Festival Jobs Fair generates employment for Tacurongnons

After five months of job-hunting, twenty-year old Fritchel Jane Makilan of Barangay San Emmanuel has finally found an employer.

                Makilan was one of the eighty-five applicants who trooped to the city hall compound to register for the Jobs Fair conducted by the city government on September 13, 2013.

Makilan said that she started applying for work right after graduation from college in March and that she had submitted applications to more than five employers but none responded positively. “I’m happy I was finally given a chance to be employed through this Jobs Fair,” she said.

Hired by KCC Mall of Marbel as warehouse staff, Makilan was also one of the lucky nineteen applicants who were hired on the spot in the said Jobs Fair.

Aside from those who were hired on the spot, 51 other applicants qualified in the initial screening of eleven agencies and were advised to be interviewed and undergo the rest of the screening process.

The participating agencies for overseas employment were Nonstop Overseas Employment Services and D.A. Rodrigo International, while the local employers included KCC Mall, Kimsan Plaza, Tacurong Fit Mart, MUTI Group of Companies, Credit Basics & Innovations Corporation, Yakult Lactobacillus Corporation, Edjin Pension House, Talakudong Foods Corporation (Jollibee), and Mang Gorio Bahay-Kainan.

                There were 124 job vacancies posted in the said jobs fair. Of said vacancies, 81 job orders for skilled workers were solicited for overseas employment, and 54 for local employment.

                The city government, through the Public Employment Service Office, partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Sultan Kudarat Field Office in holding the Jobs Fair, which was also the second time to be conducted this year.

City Councilor Benjamin Fajardo, who sits as chairperson of Sangguniang Panlungsod Labor and Employment Committee, said that the city government will try to hold frequent jobs fairs to give easier access to jobseekers.

                “I appreciate jobs fairs because jobs are being offered cafeteria-style and applicants are free to choose jobs that suit their qualifications,” Fajardo said. (Allan Freno, LGU Tacurong City)

NGOs and civil society groups to apply for accreditation

The Tacurong City Local Government Operations Office (CLGOO) with the Sanguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Tacurong enjoins all existing and active non-government organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) in the city to apply for re-accreditation.

At the same time, new organizations are also required to apply for accreditation. This accreditation is a requirement for NGOs and CSOs to be part of the local government unit’s special bodies.

To be (re) accredited, NGOs and CSOs must submit the following to the Tacurong SP: 1) application letter; 2) duly accomplished Application Form for Accreditation; 3) Board Resolution signifying intention for accreditation for the purpose of representation in the local special body; 4) Certificate of Registration (CoR); in case of Indigenous Peoples Organization, CoR must be issued by NCIP; 5) list of current officers and members; 6) annual accomplishment report for the immediately preceding year; and 7) financial statement. The financial statement must be signed by the organization’s executive officers, also of the immediately preceding year. It should also indicate other information such as source of fund(s).

DILG called for NGOs' and CSOs' accreditation and re-accreditation through Memo Circular No. 2013-70.

Samples of the Application Letter and Application Form for Accreditation are available at the CLGOO or you may access it at http://www.dilg.gov.ph/PDF_File/issuances/memo_circulars/DILG-Memo_Circular-2013730-5e6d7f10d2.pdf.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano (LGU-Information)

Talakudong Fest ‘13 to showcase new attractions

Tacurongnons and local tourists will be witnessing many ‘firsts’ in the upcoming Talakudong Festival 2013 which will officially open come September 11.

 On the said kick-off date at 9:30AM, three groups will battle in the City Grounds for the 1st Talakudong Drum and Glockenspiel Competition-High School Level. At 6:00PM, Tacurong’s 20 barangays will be competing in the 1st Talakudong Inter-Barangay Dance Sport and Hip Hop Dance Contest in the City Gymnasium.

The city government and the Makasining Lahi ng Tacurong have also organized the 1st Talakudong Battle of the Queens: Search for Miss Gay Talakudong 2013 which will be conducted on September 13, City Gymnasium.

On September 15, running enthusiasts all over the region will be joining the 1st Talakudong Half-Marathon Run. This event is spearheaded by the Tacurong Runners Club in coordination with the city government.

Other new activities include: 1st Talakudong Invitational Scooter Motocross Competition (September 17) and 1st Talakudong Invitational Badminton Tournament-Kiddie Edition (September 6-8).

Aside from these ‘firsts’, Talakudong will be exuding the city’s vibrance with the following activities: Kumpas sa Syudad Folk Dance Competition and Kantahan ng Kabataan (September 12); Haircut Mo Sagot Ko and Jobs Fair (September 13); Bicycle Tour, Talakudong Dog Show, and Dart Tournament (September 14); Ornamental Plant Show (September 16); Variety and Comedy Show with Celebrities (September 17).

Continuing events include: Igpat Sang Kamera Photo Contest (Aug. 15-Sept 30); Alay sa Barangay Surgical Mission (Aug. 16-Sept. 30); Inter-Barangay and Inter-Agency Basketball Tournament (Aug. 20-Sept. 12); Trade Fair (Sept. 3-20); For Art’s Sake Painting Exhibit, Workshop, and Contest (Sept. 5-18); Talakudong Painting and Salakot Decorating (Sept. 6-8); Inter-school and Invitational Sepak Takraw Tournament (Sept 12-16); and Lawn Tennis Tournament (Sept. 14-15).

Eleven candidates will be battling for the title of Mutya ng Lungsod ng Tacurong 2013 on September 16. To complement this event, the Local Women Development Council organized the 1st Talakudong Search for Munting Mutya ng Lungsod ng Tacurong which will be conducted on Sept. 18.

Talakudong Street Dancing and Field Demonstration, the festival highlight, will be taken a notch higher by participating schools on September 18. “Participating schools prepare for this event for almost two months. They have never failed to deliver a refreshing presentation of Tacurong’s culture every year,” said City Mayor Lina Montilla.

Tacurong became a component city of the Province of Sultan Kudarat by virtue of Republic Act 8805 that was issued on August 16, 2000. The cityhood was duly confirmed by the Tacurongnons in a plebiscite held on September 18, 2000. This year marks its 13th Foundation Anniversary.

Malacañan declared September 18, 2013 as a Special Non-Working Day in Tacurong City through Proclamation No. 643, s. 2013.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano (LGU-Information)

LGU recognizes 55 civil servants during 113th Civil Service Anniversary

Fifty-five civil servants who turned ten to forty years in the local government service received loyalty pins and rings during the opening of the 113th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary Celebration on September 2, 2013 in Tacurong City.

Among the 55 civil servants: 31 received the 10-year loyalty award; 5 received 15-year loyalty award; 3 received 20-year loyalty award; 6 received the 25-year loyalty award; 4 received 30-year loyalty award; and 5 received the 35-year loyalty award. Mrs. Patria P. Cedullo of the City Assessor’s Office, the lone recipient of the 40-year loyalty award, received an 18k loyalty ring aside from a cash incentive.

“These rings and pins will serve as reminders that we should continue serving our citizens excellently. Of course, these also symbolize our gratitude for your selfless service throughout the years,” said Hon. Lina O. Montilla.

Aside from the loyalty awardees, the LGU through its City Human Resource and Management Office (CHRMO) recognized the significant contributions of city officials and department heads to the city. Committee members of the Strategic Performance Management System and the Human Resource Strategic Plan were also recognized.

The recognition rites highlighted LGU-Tacurong’s kick-off activity for the 2013 Philippine Civil Service Month.

Other LGU activities for the 2013 Civil Service Month include: Hataw and Walk for a Cause (September 12); Civil Service Commission On Air (Sept. 20); Orientation on Batas Kasambahay (Sept. 23); and Employees’ Family Day (Sept. 27). A culmination program will be conducted on September 30, 2013.

CHRMO spearheads the LGU-Tacurong celebration of the 113th Anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service with the theme Tatak Lingkod Bayani: Isabuhay, Ipagmalaki, at Ipagbunyi.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano (LGU-Information)

When heroes rise

Heroism is selflessness. How do we, then, rid of ourselves?

On the 26th of August 2013, Filipinos remembered the fallen heroes of Philippine Revolution during the Spanish rule. Flowers were laid in monuments of the great Philippine heroes—those who used swords, guns, and pens to fight our way to freedom and independence.  Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Gabriela Silang, Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat were remembered. It is August 26; it is National Heroes Day.

However, somewhere in Central Mindanao, in a humble city called Tacurong, tributes were also given to the faceless heroes of our nation—doctors who serve in far-flung barrios, teachers, farmers, social workers, overseas Filipino workers, civil servants, public servants.

“The battle for freedom and independence against foreign oppressors have long been over. But we have still so much to fight for,” said Lt. Col. Joel Mamon, the guest speaker during the City Government of Tacurong’s Heroes Day celebration. With these battles he meant Filipinos’ fight against hunger and poverty, against graft and corruption, against lack of integrity in the service. With this, Lt. Col. Mamon could not help but mention the Million March happening in Quirino Grand Stand, Manila and in other provinces in the country on that very same day.

The Million March allowed people from different sectors to express, to meet and understand each other’s woes, to unite, to have a voice. The pork barrel system is only one side of the multi-faceted dimension of money and greed that exists not only in the government, but in other segments of society.

In this age, rising up takes more than courage. Conviction makes heroes rise. And when heroes rise, hope dawns. Hope makes all the difference in a seemingly confusing status quo. In this age, we do not need to shed blood to stand by our own convictions. Farmers plant rice and toil under the sun to provide for their families, and to provide for the country. Teachers, with their meager resources, make learning fun for pupils and students. People fearlessly and peacefully march to magnify the voices of the oppressed.

Indeed, battles do not end. The Filipino race continues to fight the good fight. Farmers, teachers, doctors, nurses, soldiers, civilians—the heroes of this age may or may not be acknowledged by history, but I believe they will continue to move, even invisibly for social good.

Every day, we give up a part of ourselves for service. Giving up a part of us, requires full conviction, requires our whole being to yield to our duty—to others and to God. And as we yield, we take our steps towards selflessness. Heroes are dignified because of honesty, compassion, and conviction.

It is National Heroes Day—a day for great and faceless heroes of the past and even of the present.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

LGU Tacurong hosts PMA entrance exam

Two hundred and twenty aspiring cadets took the entrance examination of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) hosted by the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tacurong City on Sunday, August 25, 2013.

Applicants trooped to the city gymnasium as early as seven o’clock in the morning for the registration, checking of requirements, and height measurement among others. The written examination started at one o’clock in the afternoon.

Major Raul Verceles, head of the team of examiners from Philippine Military Academy, checks the documents presented by applicants before allowing them to take the test. 

According to City Councilor Rodrigo Jamorabon who helped PMA in the dissemination of information about the entrance exam, some applicants came from as far as the Municipality of Roxas in Cotabato Province. Majority of the examinees though were from the Province of Sultan Kudarat.

The 601st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army based in Kalandagan, Tacurong City also helped in the recruitment process. Several schools in the region were among the places visited to encourage applicants.

Jamorabon hopes that there will be several passers in this year’s entrance test. He said that last year’s exam registered a low passing rate. This is the third year that LGU Tacurong hosted the PMA entrance exam.

The team of examiners who arrived from Baguio included Major Raul Verceles, Technical Sergeant Alberto Fagcayang, Sergeant Dennis Liagao, and Corporal Joan Ortiz.

Qualified to take the PMA entrance exam are those who are: natural born Filipino citizens, physically fit and of good moral character, single and have never been married, not charged with administrative or criminal case, at least high school graduate, standing not less than five feet, and at least 17 years old but not a day older than 22 years old on April 1, 2014.

Applicants who will pass the entrance and medical examinations will have the noble privilege of: serving the country, availing free college education, receiving monthly salary and allowances, guaranteed job after graduation, and having progressive career as an officer in the Philippine Army, Navy or Air Force. (Allan Freno, LGU Tacurong City)