SPES: Bridging a brighter future (Feature)

            (April 27, 2012) “Because of SPES, my Mom doesn’t have to mind my enrollment for the next school year. She doesn’t have to think about my school supplies and my uniform allowance as well because I have my salary already.”

            These are the words from one of the 165 SPES grantees of LGU-Tacurong, Smilee Joy A. Sonza. Raised by a single parent, 18-year old Smilee considers the opportunity of applying in SPES very important. Though she gets support from her aunt, earning money of her own will aid her personal needs especially for her education.

            SPES, or Special Program for the Employment of Students, is a part of the KABATAAN 2000 program and mandated under Republic Act No. 7323 which envisions reaching out to poor but worthy students by granting them income during summer and Christmas breaks. Employers are encouraged to employ the youth by offering them benefits, such as paying only 60% of the prevailing minimum wage while DOLE pays the balance of 40%, through education vouchers.

            In order to qualify for the said program, aspiring applicants have to undergo an examination that will serve as one of the basis for qualification. Smilee ranked second when she applied last March 2010. Academic excellence is also taken into account for qualification.

            As mentioned, the Department of Labor and Employment together with national and local government units, NGOs, private establishments, GOCCs, labor unions, and other organizations make this program possible to help the youth. For LGU-Tacurong, the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), headed by Mr. Allan Freno, served as the gateway to enable the conduct of SPES under their special programs.

            PESO is a non-fee charging entity made under R.A. 8759 or the “Public Employment Service Office Act of 1999.” One of its special services involves SPES, sticking into its goal: ensuring the prompt, opportune and proficient delivery of employment service and provision of information on the other DOLE programs.

            LGU-Tacurong and DOLE started to acquire SPES grantees last April 23, 2012 and assigned them into several offices. Smilee, having been a grantee for three years, has worked for the Human Resource Management Office, Sports Office, and PESO Office of the City Government.  

            Aside from financial support provided by this program, SPES also helps in the personal development of students. By being exposed into a working environment, these individuals would be able to expose themselves with regard to their fields of expertise – gaining self-confidence and esteem.

            Also, communication skills are being exercised. Smilee believes that part of her experience as a SPES grantee is the opportunity to mingle with different types of people, such as her superiors, co-SPES grantees, and other members of the community.

            Supporting the youth through programs as SPES provided by DOLE and public and private establishments/organizations, it is not impossible to produce citizens that are ready enough to face the future, and make it brighter. (Ariesha Faith M. Dimaano)

Tacurongnons and Mana’s bit for Earth Day: Limpyo Kalog 2012 (Feature)

The morning of April 21 gave me chills. I wasn’t sure if it was just because of the cold weather, or maybe my longing for my youngest sister’s hug ‘cause it’s her birthday yet she’s not home, or maybe the side effect of a number of nights that I had an over time in the office, or maybe just the cold weather.

Amidst the freezing temperature, I managed to get up my bed and take a bath (which I don’t normally do back in college – which is normal in our University, haha).

I had no choice because that day was Tacurong’s scheduled date for the celebration of Earth Day. Tacurongnons responded to the United Nations call for the whole world to try to save the Earth every 22^nd of April only that we celebrated it a day in advance.

 Why save our planet Earth you ask? It is because we do not want our home to spew us out of its comforts and let us suffer the consequences of our sinful acts towards our environment.

It is not obscure to us how we pollute and obliterate our home, I believe. Most importantly, it is not abstract to us either how we can heal the problems that we ourselves brought.

So instead of cursing the cold Saturday morning, I thanked the Lord for hiding Mr. Sun’s rays for it made the day suitable for the Tacurongnons’ way of celebrating the Earth Day. Through the initiative of Hon. Psyche Sucaldito, the Committee Chairman on Environment, Social Services, Beautification, Cleanliness and Sanitation, Limpyo Kalog once again became possible on its fourth year.

Limpyo Kalog summons responsible Tacurongnons to join clean the water ways within the city. It is a fresh and a new group effort approach of the city because the participants come from the different sectors and organizations of Tacurong.

Everyone, never minding their societal status, painstakingly remove the litters, garbage, or anything that restricts the water from flowing in the drainage canal.

As I looked around the beautiful picture of this Tacurongnon’s community service, a little girl caught my attention.

Mary Natalie S. Ampunan, “Mana” to her family and friends, is not really a Tacurongnon for she’s only spending her vacation here with her extended family. She actually came from Iloilo City. However, at the age of eight, she was already introduced to the importance of her little ways to alleviate and address the pressing environmental issues in her generation. Her Aunt, Hon. Psyche Sucaldito vigilantly guided her as she participated in Limpyo Kalog 2012.

Mana personally described this undertaking as a “beautiful deed” for her environment. According to her, Limpyo Kalog, which is one way of cleaning the environment, has a huge impact to the restoration of our deteriorating homeland.

And to strengthen the will of everyone to sustain the good works for our environment, Mana, along with Tacurongnons, signed the poster where they wrote their pledges to be able to reach the goal of one billion acts of green. Some pledged to plant trees, clean the surroundings, conserve energy, etc. while Mana simply, but seriously pledged to recycle her own wastes.

The cold Saturday morning was filled with the warmth of the people’s desires to uplift the awareness and appreciation of the Earth's natural environment by offering their time and efforts to Limpyo Kalog 2012. Surely, these desires will keep on burning in their hearts and they will all help sustain these kinds of undertakings in the City of Tacurong.

And as I embraced the cold weather, I thanked the Lord for giving us a home to love, to respect, and to protect. (Jessa Billano)

Employees and agencies practice 5S of housekeeping

          (April 23, 2012) As part of the lined-up activities planned for the 2012 Earth Day Celebration, City Government employees and agencies engaged through learning the proper way of practicing 5S scheduled from April 17 – 26, 2012.

5S is the City’s kick-off activity that intends to share the correct way of exercising good housekeeping practices to its employees and agencies. This is done through office visitation by a core group which includes lectures from credible resource persons. An outright application of the discourses was also implemented.

Honorable Psyche M. Sucaldito, Engr. Alfredo C. Ranido, Jr., and Forester Norberto M. Lopez imparted lectures and talks that would help in addressing pressing issues of today such as climate change and environmental awareness. Different offices attended and learned on topics regarding 5S (Sort, Systemize, Sweep, Standardize, and Self-discipline) including its essence in the global scale and in the government offices as well as its benefits.

 Other related and connected discussions are: ways on how to lessen GHGs (Greenhouse Gases); proper household and office waste segregation; climate change; and the concept of City Ordinance #13 or the Integrated and Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Ordinance of Tacurong City.

Further activities regarding the Earth Day Celebration will consist of Limpyo Kalog (Hiligaynon term for “canal cleaning”) and Tree Growing in celebration of the Philippine Arbor Day. Tacurong City also joined in the observance of Earth Hour from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. on March 31, 2012.

The conduct of these activities is an initiative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in cooperation with Earth Day Network Philippines (EDNP), that encourages government agencies and private institutions to participate in the celebration of Earth Day and prepare activities for the whole month. (Ariesha Faith Martinez Dimaano)

City Government conducts “Operation Tuli”

(April 19, 2012) In line with summer vacation is the chance to conduct activities concerning students of younger generation. The City Government of Tacurong is one with this vision through supervising the 4^th year of “Operation Tuli” which began last April 16, 2012.

Barangay San Pablo was one of the three barangays scheduled to conduct the said activity – together with Barangay Kalandagan and Barangay New Carmen – on April 18, 2012.

Barangay Captain Manuel G. Vidal said that the execution of the said activity in their barangay greatly helped in providing the constituents of San Pablo quality service, and also expressed his appreciation to the City Government. 

The yearly implementation of “Operation Tuli” is through the initiative of Sangguniang Panlungsod Health Committee Chairperson, Hon. Joseph L. Lechonsito. Dr. Lechonsito was also present during the operation at Barangay San Pablo together with other medical staff.

Budget allocation amounting to P 150,000.00 was spent for surgical supplies and medicines for the whole duration of “Operation Tuli” this summer. The fund was sourced out from Medical/Dental, Surgical outreach programs.

“Operation Tuli” will continue to visit each of the 20 barangays of Tacurong City until May 24, 2012. Nine barangays have already undergone the said event, namely: Brgy. Griño, Brgy. San Antonio, Brgy. San Rafael, Brgy. Tina, Brgy. D’Ledesma, Brgy. San Emmanuel, Brgy. New Carmen, Brgy. Kalandagan, and Brgy. San Pablo. Previous operations have catered an estimated number of 250 boys.

Future schedules and venues of “Operation Tuli” will be the following:

April 19 (venue at New Isabela) – Brgy. Calean and Brgy. New Isabela

April 21 (venue at Rajah Muda) – Brgy. Rajah Muda and Brgy. New Passi

April 23 (venue at EJC Montilla) – Brgy. New Lagao, Brgy. Buenaflor, and Brgy. EJC Montilla

May 4 (venue at Baras) – Brgy. Upper Katungal, Brgy. Baras, and Brgy. Lancheta

May 24 (venue at Poblacion) – Brgy. Poblacion (Ariesha Faith Dimaano - LGU Tacurong)

Tacurongnons switch off lights during Earth Hour

(April 5, 2012) The city government of Tacurong spearheaded the observance of Earth Hour 2012 in the City of Tacurong, which gathered the participation of several constituents who switched off their lights for at least an hour on March 31.

An hour before switch off, a program transpired at the city hall ground attended by more than a hundred individuals. City Mayor Lina Montilla led the city officials and employees in the program participated by the personnel of Department of Education, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, Girl Scout of the Philippines, Civil Society Organizations, catholic priests, and other groups.

During the program, an overview on the observance of Earth Hour was given by Sangguniang Panlungsod Environment Committee Chairperson Psyche Sucaldito. Video documentaries on climate change were also shown. During the switch off at 8:30 PM, the participants to the program lighted candles and arranged themselves forming the image of 60+.

As part of its participation, Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative cut off the power supply in the area for thirty minutes starting at 8:30PM.

Mayor Lina Montilla, speaking during the program, said that it is high time that each of us contributes in mitigating the effects of climate change because Mindanao has already suffered its terrible effects. “The typhoon that struck Northern Mindanao was a perfect example of the devastating effects of climate change”, the mayor said. “Prior to the typhoon, Mindanao has been typhoon-free for long decades; but now, we are very vulnerable”.

This is already the second year that the City of Tacurong joined in the observance of Earth Hour. Councilor Sucaldito hopes that more people would become advocates of energy conservation and that more people would do their share of saving Mother Earth even beyond Earth Hour. (Allan Freno)

Lokal na pamahalaan, inatasan ang mga business owners na magsumite ng job vacancies sa PESO

(April 4, 2012) Magiging mas malawak na ang oportunidad na makapaghanap ng trabaho ang mga jobseekers sa lungsod ng Tacurong matapos na pumasa ng isang resolusyon ang Sangguniang Panlungsod na nag-aatas sa mga nagmamay-ari ng negosyo sa lungsod ng Tacurong na magsumite ng listahan ng kanilang job vacancies sa tanggapan ng Public Employmernt Service Office o PESO.

 Ang naturang resolusyon ay ipinasa ni Konsehal Benjamin Fajardo Jr., chairperson ng SP Committee on Labor and Employment, at may pamagat na “Resolution requesting, through the Office of the City Mayor, all business establishments operating in the City of Tacurong to submit a list of their existing job vacancies and placement report to the Public Employment Service office (PESO) and post them in conspicuous places and giving preference for employment to qualified applicants coming from the City of Tacurong”. Naipasa ang naturang resolusyon sa regular session ng SP na ginanap noong ikapito ng Marso.

 Sa pamamagitan ng resolusyong ito, ang mga naghahanap ng trabaho sa lungsod ay maari nang makipag-ugnayan sa tanggapan ng LGU-Tacurong PESO para malaman kung anong mga business establishments sa lungsod ang may bakanteng trabaho. Ang PESO ang kahalili ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sa pagpapatupad ng labor and employment programs sa isang lokalidad.

Sinabi ni Konsehal Fajardo na isa sa malalim na suliranin ng ating lipunan ay ang mataas na antas ng kawalan ng trabaho o unemployment. “Ang kawalan din ng pagkakataon para s amga naghahanap ng trabaho na malaman kung saan may bakanteng trabaho ay isa din sa mga problema at ito ang nais nating bigyan ng pansin”, dagdag ni Konsehal Fajardo.

Noong ikadalawampu ng Marso ay nalagdaan na ni City Mayor Lina Montilla ang naturang resolusyon. Nakatakda na ring magpadala ng sulat ang kanyang tanggapan sa mga business owners and operators para ipaabot ang nilalaman ng resolusyon. Inatasan na rin ng alkalde ang PESO na makipag-ugnayan sa DOLE-Sultan Kudarat Field Office hinggil sa resolusyon.

Samantala, pinuri ng tanggapan ng DOLE ang hakbang na ginawa ng lokal na pamahalaan. Ayon kay DOLE-SK Field Officer Arlene Bisnon, inaaasahan niya na mas lalo pang mapadali ng mga naghahanap ng trabaho ang kanilang ‘job hunting’ sa sandaling may listahan na ang PESO ng mga job vacancies sa lungsod. (LGU Information)