City locals respond to call for a greener country

TACURONG CITY—A thousand locals got involved in an early morning planting activity on Philippine Arbor Day, June 25, 2012.

 Barangay units and employees of different sectors simultaneously planted trees in both rural and urban areas of the city.

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office distributed 5, 700 seedlings to 19 barangays. Trees were planted strategically to reduce risks of flood and landslides.

Meanwhile, officials, employees, and members of the Local Government Unit, PNP, Task Force Talakudong, DOTC, LTO, BJMP, SK Water District, NFA, REACT, Rotary Club of Tacurong, Girl Scouts, DepEd, BFP, SSS, DTI, Knights of Columbus, NSO, LTO, and DENR planted 1,995 seedlings of white lawaan to replenish the hills of DECELA in Brgy. New Passi.

DECELA or Development Center for Ecology and Leadership Enhancement is a 5-hectare forest area with spring waters and cool, fresh air. Mayor Lina O. Montilla admitted that the area has high potential for local tourism and professional activities. However, she stressed that “careful planning should be done before doing further developments to conserve the area.”

“What we will do here today is for ourselves and for the younger generations. Let us take this seriously. The environment is everyone’s duty,” the Mayor firmly said.

The tree planting activity is in support of the administration’s National Greening Program or NGP. The program covers all provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide with an aim to plant 1.5 million trees from 2011 to 2016. Through NGP, the government hopes to ‘pursue sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.’

“Let us remember that we are not only doing this for compliance. We are obliged to protect nature’s beauty through tree planting and urban greening. This is to secure our future, our city, and our children,” said Mr. Alberto P. Sero Jr., City Local Government and Operations Officer.

To encourage crowd of 300, Councilor Psyche Sucaldito, head of the Committee for Environment, cited an Eastern philosophy: To live a fulfilled life, one must bear a child, write a book, and plant a tree.

On Philippine Arbor Day, a thousand Tacurongnons surely went home fulfilled, and hopefully with a realization that the environment is a lifetime responsibility. (Jezereel Louise C. Billano)

LGU Tacurong, namigay ng libreng bags at school supplies sa 2,600 Grade I pupils

(Tagalog News: Tacurong City - June 25, 2012) Kasabay sa pagbukas ng pasukan sa taong ito, namigay ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Tacurong ng libreng bags at school supplies sa lahat ng mga mag-aaral na nasa unang baitang sa lahat ng pampublikong paaralan sa lungsod.

Sa dalawampu’t-apat na pampublikong paaralan sa lungsod, umaabot sa 2, 600 na Grade I pupils ang nakatanggap ng gamit pang-eskwela na ipinamudmod nitong linggo.

Pinangunahan ni City Mayor Lina Montilla ang pamimigay ng school supplies kasama ni Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Education Chairperson Ariel dela Cruz at iba pang kasapi ng SP. Kasama din nila ang mga kinatawan ng City Schools Division sa pamumuno ni Superintendent Gildo Mosqueda.

Ang isa sa mga pinakahuling paaralan na pinuntahan noong nakaraang Byernes para sa bag distribution ay ang Tacurong Pilot Elementary School na siyang may pinakamaraming Grade I pupils sa bilang na 585.

Ayon kay Mr. Joseph Pilotos, principal ng Tacurong Pilot Elementary School, inaasahan na nila ang pamimigay ng libreng mga gamit pang-eskwela mula sa lokal na pamahalaan at hindi naman umano sila binibigo taun-taon.

“Masaya kami at maraming tulong ang natatanggap ng public schools mula sa lokal na pamahalaan at ang mga libreng bags at school supplies para sa aming mga mag-aaral na taunang ibinibigay ay isa lamang sa mga tulong na ito”, ani Pilotos.

Sinabi naman ni Mayor Lina Montilla na isang simpleng paraan lamang ang ginagawang ito ng city government para matulungan ang mga magulang ng mga mag-aaral sa Grade I na matustusan ang pangangailangan nila sa paaralan. ( Allan S. Freno)

LGU-Tacurong contends for Gawad KALASAG 2012

(June 21, 2012) LGU-Tacurong is one of the regional contenders for the Best Local Disaster Risk Reduction Council (LDRRMC) in Gawad KALASAG 2012-Component City Category.

Tacurong City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) and the Tacurong City Responsive Assistance and Coordinated Emergency Search and Rescue (TRACER) were evaluated and validated by the regional selection and evaluation committee on June 20, 2012. TRACER received separate nomination for the Government Emergency Response Management-Basic Search and Rescue Category.

Gawad KALASAG for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Humanitarian Assistance is given yearly to individuals, local government units, and non-government agencies. KALASAG stands for KAlamidad at sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan.

According to CDRRMC Focal Person Mrs. Eufemia Robles, Tacurong has preventive tactics and activities for both natural and man-made calamities. “But we are also equipped to respond promptly if these things will happen,” she added. Tacurong’s major hazards are flood, lightning/tornado, and fire. Least likely, but also included, are bomb and grenade explosions.   

LGU-Tacurong involves everyone in disaster prevention and mitigation. “We focus on capability building of our rescue team and of other sectors such as business, academe, and NGOs,” confirms Councilor Rodrigo Jamorabon.

Various trainings have been conducted in disaster-prone barangays to educate leaders and residents; schools have undergone drills and orientations; government and private organizations are briefed of their roles; early warning signals are available; and TRACER is equipped with necessary skills and facilities.

The City Government boasts of the multi-skilled TRACER team. “TRACER volunteers can conduct search and rescue and can also identify bombs. They serve as crowd control personnel during attacks. They are trained army auxiliaries,” said TRACER Asst. Team Leader Amante Alcaide.

Activities for climate change adaptation and environmental protection, such as Limpyo Kalog, are regularly conducted. “Limpyo Kalog is done quarterly by students and residents to clean canals. This facilitates good drainage to prevent floods,” said Councilor Psyche Sucaldito. Proper solid waste management is also enforced in the city.

To maintain peace and order, Tacurong taps civilian volunteers. “The army and 1600 civilian volunteers are well coordinated and dependable. They are in strategic locations 24/7,” said Colonel Dece Yabo, TF Talakudong Commander.

Evaluators lauded Tacurong for its efforts. “You have already developed a strong sense of social responsibility. I can see how everyone works together,” said Olivia Sudaria, Regional Director of the Philippine Information Agency XII. Other evaluators include Assistant Regional Director James Cabrido of the Office of Civil Defence XII, DSWD Social Welfare Officer Edmund Corder, and James Cabrido of Philippine Red Cross General Santos.

Mayor Lina O. Montilla expects that the evaluation will help Tacurong determine its extent of readiness. “We must continue our vigilance for Tacurong’s security and safety. We are willing to learn more ways to improve our strategies,” she added.

Gawad Kalasag 2012 regional results will be announced by end of June. Regional awardees will then be nominated to the national level.

In 2005, Tacurong was awarded 1^st runner up for the Best City Disaster Coordinating Council (Component City Category)-National Level. In 2006, it bagged the 2^nd runner up for the same category. (Jezereel Louise C. Billano)

LGU, namigay ng libreng bags at school supplies sa Grade I pupils sa lahat ng pampublikong paaralan sa lungsod

(June 21, 2012) Kasabay sa pagbukas ng pasukan sa taong ito, namigay ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Tacurong ng libreng bags at school supplies sa lahat ng mga mag-aaral na nasa unang baitang sa lahat ng pampublikong paaralan sa lungsod.

Sinimulan ang pamimigay ng mga gamit noong June 19 at inaasahang sa loob ng linggong ito ay matatanggap na ng lahat ng Grade I pupils ang naturang school supplies.

Pinangunahan ni City Mayor Lina Montilla ang pamumudmod ng school supplies kasama ni Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Education Chairperson Ariel dela Cruz at iba pang kasapi ng SP. Kasama din nila ang mga kinatawan ng City Schools Division sa pamumuno ni Superintendent Gildo Mosqueda.

Ayon kay Konsehal dela Cruz, may kabuuang 2,600 na school bags kasama na ang mga laman nito na school supplies ang inilaang ipamigay sa mga mag-aaral. May kabuuang dalawampu’t apat na mga public schools sa lungsod ang tatanggap ng mga gamit mula sa local na pamahalaan.

Ang pamimigay ng bags at school supplies ay ilang taon na ring ginagawa ng lokal na pamahalaan. Ayon kay Mayor Montilla, isang simpleng paraan lamang ang aktibidad na ito para matulungan ang mga magulang ng mga mag-aaral sa Grade I na matustusan pangangailangan nila sa paaralan. (Allan S. Freno)

COMELEC resolution suspends voters’ registration

(June 20, 2012) The Office of the City Election Officer in Tacurong City requests qualified voters to register until June 23, 2012 because COMELEC is about to suspend the conduct of voters’ registration.

The suspension is pursuant to COMELEC Resolution 9443 entitled Suspension of the System of Continuing Registration of Voters and Validation of Registration Records promulgated on June 8, 2012.

For the City of Tacurong, the satellite registration of voters scheduled in July for barangays San Antonio, D’Ledesma, San Rafael, Tina, Kalandagan, New Carmen, Calean, New Isabela, San Emmanuel, and San Pablo scheduled is also cancelled until further notice. For the walk-in registrants however, they can go to the office of the COMELEC until June 23 and have their registrations processed.

Resolution 9443 suspends registration in non-ARMM areas until July 31, 2012. According to the Resolution, the suspension is deemed necessary to pave way for the conduct of General Registration of Voters in ARMM provinces Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi in July 9-18, 2012.

COMELEC personnel and equipment in non-ARMM areas will be utilized and deployed to the mentioned provinces ‘to effect an honest and credible registration of voters and attain the mandate to establish a clean, complete, permanent, and updated list of voters in the ARMM region’.

“Our workforce in Tacurong is always ready to support any effort to make the whole system clean. Tacurongnons will have to wait but this will all be worthwhile,” said City Election Officer Reynaldo Gagno.

A City Election staff said that they would likely resume the registration of voters, including the satellite registration in barangays, in August.

Last April, COMELEC-Tacurong has already conducted satellite registration in barangays New Passi, Rajah Muda, Lancheta, Baras, Upper Katungal, EJC Montilla, New Lagao, and Buenaflor. (Jezereel Louise C. Billano) 

Barangay Councilors’ League holds annual assembly

(June 19, 2012) The Barangay Councilors’ League of the Philippines(BCLP) Tacurong City Chapter held their 3^rd General Assembly at Mountain Lake Eco Resort, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato on June 5-7, 2012 with their rallying call: Transparency and Accountability..Our Best Practice.

The General Assembly tackled issues relevant in the performance of barangay kagawads’ duties and functions in their respective barangays. This is in support of the present administration’s commitment to provide the Filipinos with honest service and governance. Among the topics discussed during the orientation are are RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, salient features of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, RA 10121 or the Disaster Risk Reduction Mgt Act, and the Barangay Governance Performance Measurement System (BGPMS). The orientation also included lectures that helped participants enhance their technical writing skills.

The constitution and bylaws of the BCLP, including members’ benefits and the organization’s financial reports, were also discussed.

Resource speakers were: City Councilor Psyche Sucaldito, Chairperson on Environment and Social Services Committee; City Local Government Officer Alberto P. Sero Jr.; and retired CLGOO of Tacurong, Lennie Arzagon. Mayor Lina O. Montilla, Councilors Joseph George L. Lechonsito, Rodrigo P. Jamorabon, and Ariel Ferdinand M. dela Cruz were also in attendance to support the League. BCLP-Tacurong is headed by Ma. Angela B. Horlador. (Alberto P. Sero Jr.)  

LGU, DILG train barangay officials on disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation

Barangay officials of all the twenty barangays of the City of Tacurong attended the two-Day Roll Out Training on Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction & Management and Climate Change Adaptation conducted by the city government and the Department of Interior and Local Government for the city on June 14 and 15 at Tacurong Pilot gym.

Said barangay officials were among the 132 participants to the training that included school principals of the City Schools Division. School administrators were involved in the training considering that schools are used as evacuation centers in times of calamities.

Tacurong Search and Rescue Team, PNP and the Bureau of Fire personnel, served as trainers for the two-day activity. DILG XII First District Officer Engr. Samuel Camaganacan was present to oversee the conduct of the activity.

Before the training proper, City Social Welfare and Development Officer and CDRRMC Focal Person Eufemia Robles presented to the participants the Mindanao Declaration on Disaster Reduction Priorities. City Local Government Operations Officer Alberto Sero, Jr. also explained the rationale as to the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management to Climate Change Adaptation.

On the course of the training, participants were taught with basic rope course, inputs on early warning system, evacuation center management, first aid/life-saving techniques, and simulation on emergency response among others.

Tacurong City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) was the first to conduct said training in the province of Sultan Kudarat as confirmed by DILG Provincial Director Abdulgani Tekoken who was also present during the activity.

“I admire the leadership of Mayor Lina Montilla because just a month after DILG XII’s conduct of the orientation on mainstreaming disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation for LGUs, Tacurong was quick to respond to the call of the regional office to conduct roll out trainings to all barangays”, Director Tetoken said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Montilla said that the training was just what the barangays need right now since the CDRRMC had already conducted a seminar on how to use their allotted budgets for calamities last year.

“We, in the city of Tacurong, should always welcome all the help that we need because disaster preparedness is everybody’s responsibility” Mayor Montilla said. (LGU-Tacurong Information; Allan Freno)