21 volunteers compose new barangay rescue team in Tacurong

Twenty-one civilian volunteer organization members, teachers, and barangay officials and tanods now compose the newly-created Brgy. San Pablo Emergency Response Team or SPERT.

The 21 volunteers from Barangay San Pablo, Tacurong City successfully completed a 6-day Search and Rescue (SAR) Training conducted on July 16-21, 2013. Tacurong City Responsive Assistance and Coordinated Emergency Search and Rescue or TRACER conducted the said training.

SPERT was created by the Tacurong City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) with the support of Barangay San Pablo Council.

On July 16-17, lectures and demonstrations on first aid and basic life support were conducted in the barangay.

On July 18-21, TRACER facilitated demonstrations and drills in ropemanship, highline, rapelling, hailing, and swimming to assess the volunteers. The demonstrations and drills were conducted in different locations that include: Kapingkong River in Brgy. EJC Montilla, Tacurong City; Polomolok, South Cotabato; and General Santos City.  Trainees performed their final activity, the one-mile swim, in General Santos City.

SPERT officers and members took their oath on July 22, 2013.

Barangay San Pablo Search and Rescue Team is the second barangay SAR team in the City of Tacurong, following the creation of Barangay New Isabela SAR Team. Tacurong CDRRMC aims to organize barangay-based rescue teams as support to TRACER and to the Council’s efforts in disaster preparedness and response. (Jezereel Louise C. Billano-LGU Information)

DOLE, PESO conduct career and anti-illegal recruitment advocacy to parents

Eight hundred forty-four parents of students in Tacurong National High School attended the two-day parental education organized by the school’s Guidance Office on July 18-19, 2013.

Lecturers from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Public Employment Service Office (PESO) talked on career advocacy and anti-illegal recruitment campaign. Another speaker from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) gave inputs on responsible parenthood.

DOLE Sultan Kudarat Provincial Head Arlene Bisnon presented DOLE’s Project Jobs Fit, a thoroughly-researched study that determines the Key Employment Generators (KEGs) in the Philippine labor market from 2010-2020. Project Jobs Fit aims to guide high school students and their parents in career planning by giving them the list of the in-demand and hard-to-fill occupations in the next seven years.

A simplified presentation on how to detect an illegal recruiter was given by Allan Freno, the city government’s PESO Manager. Social Welfare Officer Nancy Bawe also re-oriented the parents on how to be truly responsible especially in dealing with their teenage children.

Christy Hampac, the school guidance counselor, admitted that the parental education was the first ever to be conducted in their school; and despite the fact that attendance of parents to the said activity was not required, she was happy that many of them arrived.

The school has the largest population of students in the city of Tacurong and nearly 50 percent of the students’ parents attended the activity.

Mrs. Sarcajoga, one of the parents who had been attentive all throughout the lectures, said that she did not regret sacrificing her working hours just to attend the parental education. The presentation on the DOLE Project Jobs Fit made her realize that even parents must be aware of the movements in the labor market so that they can truly guide their children in choosing a career.

“I have a son who is already in college and until now, he is not sure if his chosen course has high employability when he finishes school. At least now, I can guide my other son in planning his career,” Mrs. Sarcajoga said.

The DOLE and PESO are currently strengthening their alliance with all guidance counselors in the city in order to provide a more effective way of conducting career advocacy not only to students but their parents as well.  (Allan Freno, LGU Tacurong City)

97 Grade 3 pupils receive Ismagul, Lapis Atbp

Walang maliit na bagay sa malaking hangarin na mapaunlad ang ating bayan.

Those were the words of Council of Personnel Officers-SK Chapter (CPO-SK) President Algerico Baquiran during the launch of Ismagul, Lapis Atbp in Don Manuel J. Griño Memorial Central School (DMJGMCS) on July 18, 2013.

Each of the 97 Grade 3 pupils of DMJGMCS received a set of school supplies (pencils, crayons, notebooks, art papers, scissors, bond papers, etc) and a new pair of slippers.

The activity was attended by members and officials of CPO headed by their President and Civil Service Commission Field Office Director Ma. Josefina Gepte-Buenbrazo, CPO-SK President Agerico Baquiran, Mayor Lina O. Montilla, DepEd Tacurong Superintendent Gildo Mosqueda, Brgy. Griño Chairperson Romeo Panes, School Disrict Supervisor Frank Nawal, staff and faculty of DMJGMCS headed by Principal Saligyn Richiel Ortiz, and the parents.

“Ginasiguro namon sa inyo mga ginikanan nga ginahimo namon ang tanan, kaupod ang mga pribado nga organisasyon kag ang local nga gobyerno, para mangin maayo ang estado sang aton nga mga kabataan,” said City Schools Division Superintendent Gildo Mosqueda. “Ang amon man nga hangyo sa inyo, buligan nyo kami,” he added.

After the activity, CPO-SK proceeded to Pres. Quirino, Sultan Kudarat to give away another batch of slippers, pencils, etc. to elementary pupils.

CPO-SK extended its Ismagul, Lapis Atbp. project in support of LGU-Tacurong’s Promoting and Empowering Actions for Children’s Education or PEACE Project.

LGU-Tacurong’s PEACE Project is a multi-stakeholder project dedicated to decrease drop-out incidence and academic performance in English and Math among DMJGMCS Grade 3 pupils.

SEAOIL extended a P50,000-grant for Project PEACE when  LGU-Tacurong’s proposal  ranked third among  other proposals submitted by LGUs and schools nationwide for the Champions for Education and Good Governance.

Photo News: LGU-Tacurong opens Kalinga sa Mga Batang Lansangan Year III

Ms. Nancy Bawe, RSW of the City Social Welfare and Development Office explains the program Kalinga sa mga Batang Lansangan to its 20 beneficiaries on July 18, 2013 at the City’s Crisis Intervention Center. This program, initiated by Hon. Psyche M. Sucaldito, is being implemented in partnership with DepEd-Tacurong and PNP. The beneficiaries, through the program, are now enrolled in DepEd’s Alternative Learning System. LGU-Tacurong provides for their needs while attending classes, including transportation, allowance, and school supplies. The said youth beneficiaries are identified Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), children buying and selling metal scraps, and child laborers from Purok Islam, Brgy Griño. The LGU hopes to help these children finish their studies and obtain more decent jobs in the future.

TRACER undergoes Search and Rescue Proficiency Training

The Tacurong City Responsive Assistance and Coordinated Emergency Search and Rescue or TRACER had undergone a 3-day Proficiency Training on July 12-14, 203.

During the first training day, TRACER performed rapelling drills with Tacurong Philippine National Police personnel at the City Hall building. A re-orientation seminar on basic first aid, guidelines in giving emergency care, and casualty handling was then facilitated by the Philippine Red Cross-Kidapawan City.

On July 13, TRACER performed swimming drills in Polomolok, South Cotabato then proceeded to Tropicana Beach Resort, General Santos City on July 14 for their one-mile swim.

TRACER undergoes Proficiency Training once or twice a year under the supervision of the Tacurong CDRRMC. This recently-conducted training was co-facilitated by Hon. Rodrigo Jamorabon and Sgt. Manuel S. Doria of the Philippine Air Force-Davao City.    

TRACER has recently been shortlisted as one of the Top 3 national contenders for the Gawad KALASAG 2013. 

LGU-Information

SOCA highlights positive outcomes of excellent governance, good partnerships

Re-elected Tacurong City Mayor Lina O. Montilla’s State of the City Address (SOCA) highlighted the positive results of pursuing excellent governance and building good partnerships during her first term. The SOCA was delivered during the Inaugural Session of the 6^th Sangguniang Panlungsod on July 3, 2013.

“Our City, being new and small compared to others, has now been recognized as one of the best-performing cities in the country,” said Mayor Montilla.

Excellence and partnerships

Balanced prioritization of programs and projects for development of various sectors led the city to the prestigious National Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Awards 2012 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The City was among the Top 5 National Finalists that include Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Makati City; Santiago City, Isabela; and Vigan City, Ilocos Sur—the winner.

In the same year, Tacurong City received the Seal of Good Housekeeping Silver (SGH)—a proof of the city’s accountability and transparency in local governance. The city received the SGH Bronze in 2011.

These awards brought additional monetary assistance for the city. The SGH Bronze and Silver awards were complemented by P3-million and P2-million cash awards. These amounts were then used for road concreting in Barangays Upper Katungal and Tina.

Good partnerships established and maintained by the city government especially with the Regional Development Council (RDC) also led to the P129-million grant for the concrete paving of unpaved portions of National Highway to the Baras Bird Sanctuary, and other agricultural assistance and infrastructure projects.

Fiscal Management

The mayor emphasized the city’s good financial performance by showing comparative figures of local revenues and expenditures from CY 2009-2012. Local revenues increased from P60,386,440.74 in CY2009 to P80,148,177.43 in CY2012. Savings from operations, on the other hand, showed an increasing trend from P40,217,753.01 in CY 2009 to P89,100,840.41 in CY2011. In CY2012, city’s savings dropped to P1,647,861.35 because of decrease in Internal Revenue Allotment—a result of the conversion into cities of 16 municipalities. Big projects were also undertaken in 2012 that include: progressive construction of the City Cultural & Sports Center, City Museum, City Library, new public cemetery, perimeter fence of the Tacurong City Integrated Public Terminal; and purchase of two brand new dump trucks and  brand new meat van, among other big ticket projects.

Sustainable Projects

“We believe that development should encompass all areas in the city,” said Mayor Montilla.

The mayor expressed her commitment to continue to implement the Two-Million City Aid to Barangays. The said program empowered barangays to implement necessary infrastructure projects and other priority projects in education, livelihood, health, environment, etc.

Among other projects maintained by the city government are: Annual Free Surgical Mission and Operation Tuli; Business One-Stop Shop; Limpyo Kalog (Linis Kanal); blood-letting activities; and City Hall sa Barangay.

Local special bodies will also continue working for the city’s welfare: the City Development Council; City Peace and Order Council; Local School Board; Local Health Board; City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council; among others.

The creation of the Joint Task Force Talakudong (JTFT) is another best practice that the city government aims to sustain. JTFT was created to support law-enforcement agencies and the military in maintaining the city’s peace and order.

Vision

The Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) will be formulated by the newly-elected city officials this July 2013. ELA serves as a guide for both the executive and legislative branch of the local government in planning and implementing priority projects in the next three years. Mayor Montilla seeks the assistance of the City Local Government Operations Officer Alberto Sero Jr. in this endeavor.

In her SOCA, Mayor Montilla enumerated some of the LGU’s priorities for 2013-2016. These include: completion of the City Cultural & sports Center, City Library, and City Museum; enhancement of the traffic management system and solid waste management; institutionalization of the Iskolar ng Lungsod ng Tacurong; enactment of the tricycle franchising system; and improvement and monitoring of delivery of basic social services.

-Jezereel Louise C. Billano (LGU-Information)

Tacurong’s Sanggunian holds Inaugural Session

Vice Mayor Joseph George Lechonsito got his first hold of the gavel when he presided over the inaugural session of the 6^thSangguniang Panlungsod of Tacurong City on July 3, 2013.

Witnessed by a sizable crowd packed inside and outside the session hall, all members of the Sanggunian were present during the maiden session, namely: Councilors Psyche Sucaldito, Charito Collado, Cirilo Flores, Paulino Ledda, Rodrigo Jamorabon, Benjamin Fajardo Jr., Ariel Ferdinand dela Cruz, Joselito Cajandig Sr., Jose Remos Segura, and Welson Ferrer. Liga ng mga Barangay President Silvestre Llanto and Sangguniang Kabataan President Albert Gulmatico were in attendance also.

Midway into the session, the council suspended its rules to give way to the State of the City Address of Mayor Lina Montilla, who presented the major accomplishments of the local administration in the past three years and the programs the city government aims to implement within the next term of office.

Mayor Montilla said that first on the to-do list in their first month in office is the formulation of the Executive Legislative Agenda (ELA) that will serve as guide in setting the policy directions of the local government in the next three years. 

After the mayor’s speech, Vice Mayor Lechonsito delivered his response saying that the council will continue to be an effective law-making body of the city government. He also expressed the council’s support to the development agenda of the local chief executive all geared toward the development of the city.

Lechonsito also said that the mayor’s decision of delivering her SOCA before the council manifested the latter’s desire to continue working hand in hand with the Sanggunian.

The awarding of Plaques of Recognition to the outgoing members of the council followed after the vice mayor’s speech. Former Councilor Virgilio Paredes, a member of the 5^th SP, was recognized together with former Vice Mayor Collado and former Councilor Lechonsito who swapped places as new members of the 6^th SP.

Secretary to the Sanggunian Romel Dionela also presented welcome tokens to all members of the city council.

When session rules were restored, the council passed and approved a joint resolution expressing their thanks to the people of Tacurong for their continued support to the city officials in the past local elections.

Before the adjournment of the session, the council members agreed to set their next session on July 8 to deliberate on their internal rules and select members for the various standing committees. (Allan Freno, LGU-Tacurong City)