Honasan advocates FOI in MindaComm Congress

Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, Chairman of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, presented the salient features of the Freedom of Information Bill during the Mindanao Communicators Congress and Workshop on November 29, 2012. Participants of the said congress were government information officers from Regions IX, X, XI, XII, CARAGA, and ARMM.

The FOI Bill, according to Honasan, aims to hasten the process by which the public is able to access government information therefore promoting a culture of ‘openness in the government’. Honasan noted the presumption that the people, for so long, feel alienated from the government by holding back information. With FOI, Honasan said, disclosure of government information will not only be a matter of transparency but a matter of duty.

“We must ensure that public access to information serves the public interest. Ang impormasyon, pag aari ng tao,” Hon. Honasan said.

However, Honasan cited instances with which public access may be disallowed as stated in the FOI Bill:     revelation of the information will create a clear and present danger of war, invasion or any external threat to the State; unduly weaken the negotiating position of the government in an ongoing bilateral or multilateral negotiation or seriously jeopardize the diplomatic relations of the Philippines; among others.

“Once information is transparent, there is a risk of abuse; FOI is not pure liberty, it is responsibility,” Honasan reminded the communicators.

MindaCom Network members, with their President Efren Elbanbuena of PIA XI, expressed their support to FOI by passing a resolution to urge the congress and the senate to pass the Bill and to make public information office mandatory to all government units and line agencies.

2012 Mindanao Communicators Congress and Workshop themed Communicating Mindanao’s Opportunities and Best Practices ran on November 28-30.

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SP approves 2013 City Budget

                During their regular session on November 7, 2013, the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Tacurong approved Ordinance No. 11 Series of 2012 or An Ordinance Appropriating an Amount of 343, 531, 335 pesos for the Annual Budget of the City of Tacurong for Calendar Year 2013.  The ordinance was approved through the motion of Councilor Cirilo Y. Flores, seconded by all council members.

Of the approved amount, P150,137,227.00 will go to Personal Services that comprise employees’ salaries and wages, other benefits and allowances. This also includes the General Fund Adjustment and lump sum appropriation for the City’s 3^rd class classification. Meanwhile, P83,949,684.00 was allotted for Maintenance and Other Operating Expense (MOOE) and P347,500.00 for property plant, and equipment. The amount of P22, 950,000.00 has been earmarked for other development projects and other needed services under the Locally Funded Projects.

Aside from a reserve fund amounting to P16,133,067.00 for Local Risk Reduction Management Program, the city government allotted 40 million pesos for 20 barangays taken from 20% Development Fund and Locally Funded. The said amount is evenly distributed with 2 million pesos for each barangay. This has been appropriated for infrastructure and development projects such as construction/concreting of roads, drainage canals, and box culverts. The 2-Million City Aid to Barangays is one of LGU-Tacurong’s innovations since 1992.

The City’s 2013 budget increased by at least 23 million pesos compared to this year’s budget of 320, 037,355 pesos.

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LGU new entrants undergo orientation

           Newly hired permanent and casual employees of the City Government of Tacurong undergone an orientation-workshop on November 13-15, 2012 at the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) Hall. Eighteen new entrants from different departments participated in the orientation which was conducted by the City’s Human Resource Management (CHRM) training staff.

             During the opening ceremony, Mayor Lina O. Montilla addressed the group: “We hope that the positive values you develop in the LGU will be evident anywhere you go. I expect that each of you will be an asset of the city government. Do your job. Do your best.”

The participants were briefed of the LGU’s policies and programs geared towards providing clients and employees with a more service-oriented system and environment. Among other topics discussed were Excellence in Public Service; public servants’ Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards set by R.A. 6713; Grievance Machinery; Career Development Plan; Merit Selection Plan; R.A. 7877 Anti-Sexual Harassment; and Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence. Speakers from the City’s Pool of Trainers also imparted information on monetary and non-monetary benefits and mandatory salary deductions. During the final day of orientation, the participants learned about the LGU’s performance evaluation system (PES). They were tasked to accomplish sample PES forms according to their job descriptions.

 

              Participants were all praises to the speakers and training staff that made the acticity very light yet informative. “We have learned that public service is really a serious matter to the city government. We are now well aware of our responsibilities and rights; so we feel empowered,” one of the participants said. The new entrants vowed to become excellent public servants in and even out of the office.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

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Committee evaluates Tacurong for Local Legislation Award

               The Provincial Award Committee of the Local Legislative Award evaluated the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Tacurong on November 8, 2012.

                The Local Legislative Award is given to component cities and municipalities that exhibit excellent performance based on the effectiveness of local agenda and legislative tracking system, availability of legislative documents, efficiency of performance, and quality of office set-up and staff complement.

                Tacurong Sanggunian boasts of its 1,247 ordinances since 1956 to June 2012. In 2012, city councilors passed and approved 11 new ordinances on: requiring pregnant women to give birth in the city birthing home; establishment of bagsakan center; drag racing ban; institutionalization of the Iskolar ng Lungsod ng Tacurong program; prohibition of posting/nailing/hanging/pasting political and advertising materials; and budget appropriations.

                The provincial Committee lauded the unit’s performance including its efficient processes in dealing with clients and its office ergonomics.

Members of the Provincial Award Committee during their
courtesy  call with Mayor Lina O. Montilla.

As the only component city in Sultan Kudarat (SK), Tacurong hopes to make it to the regional level and compete with Koronadal City and Kidapawan City.

                “Of course, our qualification will not only be about Tacurong being the only city in SK. I believe that our sanggunian’s performance is really worth recognizing,” said Mayor Lina Montilla.

Mayor Montilla also spoke well of the outstanding leadership of Vice Mayor Charito Collado. In 2009 and with VM Collado at the helm, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tacurong was recognized as Regional Local Legislative Award winner. The City represented Region XII to the national level.

The Local Legislative Award was launched in 2006 by the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to recognize the exemplary performance of Sanggunian of component cities and municipalities in legislating measures that establish meaningful local administration and development. 

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

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Aboitiz Foundation facilitates school infra rehabilitation

            Pupils of San Rafael Elementary School are now happier with their newly rehabilitated comfort rooms. Thanks to Aboitiz Foundation, pupils of one of Tacurong’s most distant barangays can now enjoy a more sanitary abode. Aboitiz Foundation representatives Theodore U. Bisnar and Kenneth Manzano graced the turn-over ceremonies on November 7, 2012.

The Rehabilitation of School Infrastructure project is one of Aboitiz’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies that prioritize the needs of ‘depressed’ and distant communities. Aboitiz Power through the Aboitiz Foundation had closely worked with the Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (SUKELCO), DepEd-Tacurong, and the local government unit for the project to materialize.

DepED Tacurong is convinced that the project will not only benefit the students but the community as well. “In DepEd, we advocate for transformation not only in schools but in the whole community. That is why we tap external stakeholders who are also concerned with the improvement of school infrastructure and services,” said Mr. Jesus de Gracia of DepEd.

Mayor Lina O. Montilla also agreed that the project is a ‘useful and sensible gift’. “Of course we thank Aboitiz not only for this project in San Rafael but also to the recently installed weather station that they donated to the city,” Mayor Montilla said. The weather station worth $2500 allows Tacurong to send weather data to PAG-ASA’s Project NOAH (www.noah.dost.gov.ph).

San Rafael Elementary School Principal Melanie delos Santos  delivers her word of thanks to Aboitiz, SUKELCO, and LGU-Tacurong.

In the end, Principal Melanie delos Santos assured the project stakeholders that the school will maintain the cleanliness of the comfort rooms. She looks forward to more partnerships not only with Aboitiz but with other organizations as well. 

Stakeholders pose in front of the newly rehabilitated comfort rooms.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

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DepEd-Tacurong trains campus journalists

   The City Schools Division of Tacurong conducted the annual Division Training for School Paper Advisers and Campus Writers on October 30-31, 2012 at the Tacurong City Pilot Elementary School Gymnasium. Over four hundred budding journalists from public and private elementary and secondary schools in the city were involved in the two-day lecture and workshop series. 

            The training refreshed student writers and their mentors of the essentials in news writing, sports writing, feature writing, editorial writing and cartooning, photojournalism, and radio broadcasting.

            “This activity is purposely done to prepare our student writers for the upcoming Division Schools Press Conference, and hopefully for the regionals and nationals as well,” said Superintendent Gildo Mosqueda. DSPC 2012 will be conducted come November 27-28, 2012.  

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Over 1,000 join Tacurong’s 5th Limpyo Kalog activity

www.pia.gov.ph

TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat, Oct 31 (PIA) -- More than a thousand people joined the city government here in the latest massive cleanup of the drainage canals dubbed "Limyo Kalog".

Already on its fifth year, the cleanup drive held last Friday gathered young and adult participants from different sectors of the community.

Carrying various tools for cleaning, participants trooped to their respective areas of assignment beginning at 5 a.m. to rid waterways of cellophanes and other plastic materials, rotten leaves and woods, and other wastes that could cause clogging especially during heavy rains. Surroundings were also weeded out.

Mayor Lina Montilla led the city officials and employees in cleaning the drainage canals surrounding the city hall compound.

Faculty members and students of educational institutions here comprised the largest group who joined the activity.

The Philippine Army, PNP, Bureau of Fire, and BJMP also sent a huge number of participants. National line agencies, business groups, NGOs, transport groups, religious groups, rescuers/barangay tanods, and other groups also joined.

Also notable in the 5th Limpyo Kalog was the participation of the barangay constituents who cleaned the canals in their respective barangays.

Sangguniang Panlungsod Environment Committee Chairperson Psyche Sucaldito said that the latest Limpyo Kalog activity had the largest number of individual participants. It is also the second cleanup drive this year.

Limpyo Kalog is a regular activity of the city government that aims to clean and desilt drainage canals to avoid flooding due to heavy rains.

It also serves as a campaign to destroy the habitats of dengue-carrying mosquitoes through facilitating free flow of water in the canals.

The city government initiated Limpyo Kalog in 2010 when Tacurong joined the worldwide “10.10.10 Campaign (October 10, 2010)” that sought stakeholders’ positive action on climate change.

It is the city government’s response to the said campaign and it solicited positive responses from the community.

Since the local government had made the cleanup drive a regular activity, huge turnout of participants had been recorded every year.

Mayor Montilla said that the public’s willingness to join in the cleanup drive manifested how every member of the community took seriously ways to take care of Mother Earth. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12/Allan Freno-Tacurong City LGU)

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Montilla to youth leaders: Be involved in child protection endeavors

Mayor. Lina O. Montilla delivered her State of the Children’s Report during the opening of the 1^st Konsultahan ng mga Kabataan on October 29, 2012. She shared the city government’s accomplishments that include programs for Children in Conflict with Law (CICL), the Gender and Development Code, early childhood care and development, sports programs, the Special Education Fund (SEF), and health and nutrition. However, she admits that much must still be done. “Young people of Tacurong,” said Montilla, “help us take the challenge by taking part in every endeavor for the protection of the children’s welfare.” Mayor Montilla assured the youth that the city government’s lines are always open for their concerns and suggestions.

She also emphasized on the city’s accomplishments on local governance such as the Seal of Good Housekeeping and Gawad Pamana ng Lahi. “Efforts in attaining excellent governance are not just to decorate our city with awards. Excellent and proactive leadership is key to implementing effective programs for all sectors, and that include you, our youth” Montilla said.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office of Tacurong City conducted the 1^st Konsultahan ng mga Kabataan in line with the celebration of the National Children’s Month. The two-day forum-workshop themed ‘Empowered Young People: To Right Information and Responsible Journalism’ was held at Edjin Pension House on October 29-30, 2012.

Twenty-six youth leaders of school-based, church-based and community-based organizations joined the Konsultahan. “This activity” said CSWD Officer Eufemia L. Robles, “is the first of its kind in the province, so we are so thrilled to see these leaders come together.” Moreover, Nancy Bawe, focal person of Gender and Development Program, stated that this is one of the city’s strategies to nurture the youth’s participation rights.

The City Government of Tacurong is continuously pushing for more child-friendly policies and programs. It has been adjudged as Region XII’s Most Child-Friendly City in 2011. 

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TACEA joins 7th PSEAS Sportsfest

             The Tacurong City Employees’ Association (TACEA) was among the twenty-four local government unions that participated in the 7^th Public Sector Employees Alliance of SOCSKSARGEN (PSEAS) Sports Fest held in Polomolok, South Cotabato on October 25-27, 2012. The event themed, Unity through Sports for a Stronger PSEAS, was hosted by the Polomolok Government Employees Association (PGEA).

            During the opening ceremonies, last-termer PSEAS President Tomas Robles of TACEA, reminded the participants of the event’s goal: “We are all here to build camaraderie with fellow service providers. Sports should nurture both our physical and social well-being.”

            At least 10 sports events and mind games were conducted for the enjoyment of PSEAS members. These include basketball, volleyball, kick ball, badminton, table tennis, dart, bowling, dama, scrabble, word factory, and chess.

(L-R)  Schzilt Weysen Devera, Jan Leslie Latiza, Mark Oliver C. Salinas, Jorjohn C. Cajandig, Julie Anne Llavore, and Richel B. Sinoy.

TACEA Badminton Team, composed of Jorjohn C. Cajandig, Mark Oliver C. Salinas, Richel B. Sinoy, and Julie Anne Llavore, was declared Champion for Badminton Doubles Men and Women.  Jan Leslie Latiza was also declared Champion for the Word Factory while Schzilt Weysen Devera was 2^nd runner-up for Table Tennis Women.

Sarangani Province Employees Union (SPEU) was proclaimed Overall Champion; General Santos City Government Employees Association (GSCGEA) was 1^st runner-up; Sultan Kudarat Association of Public Employees (SKAPE) was 2^nd runner-up; Tampakan Municipal Government Employees Association (TMGEA) was 3^rd runner-up; and TACEA was declared 4^th runner-up.

  “TACEA thanks the city government of Tacurong for its all-out support to our teams. We will continue to strive not only to excel in sports but to maintain our integrity in public service,” said Amelia Bochorno, TACEA President.

The next PSEAS Sports Fest will be conducted in 2014.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

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Senators urge local execs to institutionalize PESO

(October 24, 2012) Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Teofisto Guingona III urged the local chief executives to put on their priority lists the creation of employment service officers in their Local Government Units (LGU).

Speaking in front of more than 700 Public Employment Service Officers (PESO) who attended the annual National PESO Congress in Baguio City on October 10 to 13, both senators expressed their sympathy to PESOs, who despite the bulk of their work, still continue to function on designated capacities.

The two senators believed that PESOs do contribute a lot in curbing the problem of unemployment in their respective localities, and the country in general.

Results of the July 2012 Labor Force Survey conducted by the National Statistics Office showed that there are 2.8 million jobless Filipinos.

Estrada, who also sits as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment, said that it is high time that governors and mayors start creating plantilla positions for employment service officers as mandated by Republic Act 8759 otherwise known as the PESO Act of 1999. “If we really want to address the problem of unemployment and jobs mismatch, then it is imperative to institutionalize the PESOs”, Estrada said.

Guingona was also impressed at the various accomplishments of PESOs in many parts of the country that even despite the lack of manpower, they are still able to do their share of reducing unemployment in their areas. “I’m sure that PESO Managers can be more effective in their work if they are given support staff and budget allocation.” said guingona. “Above all, they can function efficiently if their positions relative to employment are permanent in the local government.

The Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) reports that as of this year, there are 1,834 established PESOs nationwide but only 1,205 are considered operational.  The BLE report further showed that only 119 PESOs are institutionalized. However, there was a positive improvement on the BLE report that showed a remarkable increase in institutionalized PESOs in three years time. In 2010, not even one PESO is institutionalized.

Under the PESO Act, LGUs are mandated to institutionalize existing PESOs including the support staff so that promotion of employment in their respective areas of jurisdiction is given focus and priority. By institutionalization, permanent positions for the PESO personnel are created and funded to carry out the various tasks on employment.

PESO Managers of Sultan Kudarat Province

The core functions of a PESO include job search assistance and placement services, labor market information services, administration of labor market programs, and regulatory services.  

Allan Freno

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Tacurong is Mindanao's best-performing city in local governance

       Of the five cities selected as national finalists for this year’s Gawad Pamana ng Lahi of the Department of Interior and Local Government, only Tacurong managed to join an elite group composed of cities all coming from Luzon.

       Tacurong, the only city finalist from Mindanao, together with the cities of Vigan, Santiago, Puerto Princesa,and Makati, received an invitation from the Department of Interior and Local Government to gather in Manila on October 18 for the final screening of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi or GPL.

       The final screening, a panel interview with the city mayors, was the final step in the selection process to determine which city will emerge as the country’s national winner of the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi, a total award concept that recognizes best-performing local government units in governance.

      Aside from cities, finalists for the provincial and municipal categories were also called by the DILG for the panel interview. Finalists for the provincial category are Benguet, Albay, Nueva Vizcaya, and Cavite; while Carmona (Cavite), Moncayo (Compostela Valley), Jagna (Bohol), Anilao (Iloilo), and San Nicolas (Ilocos Norte) rounded up the finalists under the municipal category.

       Results of the panel interview are expected to be released within this week and the awarding ceremonies are tentatively scheduled on October 26. However, regardless of what city gets declared as national winner, officials and employees of the city government of Tacurong are already brimming with joy and pride for being shortlisted as finalist. “Being in the top five and the only one from Mindanao is already a huge accomplishment of the city government”, Tacurong City Mayor Lina Montilla said.
       Gawad Pamana ng Lahi is one of the highest awards conferred by the DILG to a province, city or municipality that exhibited exemplary performance in five areas of governance, namely: administrative, social, economic, and environmental governance. It is also an instrument to scale-up the valuing of accountability, transparency and inclusivity in local administration and development.

       To become eligible for the National Gawad Pamana ng Lahi, a Local Government Unit (LGU) must be a regional winner of the said award in its region. It must also have a validated Local Government Performance Management System (LGPMS) average rating of 4.31 (the highest rating is 5).

       It must also be stamped with the Silver Seal of Good Housekeeping, which means the LGU excels in the areas of accountable governance, transparent governance, and frontline service performance. Another requirement to become eligible for the National GPL is that an LGU must have introduced high-impact innovations in governance in the last three years; and that it must be at least a regional or national awardee of any award in local governance in the preceding year of the evaluation.

       After besting other cities in Region 12 during the evaluation conducted in July, Tacurong was declared as the regional winner and automatically became a finalist for the national award. From among the thirteen regional winners under the city category, top five cities were selected and the city of Tacurong made it to the upper five.

Allan S. Freno

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LGU Tacurong recognizes best-performing barangays using DILG’s SGH criteria

          Lending credence to the national government’s commitment of elevating the practice of good governance, the city government of Tacurong brings to the barangays the Good Housekeeping initiative pioneered by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
          Barangays Upper Katungal, Griño, and Buenaflor were awarded with the Barangay Excellence in Governance Seal of Tacurong or BEST for having the highest overall performance score based on the following criteria: Barangay Governance Performance Management System (BGPMS), compliance to the Barangay Full Disclosure Policy, and compliance to the Anti-Red Tape Act (Barangay Citizen’s Charter).    
          The said barangays also topped the on-site validation for the BEST award. The evaluation was conducted on September 13 and 14, 2012 while the awarding ceremony was held on September 18 in time with the city’s foundation anniversary.
          BEST is a local initiative to identify barangays with exemplary performance thus scaling up values such as accountability, transparency, and inclusivity in local administration and development. Tacurong is the very first city in the region to adopt and apply the concept of the Seal of Good Housekeeping in the barangay level. The city government of Tacurong with the help of the City Local Government Operations Office (CLGOO) had set guidelines and criteria patterned to the DILG’s Seal of Good Housekeeping criteria. On-site validations in the barangays were also conducted to distinguish the BEST recipients.
          "We are implementing the BEST initiative in line with DILG's strategy in ensuring the long-term foundation of a responsible government. We hope that next year, we will be able to award not just 3 barangays. We envision that all barangays will be able to satisfy the standards set by the DILG when it comes to excellent governance,” said Mayor Lina Montilla.
           City Local Government Operations Officer Alberto P. Sero, Jr. and Liga ng mga Barangay President Silvestre Llanto both agree that the award will serve as a positive challenge for the 20 barangays to become more effective partners towards the advancement of the City.
          In 2011, the DILG started conferring the SGH Seal to provinces, cities and municipalities that accord primacy to the principles of performance, accountability, transparency and participation in governance.  Tacurong City has been stamped with the Seal for two successive years.


Jezereel Louise C. Billano

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Tacurong OSYs celebrate Children’s Month

            October 15, 2012 was a day of happiness and empowerment as hundreds of out-of-school youths (OSYs) and Pag-Asa Youth Association (PYA) Officers from different barangays of Tacurong gathered to celebrate the Children’s Month. The affair was sponsored by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). Three main activities were conducted: Open Forum, Poster-Making Contest, and OSY Got Talent competition.

            During the forum, OSYs were given the freedom to ask and speak up about the issues and concerns that affect them. The discussion mainly focused on this year’s theme Bright Child ay Siguraduhin, Responsableng Pamamahayag ay Palaganapin. During the activity, CSWDO also announced the available skills trainings available for the disadvantaged youth.

          The forum was followed by the poster-making contest and OSY Got Talent competition. Joserth Ortega of Brgy. New Carmen won first place in the poster contest while Niel Laysa of Brgy. Rajah Muda was declared champion of the OSY Got Talent. Both of them will represent Tacurong in the regional level competitions in Saranggani.

           By conducting activities such as this, CSWDO hopes to enhance OSYS’ awareness on the issues and concerns that affect them and the environment. “We also want to provide OSYs with venues wherein they can share and expose their potentials and capabilities”, said CSWD head Eufemia T. Robles.

              Presidential Proclamation No. 267 declared the month of October of every year as the National Children's Month. In line with this, the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD)  to emphasize the importance of the role of the child within the Filipino family and in nation building (ww.cwc.gov.ph).

              Tacurong was awarded as Region XII’s Most Child-Friendly City in 2011.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

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DILG names Tacurong as National Gawad Pamana ng Lahi finalist

        The LGU-Tacurong family was elated when a letter from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) dated October 15, 2012 informed Mayor Lina O. Montilla that the city had been shortlisted among the Top 5 National Gawad Pamana ng Lahi (GPL) finalists for the City category.

Mayor Montilla was invited for a panel interview by the GPL National Board of Judges on October 18, 2012. The said interview was said to focus on local good governance and innovations. This is the final step in the process of selecting the GPL national winner. “To be recognized as one of the most excellent units is a great blessing for the City of Goodwill. I salute everyone in the LGU and all Tacurongnons for a job well done,” Montilla said.

On-site national validation was conducted by Mr. Cresencio B. Velasco, Dean of the Open University-University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City. Velasco had earlier congratulated the City as he was impressed by its compliance to the Full Disclosure Policy, system of governance, innovations, and of course, its people.

           

          According to DILG, Gawad Pamana ng Lahi is a total award concept designed by the department and is conferred to the most deserving provincial, city, and municipal governments for reason of exemplary in Administrative Governance, Social Governance, Economic Governance and Environmental Governance.

Among the criteria are: Local Government Performance Management System (LGPMS) score; national and international awards; record review of core outcome indicators (NSCB on poverty incidence, DOH on health, BLGF-DOF on financial status, etc); and result of on-site validation. LGPMS assesses LGUs’ institutional capacity in various areas of governance.

Click this link for more details on the said award. 

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

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Brgy. Councils hold simultaneous assemblies, exhibit transparency

Barangays in the City of Tacurong simultaneously held their 2^nd Barangay Assemblies for the year 2012 on October 14 pursuant to Malacañang Proclamation No. 260.

Residents of each barangay were invited to actively participate in the said activity that serves as a strategic move in the promotion of transparent leadership in communities.

During the assemblies, barangay chairpersons (punong barangay) delivered their State of the Barangay Address (SOBA) which includes the councils’ accomplishments and the projects being implemented in the first semester of 2012. On the other hand, barangay kagawads updated the community on their respective committees’ accomplishments and ongoing activities. Among the matters discussed include barangay disaster risk reduction, clean and green projects, health services, senior citizen affairs, upcoming activities, etc.

Budget and disbursement reports were also delivered by barangay treasurers and budget officers. Residents were also allowed to raise their concerns in an open forum.

For Leticia Bolivar, 70, a resident of Brgy. Baras, barangay assemblies are important. “Lagi akong present sa mga assembly. Diri ko mabal-an ang total income sang barangay, mga problema kag kaayuhan, kag kung may concern ang mga residente kag ang chairman,” she said.

Farmers Felipe Layson, 72, and Elizaldo Gentison, 60, of Upper Katungal said that they attend assemblies to know the details of their barangay’s infrastructure projects. “Para sa akon maayo ang performance sang barangay karon,” Mr. Layson added.

A team from the City Government paid visits in the barangays to confirm the conduct of assemblies. City Local Government Operations Officer (CLGOO) Alberto Sero Jr.  also delivered Sec. Mar Roxas’ message to each barangay. The SILG emphasized the great contribution of barangays in the progress of the country. SILG also encouraged the councils to nurture the people’s right to be aware of each official affair. “Tacurong has been recognized as a prime mover in excellent governance, being a Seal of Good Housekeeping awardee and National Gawad Pamana ng Lahi nominee. The challenge now is to sustain the standards,” said CLGOO Sero.

Meanwhile, city councilors urged the councils to increase the number of attendees in the next assemblies.

In line with DILG’s Full Disclosure Policy, barangays also posted their local budget and detailed expenses in bulletin boards. The hall of Barangay Upper Katungal, an awardee of the Barangay Excellence in Governance Seal of Tacurong (BEST), houses not only postings of local budget but also process flows of barangay transactions and services, and barangay resolutions and ordinances. A suggestion box was also made available to solicit feedback.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

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SUKELCO consults members on CapEx, RPT

The Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative, Inc. or SUKELCO had been very keen in updating Multi-Sectoral Electrification Advisory Councils (MSEACs) on the proposed Recovery of Real Property Tax (RPT) and Additional Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capital Expenditures (RSF-CapEx) for CapEx Projects.

On October 11, the said department met with the Tacurong Multi-Sectoral Electrification Advisory Council (MSEAC) to discuss the said matters. Representatives of various sectors in Tacurong, including Hon. Lina O. Montilla, were personally informed that SUKELCO had filed an application to the Energy Regulatory Commission for its CapEx projects for 2012-2016.

Projects include two kinds of initiatives: network and non-network. Among the network projects include relocation of a substation to a strategic area and upgrading of various equipment and tools in substations with the major goal of reducing system loss and minimizing blackouts. Non-network projects include expansion of SUKELCO office and purchase of new vehicles to ease mobilization.

Projects’ details and its implications on the cooperative and its consumers will be discussed during the Special Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA) on November 3, 2012, 9:00 AM at the Notre Dame of Tacurong College Gymnasium.

The said assembly aims to gather as many member-consumers in Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao. ERC will only approve SUKELCO’s CapEx proposal once consumers have been consulted and have agreed.

   Jezereel Louise Billano

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NSCB: Tacurong has least poverty incidence in the region

         The National Statistical Coordination Board or NSCB had released the results of its 2003 and 2009 Municipal/City Poverty Statistics. Region XII results show that the City of Tacurong had 18.5 percent poverty incidence, the lowest among all cities and municipalities in the region for the survey year of 2009. This means that out of 100 individuals in the city, only 18.5 are poor.

         Tacurong is followed by Kidapawan City with 19.2 poverty incidence, Koronadal City with 21.7, and General Santos with 22.5.

         In 2003, Tacurong had the third least poverty incidence of 15.9. Kidapawan City only had 12.5 while General Santos City and Koronadal City have had 14.0 and 16.2, respectively.

         The said poverty statistics is part of the output of the Intercensal Updating of Small Area Poverty Estimates Project which used small area estimation (SAE). According to a communication forwarded by NSCB XII, the SAE method combined survey and census data to generate poverty estimates at lower level geographic aggregation.

         In 2009, among the data used are from the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES), Labor Force Survey (LFS), and Census of Population and Housing to estimate poverty incidence in all towns and cities in the country. 

        With the data provided, NSCB hopes to help local community policymakers in the formulation of strategic programs towards poverty reduction.

         For more information, visit www.nscb.gov.ph.

Jezereel Louise C. Billano

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SK voters should register anew

           The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) reminded the youth who registered and voted during the 2010 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections should register anew so that they may be able to vote in the May 13, 2013 national and local elections.

            “The COMELEC reminds SK voters during the 2010 elections to register anew so that they can vote in the next year’s elections”, said COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez, who noted a prevailing misconception among SK members on the registration process.

            “We call the leadership of Sangguniang Kabataan Federations nationwide and the National Youth Commission (NYC) to help us in encouraging the youth, especially the SK voters of 2010, to register”, said Jimenez.

            He said that voters’ registration is open at COMELEC offices until October 31, 2012, Mondays to Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Registrants need only to bring a valid ID when they register. (Source: COMELEC Education and Information Department)

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