Tacurong Anti-Smoking Task Force discuss awareness strategies

The Tacurong Anti-smoking Task Force (TAS-TF), headed by Mayor Lina O. Montilla, conducted its first meeting on February 27, 2013 to finalize public awareness strategies on the city’s anti smoking-ordinance.
The ordinance was approved in 2012 and officials are very eager to facilitate citizens’ awareness on the ordinance’s provisions. Officials are willing to take things slowly—but surely—especially for the smoking public.

“Unti-unti, ipaalala natin sa mga mamamayan na bawal na talaga ang manigarilyo sa pampublikong lugar. Bigyan natin sila ng panahon pero siguruhin natin na susunod pa rin sila sa batas,” said Hon. Psyche Sucaldito, one of the authors of the ordinance.

TAS-TF had already conducted an information drive in barangays and in the puroks of Brgy. Poblacion. Billboards have also been put up in the entrance and exit points of the city. Business establishments were also oriented during the renewal of permits. Stickers bearing ‘This is a non-smoking establishment’ were also distributed during the period.

Members of the task force agreed for the posting of reminders in public places, especially in the market and terminal, in schools, and in establishments.

Among other matters discussed were the training of enforcers, identification of smoking areas in the public market, prohibition of cigarette sale to minors and students, and conduct of extensive information and education campaign.

Members of the task force also agreed to provide citizens with an anti-smoking hotline to ease reporting of violations.

Vice Chairpersons of TAS-TF are Hon. Psyche Sucaldito (Chair of Committee on Environment), Hon. Joseph George Lechonsito (Chair of Committee on Health), and Hon. Ariel Ferdinand dela Cruz (Chair of Committee on Education). Members include Hon. Rodrigo Jamorabon (Chair of Committee on Peace and Order); the City Administrator; the City Environment and Natural Resources Officer; City Health Officer; City Engineer; City Treasurer; Information Officer; the City Legal Officer; Market Supervisor; Terminal Supervisor; DepEd Superintendent Gildo Mosqueda; PNP Chief Junny Buenacosa; and Tacurong Market Vendors Association President.

ASTF was created through City Executive Order No. 03-2013.

Tacurong MOVE inducts new members

Nineteen new members of the Tacurong Men Oppose Violence Against Women and Children Everywhere (MOVE) were inducted by City Mayor Lina O. Montilla on February 25, 2013.

Before induction, MOVE’s new members have undergone trainings and seminars on violence against women (VAW).

MOVE advocates strengthened family relationships and supports proactive actions to end violence against women and children in the city.

“I am glad that MOVE is very active, and I look forward that this group will work closely with women’s groups in the city,” said Mayor Montilla during the ceremony.

MOVE’s officers are Jessie D. Fuentevilla-President; Roger G. Arzagon-Vice President; Eduardo C. Garcia-Secretary; Renante S. Mercado-Treasurer; Augusto Aguilar-Auditor; Romulo Paclibar-PIO; Yul Columbres & Joel Demorito-Business Managers; and Henry Amboy, Alex Tolentino, Alex Parcon, Joel Freno, & Joel Canja- Sgt. At Arms. MOVE's creation in 2012 was initiated by LGU employees.

City livelihood project yields 312 skilled graduates

Nine skills training programs that are sponsored by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and LGU-Tacurong culminated on Feb. 26, 2013 with 312 graduates.

These trainings, conducted in November 2012-February 2013, were offered for free to interested individuals, especially to unemployed adults and out-of-school youths. Fifty-six individuals graduated in Electrical Installation and Maintenance; 45 in Shielded Metal Arc Welding; 36 in Driving; 16 in Hollow Blocks Making and Tile Setting; 23 in Souvenir Making; 37 in Massage Therapy; 76 in Hair Science and Beauty Culture; and 23 in Dressmaking.

“Sa massage training nga ini, nakalibre kami sang 17 thousand nga [training] fee. Amo nga kinahanglan guid namon gamiton sa maayo ang tanan namon nga natun-an,” said Noema Mañego, a massage therapy graduate.

LGU-Tacurong headed by Mayor Lina O. Montilla assures the graduates of continued support as they venture for jobs and/or start their own business.

TESDA-Sultan Kudarat OIC-Provincial Director Reynaldo Bernal also shared that the agency will continue assisting the LGU to empower Tacurongnons with necessary skills for livelihood and employment.

Among the partners in the conduct of the said skills trainings were: DOST, DOLE, Notre Dame of Tacurong College, Tacurong City Police Station, Sultan Kudarat State University-Tacurong Campus, 601st Brigade-Philippine Army, Task Force Talakudong, Tacurong Pilot Elementary School, Association of Barangay Councils, and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. The trainings were managed by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

Hon. Psyche Sucaldito-Chair of SP Committee on Social Services, and Hon. Rodrigo Jamorabon-Chair of SP Committee on Livelihood challenged the graduates to help the LGU in identifying more individuals that can benefit the project.

Meanwhile, the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) under the LGU also facilitated the registration of said graduates to the Skills Registry System (SRS) of the Department of Labor and Employment. SRS serves as repository of skilled workers’ data that could be accessed by employers or recruitment agencies that are in search of workers in a particular area.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

TRACER places 2nd in SARNet XII Proficiency Test

Tacurong City Responsive Assistance and Coordinated Emergency Search and Rescue or TRACER placed 2nd in the Search and Rescue (SAR) Network XII Proficiency Test conducted by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) on February 19-22, 2013 helt at Camp Herminigildo Agaab, Malandag, Malongon, Sarangani.

TRACER players who bagged the award were Asher Ian V. Moral II (team leader), Jonathan P. Zerrudo, Charlie Sumatra, Ritchie Molina, Larry Londres, Ronie Ponciano, and Nestor Lagulay.

Aside from TRACER, the newly-created search and rescue team of Brgy. New Isabela, Tacurong City ranked 6th among the 20 participating groups. The New Isabela SAR team is a product of TRACER’s barangay SAR trainings.

New Isabela Rescue Team is composed of Norman Zapanta (team leader), Maureen Corazon Casador, Randy Pasaporte, Alvin Collado, John Michael Apontar, Jonathan Baitan, Joel Villamor, Janet Lastique, Gina Espuertas, Ruth Lagrana, and Ricky Delsolar.

TRACER Team, Brgy. New Isabela SAR team, and the City DRRMC during
turn-over of award to Local Chief Executive Lina Montilla.

The City Government of Tacurong fully supports TRACER by allocating funds for necessary SAR equipment and for the conduct of barangay disaster-preparedness trainings. TRACER was recognized as 3rd Best Volunteer Organization in the Philippines by National DRRMC through the Gawad KALASAG Awards.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

Free training for Tacurong’s 50 OSYs

Fifty out-of-school youths (OSYs) in Tacurong City will start training for commercial cooking and housekeeping after the launching of the Cash for Training Program (C4TP) in the City on February 22, 2013.

Through the partnership of LGU-Tacurong and Technical Education Skills Development authority XII (TESDA), C4TP will be implemented to train disadvantaged youths for possible employment.
Twenty-five of the beneficiaries will undergo training on commercial cooking, and the remaining will be training for housekeeping. The former is under the wage-employment (trabaho) component, while the latter is under the project’s self-employment component (hanapbuhay). All 50 scholars will be trained by the Sultan Kudarat Educational Institution (SKEI), a TESDA-accredited school in the city.

Tacurong C4TP scholars were identified by the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD). Each scholar will receive assistance amounting to PhP20,000. This amount includes tuition/training fee, allowance, and tool kits for those who chose the self-employment component.

Scholars will also be aided in taking the assessment for National Certificate II (NC II) which will be helpful in finding jobs. Entrepreneurial trainings will also be conducted to help scholars put up their own business.
Brgy. Baras OSY Vergel P. Kilayco, 22, considers the program as a great privilege. “Tong nabal-an ko nga kasali ako sa project nga ini, nalipay guid ako. Sa karon, wala ko ginaobra pero sigurado ako pagkatapos sang training, makatrabaho na ako,” he said.

C4TP launching program in Tacurong was attended by the 50 scholars, TESDA XII Regional Director Zeus Ampuyas, TESDA XII C4TP Focal Person Jeanette Cortez, TESDA-SK DSWD XII Planning Officer Bebeth Mampin, OIC-Provincial Director Reynaldo Bernal, SKEI Administrator Dr. Soledad T. Eugenio, SP Committee Chair on Livelihood Rodrigo Jamorabon, SP Committee Chair on Education Ariel Ferdinand dela Cruz, and CSWD staff.

“We expect the scholars’ full dedication to finish this training. Everything is for free so what they are left to do is to actively participate and make the most of this opportunity [sic],” said Regional Director Ampuyas.

(Jezereel Louise C. Billano with report from Tacurong CSWD)

Filipino-Chinese businessmen turn over two school buildings to Tacurong

Two barangays of the City of Tacurong are the latest recipients of school buildings from the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) in fulfillment of the group’s pledge of addressing classroom shortage in many parts of the country.

Tina Elementary School in Barangay Tina received one storey two-classroom building while San Emmanuel National High School-Annex in Barangay San Pablo availed of similar donation.

FFCCCII Vice Presidents Alex Yap Cho Ty and Ong Eng Chan along with other officers from Manila arrived in Tacurong on February 15, 2013 to lead the turnover ceremony. They were joined by the officers of Tacurong City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, FFCCCII’s counterpart in this part of the region.

The businessmen paid a courtesy call to the office of City Mayor Lina Montilla before proceeding to the school sites. Mayor Montilla, acting as the donee, also signed the Deeds of Donation for the two school buildings.

The donation of school buildings to Tacurong is under the “Operation: Barrio Schools” project of FFCCCII. Started in 1960, “Operation: Barrio Schools” is the longest running private sector-led school building construction in the Philippines. Recognized by the government as consistent partner in nation-building, FFCCCII’s project of donating school buildings in the communities where these are needed is part of their corporate social responsibility and thrust of improving Filipino lives.

The classrooms are built through donations from FFCCCII members and from benevolent organizations, families and individuals within the Filipino-Chinese community.

For Tacurong, the donor of the school building in Barangay Tina is Mr. Ong Eng Chan, while the structure in Barangay San Pablo is a donation from Mr. Tai Lian. From both donors, only Chan was able to arrive in Tacurong for the turnover. Other officers who arrived from Manila were Edwin Fabro, Robert Kho Tian Ang and Antonio Cosing.

Moreover, the Tacurong Filipino-Chinese group had been instrumental in realizing the construction of school buildings in the two barangays of the city. Regional Council Director Martin Te and Chamber President Manuel Ang made the frequent follow up last year until the time the donation for Tacurong was approved.

For teachers and students in San Emmanuel High School-Annex, the need for school buildings has been more urgent since the school started operating only last year. Before the classrooms’ construction, the teachers conducted classes in the barangay gymnasium of San Pablo. Students finally experienced the comfort of true classrooms when the construction of school building donated by FFCCCII was finally completed in October.

Ramelyn Usman, Ph.D., the Teacher In Charge of the High School Annex, was very thankful to the benevolence of the Filipino-Chinese businessmen. She said that the school building’s construction brought a renewed inspiration to the teachers as well as to the pioneering 63 Grade 7 students under their care.  (Allan Freno)

LGU Tacurong City stamped with DILG’s Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping

(February 20, 2013) The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tacurong City wrapped up its outstanding performance for year 2012 by earning the Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) conferred by the Department of Interior and Local government (DILG).

DILG Provincial Director Abdulgani Tekoken officially informed the office of Mayor Lina Montilla that the city government passed the criteria for the silver seal. The DILG even cited Tacurong for getting the highest rating among LGUs in Region XII in the Report Card Survey of the Anti-Red Tape Act implementation. Tacurong received an RCS final score of 97 percent, which is equivalent to an ‘excellent’ descriptive rating.

The SGH is a mechanism comprising a set of criteria aimed at recognizing LGUs with good performance in internal housekeeping particularly in the areas of Planning, Sound Fiscal Management, Transparency and Accountability, and Valuing Performance Management.

Among the key components of the SGH criteria are compliance to the mandates of the Anti-Red Tape Act as well as to the Full Disclosure Policy of the DILG. Further, LGUs stamped with Good Housekeeping Seal should have “no adverse” report from the Commission on Audit, which means that they should have complied with all the requirements of the government’s auditing agency.

For 2012, the criteria for SGH are scaled up and with three categories called Bronze, Silver and Gold Seals. The criteria for the Silver Seal are:  good or excellent performance as indicated in the CSC Report Card Survey on the ARTA (anti-red tape) implementation, Functionality of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and compliance to the Full Disclosure Policy.

The highest an LGU could receive for 2012 is the Silver Seal. The Gold Seal is up for grabs for 2013.

As recipient of the Silver Seal, Tacurong is eligible to access the DILG’s Performance Challenge Fund, a support fund used to finance local development initiatives in furtherance of national government goals and strategic thrusts.

In September 2012, the DILG declared Tacurong City as the regional winner of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi (GPL) Awards under the cities category. GPL, a total concept award given to best-performing LGUs, uses various criteria in selection of winners among which are the Silver SGH, the Local Government Performance Management System (LGPMS), and outstanding innovations.

As GPL regional awardee, Tacurong automatically became the entry for the national awards and has already been selected as one of the top five national finalists. (Allan Freno)

SP-Tacurong approves 220 resolutions and ordinances

        Hon. Joseph George Lechonsito, majority floor leader of the 5th Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Tacurong, reported that the Council had passed and approved a total of 220 resolutions and ordinances from January 2012 to present. The report was presented during SP’s convocation program on February 18, 2013. 

       Of the 220 resolutions/ordinances: 114 were for general administration; 41 for social services; 15 for capital projects, improvements, and public works; 14 for health and sanitation; 13 for enactment of appropriation ordinances and General Ordinances; 5 for profession, occupation, trades, business establishments, market and slaughterhouse; 4 for city planning, zoning, and tourism; 4 for education and culture; 3 for public safety; 3 for public utilities; 2 for traffic regulations and transportation; 1 for environmental quality and protection; and 1 for amusement and games/sports development and recreation. 

       Hon. Lechonsito, on behalf of the Council, thanked all employees and officials of the local government unit for the all-out support. “The best thing for this Council is that all of us in the LGU are united as one. And that is one ultimate ingredient why we were recognized as the Best Sanggunian in Region XII for 2 consecutive terms,” Lechonsito said. 

       SP-Tacurong had been awarded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government as the region’s Most Outstanding Sanggunian in December 2012. Further, the Council will receive the same award from the Philippine Councilors League on March 6-8, 2013.   

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

DOLE, LGU give free livelihood starter kits to market laborers, shoe repairmen

Twenty-eight laborers belonging to the Tacurong Cart Services Association (TACASA) and five shoe repairmen or sapaterosreceived livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in form of Kabuhayan Starter Kits.

The free starter kits, which included fourteen brand new push carts and five sets of materials for shoe repair, were released during Monday’s flag ceremony of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tacurong on February 4, 2013.

DOLE Sultan Kudarat Provincial Head Arlene Bisnon and City Mayor Lina Montilla led the distribution of said tools and jigs to the beneficiaries witnessed by the officials and employees of the city government.

The provision of livelihood assistance, which is under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) in partnership with LGU-Tacurong, seeks to aid workers in the informal economy or those workers who have no contracts, no fixed hours, and no employment benefits.

            The DILP is another core program cascaded by the DOLE to the PESO as its conduit in the implementation of labor and employment programs in the local level. PESOs already perform other core functions such as job referrals and solicitations, provision of labor market information, and career coaching.

            In her message, Bisnon said that the livelihood starter kits were just the first to be given for Tacurong this year. She said that other sectors in the informal economy can expect assistance in the coming months. “I already talked to the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager of the LGU and he is currently identifying other groups to be given starter kits”, Bisnon added.

            Mayor Montilla appreciated the novel approach of DOLE in giving livelihood assistance to its beneficiaries in which instead of cash grants, recipients are given the needed tools and jigs to aid them in their present jobs. “I think this is the kind of livelihood scheme our LGU should replicate to assure the sustainability of livelihood programs”, Mayor Montilla said.

          

           

             TACASA President Danny Absalon, one of the beneficiaries of the free push carts, thanked their benefactors for giving attention to them. Absalon has been pushing carts since 1994 and admitted that most of the carts they are currently using are old and are in need of replacements.

“Napakalaking tulong ang mga bagong kariton na bigay ng DOLE dahil may mga myembro kami na ilang taon na sa trabahong ito ngunit wala pang sariling kariton (The new push carts are huge help for us especially to our members who do not even own one since then)”, Absalon said.

            At 41 now, Absalon said that pushing carts in the public market has been his source of livelihood even when he was still single. He said that on ordinary days, he is earning P200-300 daily but his income reaches P500 a day on market days.

            “Ang pagkakariton na ang ikinabubuhay ng pamilya ko subalit malaking gastos pag nagpagawa ako ng bago kaya tinitiis ko na lang ang luma kong kariton. Ang bagong kariton na aming natanggap ang muling magbibigay sa amin ng dagdag na lakas para itaguyod ang aming pamilya (I have been pushing carts almost all of my life; it’s expensive to buy a new one so I just make use of my old cart. The new ones that we received will provide us renewed strength to support our family”, Absalon said.