LGU to allocate P800 thousand peso-budget for SPES 2014

Tacurong City Mayor Lina O. Montilla signified her commitment to allocate PhP800,000.00 for the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) come summer of year 2014.

LGU-Tacurong SPES grantees were happy to hear such good news during their 2013 culmination program on May 30, 2013 in Monte Vicenteau Resort, New Passi, Tacurong City.

“If we stick to the regular budget for SPES, which is Php400,000.00 per year , 186 new SPES grantees will surely not be absorbed next year unless they take and  pass another qualifying exam,” said the Mayor.

In the past years, SPES budget allocation only amounted to PhP400,000.00 which can only accommodate 150 grantees. However, this year, 2013, the SP Committee on Finance approved additional Php400,000.00 thereby increasing the budget to Php800,000.00. Subsequently, this resulted to an increased number of students hired for LGU employment this summer of 2013. Currently, LGU-Tacurong has a total of 270 SPES grantees—the largest number of grantees in LGUs in the province of Sultan Kudarat.

“We increased the budget because I have seen how SPES helps the LGU in its operations and also how this program helps augment financial needs of underprivileged students,” said Mayor Montilla.

“Through time, I realized that SPES is not just about salary. It’s an opportunity for all of us to prove ourselves and our potentials despite of who we are and what we have,” said SPES grantee John Michael Lancita.

SPES is a program implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment in partnership with local government units, national government agencies, and private institutions. 

Jezereel Louise C. Billano (LGU-Information)

Tacurong City SPES celebrates Summer Saya Fest 2013

LGU-Tacurong Summer Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) grantees held a culmination activity dubbed as Summer Saya Fest 2013 at Monte Vicenteau Resort, Brgy. New Passi, Tacurong City on May 30, 2013. The said activity is conducted every summer towards the end of a month-long summer job program of the LGU-Tacurong City in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

SPES beneficiaries and LGU-PESO staff enjoyed a variety of fun games and activities such as i-Dawn Zulueta mo ako, eat what you got, duck walk, and a lot more.

City Mayor Lina O. Montilla, City Councilors Ariel Dela Cruz, Lino Ledda, Cirilo Flores and Psyche Sucaldito, DOLE Field Office Senior Labor Employment Officer Domingo Baron graced the activity.

For summer 2013, LGU-Tacurong had a total number of 270 SPES grantees, thirty of them graduated during the culmination. The said grantees were awarded with certificates of completion since they had already served through SPES for four years.

SPES graduate Lemuel Bravante shared how the program allowed him to acquire important values: “I believe it is with love that we were able to work effectively. If we love what we do, we are patient and efficient.”

Tacurong City Mayor Lina O. Montilla expressed her support to the program by committing Php 800,000.00 budget for 2014.

LGU and DOle officials award certificates of completion to SPES graduates.

SPES grantees enjoy the games during their Summer Saya Festival

 “This program is worth our commitment and support because it supports underprivileged students to pursue their education,” said Mayor Montilla.

SPES is a flagship program of DOLE.

Smilee Joy Sonza (SPES-Tacurong)

TACEA to pass 2 new resolutions on member benefits

Members of the Tacurong City Employees Association (TACEA) agreed to pass a resolution on the creation of an in-house medical program and another resolution for the increase of the city government’s share on members’ PAG-IBIG contribution.

The said consensus was made during the TACEA General Assembly on May 31, 2013 at the City Gymnasium.

Once approved, the said resolutions will be an addition to the other resolutions passed by the current officers headed by TACEA President Amelia A. Bochorno who took office in June 2011. The two earlier resolutions were: 1) a resolution conferring honorary membership to City elected and appointed officials, and 2) a resolution exempting TACEA members with Job Order status in paying the mandatory contribution for retiring employees and to oblige them to pay 50% of the mandatory mortuary assistance for demised TACEAns. 

The said assembly also allowed association officers and members to revisit TACEA policies and programs. In 2012, TACEA officers reviewed and amended the welfare program policies on mortuary, medical, retirement benefits, and calamity assistance. The amended policies are reflected on the newly published TACEA Manual of Operations.

Ms. Bochorno further reported the association’s accomplishments that include conduct of Kantahan ng Kabataan, LIPS XIV Sports Fest and Socio-Cultural Contest, LGU Christmas Party, Christmas Gift-Giving to indigents and inmates, and TACEA Strategic Planning; participation in LGU Women’s Month Celebration; 11^th Public Sector Employees Alliance of SOCSKSARGEN (PSEAS)  Socio-cultural contest, 7^th PSEAS Sports Fest, LGU orientation for new entrants, 1^stPIPSEA National Executive Board Conference, Basic Educators Training sponsored by the Labor Education and Research Network and PIPSEA. 

A forum on the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) was also facilitated by TACEA on the same day. GSIS Trustee Mario J. Aguja updated TACEA members on GSIS reforms such as increased minimum pension, enhancement of survivorship benefits, implementation of Educational Assistance Fund Program, among others. For more information on GSIS reforms, please visit www.gsis.gov.ph.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano (LGU-Information)

I am now more trustworthy and fulfilled—C4TP graduate

Rowena Bermudo, 27, had been an ambulant food vendor since her late teens. After spending just a month in college as a Hotel and Restaurant Management student in Iloilo, she was forced to return to Tacurong to be her family’s bread-winner. She had to stop her studies when her mother got seriously ill.

Weng, as she is fondly called by her customers, is very persistent in doing business. She sells her food items in government offices, battling the heat and even rain during weekdays. “Napatapos ko ang manghud ko sa pag eskwela tungod diri sa pagbaligya-baligya ko,” she proudly said.

Determined as she is to provide for her family, she joined the Cash for Training Program of DSWD, TESDA, and LGU in February 2013 along with other out-of-school youth in Tacurong. Weng is one of the 19 trainees of C4TP’s Commercial Cooking (National Certificate Level II or NCII) course. At the same time, 21 youths were trained for Housekeeping NCII course.

Tacurong C4TP scholars, like Weng, were identified by the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD). Each scholar received assistance amounting to PhP20,000. This amount included tuition/training fee, allowance, etc. The courses were facilitated by Sultan Kudarat Educational Institution or SKEI.

Weng and her classmates underwent 463 hours of training. Managing her time for training and work may seem difficult but Weng never thought of dropping out especially when she realized the positive effect of C4TP on her trade.

“May bag-o ako nga knowledge kag ideas, pareha sang mga garnish kag iban pa nga nagamit ko sa pagluto kag pagbaligya ko,” she said.

After their training, Weng and other C4TP scholars passed the national assessment for NCII. They finally graduated on May 20, 2013.

The newly-graduated Weng claims that she feels fulfilled with this new accomplishment in her life. “Daku guid ni nga tabang sa akon. Una, may knowledge na ako, may bag-o nga ideas kag mas nagtiwala ang mga customers ko sa akon kay tinapusan ko ini,” she said beaming. “Na-proud man ako sa sarili ko..may fulfillment,” she added.

            Commercial cooking graduates were provided with P6,000.00-worth of new cooking utensils while housekeeping graduates received the second wave of their allowance worth P7,000.00.

Weng said that she plans to continue selling food items in offices. And, she will soon establish a small ‘carenderia’ in front of her home with her newly-acquired skills, new tools, and with a little bit more of self-esteem.

Jezereel Billano (LGU Information)

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. 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

Out-of-school youths obtain NC II

Forty out-of-school youths (OSYs) of the City of Tacurong under the Cash for Training Program (C4TP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) passed the assessment for Commercial Cooking-National Certificate Level II (NC II) and Housekeeping-NC II.

Of the 40 OSYs, 21 were trained on Housekeeping NCII while 19 were trained on Commercial Cooking NCII. They were conferred as graduates of the C4TP on May 20, 2013.

The Housekeeping course is under C4TP’s wage-employment (trabaho) component, while Commercial Cooking is under the project’s self-employment (hanapbuhay) component. Each graduate received P20,000 assistance which included tuition/training fees, allowance, and cooking tool kits for those who chose the self-employment component. Each tool kit received by a graduate is worth P6,000.00.

DSWD partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the City Government of Tacurong in conducting the said training for the city’s youth. The graduates were trained for 436 hours by the Sultan Kudarat Educational Institution (SKEI), a TESDA-accredited school in the city.

TESDA Regional Director Zeus Ampuyas and TESDA OIC-Provincial Director Reynaldo Bernal personally congratulated the graduates. They also expressed their intent to work with the City Government of Tacurong for more programs that will empower disadvantaged youths and unemployed individuals.

“Indi guid ninyo pagsayangon ang chance nga ini..nga ginatabangan ta sang TESDA kag DSWD. Also, you are rest assured that blessings like this will keep coming in the city,” said Mayor Lina Montilla. A 5-million livelihood program will soon be implemented in the city, with other towns to also benefit. Mayor Montilla also thanked the City Social Welfare and Development Office for encouraging participants to pursue their courses.

Moreover, Councilor Rodrigo Jamorabon posed a challenge to the graduates.  “Nalipay kami nga naka-graduate na kamo pero mas malipay  kami kung makita na namon kamo nga ginagamit ang mga natun-an nyo..I believe you will make a difference in your family..by then, we will know that the investment on each of you is really worth it.”

JezereelBillano (LGU Information)

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)