Tacurong Taekwondo Team declared overall champion in regional tournament

(November 16, 2012) Tacurong Taekwondo Team bagged the overall championship trophy in the Kalimudan Festival Regional Inter-School Taekwondo Championships held on November 10 at the Capitol Gym of Sultan Kudarat.

The team amassed a total of 35 medals comprising 17 golds, 11 silvers, and 7 bronzes. The medal tally was an improvement to the previous 30 medals that the team had won when they participated in another regional tournament held in Glan, Sarangani last month.

The gold medalists were: Renzel Anating (VMC City College-Elementary), Alexi Bañas (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School – TPES), Jeriel Clarito (Notre Dame Siena College of Tacurong), Jasmine Angela Forro (Notre Dame of Tacurong College-NDTC), Kim Sheena Iwag (ND Siena), Kenji Charles Lapuz (TPES), Krishna Paula Magbanua (Jean Piaget LC), Ivan Malicudio (Ma. Montilla Elementary School), Florence Anne Mogan (ND Siena), and Kean Samuel Momay (Methodist Learning Center).

The following taekwondo jins completed the gold medal haul for the team: Andrea Camille Origenes (Jean Piaget Learning Center), Daisy Mae Ortile (TPES), Maxine Jayne Palpalatoc (TPES), Dan Francis Posadas (St. John Learning Center), Keansean Tasic (TPES), Mary Angeli Yap (NDTC), and Paulo Caluya (NDTC).

Eleven athletes competed for the gold medal games but lost and settled for silver medals. They were: Algruine Cabras (St. Benedict Learning Center), Carlos Diaz (St. John LC), Albeth Demapiles (Tacurong National High School-TNHS), John Daniel Espino (Methodist Learning School), Aaliyah Freno (TPES), Noel Chris Laforteza (TNHS), Zayton Mamasalido (TPES), Ginalyn Montemayor (ND Siena), Neejamah Jehan Ulangkaya (TPES), Genaiza Señorin (NDTC), and Reanold Navarro (NDTC).

Meanwhile, the taekwondo jins who won bronze medals included: Reyan Mae Callao (Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology), Alfredo de Tomas (NDTC), Nikoshi Gale Lapuz (TPES), Charles Naecolt Saavedra (NDTC), Jomer Sotto (St. John LC), Kimseajn Tasic (TPES), and Yves Rhey Vidal (OSY).

During the flag ceremony of the City Government of Tacurong on Monday, November 12, the medalists received congratulatory recognition from the city officials and employees. Charles Naecolt Saavedra, the team’s instructor/coach, also presented to Mayor Lina Montilla the overall championship trophy that they won in the tournament.

The players were very happy to receive praises with their recent accomplishment. They were also elated to shake hands with the mayor during the recognition ceremony. Mary Angeli Yap, one of the gold medalists, said that her body pain from the tough tournament seemed to suddenly vanish once she had shaken hands with the mayor.

City Councilor and Taekwondo Coordinator Rodrigo Jamorabon, in his message during the recognition ceremony, said that the team is grateful to the continued support of the city government to the taekwondo discipline. He also thanked the 601^st Brigade of Philippine Army, through Col. Edmundo Pangilinan and Capt. Alex Escalante, who provided transportation to the players who competed in the recent competition.

The latest feat of the city’s Taekwondo Team is a good momentum to ride on especially so that Tacurong is scheduled to host a Mindanao-wide taekwondo tournament on November 24. (Allan Freno)

Committee evaluates Tacurong for Local Legislation Award

                The Provincial Award Committee of the Local Legislative Award evaluated the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Tacurong on November 8, 2012.  

                The Local Legislative Award is given to component cities and municipalities that exhibit excellent performance based on the effectiveness of local agenda and legislative tracking system, availability of legislative documents, efficiency of performance, and quality of office set-up and staff complement.

                Tacurong Sanggunian boasts of its 1,247 ordinances since 1956 to June 2012. In 2012, city councilors passed and approved 11 new ordinances on: requiring pregnant women to give birth in the city birthing home; establishment of bagsakan center; drag racing ban; institutionalization of the Iskolar ng Lungsod ng Tacurong program; prohibition of posting/nailing/hanging/pasting political and advertising materials; and budget appropriations.

                The provincial Committee lauded the unit’s performance including its efficient processes in dealing with clients and its office ergonomics.

Members of the Provincial Award Committee during their courtesy call with Mayor Montilla.

As the only component city in Sultan Kudarat (SK), Tacurong hopes to make it to the regional level and compete with Koronadal City and Kidapawan City.

                “Of course, our qualification will not only be about Tacurong being the only city in SK. I believe that our sanggunian’s performance is really worth recognizing,” said Mayor Lina Montilla.

Mayor Montilla also spoke well of the outstanding leadership of Vice Mayor Charito Collado. In 2009 and with VM Collado at the helm, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tacurong was recognized as Regional Local Legislative Award winner. The City represented Region XII to the national level.

The Local Legislative Award was launched in 2006 by the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to recognize the exemplary performance of Sanggunian of component cities and municipalities in legislating measures that establish meaningful local administration and development. 

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

Aboitiz Foundation facilitates school infra rehabilitation

         Pupils of San Rafael Elementary School are now happier with their newly rehabilitated comfort rooms. Thanks to Aboitiz Foundation, pupils of one of Tacurong’s most distant barangays can now enjoy a more sanitary abode. Aboitiz Foundation representatives Theodore U. Bisnar and Kenneth Manzano graced the turn-over ceremonies on November 7, 2012.

The Rehabilitation of School Infrastructure project is one of Aboitiz’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies that prioritize the needs of ‘depressed’ and distant communities. Aboitiz Power through the Aboitiz Foundation had closely worked with the Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (SUKELCO), DepEd-Tacurong, and the local government unit for the project to materialize.

DepED Tacurong is convinced that the project will not only benefit the students but the community as well. “In DepEd, we advocate for transformation not only in schools but in the whole community. That is why we tap external stakeholders who are also concerned with the improvement of school infrastructure and services,” said Mr. Jesus de Gracia of DepEd.

Mayor Lina O. Montilla also agreed that the project is a ‘useful and sensible gift’. “Of course we thank Aboitiz not only for this project in San Rafael but also to the recently installed weather station that they donated to the city,” Mayor Montilla said. The weather station worth $2500 allows Tacurong to send weather data to PAG-ASA’s Project NOAH (www.noah.dost.gov.ph).

San Rafael Elementary School Principal Melani delos Santos thanks
Aboitiz Foundation, SUKELCO, and LGU-Tacurong.

In the end, Principal Melanie delos Santos assured the project stakeholders that the school will maintain the cleanliness of the comfort rooms. She looks forward to more partnerships not only with Aboitiz but with other organizations as well.

Stakeholders pose in front of the newly rehabilitated comfort rooms.

                                                                                    Jezereel Louise C. Billano

Tacurong is Mindanao’s best-performing city in local governance

           Of the five cities selected as national finalists for this year’s Gawad Pamana ng Lahi of the Department of Interior and Local Government, only Tacurong managed to join an elite group composed of cities all coming from Luzon.

               

Tacurong, the only city finalist from Mindanao, together with the cities of Vigan, Santiago, Puerto Princesa, and Makati, received an invitation from the Department of Interior and Local Government to gather in Manila on October 18 for the final screening of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi or GPL.

The final screening, a panel interview with the city mayors, was the final step in the selection process to determine which city will emerge as the country’s national winner of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi, a total award concept that recognizes best-performing local government units in governance.

Aside from cities, finalists for the provincial and municipal categories were also called by the DILG for the panel interview. Finalists for the provincial category are Benguet, Albay, Nueva Vizcaya, and Cavite; while Carmona (Cavite), Moncayo (Compostela Valley), Jagna (Bohol), Anilao (Iloilo), and San Nicolas (Ilocos Norte) rounded up the finalists under the municipal category.

Results of the panel interview are expected to be released within this week and the awarding ceremonies are tentatively scheduled on October 26.

However, regardless of what city gets declared as national winner, officials and employees of the city government of Tacurong are already brimming with joy and pride for being shortlisted as finalist. “Being in the top five and the only one from Mindanao is already a huge accomplishment of the city government”, Tacurong City Mayor Lina Montilla said.

Gawad Pamana ng Lahi is one of the highest awards conferred by the DILG to a province, city or municipality that exhibited exemplary performance in five areas of governance, namely: administrative, social, economic, and environmental governance. It is also an instrument to scale-up the valuing of accountability, transparency and inclusivity in local administration and development.

To become eligible for the National Gawad Pamana ng Lahi, a Local Government Unit (LGU) must be a regional winner of the said award in its region. It must also have a validated Local Government Performance Management System (LGPMS) average rating of 4.31 (the highest rating is 5).

 It must also be stamped with the Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping, which means the LGU excels in the areas of accountable governance, transparent governance, and frontline service performance. Another requirement to become eligible for the National GPL is that an LGU must have introduced high-impact innovations in governance in the last three years; and that it must be at least a regional or national awardee of any award in local governance in the preceding year of the evaluation.

After besting other cities in Region 12 during the evaluation conducted in July, Tacurong was declared as the regional winner and automatically became a finalist for the national award. From among the thirteen regional winners under the city category, top five cities were selected and the city of Tacurong made it to the upper five. (Allan Freno)

Tacurong Taekwondo jins win 30 medals in regional tilt

        (October 8, 2012) Tacurong City Taekwondo Team scored a smashing victory after 30 of its 33 players won medals in the Region 12-A New Face of the Year Taekwondo Championships in Glan, Sarangani on October 6, 2012.

Of the 30 medals, six were golds while silvers and bronzes totaled to seven and 17 respectively. The players who competed in the said tournament also represented their respective schools.

   

The gold medalists were: Charles Naecolt Saavedra (Notre Dame of Tacurong College or NDTC), Andrea Camille Origenes (Jean Piaget Center for Learning), Kim Sheena Iwag (Notre Dame Siena College of Tacurong), Rencel Anating (VMC City College), Alexi Bañas (Montessori Learning Center), and Arturo Mendoza, Jr. (NDTC).

Seven players who advanced to the finals lost and eventually settled for silver medals. They were Angela Jane Segura (NDTC), Earl Tristan Trinidad (NDTC), Daisy Mae Ortele (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School), Jomer Sotto (St. John Learning Center), Neejamah Jehan Ulangkaya (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School), Alfredo de Tomas (NDTC), and Jowilbert Breboneria (NDTC).

Meanwhile, the following athletes won bronze medals: Mary Angeli Yap (NDTC), Keren Jirah Valdez (Notre Dame Siena College of Tacurong), Zayton Mamasalido (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School), Aaliyah Freno (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School), Florence Ann Mogan (Notre Dame Siena College of Tacurong), Reanold Navarro (NDTC), Christian Kyle Olidan (Professional), Nikoshi Gale Lapuz (Tacurong Pilot elementary School), and Jeriele Clarito (Notre Dame Siena College Tacurong).

Other bronze medalists included John Daniel Espino (St. Benedict Learning Center), Maxine Jayne Palpalatoc (Tacurong Pilot Elementary School), Carlos Diaz II (St. John Learning Center), Paulo Caluya (NDTC), Albeth Demafilez (Tacurong National High School), Ryan Callao (Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology), Genaiza Señorin (NDTC), and Rolf Algruin Cabras (St. Benedict Learning Center).

The tournament in Glan was also dubbed as 1^st Mayor Victor James Yap Invitational Taekwondo Tournament and served as one of the highlights of the town’s annual Lubi-Lubi Festival.

City Councilor and Taekwondo Coordinator Rodrigo Jamorabon said that he was satisfied with the overall performance of the city’s players but said they need to continue training hard to surpass the number of gold medals in the next tournament.

Tacurong’s participation in various taekwondo tournaments in the region and other parts of Mindanao was made possible through the support of the City Sports Council chaired by Mayor Lina Montilla.

Region 12-A Director and Chairman Master Robert Joshua Danao, who supervises conduct of tournaments in the region, praises the continued support of the city government in the Taekwondo discipline. He said that the unceasing support really paved way in developing young players making them competitive in bigger tournaments. There are taekwondo jins from Tacurong who currently enjoy scholarships in Manila universities, while there were some who had already played in international competitions. (Allan S. Freno)

SK Voters of 2010 should register anew

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) reminded the youth who registered and voted during the 2010 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections should register anew so that they may be able to vote in the May 13, 2013 national and local elections.

            “The COMELEC reminds SK voters during the 2010 elections to register anew so that they can vote in the next year’s elections”, said COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez, who noted a prevailing misconception among SK members on the registration process.

            “We call the leadership of Sangguniang Kabataan Federations nationwide and the National Youth Commission (NYC) to help us in encouraging the youth, especially the SK voters of 2010, to register”, said Jimenez.

            He said that voters’ registration is open at COMELEC offices until October 31, 2012, Mondays to Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Registrants need only to bring a valid ID when they register. (Source: COMELEC Education and Information Department)

Brgy officials to get CSC eligibility after 3-year term

(October 2, 2012) Elected and appointed barangay officials who had completed a three-year term in office can now apply for grant of Barangay Officials Eligibility (BOE) before the Civil Service Commission (CSC).  

            CSC Sultan Kudarat Field Office Director Ma. Josefina Gepte-Buenbrazo shared this update in a radio interview as part of the month-long celebration of Philippine Civil Service Anniversary in September.

            In a bid to ease the requirements on the grant of Barangay Officials Eligibility (BOE), the CSC issued Memorandum Circular No. 13 that based the grant of eligibility strictly on completion of term of office. The circular repeals the old one issued by CSC in 2006 requiring the aggregate five-year service as qualification for the grant of BOE.

            The new circular states that the relaxation to the rule “is an act of goodwill by the government for the services of barangay officials to the community”. The revised circular also favors Sangguniang Kabataan Chairpersons, who, “despite completion of their three-year term of office, were restrained from availing of the BOE grant for not meeting the previous aggregate five-year service requirement”.

            The new requirement for eligibility is granted to the following barangay officials: elected Punong Barangay, Sangguniang Barangay Kagawad, Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson, appointed Barangay Secretary, and Barangay Treasurer.

            For appointive barangay officials, the circular prescribes that Barangay Secretaries and Treasurers who are “related up to the 4^th degree of consanguinity, or of affinity, shall not qualify for the grant of BOE”. Said appointive barangay officials applying for grant of BOE are required to submit notarized affidavit stating that they are not related up to 4^th degree of consanguinity, or of affinity to the appointing Punong Barangay.

Some of the documentary requirements before the BOE can be granted include properly accomplished CSC form, correct photos, valid identification cards, copy of applicant’s birth certificate as authenticated by the National Statistics Office (NSO), marriage certificates for married women applicants, and certification of no pending administrative cases. 

            Meanwhile, Director Buenbrazo said that qualified barangay officials aspiring to convert to BOE their completed terms of office must personally apply in their office situated at the Old Capitol Building in Isulan. (Allan Freno)