Talakudong Job Fair registered hundreds of applicants

The two-day Talakudong Job Fair accommodated 305 jobseekers from different barangays of Tacurong and neighboring municipalities of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato. The Fair was conducted on September 14-15, 2012 in front of the City Hall Building.

At least 200 available jobs were offered by eight registered recruitment agencies that joined the event: M.G.M. International Recruitment Services, Inc.; DA Rodrigo International, Inc.; East West Placement Center; Good Day Recruitment Agency, Inc.; Lizsil International Manpower Agency; Non-stop Overseas Employment Services, Inc.; Zontar Manpower Services, Inc.; and MMML Recruitment Services, Inc.

Out of the hundreds of applicants, at least ten had been hired on the spot. Twenty-seven year old Victor Becodo, a barangay electrician of Kalandagan was one of the lucky applicants who were hired on the spot by East West Placement Center, an overseas recruitment agency based in Manila.

Ten local business establishments from Tacurong, Koronadal and Davao also participated in the Talakudong Job Fair. These were: Kimsan Plaza Corporation; Talakudong Foods Corporation or Jollibee; Tacurong Fit Mart, Inc.; Swana Mercantile Inc.; Edjin Pension House; KCC Mall Of Marbel, St. Louis Hospital, and Concentrix, a call center company based in Davao City.

The Philippine National Police and the 601^st I.B. and 61^STCivil Military Operation Company also participated in the Job Fair to recruit new members of the police force and Armed Forces.

The Job Fair was part of the City’s 12^th Foundation Anniversary dubbed as Talakudong Festival 2012 and spearheaded by the city government through its Public Employment Service Office in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment-Sultan Kudarat Field Office (DOLE-SK).

Mayor Lina O. Montilla personally facilitated the opening of the said event signifying her all out support in increasing the city’s employment rate.  Also in attendance were Job Fair Chairperson Benjamin P. Fajardo Jr. and DOLE-SK Provincial Head Arlene R. Bisnon.

Myla D. Muyco-LGU PESO

Photo enthusiasts capture Tacurong City at its best

           (September 24, 2012) What best captures a progressing city’s potentialities? LGU-Tacurong maximized the power of photos by staging the 2012 Igpat sang Kamera during the Talakudong festivities in September 2012.

            Igpat sang Kamera 2012 was themed It’s More Fun in the City of Goodwill, in support of the Department of Tourism’s advocacy in showcasing local destinations and the warmth of Filipino hospitality.

The photo contest had two categories: Discover Tacurong category which was exclusive to Tacurong photo enthusiasts, and the Talakudong Festival category which was opened to all interested photographers.

Mr. Bernard Joseph Fresco ruled the Discover Tacurong category with his photograph entitled Laro Tayo. The ‘Welcoming Smile’ of Mr. Benjamin Sarmiento was won 2^ndprize and ‘Mga Binibini ng Ani’ of Ms. Leah dela Rosa won 3^rd prize. (View their photos at http://talakudong2012.wordpress.com/winners)

For the Festival category, Mr. Jonathan Jara of Koronadal City bagged the gold with his photo entitled ‘Bending with Grace’. Louie Pacardo’s ‘Big Bites of Goodwill and Jubilation’  and Karina Mae P. Maribao’s ‘Paningkamot’ came in 2^nd and 3^rd, respectively. (View their photos at http://talakudong2012.wordpress.com/winners)

“We thank all participants who willingly shared their skills in capturing Tacurong as a vibrant tourist destination and even as a humble city. I believe we are all looking forward to the 2013 competitions,” Mayor Lina Montilla said.

                All entries are available for viewing at the city hall lobby. Winning photos are posted on talakudong2012.wordpress.com. (JLCBillano)

Tribu Manubiaw reclaims honor in Talakudong Festival 2012

Tribu Manubiaw is at it again! After losing to Tribu Kudong last year, the performing group of Tacurong Pilot Elementary was declared Champion of the Talakudong Street Dancing and Field Demonstration Competition on September 18, 2012 at the city grounds. The said competition is the highlight of Tacurong City’s 12^th Foundation Anniversary dubbed as Talakudong Festival 2012 themed Talakudong: Padayon nga Nagahugpong.

It was a sweet victory for the group of TPES pupils as they were also able to snatch two out of the three special awards: Best in Showdown and Best in Field Demonstration. 

Tribu Manubiaw bested 5 other tribes namely Tribu Takurongnon (A.S. Bernardo Memorial National High School), Tribu Salakot (Tacurong National High School), Tribu Pintados (Notre  Dame of Tacurong College), Tribu Ugoy-ugoy (New Isabela Central School) which was declared 2^nd runner-up and Best in Street Dancing, and the Tribu Kudong (V.F. Grino Memorial National High School and North Tacurong District) which was declared 1^st runner-up. 

The board of judges had a difficult time assessing each tribe’s performance as each has refreshing ways of entertainment and spectacle. “Talagang nag level up pa ang performance ng mga grupo ngayong taon. Magagaling ang lahat ng tribu. However, we have based our judgment not only on routines but most importantly on the performers’ discipline,” said Id Acaylar, chairperson of the board of judges.

LGU-Tacurong, through event chairperson Hon. Rodrigo P. Jamorabon, thanked all participating groups, the parents, and school administrators.

 Mayor Lina O. Montilla also expressed her gratitude to Tacurongnons: “We appreciate the effort and time that these students spend to give us an amazing display of our culture through their colorful costumes, routines, music and props. We hope that they did not only hone their dancing skills; we hope that this experience also taught them valuable lessons."

As the champion, Tribu Manubiaw received Php 130,000.00. Tribu Kudong and Tribu Ugoy-Ugoy received Php 100,000.00 and Php 85,000.00, respectively. Winners of special awards received Php 5,000.00 each. Non-winning groups received Php 10,000.00 each. (Jezereel Billano-LGU Information)

Tacurong Rescue Team bags Regional Gawad Kalasag Award

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council XII recognized the Tacurong City Responsive Assistance and Coordinated Emergency Search and Rescue (TRACER) as Best Volunteer Organization in the Gawad Kalasag 2012.

‘Gawad Kalasag’, which stands for KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan, is a presidential award given to individuals, non-government organizations, private sector and government organizations, in recognition of their initiative in helping the Filipino government uplift the standard of disaster management in the country.

Tacurong City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) also received a Special Citation Award as the 2nd Best Local DRRM Council for Region XII under the Component Cities Category.

CDRRM Officer Eufemia Robles and TRACER Asst. Team Leader Amante Alcaide receive the award .

RDRRM XII, headed by Reg. Dir. Lita B. Enok, cited TRACER for providing ‘exceptional contributions in disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation, particularly in providing much-needed help during the response phase of DRRM’ and for ‘strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacities of the constituency’.

TRACER is a group of multi-skilled volunteers tapped to conduct disaster preparedness activities and trainings in schools and barangays. The group also responds to natural and even man-made calamities in Tacurong and in nearby municipalities.

 “We hope that the group’s sense of volunteerism will not fade. We appreciate all of their efforts in educating our people on risk reduction,” said Tacurong Mayor Lina O. Montilla.

 “This award is an inspiration to work harder and come up with new strategies to increase people’s disaster preparedness and knowledge on risk reduction,” said Eufemia T. Robles, CDRRM Officer.

The Regional Evaluation was conducted on June 20, 2012 by the Regional Selection and Evaluation Committee. The award was received on September 10, 2012 at Sun City Suites, General Santos City. Complete list of regional winners is on Facebook/Tanggulang Sibil Rehiyon Dose.

As the Regional Winner, TRACER was evaluated by the National Selection and Evaluation Committee on August 3, 2012. Results of the National Gawad Kalasag 2012 will be out before September ends. 

LGU-sponsored ‘walk’ to benefit street children

            The City Government of Tacurong, in celebration of Civil Service Commission’s 112^th anniversary, conducted Hataw and Walk for A Cause – Alay sa mga Batang Lansangan on September 7, 2012. 

           Other groups and sectors who supported the cause were the 601^st Brigade-Philippine Army, Task Force Talakudong, PNP, DepEd, BJMP, DTI, Tacurong National High School, Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology, Sultan Kudarat Water District, among others. Participants walked a distance of approximately 3 kilometers from the city grounds to STI building, vice versa.

            Hon. Psyche Sucaldito, author of the project Kalinga sa mga Batang Lansangan, gladly announced that the activity was able to raise Php 10,000.00. 

            The project, which started in July 2012, now has almost 30 beneficiaries who are under the care of the City’s Crisis Center-Social Welfare and Development Office. Kids who stopped schooling attend classes under DepEd’s Alterative Learning System or ALS, while kids who have not attended school at all are taught by CSWD staff to read and write.

            One beneficiary thanked the LGU and the participants during the program. “Dahil po sa inyo, makakamit ko na ang pangarap kong makatuntong sa kolehiyo at makatapos ng pag-aaral,” he said. The said beneficiary will be enrolling for college education next semester.

             “We are preparing for the future of these kids. We want to guide them so that they won’t be ‘future problems’. If they get the good guidance, future public servants may yield from this group,” said Mayor Lina O. Montilla.

            In 2011, City of Tacurong was adjudged as Region XII’s Most Child-Friendly City by the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children. 

Tacurong City is Regional Winner for Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Awards 2012

             The City of Goodwill has achieved yet another milestone for being adjudged as the winner of Region XII Gawad Pamana ng Lahi 2012-City Category.

Gawad Pamana ng Lahi is an award conferred by the Department of the Interior and Local Government to a province, city or municipality for reason of exemplary performance in Administrative Governance, Social Governance, Economic Governance and Environmental Governance. 

These performance indicators are assessed using the Local Governance Performance Management System or LGPMS. This system allows DILG to qualify LGUs’ performance in implementing programs that are appropriate to constituents’ needs.

            Seventy percent of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi contenders’ total score is based on the results of LGPMS. Fifteen percent is attributed to the awards and recognitions received, and the other 15% is derived from innovations.

            During the regional validations on July 10, 2012, the LGU presented one of its best innovations dubbed as 2-Million City Aid to Barangays. All 20 barangays in Tacurong are given 2 Million pesos each on top of their IRA shares through the said innovation.

Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Evaluators with Mayor Lina O. Montilla and the heads of offices

           This involved a 40-Million pesos appropriation in the City’s annual budget every year since 2002. This demonstrates the City’s aim to facilitate equal distribution of resources regardless of political affiliation. It also enables each barangay council to develop their capacities in identifying and implementing necessary development projects. Barangay councils are required to submit financial and procurement plans to designated authorities.

As the regional winner, Tacurong City will receive 2 million pesos. The City will also serve as Region XII’s entry to the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi National Level. South Cotabato and Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat will also represent the Region in the Provincial and Municipal Categories, respectively.

Regional and National Awarding Ceremonies are on October 10, 2012. (JLCBillano-LGU Information)

Tacurong taekwondo jins bag 8 golds in regional tourney

(September 5, 2012) Eight taekwondo jins of Tacurong City won gold medals in the regional tournament dubbed as 14^th Tuna Festival Inter-School Taekwondo Championships held at Robinson’s Mall, General Santos City on September 2, 2012.

                Charles Naecolt Saavedra, the most senior player and also the instructor of Tacurong City Jaguars Central Gym, won his first gold after dominating his division and got a second gold after winning the battle of Best of the Best Players. He represented the Notre Dame of Tacurong College (NDTC).

                Aside from winning gold medals, Angela Jane Segura of NDTC and Jomer Sotto of St. John Learning Center were also declared as the best players in their respective divisions. Other gold medalists included Andrea Camille Origenes (Jean Piaget Learning Center), Mary Angeli Yap (NDTC), Kim Sheena Xyza Iwag (Notre Dame Siena College of Tacurong), and Nikoshi Lapuz (Tacurong Pilot elementary School).

 Tacurong Team also seized seven silver medals in various categories. The medalists were Jeriele Clarito (ND Siena College of Tacurong), John Daniel Espino (St. Benedict Learning Center), Ivann Malicudio (Maria Montilla Elementary School), Zayton Mamasalido (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School), Reanold Navarro (NDTC), Daisy Mae Ortele (TPES), and Earl Tristan Trinidad (NDTC).

                Meanwhile, ten taekwondo jins completed the medal haul for Tacurong by winning bronze medals. They were Renzel Anating (VMC City College), Alexi Bañas (Montessori Learning Center), Jerik Jai Braza (NDTC), Aaliyah Freno (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School), Florence Anne Mogan (ND Siena College of Tacurong), Maxine Jayne Palpalatoc (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School), Jaecinth Salvador (NDTC), Keansean Drew Tasic (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School), Neejamah Jehan Ulangkaya (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School), and Keren Jirah Valdez (ND Siena College of Tacurong).

                Except for Saavedra who bagged two golds, 23 out of the 29 players who competed in the tournament won a medal.

                Tacurong City Councilor and Taekwondo Coordinator Rodrigo Jamorabon conveyed his satisfaction with the overall performance of the taekwondo jins. He was also grateful to the continued support of Region 12-A Taekwondo Regional Director and Chairman Master Robert Joshua Danao who always had been very accommodating to Tacurong Team members.

                Jamorabon said that Taekwondo is one the sports disciplines getting huge support from the city government under Mayor Lina Montilla. “Many taekwondo jins from Tacurong had already availed of scholarship in some universities in Manila, and there was one player who was able to join the Philippine Team and already played in international competitions”, Jamorabon said.

In November of this year, the city government is planning to host a Regional Taekwondo Tournament. (Allan S. Freno; LGU Tacurong Information)

Public servants celebrate 112th CSC anniversary

           The Civil Service Commission (CSC) celebrates its 112^th founding anniversary this month of September with the theme Kawani: Ikaw ay isang Lingkod Bayani. 

           The City Governmment of Tacurong conducted a kickoff motorcade and program on September 3, 2012. The said activity was participated in by employees from NFA XII, DTI XII, SK Water District, BFP, PNP, DepEd, and more.

The awarding of pins and rings to 2012 LGU loyalty awardees was the event’s highlight. This is a yearly recognition for government employees who uphold allegiance in the government for 10, 15, 20-25, 30-35, and 40 years. 

This year, ten employees were awarded for their 10-year service, 6 were awarded for 15 years in service, 3 for their 20-year service, 7 for their 25-year service, and one each for the 30-, 35-, and 40-year service.

 “I believe you all deserve the award. The number of years that you have stayed and served in the government is a testament of your drive to pool your energy and abilities into a more collective effort to effect positive change,” Hon. Lina O. Montilla addressed the awardees. 

Aside from grateful remarks, Mayor Montilla challenged the whole workforce to “always divert [your] efforts into something that will yield positive and beneficial results.”

The City Government of Tacurong will be sponsoring activities throughout the CSC month. These include: Photo Clinic (Sept. 4/9:00AM/Knowledge Center-CPDCO); CSC On-Air Program (Sept. 5/9:00AM/Radyo Natin); Hataw and Walk for a Cause (Sept. 7/5:30AM); and Blood Pressure Taking and Blood Typing (Sept. 12/9:00AM/City Hall Lobby).

                A photography contest dubbed as Litratistang Kawani will also run from Sept. 5-21, 2012. The month-long celebration will culminate on September 28, 2012 with a Family Day Celebration and Closing Program.

Talakudong festivities now set

         (September 3, 2012) Preparations are already being made by Talakudong organizers and competitors assuring tourists and locals of quality entertainment.

Tacurong: Padayon nga Nagahugpong is this year’s theme, emphasizing Tacurongnons pride in its unity. The City Government of Tacurong has set exciting activities for its 12^th Founding Anniversary dubbed as Talakudong Festival.

The Festival highlight, the streetdancing and field demonstration competition, will be staged on September 18, 2012 at 7:00 AM.

Alay sa Barangay ni Mayor Lina O. Montilla runs from August-September 30.

Sports activities include: Friendship Basketball Game (August 23-Sept. 13); Bicycle Tour (Sept. 11); Inter-Agency Volleyball Tournament (Sept. 10-15); Mototrail (Sept. 12); Sepak Takraw (Sept. 12-14); Talakudong BMX Supercross Challenge (Sept. 14); Dart Tournament (Sept. 15); and Lawn Tennis Tournament (Sept. 15-16).

Meanwhile, scheduled socio-cultural activities are: Kantahan ng Kabataan (Sept. 12); Kumpas sa Syudad Folk Dance Competition (Sept. 13); Mindanao-Wide Dance Sport and Hip-Hop Competition (Sept. 14); and On-the-spot Inter-School Talakudong Painting Contest and Talakudong Decorating Contest (Sept. 11). Musikahan 2012 will be on Sept. 18, 7:00 PM at the city ground.

The Tiangge, Food Fair, and Ornamental Plants Show are set on Sept. 3-20; Producer’s Fair is scheduled on Sept. 14-18; and the Diskwento Fair will be on Sept. 17-18. Jobs fair will also run from Sept. 14-15. People can also go to the city hall ground for free haircut on Sept. 14. Moreover, Touch Mobile Network will be sponsoring an evening activity with fun, games, and music on Sept. 15.

Photo enthusiasts are encouraged to join the annual Igpat sang Kamera Photography contest which has two categories. Discover Tacurong category is exclusive to Tacurong photo enthusiasts who must submit their entries on or before Sept. 6. Talakudong Festival category is open to all and deadline of submission of entries is on Sept. 20. To add, a feature writing contest is also up for those who want to show their writing prowess. Entries must be submitted on or before Sept. 21. Guidelines can be viewed on talakudong2012.wordpress.com.

Mutya ng Tacurong 2012 Pageant Night will be on Sept. 16, 6:00PM at the NDTC Gymnasium.

The Festival will officially open on September 10 with an interfaith mass at 6:30AM, followed by a motorcade at 8:30AM. The opening program will start at 9:00AM. Malacanang had already declared September 18 as special non-working holiday in the City. (Jezereel Louise C. Billano)