LGU Tacurong mourns Maguindanao Massacre victims

(November 24, 2011) The Local Government Unit of Tacurong joined the whole country in commemorating the second anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre with a meaningful ceremony on November 23.

LGU Tacurong employees convened in front of the city hall with their candles, hopes, and prayers to finally deliver justice to the victims of the bloodbath in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

           

The ceremony was headed by the Human Resources Management Office. A prayer was dedicated by Mr. Danilo Lorizo and the Talakudong choir offered a song of comfort not only for the souls of the victims but for their families and loved ones who continue to grieve from the barbarous mutilation.

The horrifying slaughter on November 23, 2009, left 57 people dead, including unarmed women, journalists, and lawyers along with members of the Mangudadatu clan, in Ampatuan town while on their way to file the candidacy papers of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, who was then Buluan vice mayor.

Among the victims was a resident of Tacurong City in the person of Reynaldo Bebot Momay, 60, photojournalist of Midland review, who has not been found until now.

Other victims included were LGU Tacurong employees namely Eduardo Lechonsito (and his wife Cecille), Mercy Palabrica, Daryll delos Reyes and Wilhelm Palabrica who, on their way to Cotabato City, just accidentally joined the convoy of Mangudadatu's group when the incident happened. 

This dastardly act makes words meaningless to convey the outrage felt by the whole country. Adding to the horror is the fact that two years after the massacre occurred, more than half of the nearly 200 suspects still remain at large.

However, the primary suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr., is currently being tried by a Quezon City court for multiple murder charges on the subject of the massacre.

On Wednesday, two party-list lawmakers filed a measure which urges the government to declare November 23 of each year as “National Consciousness Day to End Impunity" to commemorate the Ampatuan massacre.

Under the proposed House Bill 5529, the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) is ordered to lead certain programs to commemorate the Maguindanao Massacre. They are also tasked to create programs directed towards educating the people about human rights issues and the need to uphold these rights on November 23 of each year. (Jessa Billano)

Tacurong joins the Philippine Cities Global Convention and Exposition in Manila

Resorts World, Pasay City (November 17, 2011) – The City of Tacurong gets another chance to showcase itself as it joins other cities in the country in the 3^rd Philippine Cities Global Convention and Exposition, which kicked off today, November 17 at the Resorts World in Pasay City.       

            The convention, first to be hosted by the League of Cities of the Philippines, also gathered cities from other countries such as Japan, Australia and Canada. The event carries the theme ‘Bridging Cities, Transforming Lives’ and aims to put the Philippine Cities at par with their international counterparts.

Mayor Lina Montilla headed the delegation from Tacurong, which included other city officials and heads of the various departments of the city government.

Plenary and breakout sessions were held at the Resorts World and nearby Marriott Hotel where international experts and city officials build network and share inputs on common issues such as climate change, environment, local economy, and urban shelter.  

Participating cities also joined other international and private exhibitors in the exposition that simultaneously opened today at the adjacent new Port City Terminal. With the exposition, the public is given the rare opportunity to see the wonders of the country as cities from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao display the best of their cities. People wanting to buy local products unique in each city are also given a one-stop-shop offer.

 Mayor Montilla, who stayed at the Expo venue the whole morning before proceeding to the convention, got the chance to meet and talk with international entrepreneurs from Japan and officials from Blacktown City, Australia who were also delegates to the convention.

Chris Shannon, a delegate from Blacktown City expressed his amazement to the Baras Bird Sanctuary, one of the centerpiece exhibits of Tacurong in the exposition.

 By knowing more about Tacurong, many people from other parts of the Philippines and other countries have been given a new information on Mindanao geography particularly Tacurong, a budding city in the central part of Southern Philippines.

            The convention and exposition are on until November 19 culminating with a tour to selected cities in Metro Manila to give delegates a personal feel of the issues faced by urban cities as well as let them know of their best programs and practices. (Allan Freno, LGU-Tacurong City)

LGU Tacurong joins 11th PSEAS Foundation Anniversary Celebration

            (November 15, 2011) The Local Government Unit of Tacurong adhered to the Public Sector Employees Alliance of SOCSKSARGEN (PSEAS) in celebration of their 11^th Foundation Anniversary succeeded various socio-cultural competitions on October 20-21 at the London Beach Resort, Bawing, General Santos City.

            The Tacurong City Employees Association (TACEA) was among the 24 member unions of the Alliance which espoused the occasion’s theme: “PSEAS: Nagkakaisa sa Pagtugon sa mga Hamon ng Pag-uunyon.” The event entailed a showcase of not only talents and skills, but of genuine spirit of unionism.

            79 LGU Tacurong employees participated in the different events including song solo and duet, pop dance, and folk dance competitions. The foremost Mutya ng PSEAS was also witnessed in this year’s Foundation Anniversary.

            Mr. Eduardo Garcia got the first place in song solo while Ms. Ma. Teresa P. Dinero stood head and shoulders above the candidates of other teams and proudly brought home the bacon as the Mutya ng PSEAS 2011.

            TACEA President Ms. Amelia Bochorno vigorously conveyed her glee with the participation of LGU Tacurong in this year’s PSEAS Foundation Anniversary celebration. She also emphasized that the competition was not the highlight of the event but the intensified bond between the LGU Tacurong participants.

           

            Moreover, according to her, success was not only measured by the wins they have achieved but on how they prepared and fought with all their talents and efforts. (Jessa Bilano)



Team Tacurong overall champion in national arnis tourney

(October 26, 2011) The Arnis Sports Team of Tacurong earned its tenth straight National Arnis Tournament championship in the recently held Arnis tilt in Bacolod City last October 15-16.Tacurong City’s contenders gainfully thrilled the crowd as they bagged 18 golds, 10 silvers, and 5 bronzes. 

Venus Apresto with one gold and Cyra Regine Olivar with two golds and one silver got the spotlight in Kids Category. 

The Junior Category was also dominated by Tacurongnons namely Nolie John Bayya (1 gold), Sheena Del Monte (2 golds, 1 silver), Angel Joy Ariston (2 silvers), Princess Hann Paniza (1 silver), Janica Depasupil (1 silver), Brent Randolph Pauya (1 gold, 1 silver), Alfie Carillo (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Rodrick Joshua Victorio (2 golds), and Ronald Acain (1 gold, 1 bronze).

Reynan Subaldo (2 golds), Rey John Miguel (1 gold, 1 silver), Christian Manaay (1 gold, 1 bronze), Acer Jolero (1 bronze), Ritchie Molina (1 silver), Jose Jover Pajarpa (1 gold), Ferdinand Tingson (1 gold), Ma. Lara Carillo (1 gold) and Airene Apresto (1 silver) as well didn’t fail to give honor to the City of Goodwill when they represented the city in the tournament’s Senior Category.

Arnis came from the Spanish word "arnes" which means armor. It is also known as eskrima, kali, or garrote. Wooden sticks are used as a weapon and a training tool in this sport. These sticks are given swinging and twisting movements along with the thrusting and striking techniques for defense and offense.

With the enactment of Republic Act No. 9850, Arnis was declared as the Philippines’ national martial art and sport.

This victory of the Arnis Sports Team of Tacurong conveys the undying support of the Local Government of Tacurong for our national culture and sports.

DOLE, LGU give livelihood aid to 3 ex-OFWs, 6 shoe repairmen of Tacurong

(October 16, 2011) The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the city government of Tacurong through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) on October 3 released livelihood assistance to nine individuals residing in the city.


The nine recipients, three of them former overseas workers and the other six all shoe repairmen or sapateros, belong to what is termed as workers in the informal economy. DOLE-Sultan Kudarat Field Officer Arlene Bisnon and City Mayor Lina Montilla turned over the various tools and jigs to the recipients during the Monday flag ceremony at the city hall.


The sapateros each received a complete set of shoe repair materials including a heavy duty repair table with cabinet, rubber soles, waxes and threads among others. Each set was worth a little less than five thousand pesos. The three former overseas workers who opted to stay in the country to start their respective small businesses also received tools and jigs.


Heidi Eliarda, who worked in the Middle East for few years but decided to go back home to start a banana barbeque or turunan business inside the city public market, received more than four thousand pesos worth of start-up materials such as sugar, oil and raw bananas. “With my family being financially-hard up right now, the start-up capital I received is already a big help to augment my income”, Eliarda said in Hiligaynon.


Bisnon said that, instead of giving free dole outs, DOLE has shifted to a more practical and effective strategy of giving assistance, which is provision of tools and jigs. She said that in this way, there is an assurance that the aid will be really used for the intended purpose. “In identifying the recipients, we see to it that they are already skilled in their ventures and it is them who give us the list of what they need”, Bisnon said.


Mayor Montilla praised the department’s project of giving livelihood kits instead of cash assistance. “I think it’s time for the city government to implement this scheme to make sure that whatever assistance we give will definitely be put into use”, she said. (Allan Freno, LGU-Tacurong PESO)

LGU Tacurong celebrates 20 years of the Local Government Code of 1991

(October 7, 2011) The City Government of Tacurong joins in the nationwide celebration of the 20^th year of the signing of the Local Government Code of 1991.

The theme of this year’s celebration to be conducted on October 9-11 is “Local Government Code: 20 Years of Gains Towards a More Meaningful Autonomy.” 

The three-day celebration will kick off with the Barangay General Assembly which will be simultaneously conducted along with all the other barangays nationwide.

It is expected that the 20 barangays of Tacurong will vigorously participate in the said event to showcase their support to the 20 years of outstanding local governance due to the implementation of the said local government code.

Other activities are as well looked forward to for a more meaningful celebration.

On October 11, during the Local Governance Recognition and Awards, the Seal of Good Housekeeping, EXCELL Awards, and Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives Award will be given to acknowledged good performing local governments. 

The Tugon ng Pangulo sa Pamahalaang Lokal will be conducted on the same day wherein the President shall deliver a keynote message which will convey his response on pressing local government issues.

Community-led activities that will uphold community engagement and develop public awareness on Good Governance and Anti-Corruption, Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Economic Development, Security, Justice, Peace, and Climate Change Adaption and Mitigation will also be carried out with the direction of the local governments nationwide.

The Local Government Code of 1991 is understood to be the one which is responsible for the positive transformation of local governance therefore attributing wider citizens’ participation and greater civil society, business and private sector engagement and support in good local governance. (Jessa Billano)

IGPAT SANG KAMERA 2011 COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS OF THE 1ST CITY OF TACURONG PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST [Talakudong Festival Category]

(October 2, 2011) Igpat sang Kamera Committee announces the winners of the 1st City of Tacurong Photography Contest with the theme: “Capturing the Beauty of Tacurong”. The judging was held at City Hall Building, Alunan Highway, Tacurong City. All 126 photo entries were printed on 8”x12” digital paper. All entries were judged according to the following criteria:

    Clarity                                                                20%
    Spontaneity                                                        20%
    Emotions evoked                                               20%
    Festival mood, vibrancy, & ambiance               20%    
    Festival activities and highlights                       10%
    Essence of the festival to the people  
    of the City of Tacurong                                     10%






The top 6 winners
__________________________________________________________________

First Place

Tuesdy Marie Baliza                                       

General Santos City

Second Place

Juniette D. Capili

Tacurong City

 

Third Place

Jonathan Jara

Koronadal City

Fourth Place

Joseph Bernard “Jong” Fresco

Tacurong City

 

Fifth Place

Dennis P. Escarlan

Tacurong City

 

Sixth Place

Mary Grace Nidoy

Columbio, Sultan Kudarat