairperson of the SP Committee on Labor and Employment, participated during the general assembly.

During the assembly, TACEAns agreed to support the LGU and Jollibee’s Busog Lusog Talino Program. Four hundred seventy-two (472) TACEAns pledged to contribute PhP200.00 to adopt a new school for the BLT program. BLT is a daily lunch feeding program that aims to reduce malnutrition and drop-out rate in elementary schools. A BLT school needs P57,600.00 to feed 40 undernourished Grade 1 & 2 pupils for 120 days. This cost does not cover expenses on parent seminars and orientations, and purchase of eating and cooking utensils.

In the evening, TACEAns enjoyed a dinner program. The new set of officers took oath before Mayor Montilla. Bochorno was re-elected as president.

TACEAns who brought pride to the association by winning various awards in the regional level received medals of recognition. Prizes were also given out during the raffle draw.

“TACEA is an institution. It has policies and programs. Bisan kita mag-retire, magpabilin ang TACEA as an institution,” said PIPSEA President Falix Cabuguas Jr. PIPSEA stands for Philippine Independent Public Sector Employees Association, the national confederation of government employees. Cabuguas was the association’s honored guest during its evening celebration. He also shared updates on laws concerning the public sector workforce.

“Sustaining 20 years of unity is never easy but TACEA proved that it is possible. Nalipay ako nga nahimo ako nga parte sang sini nga asosasyon,” said Mayor Montilla. Montilla is one of TACEA’s honorary members.

In the Philippines, there are 1.5 million government employees. Only 21% of this number had been organized as unions and associations. “Among the most active unions in the country are unions in the SoCCSKSarGen area,” said PIPSEA President Cabuguas.
(LGU Tacurong City Information)

Talakudong Sports Camp closes with 552 graduates

Five hundred fifty-two (552) participants of the Talakudong Summer Sports Camp graduated on May 28, 2014 in Tacurong City.

The camp offered free trainings for eleven (11) sports events from April 21 to May 26, 2014. One hundred twenty (120) youth availed of the free dance sports classes. This event had the most number of participants. This was followed by badminton with 97 campers; volleyball (80); taekwondo (70); arnis (34); table tennis (30); softball (28); sepak takraw (25); soccer (25); athletics (22); and karatedo (19). The city government of Tacurong tapped experienced athletes and coaches to train the campers.

“Nagapasalamat kami sa mga ginikanan nga nagsuporta sa aton nga programa karon nga summer. Tani nabuligan namon kamo sa paghatag sang produktibo nga panahon para sa inyo nga kabataan,” said Mayor Lina Montilla during the closing ceremonies.

The city government, through the City Sports Council chaired by Mayor Montilla and co-chaired by City Councilor Rodrigo Jamorabon, vows to conduct this camp annually with a regular budget allocation. SP Youth Committee chaired by City Councilor Welson Ferrer also backs this program that aims to develop skills and discipline among the youth.

(LGU-Tacurong City Information)

LGU-Tacurong receives 3-million peso performance challenge fund

DILG Assistant Regional Director Josephine C. Leysa, CESE awards the P3-million Performance Challenge Fund to Mayor Lina O. Montilla during the LGU Monday flag-raising ceremony on May 12, 2014. In the photo, the mayor was joined by City DILG Officer Alberto Sero Jr., Asst. RD Leysa, Vice Mayor Joseph George Lechonsito, Tacurong City Police Chief Junny Buenacosa, city councilors, and LGU heads of offices. The PCF is awarded to Tacurong City for achieving the Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) in 2012. Silver SGH was awarded to Tacurong after passing the scaled-up SGH assessment on the following governance areas: accountable governance, transparent governance, and frontline service performance. The PCF will be used to fund local development projects in the LGU's 2014 Annual Investment Plan. “In the entire region, Tacurong ang ginagamit naming example to inspire other LGUs. You have been the leader LGU in Region XII when it comes to good governance. Our challenge would be for Tacurong to remain that way. Congratulations,” said ARD Leysa.

City Agri Office to complete Soil Fertility Profile in June

“Half of our 400 soil samples had already been analyzed for soil pH, and macro and micro elements. Our city’s soil fertility profile will be complete before June ends,” said City Agriculturist Ramon Losañes during a program for the Buwan ng Magsasaka’t Mangingisda on May 27, 2014.

The Office for the City Agricultural Services (OCAS) collected 400 soil samples in the city’s nineteen barangays in the first quarter of this year. “The soil samples we collected represent different ecosystems and crops planted,” added Losañes.

The Sultan Kudarat Soils Laboratory analyzes these soil samples for free.

OCAS updates Tacurong’s soil fertility profile every three years to provide farmers with reliable information for crop management. LGU Tacurong City Information

Tacurong 4-H Club members to become ATI’s agri-preneurs

Three Tacurong City 4-H Club members have been qualified to Agricultural Training Institute’s two-year college scholarship program in Central Mindanao University in Bukidnon.

Upon graduation, these scholars will then be required to submit business proposals to be funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“We call them agri-preneurs,” said City Agriculturist Ramon B. Losañes.

The scholars namely Carmi P. Kilayco, Renelyn P. Patiño, and Kryzza Thea H. Aposaga are among ATI’s sixteen scholars in Region XII. All three of them are graduates of A.S. Bernardo Memorial National High School in Barangay Baras, Tacurong City.

They will enjoy a free tuition fees, monthly allowance, and transportation allowance. DA-ATI will also shoulder other expenses relative to their school activities including their graduation expenses.  
(LGU Tacurong City Information)

Fifty Iskolar ng Lungsod ng Tacurong named

The city government of Tacurong released the names of its 50 scholars under the Iskolar ng Lungsod ng Tacurong program or ILT on May 5, 2014.

The 50 scholars will enjoy a P5,000-peso tuition fee subsidy from the LGU until they finish their tertiary or vocational courses. They only have to maintain a general average grade of 80% per semester, without any failing grade. ILT program has a budget allocation of P500,000.00 for every school year. ILT will be implemented in academic institutions in the city starting SY 2014-2015. Click here to see complete list of scholars.

One hundred ten (110) incoming freshmen college students from the city’s 20 barangays were interviewed for the program. All of them applied and were able to submit all documentary requirements.

City Ordinance 08-2012 or an ‘Ordinance Establishing and Institutionalizing the Iskolar ng Lungsod ng Tacurong Program and Appropriating Funds Therefor’ was approved in 2012. (LGU-Tacurong City Information)