Tacurong City commemorates IACM

With the theme “In Solidarity”, the City Government of Tacurong commemorated the 30^thInternational AIDS Candlelight Memorial (IACM) during its Monday flag ceremony on May 20, 2013.

Marlow Buenacosa, head of the City Environmental Health and Sanitation Section (CEHSS) spearheaded the short program which included the candle-lighting ceremony and a prayer for individuals and families affected by HIV-AIDS.

The Social Hygiene Clinic and Wellness Center under of the CEHSS supports the aim of the government to minimize and stop the fast- range cases of the HIV- AIDS particularly in the city. CEHSS conduct information and education campaign to increase citizens’ awareness on the disease. Health workers facilitate lectures and forum on AIDS during Food Handlers Classes and post information materials in various places in the city. CEHSS also conduct regular vaginal smearing for sex workers and weekly pre-marriage counseling to minimize sexually-transmitted diseases.

As of March 2013, 370 new cases of HIV-AIDS were confirmed in the country. This number is 18% higher than the reported cases in 2012 making the Philippines one of the nine countries with the fastest acceleration of HIV cases. Also as of March 2013, 60 cases of HIV-AIDS were recorded in Region XII.

The Philippine memorial of the global awareness day was actually on May 19 (Sunday) and is initiated by the Philippine National AIDS Council. IACM began in 1983 and it is one of the world’s oldest campaign programs for HIV Awareness.

Lemuel Bravante (SPES-Tacurong)

Newly-elected Tacurong City officials proclaimed

(May 15, 2013, 7:20 PM) The City Board of Canvassers (CBOC) for Tacurong proclaimed an hour ago the new set of elected officials of the City of Tacurong at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Conference Hall.

Incumbent Mayor Lina Montilla was re-elected for her second term after getting 22, 774 votes. She won by a landslide over her challengers Retired Army General Jerry Jalandoni who had 10, 120 votes and Atty. Ralen who had 940 votes.

Results from the official count of City Commission on Elections (COMELEC) showed Mayor Montilla of Liberal Party winning 64.49 percent of the total actual votes (35, 316) compared with 28.66 percent for Jalandoni of United Nationalist Alliance and 2.66 percent for Bernardo, an independent candidate.

The CBOC chaired by City Election Officer Reginald Abad also proclaimed former City Councilor Joseph George Lechonsito as the newly-elected Vice Mayor who had 22, 184 votes.

Ten elected councilors were also proclaimed. Re-electionist Councilor Psyche Sucaldito was the top vote-getter councilor with 20, 217 votes. Former Vice Mayor Charito Collado came in second with 17, 156 votes.

Seven re-electionist councilors claimed the third to ninth spots in the city council. They were Cirilo Flores (16, 720 votes), Paulino Ledda (16, 412 votes), Rodrigo Jamorabon (15, 737 votes), Benjamin Fajardo, Jr. (15, 499 votes), Ariel Ferdinand dela Cruz (14, 989 votes), Joselito Cajandig, Sr. (14, 359 votes), and Jose Remos Segura (14, 244 votes).

Former Barangay Chairperson Welson Ferrer is the newest member of the city council after clinching the tenth spot with 12, 833 votes.

The proclamation of the new set of city officials was delayed for a day because of the defective Compact Flash (CF) card of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) in one of the clustered precincts in Barangay Buenaflor. The Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) reportedly has to wait for a new CF card to be delivered from Manila in order to proceed with the feeding of ballots and transmission of results.

Out of the 46, 379 registered voters in Tacurong, COMELEC recorded 76.15 percent voters turnout. (Allan S. Freno)

LGU HR Strategic Plan takes shape

Thirty-one key players in the development and implementation of Strategic Human Resource Plan for the City Government of Tacurong who were identified through Administrative Order 01-2013 convened for a write-shop on May 8-9, 2013 in General Santos City.

Key players processed the results of the Job Analysis Survey conducted among employees of the city government. The said survey is part of the Competency Mapping, one of the major steps in formulating the agency’s HR Plan as mandated by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). HR competencies were also discussed.

The activity is part of the HR Plan development process based on CSC’s HR Strategic Plan Toolkit. The HR Strategic Plan is ‘aimed at capturing the people element of what an agency is hoping to achieve in the medium to long-term; ensuring that the agency has the right people in place; has the right mix of skills; employees display the right attitudes and behaviors; and are developed in the right way with enabling mechanisms and appropriate strategies. The major requisites in the development of the HR Plan are 1) Organizational Profile; 2) Agency Strategic Plan or Roadmap; and Key Players.

CSC-Sultan Kudarat Field Director Ma. Josefina Gepte-Buenbrazo and Supervising Personnel Specialist Evelyn C. Cortez facilitated the two-day write-shop.

CSC, being the central personnel agency of the government, requires government agencies to develop and implement the HR Strategic Plan. 

Jezereel Louise C. Billano (LGU-Information 

LGU agri office launches National Year of Rice

The LGU-Tacurong Office for the Agricultural Services (OAS) launched the National Year of Rice (NYR) campaign in the city on May 6, 2013.

As part of the launching, the NYR banner was raised by OAS with the help of department heads during the LGU's Monday flag-raising ceremony. NYR carries the theme 'Sapat na Bigas, Kaya ng Pinas'.

Officials and employees of the City Government of Tacurong also pledged to save rice and support the national government’s advocacy for rice self-sufficiency through the recitation of the Panatang Makapalay (Save Rice, Save Lives Pledge).

According to City Agriculturist Ramon B. Losañes, the OAS will spearhead extension activities that will increase rice consumers’ awareness on the country's current scenario of rice production and consumption. OAS hopes that by facilitating awareness, they will get the support of the people.

“We want to inform all rice consumers that they can help our country achieve sufficiency. They can do simple things like, eating other staples aside from rice or cooking just enough rice for the family to reduce rice wastage in the household,” said Losañes.

President Benigno S. Aquino III, under Proclamation No. 494, proclaimed 2013 as National Year of Rice. Aside from the goal of achieving self-sufficiency, NYR aims to promote better health among rice consumers and increase farmer’s income. NYR was launched in November 2012 during PhilRice’s 27th anniversary. Nationwide caravans and rice awareness campaigns have been conducted since then.

Rice self-sufficiency is the country’s capability to sustain the demand of the populace for rice, without relying on importation.

For more information on NYR, visit www.nyr2013.com.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

LGU agri office launches NYR

The LGU-Tacurong Office for the Agricultural Services (OAS) launched the National Year of Rice campaign in the city on May 6, 2013.

As part of the launching, the NYR banner was raised by OAS with the help of department heads during the LGU's Monday flag-raising ceremony. NYR carries the theme 'Sapat na Bigas, Kaya ng Pinas'.

Officials and employees of the City Government of Tacurong also pledged to save rice and support the national government’s advocacy for rice self-sufficiency through the recitation of the Panatang Makapalay (Save Rice, Save Lives Pledge).

According to City Agriculturist Ramon B. Losañes, the OAS will spearhead extension activities that will increase rice consumers’ awareness on the country's current scenario of rice production and consumption. OAS hopes that by facilitating awareness, they will get the support of the people.

“We want to inform all rice consumers that they can help our country achieve sufficiency. They can do simple things like, eating other staples aside from rice or cooking just enough rice for the family to reduce rice wastage in the household,” said Losañes.

President Benigno S. Aquino III, under Proclamation No. 494, proclaimed 2013 as National Year of Rice. Aside from the goal of achieving self-sufficiency, NYR aims to promote better health among rice consumers and increase farmer’s income. NYR was launched in November 2012 during PhilRice’s 27th anniversary. Nationwide caravans and rice awareness campaigns have been conducted since then.

Rice self-sufficiency is the country’s capability to sustain the demand of the populace for rice, without relying on importation.

For more information on NYR, visit www.nyr2013.com.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

DOLE, LGU-PESO hold Jobs Fair, Kasambahay Registration on Labor Day

DOLE-SK, in partnership with the LGU-Tacurong Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and Sultan Kudarat Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (SKTIPC) conducted a Jobs Fair and Kasambahay Registration on May 1, 2013 at the City Hall Grounds, Tacurong City.

Seven agencies laid out employment opportunities during the Fair: KCC Mall of Marbel; Kenram Industrial Development Inc.; Kimsan Plaza Inc.; SWANA Mercantile; Non-Stop Overseas Employment Corporation; MML Manpower Services; and MnM Manpower Services. Among the at most 80 jobseekers who registered for the Fair, 40 individuals were hired on the spot for local employment while 10 were hired for overseas employment.

SKTIPC conducted the Kasambahay Registration for individuals engaged in domestic work within an employment relationship. DOLE-SK and SKTIPC plans to organize kasambahays to facilitate awareness on their rights and privileges as stipulated in the newly-approved Kasambahay Law (R.A. 103611). The said Kasambahay Registration is a first in Region XII. The activity was able to register 36 kasambahays.

Labor Day is a holiday celebrated all over the world to recognize the social and economic contributions of workers. 2013 Philippine Labor Day is themed “Manggagawang Pilipino: Handa sa Hamon ng Makabagong Panahon”.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano (LGU-Information)

1,274 SPES grantees celebrate SK Labor Day

One thousand two hundred seventy-four (1,274) grantees of the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) from all over Sultan Kudarat (SK) Province gathered for the annual Labor Day celebration on May 1, 2013 at the City Gymnasium, Tacurong City.

SPES delegations from 12 LGUs, schools, and agencies showcased their talent and teamwork through the Yelling Contest and Pop Dance Competition. LGU-Tacurong delegation won the gold in the Yelling Contest while SK Provincial Capitol delegation took home the gold for the pop dance competition.

SPES LGU-Tacurong during their winning performance for the Yelling Contest.

SK Provincial Capitol winning pop dance group

According to DOLE-SK headed by Provincial Director Arlene Bisnon, this gathering aims to facilitate healthy interaction among SPES grantees and boost each delegation’ team spirit. DOLE XII Regional Director Ofelia Domingo reminded the SPES grantees to maximize their summer jobs by learning new skills and important work ethics.

This annual gathering, which has been conducted for at least 5 years now, is the only SPES provincial gathering in Region XII. This year’s celebration is sponsored by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-SK in partnership with LGU-Tacurong. “The city government is very willing to work with DOLE in terms of empowering constituents with employment and livelihood opportunities,” said Tacurong City Mayor Lina O. Montilla.

The following are the participating LGUs, schools, and agencies with their corresponding number of SPES grantees: LGU-President Quirino (90); LGU-Lambayong (41); LGU-Tacurong (299); LGU-Isulan (200); SK Provincial Capitol (261); Quezon Colleges of Southern Philippines (17); Archdiocesan Notre Dame Schools of Cotabato (210); Notre Dame of Tacurong College (56); Southern Mindanao Institute of Technology (36); Tacurong Fit Mart (25); Kimsan Inc. (25); and Kenram Industrial Development Inc. (14). The delegations were accompanied by their respective Public Employment Service Office managers.

DOLE-SK and LGU-Tacurong with the Philippine Red Cross-SK also maximized the gathering by conducting a blood-letting activity. Twenty-six bags of blood were generated through the said activity.

DOLE’s SPES provides underprivileged youth/students with short-term employment to augment financial needs and to provide experience that will be useful as they enter the workforce.

A SPES grantee donates blood on Labor Day

Jezereel Louise Billano