Tacurong, DOLE to hire over 200 students in summer

TACURONG CITY, Sultan  Kudarat, Feb 12 (PIA)   -- At least  200   students and out-of school   youths  could be  given  interim  jobs   during  summer  vacation as  the  local  government  unit here,  in partnership with the Department of Labor  and Employment,  implements  the Special  Program for the Employment of Students (SPES).

According to the  Public Employment Service Office,   they will begin  the  registration  of interested  individuals  who would wish  to avail of SPES in March

SPES  is a program of  DOLE   as  mandated  by  Republic Act 9547, which  provides  short-term  employment  to students  and  out-of-school  youths  who  would like to  continue their  studies.

For this  program, DOLE  partners with  local  government  units,  colleges and universities, and  private  employers  for the  implementation of the  program.

Under the  scheme,  the  employer  pays  60 percent of the  salary of the  beneficiary while the remaining  40 percent  will come  from the national  government through DOLE.  

Basic salary   is based on the prevailing wage rate  in the  region set  by the  Regional  Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).

Per  Wage Order No. RB XII – 17  the minimum wage (non-agriculture sector)  in SOCCSKSARGEN  Region is  P270 per  day.  

In an  earlier   interview,  DOLE  12  Regional Director  Ofelia  Domingo  told  Philippine  Information Agency  12, around  70 percent of DOLE’s partners  in the program are LGUs.

“We are working  on  improving this  situation  to at achieve an ideal  ratio of  50 percent are  from  LGUs  and 50 percent  are  from the  private  sector,”  Director  Domingo said, emphasizing that the  original plan  of the program  is  to encourage  more  participation  from the private  sector.  

On February  6, DOLE  12  gathered    over 200  representatives of  at least 150  companies  from across  the region for a re-orientation  of the DOLE programs and activities as well as  pledging  session  for  the SPES.

On Thursday, February 13,   DOLE  will  gather  local  chief  executives  for  a  forum  on the   SPES program. 

Director  Domingo  added that this  year,  DOLE 12  will begin  using online SPES, where  registration and documentation of applicants and beneficiaries   to payment of   government  share for the   salary  will be  done exclusively  via  the  online  system. 

For this  purpose,  she added, DOLE  12  signed last  week  a memorandum  of agreement  with   M. Lhuiller Financial Services, Inc.  for  the use  of  the latter’s  payment solutions  system  where the  government’s  40 percent  share in the salary of the beneficiaries  will be coursed  through.

To qualify, an applicant   for the  SPES program  should  be  15 to 25  years old,  currently  enrolled  or  a  dropout  who is planning to  return school, whose parents’ combined  income  do  not  exceed the  regional poverty threshold level  for a family with  six members, and have garnered passing grade  in the last  year or term  or in case of  dropout,  in the last  term  he or she attended  school.  

Children of parents  who were  displace  or about to be  displaced from work,  victims of illegal recruitment, victims of accidents, or  persons with  disability may also  apply  for the  program.

SPES  program is  now  a year-round  activity, according to  Director  Domingo.

This  year  DOLE 12  aims  at enrolling  at least  11,771  students and out-of-school  youths  across  SOCCSKSARGEN Region  into the  SPES  this year. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12  with report  from LGU Tacurong)

DepEd Tacurong triumphs in regional research and communication fests

Principals and supervisors of the City Schools Division of Tacurong earned eight awards during the 1st Regional Communication Festival and 4th Regional Research Cum School-Based Management Congress on February 10 at The Farm, Koronadal City.

In the 4th Regional Research Cum SBM Congress, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Meilrose Peralta was declared champion for Best Research Poster-Division Supervisor Category. Mr. Randy Porras was also adjudged 3rd place in the Oral Presentation in the same category.

Research practitioners and enthusiasts from schools divisions in Region XII joined the congress that focused on showcasing action researches that address concerns on access, quality, and governance of basic education. The congress was themed ‘Sustaining Breakthrough in Maximizing Resources for Effective K to 12 Education’.

Meanwhile, four educators from DepEd Tacurong bagged championship titles in the 1st Regional Communication Festival.

Ms Memvie Alesna was declared champion in Memo Writing-School Administrators Category. Ms Ivy Lamintao bagged the 3rd place in International Speech in the same category.

DepEd Tacurong supervisors that triumped in the congress were: Mr. Arlac Billano in Humorous Speaking; Ms Arlene Arquiza in Business Letter Writing; and Ms Mayflor Romualdo in Memo Writing. Ms Virgie Metal, another division supervisor, was also adjudged 2nd place in the International Speech contest.

The Regional Communication Festival, an initiative of DepEd XII Regional Director Allan Farnazo, aims to showcase and assess the abilities of principals and education supervisors in the region. Results of the events will be used as bases to provide them technical assistance towards professional development.

City Schools Division of Tacurong is led by Superintendent Gildo Mosqueda.
(LGU-Tacurong City Information)

PhilHealth XII collects P1.07 billion in 2013

PhilHealth Regional Office (PRO) XII collected Php 1.07 billion worth of member contributions in 2013, according to PRO OIC Vice President Miriam Grace Pamonag in a press conference on February 7, 2014 in Koronadal City.

With this accomplishment, PhilHealth XII achieved 101.9% collection efficiency given that it has surpassed its Php 1.05 billion collection target.

During the said presscon, officials also said that PhilHealth paid Php 1.2 billion every week for members’ benefits in 2013, a total of P45.2 billion for the whole year. On the other hand, PhilHealth only collected P44 billion worth of member contributions in the said year.

To further the improvement of member benefits, PhilHealth implemented the adjustment of members’ annual premium to a minimum of Php 2,400 effective January 1, 2014. This amount is determined and advised by the National Household Targeting System (NHTS-PR) of DSWD. The national government pays a minimum of P2,400 premium for each indigent annually since 2011.

“Kung magkano ang binabayad ng national government, dapat papantayan namin yun,” said PhilHealth OIC Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Ramon Aristoza. This year 2014, the number families identified as poorest of the poor listed on NHTS database have reached 14.78 million. These poorest of the poor are automatically enrolled as PhilHealth members.

Also, according to Aristoza, PhilHealth now offers more benefits to its members. “Natural na kung may increase sa benefits, may increase sa premium. Hindi pwede na may increase sa premium pero walang increase sa benefits,” he said.

The presscon, participated by at most 100 media personnel and government communicators, is part of PhilHealth XII’s activities for the institution’s 19th anniversary on February 14, 2014.

For more information, please visit www.philhealth.gov.ph. (LGU Tacurong City Information)

27 jobseekers hired on the spot in Tacurong’s patronal fiesta Job Fair

Twenty-seven lucky job applicants from Tacurong City were hired on the spot in the Job Fair joined by ten employers for local employment and one recruitment agency for overseas employment during the city’s patronal fiesta.

The Job Fair, one of the activities of the 64^th anniversary celebration of the city’s patron saint Nuestra Señora dela Candelaria, was organized by the parish church in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Sultan Kudarat Field Office and the city government through its Public Employment Service Office (PESO).

                Armed with their resume and credentials, 105 flocked to the church compound on January 30 to match their qualifications to 204 various job vacancies posted by the participating employers. 

                Twenty-one year old Jomar Gabato, a part-time disc jockey of a local radio station in the city, got the nod of Sutherland Global Services, a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company based in Davao City. His impressive interview gave him the chance to be hired on the spot.

Of the 105 job applicants, 95 qualified for the positions they applied for. Meanwhile, The 27 HOTS (DOLE’s acronym for those Hired On The Spot) constituted 28 percent of the total number of qualified applicants.

                Participating employers said that those who qualified have big chances of being hired provided they present other documents required.

Aside from Sutherland Global Services, other employers that have HOTS were KCC Mall of Marbel, Tacurong Fit Mart, and Nonstop Overseas Employment Corporation. Other participating employers included Talakudong Foods Corporation (Jollibee), Kimsan Plaza, Swana Mercantile, Kenram Industrial Development, Inc. or KIDI, Yakult, Delinanas, and COSEDA Security Agency.

Fr. Armand Dice, parish priest of Tacurong, said he was happy with the turnout of the job hiring and that the church will continue working with DOLE and the city government in this kind of endeavor.

A part from the Job Fair, DOLE and PESO also conducted advocacy talks on KasambahayLaw, Anti-Illegal Recruitment and the DOLE’s Project Jobs Fit. (LGU Tacurong City Information; A Freno)

City government celebrates LGU Night with thousands of Girl Scouts

The local government unit of Tacurong took part on the 24^th Regional Encampment of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) – Western Mindanao through the LGU Night conducted last February 3, 2014 at the Scouts Camp, Brgy. New Carmen, Tacurong City.

The said event was organized by the city government in order to bring more of what Tacurong City can offer to the participants, considering they all come from far-off councils and localities. Present in the LGU Night were City Mayor Hon. Lina O. Montilla, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod – Hon. Psyche Sucaldito, Hon. Rodrigo Jamorabon, Hon. Benjamin Fajardo, Jr., Hon. Welson Ferrer, and Hon. Ariel Dela Cruz, LGU heads and employees, and all Council Executives of the GSP together with all the campers.

“My sister girl scouts, I hope Tacurong City will be in your hearts, you won’t forget us and when you come back to your respective hometowns, you’d tell them to go to the city of Tacurong. Thank you so much for coming and we appreciate it a lot,” said Hon. Montilla as she whole-heartedly welcomed them in a night of spectacle for all the campers to enjoy. Furthermore, she expressed her gratefulness to the GSP Council for trusting Tacurong to host the regional encampment.

Senior Scout Demie Jan Fresco in her solo song number

The program, dubbed as “Pasundayag,” kicked off with the presentation of the city profile which depicts all necessary data and facts regarding the city, its milestones, and its people. Performances from the different schools as St. John Learning Center, Inc., Tacurong National High School, and Notre Dame of Tacurong College Grade School Department were staged along with productions from the Tacurong City Dance Sports Team and the City Band. The Voice of the Philippines qualifiers of the Mindanao Auditions Demie Jan Fresco and Sheryll Donne Garcia were also in the event to show-off their singing abilities.   

                

The night concluded with a fireworks display and an entertaining socialization with all the councils.

Mayor Lina Montilla beaming with the Girl Scouts of Basilan

There are 12 council members in the Western Mindanao region: Basilan, Cotabato, Iligan, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Sulu, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Sultan Kudarat. Throughout the encampment, the girls have undergone activities which exposed them to different places in the city as the Baras Bird Sanctuary. (LGU-Tacurong City Information)

15 cycling enthusiasts from Tacurong finish TEN Enduro Pilipinas Round 1

Members of the Tacurong Federation of All Terrain Cycling Enthusiasts (FACE) were the only delegates from Mindanao who participated in the 1^st leg of the Enduro Pilipinas Tour 2014 held at San Pablo City, Laguna last January 25, 2014.

About 46 teams from all over the Philippines cycled through 6 races for the season 1 finals of the event, with the FACE Team making it to the Top 20 of the final team standings. Among the finishers from Tacurong City were: Patrick Parreño, Jogil Causing, Myra Causing, Ricky Olofernes, Milton Macanas, Joselito Flores, Noli Bayya, Justin Bayya, George Bayya, Ricky Dayon, Eric Limon, Gaudencio Hagoriles, Jose Maria Espiritu, Noel Catudan, and Dennis Pande.

Myra Causing is the only female delegate who is able to finish the entire series, while Justin Bayya is the youngest Enduro racer in the run.

FACE President Patrick Parreño expressed his thanks to the city government for their support as they were presented last Monday, February 3, in the flag raising ceremony by Hon. Welson Ferrer.

Enduro is a form of mountain bike racing where there are larger percentages of downhill sections that are timed, to uphill and cross country sections. The Enduro Network (TEN) is the primary group of cycling enthusiasts who espouse the Enduro style of racing. (Ariesha Faith M. Dimaano)

Tacurong Fil-Chinese community declares 2014 a blessed year

"Kung nagtitiwala tayo sa Panginoon, ang bawat araw o taon ay blessing."

The words of Mr. Bernard Haw, Past President of the Tacurong Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCCI), manifested the business sector's positive vision of 2014 as they celebrated the Chinese New Year on January 31, 2014 at Palm Pavilion, Tacurong City.

City government officials, heads of national line agencies such as DOLE and DTI, Philippine Army and PNP officials, and civic organizations attended FCCCI's thanksgiving program. 

  

Mayor Lina Montilla and General Eduardo Pangilinan of the 601st Brigade, PA thanked the Fil-Chinese community for its unwavering support which is vital towards achieving economic dynamism in the city. 

"In behalf of the city government, I would like to assure you of our untiring sense of duty to protect not just our people and surrounding, but our economy as well," said Montilla during her inspirational message.

"This year will bring more for everyone..for all the people in Tacurong. We in the armed forces will always be the partners of the LGU, the Fil-Chinese community, and of the people in maintaining peace and order in our city," said Gen. Pangilinan. 

Aside from empowering the business economy, FCCCI members and officers extend help to communities in the city. In 2013, FCCCI donated three school buildings to DepEd schools in Brgy. Tina, San Emmanuel, and New Carmen. According to PP Haw, FCCCI had already donated a total of 20 units of school buildings. FCCCI also joined the relief operations in Ormoc after the Super Typhoon Yolanda. This was conducted with the Rotary Club of Tacurong, 601st Brigade, PA and Joint Task Force Talakudong  

For 2014, the FCCCII committed to donate 1 unit f multicab to Tacurong PNP, which will help in the efforts to maintain security and order in the city.  

FCCCI Tacurong is currently headed by President Manuel Ang. “Our thanks to the city government and to the men in uniform for advancing Fil-Chinese relations, which promotes growth, stability and harmony to our community that leads to a more balanced and beneficial relationship,” said Jocelyn Hong, in behalf of the FCCCII President.

"Without the cooperation of the members and officers of the Fil-Chinese Chamber, accomplishments would have not been possible. We also value the contributions of the members of the Chinese community to our civic actions," said PP Haw. "I believe we can do more this 2014," he added. (see photos on LGU-Tacurong Fanpage)

Jezereel Billano (LGU-Information)