magandang gensan magazine

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JAN-FEB 2013www.gensantos.gov.ph

Magandang Gensan (MG) Newsmagazine is published by the Local Government Unit (LGU) of General Santos City (GSC). It is published every two months or as necessary.

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You may submit feedbacks, requests for permission to retain, distribute or reproduce to The EIC, Magandang Gensan Newsletter, GSC Hall, General Santos City or email us at [email protected]

EDITOR’S NOTE

Our first issue for the 2013 is a review of past gains and a prevue of future aims. We fill the pages with last quarter stories of 2012 and at the same time take a peek at the local government’s peg on

quality service as its trajectory for the new year and beyond.

While quality as a concept is not at all new, our pursuit of which is intensified more than ever with the city’s shot on ISO accreditation, not to mention our unyielding quest to become an organization that delights its customers.

We attempt to simplify its resonance in the banner story. By simplify, we mean quality act translated to bigger things. After all, quality is about systems as it is about one’s faculty. Aristotle once mused, “Quality is not an act. It is a habit.” Ingraining a culture of quality in a public service enter-prise is a tough call. The late Steve Jobs would articulate, “Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected”, but he also posed this challenge: “Be a yardstick of quality.”

Nothing is more challenging than that. But nothing should also stop management from looking for ways to hurdle the challenge. Even then, management can only set the course. Every single employee has to row in synchronization. Since public service reform is a shared responsibility, the individual sweat is as essential as the organizational exertion.

To that end, we believe it is just right to post this mindset here and now.One of conviction.One of character.

Magandang Gensan!

Last Glimpse. First Glance.

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JAN-FEB 2013Inside

FEATURES |

Disposal management of around 292 tons of total waste daily: P362M-worth Sanitary Landfill

CityCen Update: Data Provided for Planning and Delivery ofServices

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Magandang Tricycle saMagandang Gensan15 |

30,000 members and more than 38M collective net worth. Get in the bandwagon of mass-based economic transformation.

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Eternal Peace for our departed loved ones-not just a cemetery but a Memorial Park

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p. 20 | More reasons to smile with Operation Smile Philippines

p. 22 | Launched as a tourism destination: the Baluan Balut lowly vendors are lowly no more

IT & THE CITY

p. 18 |And the Model Barangays for 2012 are…The winners of 2011! Achieving and maintaining quality public service at the Barangay level

p. 6 | Better health, better income with organic farming. Be inspired with the story of a housewife, now businesswoman

EDITOR’S NOTE

THE MAYOR’S PEN

p. 5 | IT in a truck? Gensan redefines accessible quality IT education

p. 8 | City partners with DepEd to achieve optimum classroom to pupil ratio

COLUMNS |

BANNER STORY

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OUR COVER In Full Speed. The City Mayor with the members of the City’s Management Review Board in one of the many process review sessions designed to polish all service processes. There is no stopping the LGU in its drive to create a culture of quality. Cover Photo by Jing Velos

VOL 1 | ISSUE 2 | JAN-FEB 2013

Magandang Gensan Magazine

Department Writers for this issue

Sharon Fatima D. AlamanUrsula L. AlvarezPaz A. Cutamora

Marichel C. DacilloAnne D. DimayugaZenaida G. EturmaAileen D. Filoteo

Jennifer N. GabayeronElmer Paul E. Guisao

Amira M. LlanosLady Margaret M. Manalo

Dennis Fel MatutinaEngr. Aurea M. Pascual

Michael E. PeligroArlyn Jane C. QuiapoElizabeth RemorosaRosanna R. RomeroBenjie Noel A. Señas

Photographers Paul Bernaldez

Gregorio Dominic S. Velos

Layout Artist Marianne Basilio-Anas

Legal Department Atty. Marites G. Taniegra

Roy Victory Ruba

Editor-in-chiefEdgar D. Cadiente

Associate Editors Avel O. Manansala

Millicent Hope A. KaindoyAnelin Cabfit

Column Editors Jose Aponesto III Luzvim V. Entila

Christopher Sulit

Managing EditorLeila Dacua- Rivera

Circulation and PrintAllan Loi J. Villanueva

Erlinda E. IbarraMayshiel Solidum

Technical AssistantsLeonard Pe

Gerardo Pilapil, Jr.

Contributors for this IssueJohn Elmer Loretizo

Glenda SendicoJoy Tan

Kyle Astrolabio

PublisherGSC Local GovernmentOffice of the City Mayor

DEPARTMENT REPORTS |

CDRRMC passes draft ordinance on forced evacuation

Effective Governance throughLNB’s 2nd Annual PerformancePlan

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GREENING GENSAN

BLUEPRINT

BARANGAYAN CORNER

p. 17 | SP celebrates one year of delivering quality service online

SANGGUNIAN NG BAYAN

WELFARE & WELL-BEING

p. 16 | Three in a row. How faith, teaching, and map-making put GenSan on the World Map

KWENTONG TSAMPYON

GANDANG GENSAN

MAPAYAPANG GENSAN

p. 18 |Is it safe to invest here? What it means being the “Best City Police Office” for two consecutive years now

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The city’s Computer Literacy Program has been adjudged as national finalist in the first Honorable Jesse

Robredo Awards for Excellence in ICT, or eGov awards, in November 2012. CLP qualified in the Government-to-Citizen category (G2C) after passing the preliminary judging held in Davao City last October 2012.

The eGov Awards is an annual, nationwide competition conducted in honor of the late Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). This award aims to recognize local government units for their outstanding use of information and communications technology in the delivery of government services to citizens or business entities. The award is a collaborative project of the DILG, the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP), and CyberCity Teleservices, Incorporated.

There are two categories in the awards. The Government-to-Citizen (G2C) category recognizes the work of the local government in applying ICT solutions in the education and engagement of the public, through the use of electronic facilities/channels and providing improved, timely and relevant public services. The Government-to-Business (G2B) category acknowledges the commendable endeavor of the local government in integrating ICT solutions and the commitment of its

This mobile laboratory is one of the most-anticipated projects of the Computer Literacy Program. By go-

ing mobile, the instructors will be able to reach far-flung schools and barangays with ease, bringing computer literacy to those who need it most -- the underprivileged, and the people where dis-tance is a hindrance to education. It is these persons that our city govern-ment desires to give

is eGov Awards Finalist

IT AND THE CITY | Information & Communication Technology

by: MICHAEL E. PELIGRO

THE MAYOR’S PEN | City Mayor’s Column

free education and training, and to empower with skills that will make a tremendous im-pact on their lives.

The laboratory will be installed on the back of a medium-sized truck, utilizing the minimum carrying dimensions of an Isuzu Elf. Other vehicles may be considered, so long as it meets the obligatory space requirements. Twelve computer workstations are available for use by participants. The instructor has a large, flat-panel display in lieu of a digital projector due to area constraints. Other

equipment will be in place to make the en-vironment comfortable and conducive for learning. The roof has been removed only

in these renders to let natural light inter-play with the objects inside.

The project has been approved and is now in its procurement stage. Expected rollout will be in the second

half of 2013.

administration to transparency, accoun-tability, and responding to the needs of business enterprises, thereby creating business opportunities.

The finalists were chosen after the preliminary judging done in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao narrowing down the 58 local government entries into 9 national finalists for the G2C and 9 national finalists for the G2B, every category having three entries each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The judges in the regional and national levels are distinguished ICT experts in the field of computing and governance from the public and private sectors.

Even though the SHEEP-CLP didn’t place in the national top three finishers, its programs and accomplishments will be included in a commemorative book that will feature all the details of the winning ICT projects. According to NICP chair Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, this best-practices book will be distributed to all local governments.

The Computer Literacy Program is a project of the local government that is in existence since 1998. The project has been donating computers and providing computer training to diverse clients such as elementary and high school students, Department of Education (DepEd) teachers, government employees, alternative learning

system (ALS) students, senior citizens, out-of-school youth, Madaris Muslims, the unemployed, people with disabilities (PWDs), and other beneficiaries, with special focus on the poor and marginalized citizens. It provides computer instruction in fields of expertise such as Basic Computer Operations, Microsoft Office, AutoCAD and Google SketchUp, multimedia presentation, computer-assisted music applications, audio and video editing, photo-editing, digital caricature and animation, web and video blogging, newsletter lay-outing, and robotics. (Michael Peligro/CLP)

Computer Literacy Program

Computer literacy delivered right on your doorsteps. (3D illustration of the SHEEP Mobile Laboratory by Ralph Sabuero & Ric Dumalay)

CLP Head Percival Pasuelo with staff Jo Anne Pasco and Michael Peligro at the eGov awards national finals at the Oxford Hotel, Metro Clark, Pampanga.

T he Total Quality Service (TQS) concept introduced in 2005 was initially designed to establish service delivery standards in the local government. Its three components,

Quality People, Quality Workplace, and Quality Processes, were the tools used in creating the present day LGU-Citizens Charter.

These components can be recognized by the projects implemented. The TQS orientation conducted to all LGU employees, the “Leaping towards Personality Development” seminars, and the Healthy Lifestyle seminars are among the projects aiming towards Quality People. The Office 5S and structural renovations are done to achieve Quality Workplaces. The Organizational Development program of redesigning of the process flow in LGU activities is part of the objective of Quality Processes. These projects aim to provide high-level customer satisfaction while strengthening the LGU as an organization.

Quality Service concept admits that the LGU is continuously changing, growing, and improving. Our organization mission statement aptly says: “The LGU is a learning organization that delivers total quality service that delights its customers.”Guided by the G.S.C.T.O. Core Values, each of our decisions, actions, and interactions with the public, including our fellow public servants, essentially reflect our mission.

Currently, we are applying for an ISO 9001:2008 certification. We target to institutionalize Quality Management System in three business services processes: [1] Investment Generation; [2] Issuance of Business Permits; and [3] Issuance of Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy. Ten support processes of the three core business process are included in the QMS institutionalization: [a] Issuance of Business Locational/Zoning Clearance; [b] Issuance of Environment and Natural Resources Clearance; [c] Isuance of Sanitary Permit; [d] Issuance of Property Index Number; [e] Issuance of Land Tax Clearance; [f] CSWDO Permit to Operate Internet Café; [g] Tax and fees assessment and collection; [h] Procurement services; [i] Human Resource Development; and [j] Internal Quality Audit.

What this means is that transactions under these processes will be in accordance with internationally accepted standards in terms of procedures, requirements, and duration resulting in the reduction of windows of corruption and the infusion of integrity in the character of the LGU as an organization.

Ultimately, this is the concept of Quality Service -- The LGU is composed of several thousand individuals who think and act as a single entity unified by a common goal -- that is “Magandang Gensan!”

Evolution of Quality Service in the LGU

Magandang Gensan!

CLP-Sheep reaches Samboang-Ngilay High School. Mayor Darlene gets up close with students during the official turn over of computers to said school. (Photo from www.gensantos.org)

Mayor Darlene, with police Gen. Charles Calima Jr., fishing tycoon MarfinTan, members of the Phil. Navy, city officials and more than 300 families pay tribute to the fishermen lost in the aftermath of Bagyong Pablo, laying out wreaths some 3 nauti-cal miles from the shore. The City has given more than Php3 million in assistance to the affected families. (Photo by Paul Bernaldez)

Mayor Darlene demonstrates Management Com-mitment as she affixes her signature on the City’s Quality Policy. (Photo by Jing Velos)

SNAPSHOTS

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www.gensantos.gov.ph JAN-FEB 2013

To a housewife who loved farming since her childhood, Teresita D. Zaldivia of Purok 11 , Katangawan

happily shared her experiences in agricultural endeavor.

“It was in 2009 when the City Agriculturist Office started the information campaign on the Greening Gensan program. Ms. Dela Llana , agricultural technician, convinced me to use the vacant lot along the national highway fronting my house,” Zaldivia said.

Without hesitation, Mrs. Zaldivia agreed to cultivate the land and plant vegetables of various kinds. She was thankful to the Office of the City Agriculturist for the planting materials and technical assistance provided to her.

She was taught how to make different organic inputs using readily available materials in her surroundings. She prepared her own inputs such as indigenous microorganism (IMO), fermented plant juice and fermented fruit juices which she sprayed on vegetables to provide its nutrient needs. When she observed insect pests, she made botanical pesticides out of plants such as sili, panyawan, madre de cacao and neem tree. The extracts of these plants were found to repel, if not totally eliminate, pests.

Aside from these she put up vermicomposting facility, the product of which are vermicompost, vermitea and vermicasts. She was able to save money because she did not apply chemical fertilizer nor sprayed pesticides on her vegetables.

One of the thrusts of the Greening Gensan Program is enhancing vegetable production through the use of organic and natural farming technologies which are economically viable and environmentally friendly.

Just recently, Mrs. Zaldivia obtained net sales of 16,000 pesos and 5,000 pesos for cropping okra and radish respectively grown in about 300 square-meter land.

Steady earning from Organic Farmingby: PAz A. CUTAMORA

LUNTIANG GENSAN | Greening Gensan

Presently she raised various cash crops like alugbati, pechay, okra and squash. The harvested produce were displayed and sold at her rented stall in the Bagsakan center. She disclosed that her organically grown products fetch higher prices than vegetables she bought from the viajeros.

Mrs. Zaldivia prided herself for being able to provide the daily needs of her schooling children and buy sidecar for her motorcycle used in hauling their vegetables and other farm products.

She was elected as president of the federated Greening Gensan Vegetable Association during the meeting of vegetable growers last December 5 – 6, 2012. With so much optimism, she believes that the program will encourage more support from the generals because it greatly addresses their demands for safe and nutritious food. According to her, she desires to share these good opportunity to others. v

Mrs. Zaldivia earns up to 20,000 per harvest from a 300-sq m land along Katangawan.

Update:Data Provided for Planning and Delivery of Services

The availability of Origin-Destination (OD) data in the City Socio-Economic and Health Census 2011 (CityCen 2011) was lauded recently by an urban transport specialist of the Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA). Dr. Noriel Tiglao, GIS and Transport Specialist of the National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines in Diliman, and Urban Transport consultant of the CDIA, noted that OD data is absent in other censuses done elsewhere in the country. This he observed during the presentation of the Draft Inception Report for CDIA in December 20, 2012.

The OD data describes the origin and destination of the respondents to work and to school and the mode of transportation used. It can be modeled and graphically analyzed through the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. In GIS, the OD data can also yield the most utilized route for traffic/transport studies or show the most popular means of transportation in the city, and further processed for other environmental research that the LGU may conduct in the future.

The results of the CityCen 2011 has been helping frontline units in planning and deli-very of services to the constituents. Beginning early last month, the City Epidemiological Services Unit (CESU) has been provided with water and sanitation data, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) with flooding and landslide susceptibility maps and socio-economic profile of high-risk flood prone areas, the City Veterinarian's Office with number of dogs immunized, the City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office (CEMCDO) with citywide results as well as roads, administrative boundaries, rivers, bridges, land use and households maps in digital format for the CDIA project.

The project also assisted in identifying households which would be affected by the proposed opening of a National Highway. It identified households affected by floods in Puting Bato, Brgy. Calumpang and Brgy. Baluan. Household indicators as inputs to shelter planning was also prepared.

Several barangays, namely, Dad. West, Mabuhay, Apopong, Labangal and City Heights, were provided with socio-economic profile culled from CityCen 2011. Preliminary

by: DENNIS FEL MATUTINA

P362M Sanitary Landfill Project: Construction at last

The city’s much-awaited 362-M Sanitary Landfill Project will finally start construction at the first quarter of 2013.

The project spanned the terms of three Local Chief Executives of General Santos City, from its inception to the bidding process.

Situated in a 63.3 hectare property, this Design, Build and Operation of a Sanitary Solid Waste Management and Disposal Faci-lity is situated at Barangay Sinawal, General Santos (Contract No. 7CW-GSC-035). The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), through SP Resolution 669, series 2012, finally recommended the approval of the plans, specifications and program of works of the Php362M project on December 18, 2012, its last session for the year.

When Mayor Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio took the helm, she negotiated for a 100 Basis Point (BPS) reduction in the interest rate from the Land Bank of the Phi-lippines (LBP), resulting in greater savings for the city's coffers.

City Planning and Development Coordi-nator, Engineer Nael Joseph D. Cruspero admitted that the biggest challenge that the project surmounted was the bidding process.

The bid documents were painstakingly prepared in accordance with the World

Bank's (WB) procedures and standards, particularly the contract, which was refitted to the city’s needs. Similarly, the selection and awarding had to comply with the very strict conditions set forth by the WB and LBP, as they are the financial institutions that are bankrolling this project, he explained.

In addition, the winning bidder and now dubbed as the Operator, R-II Builders/Phil. Ecology Systems Consortium Inc, took a year to finish the design due to the complex nature of the project which is composed of more than 20 facilities.

After a careful review by the appointed Design Build Engineer, Woodfields Consultants Inc., to ensure that the provisions of the Design-Build-Operate (DBO) contract are adhered to, the design of the landfill was submitted to SP for the issuance of a resolution to give authority to the City Mayor to approve the design of the project.

With all these in place, we should expect the city’s Sanitary Landfill Project, the most modern in Region XII, to commence its construction anytime soon. Once it is finished in less than two years’ time, it will surely pave the way to a Greener and Mas Magandang GenSan! v

by: DENNIS FEL MATUTINA

citywide results were also provided to the Health Summit as inputs. And by the use of GIS technology, the project also located a good percentage of DSWD's 4P beneficiaries and even taxpayers who have issued dishonored checks at the City Treasurer's Office (CTO) who have not been located by traditional addressing system.

These significant results are only some

of the expected outputs derived from the Ci- tyCen 2011 Project initiated by Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio as a baseline data collection project which is a collaboration of the local government departments headed by CPDO together with support from other national government agencies, barangays and other NGOs. v

Aerial view of the Landfill site in Sinawal, overlayed with approximate site developmental plan. (Image courtesy of Google Map)

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Gensan barangays shine infirst aid competition

Barangay Apopong emerged as the 1st place winner in the 2nd Citywide First Aid Competition held last 2012 at the NDDU Gym.

Barangay Dadiangas East grabbed second place while in the third place was barangay City Heights.

Special awards went to the following: Best in bandaging – Barangay Apopong; Best in Situational Analysis – Barangay City Heights; Best in Splinting – Barangay Apopong; and Best in Transfer Relay – Barangay City Heights.

The competition was sponsored by the Philippine National Red Cross. This empow-ers the barangays to be prepared at all times against emergencies and disasters.

Barangay volunteers are trained in 3 disci-plines, namely health and welfare, disaster preparedness and response, and voluntary blood donation. (Ping Aponesto/CPIO)

Breastfeeding program citedA Plaque of Recognition was awarded to

the Barangay Health Station of Barangay Dadiangas North for its implementation of the government’s breastfeeding program.

The award was given by the Department of Health at City State Tower Hotel, Manila last October 18, 2012.

The DOH cited the Barangay Health Sta-tion’s significant contributions and and valu-able support to the causes and promotion of breastfeeding in their locality.

A Resolution was also passed by the City Council recently commending the barangay health station, the local government of Gen-san and KCC Mall for this achievement. (Ping Aponesto/CPIO)

Multi-purpose pavement project gets P1.5-m funding

The city government has allocated P1.5-million for the proposed construction of multi-purpose pavement at Barangay Katan-gawan.

This project will be constructed at Purok 2 of said barangay and its funding is charge-able against the city’s 2012 annual budget.

Multi-purpose pavements are utilized in many ways such as dryers of farm products.

Sponsors of the resolution recommending the approval of the plans and specifications for this particular project were city coun-cilors Dinopol, Bagonoc, Llido and Casabue-na. (Ping Aponesto/CPIO)

N E W S B I T S

Underground drainage project to be constructed

The proposed continuation of under-ground drainage from PNP Reservation at corner Daproza Avenue and Barangay Dadi-angas West will soon be implemented.

This developed following the passage of Resolution #560 by the City Council which recommended the approval of the plans and specifications of this proposed project.

An amount of P1.4-million has been allo-cated by the city government for this project which will be taken from the city’s 2012 An-nual Budget. (Ping Aponesto/CPIO)

FEATURE

www.gensantos.gov.ph

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JAN-FEB 2013

BLUE PRINT | Infrastructure

Population grows, so does the need for classrooms. Unfortunately, building class-

rooms is not as natural and quick as the increa-sing number of students. A classroom to student ratio of 1:70 or even 1:80 is shocking but not unheard of. Some classes are even held under the trees, on stage, or wherever possible because of lack of classrooms. These situations are deplorable because they make learning difficult and ineffective. In any of such conditions, both the teachers and the students suffer.

Addressing the backlog on classrooms is an actual priority of the government. Under the competitiveness service area

of the City’s Development Strategies, improving classroom to pupil ratio is among the targets of the City Engineer’s Office. This translates to construction of more classrooms, especially on

Addressing acute classroom shortage

School Location (Barangay) Proposed (No. of classrooms) Amount

(Php)

Dad. North High School Dad. North 4 w/ CR each classroom 2,350,000

Baluan HS Baluan 2 w/ CR each classroom 1,143,000

GSC Sped Integrated HS San Isidro 2 w/ CR each classroom 1,143,000

Lagao NHS San Isidro 4 (2-storey) w/ common CRs 4,990,000

Banisil NHS Tambler 4 w/ CR each classroom 2,350,000

Fatima NHS Fatima 6 w/ CR each classroom 3,400,000

Dad West ES Dad. West 4 (2-storey) w/ common CRs 4,990,000

Lanton ES Apopong 4 w/ CR each classroom 2,350,000

Banisil ES Tambler 4 w/ CR each classroom 2,350,000

Romana Acharon ES Calumpang 6 w/ CR each classroom 3,400,000

Fatima Central ES Fatima 6 w/ CR each classroom 3,400,000

FVR Village ES Fatima 4 (2-storey) w/ common CRs 4,990,000

Total 50 36,856,000

Aparente St. after its reconstruction. (Photo by Jing Velos)

I wonder if the constituents traversing that part of Aparente St. intersected by Yumang St. can still recall the condition of this road prior to the construction period of April to August 2012. Back then, local government officials concerned were bombarded with criticisms and complaints because the road, which was previously asphalted, was filled with potholes, worn out, dilapidated road shoulder, and accident-prone.

Such dire condition merited approval of the budget proposal of P5,000,000 for reconstruction. After months of preparation of plans and estimates and procurement processes, the project reached implementation stage with a contract cost of P4,884,981.60 for a 525 lineal-meter-long concrete pavement, replacing the old and dilapidated asphalt pavement.

The project tested the ingenuity and stress tolerance of the contractor, MJ Tiongson Construction, and the implementing office, particularly the Construction and Waterworks Division of the City Engineer’s Office, in managing the challenges. First, there are two barangays who are end users of the project: City Heights and San Isidro. Hence, coordination, communication, and feedbacking with two sets of barangay officials were conducted. Second, the project site is a busy street with lots of adjacent commercial establishments. Third, construction had to be done without closing the road. Hence, the volume of traffic and the safety of the public amidst excavations and heavy equipment units had to be managed well.

And so it came to pass that the success of project implementation was attributed to the support of the barangays, designation of detour roads, provision of staff to manage traffic, performance of the contractor which consistently kept ahead of construction schedule, close monitoring for possible bottleneck and adjustments in scope and time and readily acting upon them. The project was completed with a contract cost of P4,948,403.14, 520-lineal meter length, and a positive slippage of 7.58%. It is only one among 51 completed projects that were implemented by the City Engineer’s Office since January this year but it has a great impact to the community, particularly the drivers and passengers traversing it. It is also one among the cumulative number of 90 projects implemented by the City Engineer’s Office for 2012. (Aurea M. Pascual/CEO)

by: AUREA M. PASCUAL

Achieving quality education. GSC LGU

teams up with DepEd in the construction of

86 classrooms. (Banisil High School,

photo from CEO)

areas experiencing acute classroom shortage based on the Basic Education Information System – Quick Count of Department of Education (DepEd).

In the first quarter of 2012, six projects of two classrooms each with comfort rooms were completed. This batch of projects contributed 12 classrooms to different schools as follows: New Mabuhay Elementary School, Brgy. Mabuhay; Lanton High School, Brgy. Apopong; Fatima High School, Brgy. Fatima; J. Catolico Sr. Elementary School, Brgy. Lagao; Ligaya High School, Brgy. Ligaya, and R.C. Acharon Elementary School, Brgy. Calumpang. The total contract cost of these six completed projects is P6,798,177.98.

During the second quarter and until the rest of the year, the implementation of 25 school building projects ensued. These 25 projects which are equivalent to 86 classrooms have a total allocation

of P73,712,000, equally borne by the Local Government of General Santos City and DepEd through a Memorandum of Agreement signed before the end of 2011.

During the initial phase, project implementation suffered a setback where several contracts had to be suspended while the technical problems affecting them were ironed out. Consequently, implementation was delayed. As of November 30, 2012, only the 1-classroom school building project at Banisil High School was completed and the overall accomplishment for the 25 projects is only 29.78%.

Nevertheless, the rest are expected to be completed by first or second quarter of 2013. For sure, the recipients of the projects will be able to use the new school buildings by next school year. The 86 new classrooms will greatly contribute to ease up the shortage. v

Concreting Aparente Street with Concrete resolve

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Counterparting arrangement for school building projects.

LGU-Gen. Santos City

Under the competitive-ness service area of the

City’s Development Strategies, improving

classroom to pupil ratio is among the targets of the

City Engineer’s Office.

DEPARTMENT REPORT

School Location (Barangay

Proposed (No. of class-rooms)

Amount (Php)

Samboang-Ngilay HS Batomelong 2 1,143,000

GSC-HS (Main) Calumpang 9 (3-storey) w/ common CRs 12,680,000

Lagao NHS (Main) San Isidro 4 (2-storey) w/ common CRs 4,990,000

Banisil HS Tambler 1 648,000

GSC Sped Int. HS San Isidro 4 (2-storey) w/ common CRs 4,990,000

Changco ES Bawing 2 1,143,000

Lanton ES Apopong 4 (2-storey) w/ common CRs 4,990,000

Bagong Silang ES San Jose 2 1,203,000

Habitat Comm ES Mabuhay 2 1,143,000

Romana Acharon ES Calumpang 2 1,143,000

J. Catolico Sr. ES Lagao 1 648,000

Banisil ES Tambler 1 648,000

Shuttle Prim. School San Jose 4 (2-storey) w/ common CRs 1,487,000

Total 36 36,856,000

Pre-Marriage Coun-seling according to Patty and Greg Kuhl-man, is an approach to educating engaged couples in the skills, habits, attitudes, and enrichment tech-niques that research shows lead to happy, enduring marriages. They address the nor-mal issues and chal-lenges that all couples face in the course of their marriage.

This concept is recognized in our Constitution, PD 965, and article 16 of the new Family Code which states that “applicants for marriage license who need parental consent and/or need parental advice,

Before You Say I DoThe PRE-MARRIAGE COUNSELING PROGRAM of Gensan: Orienting would-be COUPLES towards A HAPPY and ENDURING MARRIAGE

shall attach a certification of marriage counseling to their application for marriage license.

In Gensan, City Ordinance No. 11 series of 2007 also known as ”The 2007 Pre-Marriage Counseling Policy Guidelines of the City of General Santos” was enacted for this purpose.

Under this policy, applicants for marriage shall undergo a one-day pre-marriage counseling (PMC) seminar that will provide couples with complete and accurate information on marriage and relationship, maternal and child health, responsible parenthood, home management, laws and policies on family relations.

The PMC seminars are conducted at the City Population Management Office every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Registration is open from Monday to Friday except on foreseen holidays.

Application Requirements are the following: 1) Cedula - recent year 2) Individaul Voluntary Statement from the Barangay where each party resides 3)

PMC fee receipt-from City Treasurer’s Office

There are three types of PMCs in Gensan namely: 1) Regular – where both parties are Filipino citizens; 2) Special – where one partner is a foreigner; 3) PMC for Kasalan sa Barangay.

Previously, marriage applicants hop from one department to another for the Regular Counseling session based on the department’s topic. To serve the clients conveniently, they only have to go to one venue for the registration and seminar wherein the PMC Team composed of representatives from the Offices of the City Social Welfare, City Health, City Population, Local Civil Registrar, and the National Statistics Office convene to conduct the PMC sessions.

Before PMC Team was operationalized, most applicants took PMC for granted. Some even tried to bribe the counselors just not to attend the session. Later in an evaluation made by CPMO in 2007, participants were generally satisfied and were even grateful that they attended such seminar.

At an average of 200 would-be couples attending PMC sessions per month, GSC PMC program is the most active among those established in Region XII LGUs.

While all 86 PMC counselors were formally trained on pre-marriage counseling, CPMO as the Team leader and secretariat of the PMC program works to have all Counselors accredited by the Standards Bureau of the DSWD by the first quarter of 2013 thereby upgrading PMC counselors in Gensan towards a happy and enduring married life. (CPMO)

Previously, marriage applicants hop from one

department to another for the Regular Counseling.

Mayor Darlene solemnizes around 20 couples in a Kasalan ng Bayan in Brgy. Labangal (Photo from LCR)

DepEd

FEATURE

by: Benjie noeL ALCoseBA seňAs


The Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) Constitution and by-laws particularly Article VI, Sec. 2.a. provides that: “One of the duties and functions of the Liga ng mga Barangay is to give priority to programs, particularly seminars and trainings for the total development of the barangays and in consonance with the policies, programs, and projects of the national government, and as part of the mandated functions of the Liga ng mga Barangay to serve as a forum of the barangays in order to forge linkages with the national government and non-government organizations.”

Pursuant to this mandate, the GSC Liga Chapter in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) held its 2nd LnB Annual Performance Plan and Review on Barangay Governance last November 29-December 1, 2012 at Susan’s Beach Resort, Sarangani Province with 23 participating Barangay Captains and Representatives.

The gathering’s objectives were to strengthen the accountability of the Barangay officials to their respective constituents in order to continually upgrade the quality of local leadership; to encourage the participation of the private sectors in local governance, particularly in the delivery of basic services; and to establish an accountable, efficient, and dynamic organizational structure and operating mechanism that will meet the priority needs and service requirements of its communities.

In the end, all the participants came out of the 3-day conference better informed and more capable of handling the different tasks assigned to them in their respective barangays for the incoming year. (Joy Tan/ABC)

Are you looking for a job? Do you know anyone who seeks employment? Visit PESO who knows you might get employed.

By virtue of Republic Act 8759 or the PESO Act of 1999, each locality in the country must establish and operate a Public Employment Service Office. More than compliance to a law, General Santos City PESO takes seriously the role of employment placement assistance office.

One of the principal functions of PESO is to provide referral to jobseekers that match qualification requirements of vacancies posted by employers. In 2012, 59% of all walk-in jobseekers, or 3,777 out of 6, 388 individuals were placed in different local establishments; KCC Mall of Gensan hired 88% of the placed applicants.

In order to secure referral from PESO, a

Effective Governance through LnB’s 2nd Annual Perfomance Plan

Let PESO seek the job for you

CDRRMO ConductsEarthquake Drill

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Ma-nagement Office (CDRRMO) Headed by Mr. Ephraim T. Beliran participated in the 4th Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill by conducting a similar earthquake drill here.

The event’s aim was to orient people most especially young school children on earthquake preparedness particularly safety measures before, during and after an earthquake.

Among the drills conducted was that in Balite Elementary School in Barangay Lagao last December 03, 2012. The said earthquake drill was participated by the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, City Health Office, Philippine National Red Cross and the Office of Civil Defense.

The quality of the drill can be attributed to intensified planning, coordination and implementation of plans and programs to concerned government agencies.

The drill did not only emphasize safety precautions but also influenced precise action during actual disaster especially in the field of planning, designing and establishing evacuation procedures including correct information dissemination to the victims and casualties.

The office encourages other schools in Gensan to avail of this useful activity for them to be prepared when natural or man-made disaster strikes. (Marichelle Dacillo/CDRRMO)

Earthquake ready. Pupils of Balite Elemen-tary School execute dock cover and hold position in an earthquake drill conducted by CDRRMO.

jobseeker is required to submit two copies of his resume or bio-data and a photocopy of latest Barangay Clearance if a resident of Gensan, or PESO Recommendation from his city/municipality if non-resident of Gensan. Ms. Elisheba A. Valdez, PESO Manager, is encouraging all jobseekers to register at PESO so that their information will be included in the database for future employment opportunities.

Employers of local establishments may request from the PESO a list of qualified applicants from the database for their manpower needs. They only need to submit a letter request, business permit, list of job vacancies, and properly filled-up SRS form 2 and SRS form 2A (forms available in the office) to GSC-PESO. (Sharon Fatima D. Alaman/PESO)

The City Disaster Risk Reduction Ma-nagement Council (CDRRMC) recently passed a draft ordinance on implementing forced evacuation in times of disaster which endangers the life of affected residents.

In a meeting n October, the CDRRMC unanimously approved the draft ordinance entitled, “An Ordinance Implementing Forced Evacuation as a Resort When a Disaster or Emergency has been declared in the City of General Santos and Danger of Loss of Lives becomes Imminent, Providing Penalties Therefor and for other Purposes”.

The draft ordinance pointed out that, “it has been a national policy under Section 2 (a) of RA 10121, otherwise known as the “Phi-lippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010” to uphold the people’s constitutional rights to life and property by addressing the root causes of vulnerabilities to disasters, strengthening the country’s institutional capacity for disaster risk reduction and management and building the resilience of local communities to disasters including climate change impacts.

The measure added that the local government units are authorized under Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991 or General Welfare Clause to “xxx exercise the powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient governance and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.”

“Punong barangays (Section 389 (b) (6)) Municipal Mayors (Section 444 (b) (viii)), City Mayors (Section 455 (b) (vii)), and Governors (Section 465 (b) (vii) are all mandated under the Local Government Code of 1991 to carry such emergency measures as may be necessary during and in the after-math of man-made and natural disasters and calamities,” the measure said. (Ping Aponesto/CPIO)

CDRRMC passess draft ordinance on forced evacuation

11DEPARTMENT REPORTS

10

This is the wisdom behind the General Santos City Youth Achiever (GSCYAA) and Outstanding Youth Organization Award. Initiated by the Youth Affairs and Development Office in 2000, the award’s objective is to uplift the courage and morale of young individuals through giving recognition and rewards to those who have brought prestige and honor to our city. It is an annual search in recognition of young individuals who have shown excellent works and made sterling distinctions in any field of endeavor, and to a youth organizations that made difference in the locality.

The Search is open to young individuals, ages 15 to 30 years old, and organizations whose membership and leadership are composed of youths 15 to 30 years old. The search has two (2) categories, namely: Individual Category and Group Category.

The 2012 GSCYAA Winners are: INDIVIDUAL CATEGORYIn-School Youth Category - High School:1. Mariella Riejan K. Apil – Holy Trinity

College High School; 2. Ricardo T. Jalipa III – Shalom Crest Wizard Academy; 3. John Elmer Loretizo – GSC SPED Integrated School; 4. Christine Louise C. Pacis – GS Hope Christian School

Cultural Communities Youth Category: 1. Ibrahim K. Nilong - Hearts and Brains,

Inc./KapayaanKapatid Council; 2. Nor-en B. Lambac - CIPMYL/FEM Trading

GROUP CATEGORY1. AFS Socsargen Alumni CircleFamous in GSCYAA’s roster of awardees are

Youth Focus: General Santos City Youth Achiever’s Award

the following:MS. ESMAIDA H. ANDANG graduated

cum laude with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Education from the Mindanao State University in 2003. A GSCYAA awardee in 2004, Ms. Andang was a fellow of Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Lea-ders (CIPYML) at the House of Representatives in 2005. In 2006, she was our country representative to the prestigious Ship for Southeast Asia Youth Program, a Japan-Philippine Government sponsored exchange program. She finished her Master's Degree in Education major in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Sydney in Australia in 2010. She is currently teaching at Mindanao State University - College of Education Training Department.

MR. ALLAN S. REMEDIOS was a student leader at Holy Trinity College. He was conferred the GSCYAA in 2000. He was one of the country's international delegates under the Philippine Youth Leadership Program sponsored by Northern Illinois University and the US State Department in the summer of 2011. He is currently the head of the Community Extension Service of Holy Trinity College.

MS. JOANA GRACE BANTING-LAPORE graduated magna cum laude with the degree of Bachelor of Arts major in English from the Notre Dame of Dadiangas College (now NDDU) in 1993. She finished her Master's Degree in Communications from the University of the Philippines in 2000. She was an awardee of the GSCYAA in 2001. She is a Certified EQUIP

Trainer of the Dr. John Maxwell’s Million Leader’s Mandate, graduate of Philippine Haggai Institute, and recipient of Certificate in Biblical Studies from the International School of Ministries. Through a scholarship grant by the US Department of State Office of English Language Programs, she earned a Certificate in E-Teaching Business English from the University of South Carolina in 2008. A dynamic educator, motivational speaker, speechwriter, director and host, General Joana, as she is fondly called, is often in the psyche of emer-ging young leaders in this city. She is currently the Director of the Liberal Arts Department of Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges.

MR. JOVAR G. PANTAO was a GSCYAA awardee in 2005. He won the Education ca-tegory of the prestigious Search for the Outstanding Youth Leaders of the Philippines, a prestigious search run by the United Nations Association of the Philippines, held at the University of Makati in 2009. He was a recipient of the Congressional Internship Program for Young Mindanao Leaders (CIPYML) in the House of Representatives for 4 months in later part of 2012.He currently teaches at Shalom Crest Wizard Academy.

MS. JOCELYN LAMBAC-KANDA was awar-ded with the GSCYAA in 2006. She was one of the country's representatives to the Ship for Southeast Asia Youth Program in 2007. She was a delegate to the Institute on Inter-ethnic Dialogue and Conflict Resolution in Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, United States of America on April 5 to May 7, 2008. She was also conferred the leadership award under the Peace and Human Rights category of the Search for the Outstanding Youth Leaders of the Philippines, a prestigious search run by the United Nations Association of the Phi-lippines, held at the University of Makati in 2009. She is presently the program manager of Kalinaw Sarangani Unit under the Office of the Governor of the Province of Sarangani.

DR. LEMUEL BENEDICT R. NON graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Biology at Mindanao State University - Ge-neral Santos City Campus and was its first and only Summa Cum Laude. He was Phi-lippine representative to the Eco-Innovate Forum in Sydney, Australia in 2003 hosted by Bayer. He was conferred the GSC Youth Achiever’s Award in same year. He went to take up medicine at the University of the Phi-lippines – College of Medicine in Manila and graduated top 9 of their class in 2008. That same year, he placed top 8 of the Philippine Licensure Examination for Physicians. He is currently in Pennsylvania, USA pursuing his medical specialization. (YADO)

Winners, Cultural Communities Youth Category (third from left) Nor-en B Lambac and Ibrahim K. Nilong.

FEATURE

by: ARLYN JANE QUIAPO

It is now proven scientifically that giving appreciation and due recognition promotes

more productivity and encourages more creativity in an individual.

Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio with GSC Youth Achiever’s Awardee Nor-en Lambac and YADO Head Elmer Cequiña.

Imagine you were desperate for a cold soft drink one very hot day. You went to a sari-sari store and called for the storekeeper. It

took some time before an old man came out (oftentimes, there’s no one there to answer). He handed you your soda after you paid and mumbled something unintelligible while fishing for some coin change, obviously irritated with your large peso bill. (You must have disturbed his siesta, that’s why). Anyhow, you had to open the bottle yourself with a half-buried nail on the wall because he said there’s no bottle opener available. Then you gulped down your soda in silence.

The next instance when you again wanted a drink, you decided to go to the adjacent store. Imagine your delight when a very pleasing storekeeper (who was there all time) greeted you immediately as soon as you appeared. When you told her what you want, she did not only hand you an ice-cold soda with straw to match, she also made sure you are seated comfortably under a tree beside the store. She even offered you tissue paper and a magazine – things that you did not expect from a sari-sari store but delighted you anyway.

I don’t know if you’ve had this experience but I still have to find a sari-sari store with such polish. The first store abounds in your neighborhood, though. While these are illustrations, they are portrayals of customer satisfaction, or lack thereof. What you got from the second store is evidently quality service.

And that’s what public service enterprise

How essential is the local government’s systems and processes in nourishing growth and developmentby: EGAI CADIENTE

Ano ‘yangQuality Service,Nakakain ba ‘yan?

BANNER STORY

has been despondently instituting – or at least trying - across the country for the longest time, from the national government to your barangay.

Local governments that are into public service reforms are keen on realizing that elusive goal – satisfying the public. But we all know the story. You can never please everybody. In government service however, it’s not a matter of pleasing everyone. It is and should be about making systems and processes work in the most efficient manner possible, notwithstanding the multitude of factors affecting governance and public administration.

For every LGU, situations vary, resources differ, priorities grapple. One thing that remains constant are the steadfast gripes of dissatisfied public. Say, government hospitals anywhere is one certain facility sated with complaints, or engineering offices anywhere do not run dry of overflowing blames. Trust

me, unhappy public-customers always have a steady stream of discontent.

This is a grim reality that every local go-vernment is dealing with everyday. Layer that with the truth that for every specific government service, there is a specific set of process for specific customers with differing satisfaction levels. Top that still with another fact that the government is bound by centralized and stringent accounting/auditing procedures, dictated by policies with interpretations as varied as the languages of the world.

You can just imagine the predicament of government to satisfy its public-customers when it is wanting of intrinsic satisfaction to begin with.

In this overwhelming actuality, the most rational thing that any LGU can do is to manage intertwining realities. Fundamental in ironing out organizational wrinkles is res-ponding to both internal (the organization) and external (the public) stimuli. Both viewpoints are analyzed in the balance spectrum but invariably treatment should be intramural. Solutions to problems encountered at the forefront should come from within. After all, a spectacular stage show is merely a reflection of a well-organized backstage.

Refashioning frontline facility services is critical to the growth and development the government envisions. Both short and long term solutions come into play. That’s when novel projects are introduced and polished

processes are prompted – all in trial and error fashion. Those that work are sustained, the ones that falter are scrapped. Hence, a responsive government must engage in these balancing acts, lest it drowns in its own sea of disarray.

Determined on these internal fixes, the local government of General Santos City initiated two institutional programs. One is the Total Quality Service (TQS) program incepted in 2008, which basically seeks to streamline bureaucracy, elevate employees’ competencies, and eradicate the culture of inefficiency. The other is Quality Management System (QMS) program, which for now, begins with establishing a pleasant spatial and procedural environment in business licensing processes to lessen, if not extricate red tape.

Running along other major city programs on social services and infrastructure, these

internal systems upgrading focus on frontline service operations to bolster public-customer relations. Both complement each other and are seriously pursued to polish government service quality.

While there are triumphs so far, the envisioned result is still much to be desired. Any transformation has to go through birthing pains - resistance included - as grumblings are expected from both internal and external ends.

“Big Terms. Big Deal”, you say. “What has this quality thing got to do with ordinary citizens like me anyway?”, you ask. “Makakain ko ba ‘yan?”, you mumble.

Let me shred the mumbo jumbo. Quality service is when you don’t have to

wait for an employee to finish typing his or her fb status before entertaining you; it is when a simple certificate is released immediately and you don’t have to wait because accordingly “walay mag-encode”, it is when someone tends to your concern instead of telling you the boss is out of the office; it is when your document gets acted so you don’t have to return several times before getting an answer.

Quality service is when a particular permit is released without fuss or delay; it is when a task for one person is discharged by one person and not five; it is when a job that can be accomplished in an hour is finished in one hour not one day.

Quality public service is when a public servant serves you with delight that delights you. This is the kind of treatment that appeals to customers. This is the kind of frontline service that delights clients. This is the service that attracts investors. And when they come, they come a many.

Investments take form in varied industries – construction, services, hospitality, telecommunication, transportation, and so on. These industries create employment, generate markets, demand supplies, supply goods, spawn allied industries, form competitions.

The spectacle of multiplier effect engenders a marketplace of opportunities and invigorates free enterprise. Investments mean dynamism in the economy. A dynamic economy means opportunities in motion.

Investments translate to more city income. More income means more funds for better drainage system, new classrooms, additional streetlights, more concrete roads, more equipment for peace and order, enough medicines for the hospital, and so on.

So, ano ang magagawa ng quality service sa buhay mo? Hindi ba mas masarap inumin ang malamig na softdrink na nakabalot sa tissue at komportable mong iniinom sa lilim ng punongkahoy, at ang nag-serve sa’yo ay tinderang naka-smile? Siguradong mas maraming bibili sa tindahan na ‘yon. Mas lalago ang negosyo niya, mas marami syang items na kailangan, mas maraming suppliers. Magbubukas sya ng branch at magha-hire ng mga trabahante.

The local government right now is shaping up that store. Its continuous internal restructuring intends to entice more customers. It is polishing its systems and processes flavored with frontline delight. So yes, quality service is palatable. Once you digest its intents, you realize it’s an essential nourishment for a growing city.

Meantime, the store is open and ice-cold soda is available. v

illustration by: Kyle V. Astrolabio

Quality in Action. Government agencies and LGU offices during the one-stop business shop in the City hall lobby and the City Mayor with Management Review Board (MRB) Chairperson Jong Gonzalez, Qual-ity Management Representative (QMR) Meriam Buguis, and mem-bers in a session. (Top photo by Paul Bernaldez. Bot-tom photo by Jing Velos)

Refashioning frontline facility services is critical

to the growth and development the

government envisions.


Towards Total Quality Service

15

Simple processes, fast local govern-ment transactions, and effective and efficient service delivery: these are

external customers’ expectations. Along our Organization Development, which is the continuous alignment and strengthening of the organization and its various components to ensure performance and relevance, City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio declared that we will continually improve our pro-cesses to satisfy our customers. Hence, for total quality service we aim to have quality processes, quality employees, and quality workplaces or TQS.

QUALITY PROCESSESIn our efforts to have quality processes,

we continually manage them through focus on process identification, analysis, and improvement. Our departments are doing this thru process and practice reviews. In our desire to meet customer expectations, the departments look at the customer in every process. Data collection and analysis are ongoing activities which focus on per-formance measurement. Our frontline and the core processes of planning, budgeting and procurement is our primary target in process improvement. We are also looking at the continual improvement of our health and social services delivery processes. And to provide the fuel for these process improvements, resource generation and col-lection processes are also being innovated and enhanced.

QUALITY EMPLOYEESWe believe that the people involved

in the process are in the best position to improve. Once empowered, they can always do better. We also believe in continual

by: zENAIDA ETURMA-GALANG

improvement. The biggest room in the universe is after all, the “room for improve-ment”. We are also convinced that our values drive our behavior. This is the reason why we crafted our core organizational values - Godliness, Service Excellence, Commitment, Teamwork, and Openness to Change or GSC’TO. We designed our posters and made these as prominent our walls and even in our uniforms and ID’s as part of our popularization and advocacy efforts. The goal is for all employees and officials, to continually practice and display our commonly-agreed organizational values and their behavioral indicators. All of these need an organization-wide commitment and involvement.

Under our OD Program and along our establishment of quality management sys-tems and the adoption of the new strategic performance management system in the local government, we will continue to train all our employees, regardless of level or position. Under our organization culture alignment efforts we will aim to recognize and reward our employees for their contri-bution to process improvement and process performance. We will focus on developing management systems that yield quality outcomes and reward individuals who work in teams to continually improve processes.

QUALITY WORKPLACESAs the third component of TQS, which is

quality workplace, we will continue to im-plement our Office 5S Program and reward the practice of its principles by offices and employees of the local government. In line with this advocacy, we focus on looking and rewarding general office cleanliness and orderliness, well-groomed and courteous service providers, presence of updated frontline transaction flowcharts and front-line service desk with officer-of-the-day, functional customer lounging area, and proper waste management, among others.

Once the three TQS components work together, this will help us realize our organi-zational vision of: “A Learning Organization Delivering Total Quality Service that Delights its Customers.” v

All smiles. Service that delights in the yearly one-stop documentation for the processing of mayor's permit at city hall lobby. (Photo by Paul Bernaldez)

DEPARTMENT REPORT

RWSA under new management

Rural Water Works and Sanitation Associations (RWSAs) was previously handled by the Office of the City

Planning and Development Office (OCPDC) but after the City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio signed Executive Order No. 25, Series of 2012 which was later amended to Executive Order No. 046 Series of 2012, the program management on the organization and sustenance of the RWSAs were transferred to the City Mayor’s Office-Barangay Affairs Division.

The transfer of management and supervision was brought about by the OCPDC’s redirection under the 2009 Organizational Development Program that one of the changes needed to improve the processes on planning and investment programming for sustainable development is to transfer the program management of RWSA. Hence, OCPDC must turn-over all RWSA documents to CMO-Barangay Affairs Division and when needed to provide technical assistance to CMO-BAD in the performance of its new function.

The Directive tasked the CMO-BAD to: 1) Organize into RWSAs communities the recipients of government water supply projects; 2) Build and enhance the capacities of existing RWSAs on planning, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation and regulation; 3) Conduct Monitoring of RWSA activities; 4) Submit to the LCE an updated RWSA inventory at the end of each year; 5) coordinate with partner agencies such as City Engineer’s Office and DPWH for the needed assistance of RWSAs; 6) Facilitate, mediate and conciliate procedures on matters affecting RWSAs operations; 7) Submit recommendation to the Local Chief Executive results and resolutions of mediation and conciliation procedures affecting RWSA projects; and 8) make use of the local government’s available resources (personnel & equipment) necessary for the efficient program management of the city’s RWSAs.

”As part of the preparation, CMO-BAD personnel were sent to MinDA, Davao City to have a basic course on Conflict Management last Novembet 10-11, 2012. They will also attend courses on Community Organizing and other related courses this year. Attendance to these courses will equip the personnel with skills and knowledge on how to properly handle and manage RWSAs,” said NurJuanday, Acting Division Chief of CMO-Barangay Affairs Division.

According to OCPDC, General Santos City has 140 organized RWSAs more or less both operational and non-operational. (Lady Manalo/Barangay Affairs)

Sa bisa ng EO No. 29, Series of 2010, “an Executive Or-der establishing guidelines

for the renumbering of existing tricycle for hire franchises issued by Motorized Tricycle Franchising Regulatory Board (MTFRB)”, ang opisina ng MTFRB ay naging abala sa pag-hahanda upang maisaayos ang pagpapatupad ng regulasyon at sistema ng tricycle operation sa Lungsod ng Heneral Santos.

Layunin ng nasabing programa ay ang mga sumusunod: (1) upang maisiguro ang “One franchise number per tricycle unit policy”, (2) ang magkaroon ng updated at reliable na database ang mga franchise holders, (3) ang masiguro na ang lahat ng franchise holders ay bonafide residents ng Heneral Santos, (4) makansela ang prankisa ng mga operatos na wala nang tricycle unit, (5) masiguro na ang mga drivers ay may sapat na kaalaman sa batas trapiko, at ang bawat yunit na tumatakbo sa daan ay kumpleto ng safety accessories, at (6) upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon na magkaroon ng franchise ang mga kwalipikadong Green Plate Owners na mas kilala sa tawag na “kolorum”.

Sinimulan ang programa sa actual inspection of tricycle units sa pangunguna nina Miss Geraldine A. Zamora, ang kasalukuyang Officer-in-Charge ng MTFRB, Kagawad Remus de Claro and Chairman ng Committee on Transportation, mga miyembro ng MTFRB sa pangunguna ni Mr. Enrique “Rex” Carino, Presidente ng Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association, at ng mga piling personnel and staff ng Permits and Licenses Division.

Ang actwal na inspeksyon ng mga tricycle ay malinaw na nakasaad sa Section 3 ng nasabing Executive Order “that the operator shall present the tricycle unit for actual inspection as scheduled, and if the unit complies with the safety requirements such as but not limited to signal lights, etc., MTFRB shall issue a new franchise number thereby cancelling the existing franchise number.”

Kasabay din nito ay ang pagtatala ng mga pangalan ng operators, pangalan ng drivers, at ng mga iba pang importanteng bahagi ng tricyle unit tulad halimbawa ng chassis number, engine number, sie ng sidewheel at iba pa upang sa gayon ay ma-verify at ma-validate ng mabuti ang bawat tricycle unit na aktibong

Magandang Tricycle sa Magandang Gensan sa Taong 2013 Maasahan

nag-ooperate sa Lungsod. Unang ginanap ang nasabing actual inspection sa Barangay Bula noong May 18, 2012 at sinundan na ito ng iba pang barangay. Halos anim na buwan din bago natapos ang aktibidad sa 26 barangay ng lungsod.

Sa kabuuan, ang aktwal na inspeksyon ng tricyle units ay maayos at mapayapang naipatupad ng mga kinauukulan.

Sa isang panayam kay Zamora, nasabi nito na hindi daw limitado sa pagsasaayos at pagpapaganda sa mga tricycle units lamang. Masusundan pa ito ng mga serye ng training at seminar para sa mga tricycle drivers at mga operators. Tuturuan ang mga ito ng tamang pananamit at tamang kaugalian: ang maging magalang sa kanilang mga pasahero upang sa gayon ay magkaroon ng tamang dignidad ang kanilang napiling trabaho or kabuhayan.

Inaasahan na ang lahat ng mga ninanais na pagbabago sa operation ng tricycle sa lungsod ng Heneral Santos ay tuluyan ng maisakatuparan sa taong 2013. (CMO-BPLD)

Masusing pagsusuri ng mga tricycle na naghahangad magkaroon o maka renew ng prangkisa ay isinasagawa ng opisyales ng BPLD alinsunod sa reglamentong na-kasaad sa EO 29. (BPLD)

14

Organizations whether private or pub-lic, constantly endeavor to discover novel ways to meet the needs, demands and ex-pectations of its growing clientele. The rapid pace of information technology gave impetus for the emergence of better ways, systems, procedures and processes in the workplace.

Pertinent provisions of RA 6713 oth-erwise known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees” mandate all government agencies to give prompt and immediate action on public requests and to make documents accessible to the public.

The GSC Assessor’s Office, in its pur-suit to deliver prompt and quality service and to respond to public clamor, launches its innovative service or E-service.

GSC Assessor’s Office has demonstrat-ed its commitment to uphold public inter-est and its sensitivity to public demands by providing continuous improvement in its daily operations. Public interest comes first and foremost.

Request for instant information on real properties located within General Santos City can be coursed through the follow-ing:

MOBILE NO. : 0932-887-9034TEL NO. : (083) 553-6369EMAIL ADD : [email protected] : www.gensantos.gov.ph

Mr. Vincent S. Martinez, Administra-tive Assistant III, is tasked to serve the needs and requests of the public. (Rosan-na Romero/CASSO)

ONEText or Call Does it All

FEATURE

by: AMIRA MUTALIB-LLANOS

Your satisfaction and feedback matters. Re-ceiving lobby of the City Hall welcomes its clients with a ready hand to assist. (Photo by Jing Velos)

Under our organization culture alignment

efforts we will aim to recognize and reward

our employees for their contribution to process

improvement.

BANNER STORY

KwENTONG TSAMPYON | General’s Inspiring Stories

17


Three generals figured prominently in the last few months of 2012 and have again given pride and honor to

the city. Champions in their own right and in their own fields, they have managed not only to inspire us but also given us the will to shine even brighter in whatever we do.

Here are their stories.

MARIVI LIM-CASTROOut of 284 nominations from all over the

country, another General stands out and is hailed among the Top Ten in the 2012 Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstand-ing Teachers.

Surpassing rigid rounds of screening and interview, Mrs. Marivi Lim Castro of General Santos City SPED Integrated School brought home more than just a medallion, a plaque of appreciation and some 350,000 pesos cash prize but another pride and inspiration for the people of General Santos.

Seventeen years in service and 10 years in SPED, Mrs. Castro unrelentingly made inno-vations in teaching. She has made her Eng-lish class an enjoyable one, honing future writers, orators and debaters. She designed specialized one-year training programs for up-and-coming journalists and debaters in the school. Through these, the school has produced several regional and national winners including the very first visually-impaired feature writer to have qualified in the National Schools Press Conference. These achievements made her a four-time Philippine Best School Paper Adviser from 2004-2007.

She also developed instructional mate-rials for the National Achievement Test and the National Career Assessment Examina-tion, putting the school in top rank since 2004 up to the present. Her talents in wri-ting was also showcased through her com-positions of original plays staged in-house, one of which raised more than PHP150,000

Three Generals on the Spotlightby: AVEL MANANSALA with Glenda T. sendico, sHeeP-education and john elmer Loretizo, eiC-The Phoenix of sPeDIntegrated School

making possible the fencing of the school’s San Isidro Campus.

She now makes Gensan known also for having a pool of hardworking, dedicated, and globally competent teachers.

Fulfillment in her words is, “…finding solace among the students who were en-trusted to me where I also get a daily dose of reminder not to give up to whatever trials I’m facing in life as a daughter, mother and a wife.”

AVELMAR O. MANANSALAAvel, as he is fondly called, is one of the

city’s pioneering bloggers.Embracing the Internet as early as 1995,

this marketing graduate of the University of the Phlippines, has shown an unbridled pas-sion to promote General Santos City ONLINE to the world.

After working abroad as an OFW, and finding out that Google searches on his home city only produced results pages which were so scarce and if they did, carried stories which painted a picture of chaos, strife and disorder, he decided to do some-

thing about it.In 2007, two years upon joining the local

government, under the City Mayor’s Office, he started his own blog, GenSan News On-line Mag (www.GenSantos.com) and started writing developmental news about the Tuna Capital, earning it a few awards from the Philippine Blog Awards and the Digital Filipino Inc., in the process.

Along the way, he founded the SoCCSk-SarGen Bloggers with five other bloggers who shared a common goal to uplift South Central Mindanao’s image.

Their group blogged every imaginable event, happening and positive development in the region, gradually changing its image on the world wide web.

Avel did not stop at that. He began learning a new technology,

called Map Maker, developed by Google which allows volunteers to add names of streets, establishments, edifices, and other places of interests on Google Maps.

Sensing the value of Google Map Maker in boosting tourism not only in SoCCSkSar-Gen but all throughout Mindanao, which is

Outstanding Filipinos, Champion Generals. 1 Marivi Castro (second from left) with a fellow Top Ten winner of the 2012 Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers. 2 Avel Manansala with his trophy of recognition awarded to him by Google Map Maker Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2012 in Novotel, Hyderabad, India. 3 Charles Andrew Flamiano holds up his trophy of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation’s 2012 Global Film Competition, Faith Shorts.

the least mapped region in the country, he started organizing MAPUPS, first in 2009, with fellow bloggers. He eventually got more people to join subsequent mapping events, and started propagating the im-portance of Map Maker, also in promoting awareness for disaster preparedness and in helping COMELEC map precincts used in local and national elections.

His group formed mapping communities all over and conducted mapups in Sultan Kudarat; South and North Cotabato; and Bukidnon.

In April 2013, together with his brother, Orman, they spearheaded the first Minda-nao Map Maker Summit at the STI College. Through their influential presence on social media, they made it the biggest mapping event ever in the country with over 150 volunteers in attendance and with a Google Team from Singapore as witness.

All these did not escape the eyes of Google, of course.

On November 29, 2012, Google flew Avel Manansala to an all-expense paid trip to Hyderabad, India to give a presentation on

his fruitful work as a MapUp Organizer to the Google Map Maker Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2012.

Along with three other Pinoys from Lu-zon, they made up Team Philippines tasked with sharing their success stories in sprea-ding the use of Map Maker in the country.

For his part, Avel regaled the participants from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Khzakstan, Russia, Bangladesh, and other participating countries with how his small dream to map his beloved General Santos, became a strong drive to include the whole region; and how this became a firm resolve to continue encouraging and teaching others the importance of promoting their localities to the rest of the world, online.

CHARLES ANDREW FLAMIANOCharles Andrew S. Flamiano, is a 16-year

old student of Notre Dame of Dadiangas University- IBED. His film, “Letting Go, Let-ting God” won the prestigious Tony Blair Faith Foundation’s 2012 Global Film Compe-tition under the category Faith Shorts.

Tony Blair Faith Foundation’s Global Film

Competition is created by Former Prime Minister Tony Blair of London. The com-petition which is composed of different categories creates a link between differ-ent religions of the world by making them understandable to other faiths.

Charles received his award at the famous 195 Piccadilly, home of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts or famously known as BAFTA, from Mr. Tony Blair him-self, in the presence of entertainment and film industry members, religious leaders and experts from Wikipedia, Youtube and Goggle.

In producing this video, Charles is the director and he shares his feat with his team members Alyanna Pauline B. Tambuli (script-writer); Georgianne Eve B. Soledad (Script Editor); Jacqueline B. Jala and Thea Marie B. Factor (actresses); Jillian Mae J. Roque and Venus Lyca E. Lomocso (cameos); Kristine Mae H. Carreon and Nikka Angeli F. Copia (make-up artists); Kyle L. Ferrer (Crew); and Rosaifa U. Radi, Abegail Hannah Faith P. Espiritu, Chris Norwin P. Nisperos (camera-men). v

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SANGGUNIAN NG SAMBAYANAN | SP Corner

Delivering Quality Online Legislative Data & InformationSanggunian celebrates 1st year in the world wide webby: ELMER PAUL GUISAO

Sanggunian officials and employees together with some guests celebrated the 1st year anniversary

of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) website’s online public service in the world wide web www) at the SP Session Hall on November 22, 2012 with a simple program and salu-salo after.

Recognizing the value of optimization of efficient service delivery, people’s participation, public transparency and accountability and good governance, the current Sanggunian of the City of General Santos headed by Vice Mayor Shirlyn L. Bañas-Nograles has implemented various I-Governance initiatives for the past two years.

I-Governance which stands for interactive governance is described as the utilization of different information and computer technologies to facilitate the operation of government services and disbursement

of public information through online interactions among government, the private sector and the constituents.

To implement one of its major I-Governance initiatives, the 16th Sangguniang Panlungsod launched the official website of the Office of Sangguniang Panlungsod on its 68th Regular Session held on November 22, 2011 by virtue of Resolution No 575, Series of 2011 entitled Resolution Declaring www.spgensantos.ph as the Official Website of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of General Santos.

The SP website best serves users who need an all access pass to various data and information about the city’s legislative department. It contains and features a conglomerate of facts and data on past and present SP officials, the employees, enacted ordinances, approved resolutions, barangay profiles, directories of the different government agencies, schedule of sessions, consultative and committee hearings, and

other programs and related activities of the Sanggunian.

Within its first year of operation, the website has reached more than 20,000 viewers and users not just from the city but from all over the world who logged in for different purposes.

In order to strengthen the legal entity of the SP website, a local legislation was enacted before it turned a year old. The Sanggunian passed on its 106th Regular Session on September 18, 2012 Ordinance No. 11, Series of 2012 otherwise known as An Ordinance Institutionalizing the Official Website of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, in City of General Santos www.spgensantos.ph, Launched by Virtue of Resolution No. 575, Series of 2011, to be the Only Officially Sanctioned On-Line Databank and All Other Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City to Come Thereafter Towards Pursuing Interactive Governance and For Other Purposes. v

http://www.spgensantos.ph/

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BARANGAYAN CORNER | ABC Corner

by: LADY MANALO & JOY TAN

JAN-FEB 2013

The Gensan Kabarangay Awards for 2012

Barangay Council of City Heights with City Mayor Antonino-Custodio, DILG Director Atty. Rochelle Mahinay-Sero, Mr. Rey Billena & Ray-mund Salangsang of General Santos City Chamber of Commerce dur-ing the GenSan KaBarangay Awarding Ceremony.

After three months of field evaluation, inter-views and strict scru-

tiny of all the documentation submitted by 26 barangays, two barangays were finally hailed as model barangays for 2012.

These distinctions were given to Barangay City Heights for the Urban Barangays and Barangay Katangawan for Rural Barangays during the GenSan KaBarangay Awards Night last December 14, 2012 at the Sun City Suites. Said barangays were the winners for the same coveted awards given in 2011.

The winners were judged ac-cording to (1) Barangay govern-ance performance management system (50%); (2) Field verifica-tion and evaluation (40%); (3) Barangay innovations (5%); and (4) Awards or distinctions (5%)

City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio awarded each winner with P30,000.00 cash, computer sets and P100, 000.00 worth of project-based cash incentives.

Other winners were Baran-gays San Isidro and Olympog as the Promising Urban and Rural Barangays, respectively. Baran-gays Dadiangas West and Siguel were recognized as the Dynamic Urban and Rural Barangays, res-pectively.

Minor awards were also con-ferred to the following partici-

And The Winner Is...

MAPAYAPANG GENSAN | Peace & Order

GSCPO“Best City Police Office” Twice in A Row

The General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO) did it again.

For the second time, GSCPO was awarded this year’s “BEST CITY POLICE OFFICE” award for 2012.

The award was received by the new City Director P/SSupt. Froilan Quidilla at Camp Crame Headquarters recently. P/SSupt. Quidilla, upon his assumption as City Director of GSCPO, has also initiated various reforms aimed at stopping lawless-ness and further improve the peace and order condi-tion of the city. Police visi-bility has been intensified including check points and assigning policemen in po-lice boxes, to name a few.

In 2011, GSCPO also bagged the award as the “BEST CITY POLICE OFFICE” nationwide. No less than President Benigno Aquino III handed the award to P/S Supt. Atty. Cedric Train du-ring the 110th Philippine National Police Anniversary celebration at Camp Crame.

During the term of for-mer City Director P/SSupt. Atty. Train, he implemented measures designed to en-sure peace and stability of the city and an improved police capability in fighting crimes. GSCPO’s readiness in addressing disasters took the nod of the members

by: PING APONESTO

Top. City Mayor Darlene and MINDA Chair. Lu Antonino inspect the new model of police motorcylce cab thru the initiative of Central Mind-anao Police Chief Supt. Alex Paul Monteagudo early this year. Above. Regular check point routine. (Paul Bernaldez)

pating barangays: Best in Local Legislation - City Heights and San Isidro; Most Transparent Barangay - City Heights; Best in Citizen Participation- City Heights; Best in Development Planning- City Heights; Best in Revenue Generation- Dadiangas North; Best in Revenue Alloca-tion and Utilization- Bula; Best in Fiscal Accountability- Up-per Labay; Best in Facilities and Customer Services- Dadiangas West; Best in HR Management and Development- Dadiangas North; Best in Health & Nutri-tion Program- Calumpang; Best in Education & Culture Program- City Heights & San Isidro; Best in Women and Children Pro-tection Program- City Heights and Katangawan; Best in Public Safety, Disaster Risk Reduction Management- City Heights; Best in Agriculture & Fisheries Deve-lopment- Bula; Best in Entrepre-neurship, Business and Industry Promotion- Apopong; Best in Waste Management & Pollution Control-City Heights and Lagao and Best in Natural Resources Management- City Heights, Ma-buhay and Katangawan.

In addition, the General San-tos City Chamber of Commerce, Inc. also awarded the Most Busi-ness Friendly Barangay to Ba-rangay City Heights and with it, a cash prize of P20,000.00. v

FRAME Project teaches the values of savings, bayanihan, and self-help for family, group and community enhancement. While most anti-poverty programs concentrate on the creation of employment or livelihood opportunities, what sets this project apart from other poverty alleviation measures is the addition of family values, spirituality, and moral recovery learning among the members. Thus, the project operates on mutual trust, love and cooperation, and on strengthening self-help virtues rather than dole-out.

The integration of values formation into the project is FRAME’s success formula. It improves the value system of participants in terms of need prioritization and living healthy lifestyles; increases individual’s capa-bility of managing own and family resources; enhances individual skills in leading fami-ly, groups and community affairs; develops group cohesiveness and individual participa-tion through productive community activi-ties; and access individual to community or group resources for livelihood.

Value Formation Strategy Towards Poverty Alleviation

FRAME Project:

by: ELIzABETH REMOROSA

FRAME Project is implemented through a 6-step process. First is the Social Preparation and Group Formation where 25-30 parents from each barangay are screened and identified to compose the SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION GROUPS (SET-G). The purpose is to ensure that communities targeted have similar background, interests and outlook. Then, Group-building sessions are undertaken to increase the cohesiveness of the group and for camaraderie to be developed. Social Group Work Methods are employed to ensure the group’s unity. Next, SET-Gs are taught the importance and the urgency of saving, and are actually made to save. Hence increasing their capability in managing their internal resources. Once the group is organized, continuous Value –based education are undertaken in every meeting to develop positive virtues and encourage participants to change for the better. Positive virtues are discussed in situational settings for group members to easily adopt in their daily undertakings. Simultaneous to value- based education, Skills enhancement

Sang indi pako membro sang FRAME, malain gid akong pamatasan. Gubot kag walay klaro ang akon pamilya, halos wala kami gasimba.

Pareha kami sang akon bana-sugarol kaayo. Hilig ko mamantay sa isig ka tawo para libakon kag dali ko masuko makakita dayon kaaway.

Karon, isa nako FRAME Leader sa among grupo. Ang senimana nga “Di-rectional Session” hinay hinay nga naka transform gid sa akong kaugalingon pati sa tibuok nakon pamilya. Dako gid ang natabang sang “FRAME Pro-gram” labi na sa Philhealth kay gawas-sulod ang akon bana sa Hospital. Sa karon ang ginakapital namon sa sugal sadto amon na lang ideposito sa “Forced Savings” kag sa “Mortuary Assistance”.

Sobra sobra akon pasalamat nga dire kami ga puyo sa GenSan nga may ara programa para sa mga nanginahanglan nga parehas sang akon pamilya. Damo gid salamat sa gadumala ni aning “FRAME Program”. Tani, magpa-dayon ini para sa kaayuhan sa kadamu-an nga nagapuyo diri.

Aduna mi pito ka anak sa akong asawa. Tungod ni ana naningkamot mi aron mahatagan ug maayong pagtagad sa pagkaon ug pagpaeskwela.

Tuig 2000 namatay akong asawa. Ako ang nagbago-od sa tanan responsi-bilidad: nahimo kong tatay na nanay pa. Sa kasakit nga akong nahiagumam, gisudlan nako ang bisyo sa pag-inom aron matambalan ang akong kaguol. Ni-abot napod ang isa pa ka pagsulay sa akong kinabuhi sa dihang na aksi-dente ang akong anak, tuig 2004, kung diin nko na ilhan si Maam Susanne Duray, Area Worker sa among Barangay. Siya ang akong dangpanan. Iya kung gikuha mahimong leader sa FRAME Group. Sa pagsigig apil nako sa “Weekly Directional Session” diha nako nasabtan ang pulong sa Ginoo na nakahatag og tabang sa akong pag bag-o padulong matarong na kinabuhi. Naka kat-on ko sa pagtigum bisag gamay ra ang akong gipangitaan nga ugma damlag naa koy makuot sa dali dali na panginahanglanon sa akong pamilya.

Sa pagpadayon aning programa kahibalo ko nga daghan pang mataban-gan sama sa akong pamilya.

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RAME is an acronym for Family Resource Allocation and Management Enhancement. This is a community and value-based capability building project that leads participants and communities to socio-economic activities and self-help livelihood opportunities. It is a special project under the Local Institutional Network for Growth Against Poverty (LINGAP) Flagship Program. Its ultimate objective is to empower the family, the community and project participants to their Socio-Eco-nomic situation through a mass-based savings system.

F

services are offered according to the needs of the group members in order to increase K.A.S.E (Knowledge, Attitude, Skills and Experience) to prepare the group for livelihood opportunities. Finally, Matching assistance is available for members. This assistance, availed through a minimal fee, provides group members an opportunity to move towards the desired change by ensuring that interests of the group and the livelihood activities to be engaged provide the best chance of success.

As of yearend 2012, Frame project has more than 30,000 members with a collective net worth of Php 38, 646, 827.98. The numbers speak that the project, in its 10 years of implementation, made economic transformations in many families in General Santos City.

If interested to become a member of this phenomenal life, family, and resource saving project, please visit the City Social Welfare and Development Office for inquiries and group formation assistance. v

FEATURE

of the evaluation team. The pro-grams and reforms instituted by P/SSupt. Train resulted to recei-ving the prestigious award from the PNP Headquarters. Mean-while, this development has fur-ther strengthened confidence of the business community which resulted to the pouring in of new investments here. Constructions of hotels, commercial buildings, subdivisions and malls can be seen in the city providing employment to local workers and residents of the city. (CPIO) v

Together, we save millions! Around 8,000 members attend the 9th People’s Congress.

DIONISIO TRIBUNALOFamilyZone 6, Brgy Bula, Gen. Santos City

MARILOU REMEGIO Family

Zone 5, Brgy. Bula, General Santos City


Operation SMILE provides free surgeries to repair hare lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities of children in the country. It was started in Naga City, Camarines Sur in 1982 by Dr. William Magee and wife Kathy who are from Virginia State, USA. The endeavor is supposed to be a “one-time mission” only however, Dr. Magee and wife, who is also a Pediatrician have noted that there are still many more children who needed help, so after 30 years of service to several countries, they are here once again in the Philippines.. in a JOURNEY back HOME.

by: AILEEN FILOTEO

The General Santos City Hemodialysis Center is now a plan made real by the generals. A consultative meeting with the city’s roster of Nephrologists was held last June

22, 2012 in order to seek their professional and specialty assistance in the planning the establishment of a hemodialysis center.

The City Economic Management Council Development Office is in coordination with the City Hospital and the City Mayor’s office in a series of consultative meetings. The proposal laid in the series of planning sessions tackled financial analysis, breakeven point analysis,

Encouraging smile for a babe who had hers made better. Mayor Darlene woos

the little Cherelyn after the operation.

A perspective of the GSC Hemodialysis Center.

Operation SMILE

Philippines in Gensan

wELFARE + wELLBEING | Health & Social Services

Traffic Enforcers Gipasidunggan

Gipasidunggan sa Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) SOCSARGEN Chapter ang lima ka mga dancing traffic law enforcers sa ilang gikapakita nga performance diha sa kadalanan ning dakbayan panahon sa dis oras sa buntag ug hapon.

Ang lima ka traffic law enforcers nga gitagaan ug pasidungog sa IBP-SOCSARGEN Chapter mao sila Rey Rivera, Akbar Usop, May Alonzo ug Lorejane Bermoy nga nakadawat ug P2,500 kada usa,samtang si Reynold Atienza nakadawat ug P5,000 isip 2012 Outstanding Traffic Law Enforcer.

Sumala kang IBP-SOCSARGEN Chapter Atty. Elvie Albano ilang nakita ang kadasig sa mga napasidunggang traffic enforcers matag buntag ug hapon sa pagsayaw samtang nagdumala sa trapiko. Ang maong kadasig nagpakita sa ilang matinud-anong pagmahal sa trabaho ug kalidad sa serbisyo.

Matud ni Reynold Atienza wa sila magdahum nga dunay panaghugpong sa mga abogado dinhi sa dakbayan nga gahatag ug pasidungog sa mga yanong traffic enforcer. Daku ang ilang pagpasalamat nga gitagaan sila ug pasidungog luyo sa ilang paningkamot nga mapahapsay ang dagan sa trapiko ning dakbayan.

Si Asst. City Administrator ug Head-Traffic Management, Gabriel Francis Glennville N. Gonzalez, nanghinaut nga mamahimong inspirasyon sa ubang traffic enforcers ang pasidungog nga nadawat sa lima ug iyang gihagit ang ubang traffic enforcers nga mopakita sa ilang abilidad sa pagpahapsay sa kadalanan aron Makita usab sila sa ubang sector sa syudad nga mohatag kanila ug pasidungog sama sa gibuhat sa IBP-SOCSARGEN. (Paul Bernaldez/CPIO)

January 14, 2013 - Lima ka mga miembro sa dancing local traffic enforcers ang na-kadawat ug dungog ug salapi gikan sa Inte-grated Bar of the Philippines sa pagpanguna ni IBP Socsargen President Atty. Elvie Albano. (Paul Bernaldez)

costing, project financing, total investment cost, implementation scheme and other customary discussions in the establishment of a hemodialysis center towards its suc-cess.

The center includes a business area, treatment area, personnel’s area and support facility area. These sections are accroding to the standards set by the De-partment of Health in line with licensing requirements for a Hemodialysis Center.

The GSC Hemodialysis Center is one of the breakthrough highlights in the deve-lopment of the city in terms of healthcare.

With the Asst.Health Secretary, Dr. Romulo Busuego, its groundbreaking and laying of capsule was held on January 31, 2013 along with the inauguration of the GSC ER-OPD Complex and the ground-breaking and laying of capsule of the GSC Calumpang Hospital.v

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Antonio C. Acharon, Sr. Memorial Park, Ang Bag-ong Imahe sa Uhaw Cemetery

Usa ka mas maayong talan-awon, maanindot ug matahum nga parke—kini ang dakong kausaban sa bag-o nga Antonio C. Acha-ron Sr. Memorial Park sa Uhaw, General Santos. Ang dugay nang gihandum nga kausaban napatuman na tong niaging tuig 2012.

lima ka tuig, e-“exhume” ang mga nalubong dinhi ug igabalhin ngadto sa“Individual Bone Chamber” ug ang pamilya magabayad sa kantidad nga Php 1,000.00 kada tuig. Ang pamilya nga dili makapadayag sa intension sa pagbalhin sa mga naghibilin sa ilang minatay, didto ibutang sa “Common Bone Chamber” nga walay bayad.

Aduna usab pagahimoon nga“Floating Niches”, apan ang pamilya sa namatay ang magatukod niini ug base kini sa “specification” sa naga dumala. Sama sa nalubong sa Apartment Type Niches, ang nalubong dinhi ma “exhume” sagihapon human ang lima ka tuig. Itugot usab ang pagtukod ug “Mausoleum”. Ang pamilya magbayad sa kantidad sa yuta nga pagatukoran lakip ang kantidad sa pagtukod sa mausoleum mismo.Sa gihapon ang spesipikasyon ug disenyo sa maong mausoleum sumala sa pagbuot sa nagadumala.

Gitahasan ang City Housing and Land Management Office sa pagdumala sa Antonio C. Acharon Sr. Memorial Park inubanan sa kooperasyon sa City General Services Office, City Health Office, CMO-Civil Security Unit, Local Civil Registrar, ug City Treasurer’s office.

Usa ka nabag-ong talan-awon ang UHAW Cemetery karong limpyo na. Gani sa pagkakaron, ang pagpananom ug mga bulak ug uban pang mga tanom ang gipadayon aron mapanindot ang palibot hangtod nga matawag kining usa ka parke. Gitinguha nga mahuman ug makumpleto na ang proyekto inig July 2013. (CHLMO)

FEATURE

by: URSULA L. ALVAREz

Make a Difference ToDAY Cherelyn Monacello is one of the more

than 200 recipients of the free surgical ser-vices of the 30th Operation SMILE surgical mission here in GenSan last November 24 to December 01, 2012.

Born with a congenital bilateral lip deform-ity, one year old Cherelyn was subjected to a Bilateral Lip repair. The operation was success-ful. Cherelyn’s deformity has been addressed and hopefully she will be able to speak nor-mally. Further, she will be able to get good nu-trition after the repair of her deformity. Jovial as she is, Cherelyn now can completely smile.

At 30….now back home. Oral cleft is among the top 12 congenital defects in the Philippines. Data showed that 4,000 Filipinos are born with a hare lip, a cleft palate or both. About

400 or 10 percent of these children die before the age of one year, and about 480 or 12 percent die past the age of five which are caused by infection and malnutrition. An early surgery is the best remedy.

In the next six months to one year, we will be following Cherelyn’s development, and then we can gladly say “this is another success story” sprung from the good heart of some of us who unselfishly shared an amount of their time, skills and blessings to the least of our brothers and sisters.

To the Operation SMILE Foundation, the government of General Santos City would like to express our heartfelt appreciation and grat-itude for this noble deed. We hope that this endeavor will continue without fail. It is the in the best efforts of General Santos City to make this mission a regular annual event. v

Hemodialysis Center, A plan in action

Niadtong 2008, nahibaluan nga kulangon na ang luna sa Uhaw Public Cemetery para maserbisyuhan ang mga katawhan nga gustong ilubong ang ilang nipanaw nga minahal didto. Daghang mga konsiderasyon ang gitagaan ug pagtagad sa local nga panggamhanan aron mapadayon ang pagserbisyo. Nadesisyunan nga i-upgrade ang kasamtangang sementeryo.

Ang upgrading project adunay kinatibuk-ang budget nga Php 40,000,000.00 ubos sa pagdumala sa City Housing and Land Management Office (CHLMO), ug nasugdan kini sa ulahing bahin na sa 2010.

Sukad sa pagsugod sa “exhumation“ niadtong 2010 hangtod Nobyembre 1, 2012, adunay 14,813 nga mga bukog ang nahipos. Ang mga nakalot nga mga bukog mainampingong giputos sa lig-ong cellophane ug gibutangan ug label sa mga impormasyon bahin sa namatay nga gikan mismo sa iyahang lapida. Ang maong mga impormasyon natigom ug gitipigan sa “Data Base” sa opisina sa CHLMO.

Usa ka Ordinansa ang ginapanday alang sa pagpahamtang sa mga bayronon ug sa unsang paagi pagahimoon ang pagdumala sa maong proyekto. Sa maong Ordinansa usab nabunyagan ang Uhaw Cemetery sa iyang bag-ong ngalan.

Ang maong Memorial Park adunay kinatibuk-ang gilapdon nga unom ka ektarya ug kini gitukuran ug “Apartment Type Niches” kung diin mahimong pagalubngan sa mga bag-ong mga minatay, sa kantidad nga Php 3,000.00 sulod sa lima ka tuig. Human sa

by: AILEEN FILOTEO

N E W S B I T


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JAN-FEB 2013

GANDANG GENSAN | Tourism & Environment

by: ANNE DIMAYUGA

BALUT IN BALUAN“Egg-Karera”, a balut-themed mini-

adventure race started the event with series of mental puzzles and physical challenges that tests the wits and skills of six (6) competing teams. The team of Jeanly Caminoy, Aylduff Silvino, and Emerald Dioquino garnered 1st place.

It has become common knowledge that delicious baluts are readily available from the streets of Brgy. Baluan due to a big population of vendors and producers in the area. This aggregation of balut-based entrepreneurs in the barangay may somehow be attributed to the presence of vast palay fields that serve as pasture grounds for ‘itik’, the local Philippine duck that lays the eggs to be made into baluts.

According to Ms. Buguis, the city government of General Santos envisions to develop the area into a park-like spot where balut vendors can safely sell their balut products, make the area a wifi-zone, and construct other support amenities to attract more tourists.

“I see an opportunity in (Balutan sa Baluan)…” stated by Hon. City Mayor Darlene Magnolia R. Antonino-Custodio in her message during the launching program. For the mayor, the project was more than a solution to a problem, but an opportunity for the balut vendors to increase their income and as for the Barangay Baluan to develop their place into a tourist destination.

Balut-tasting was conducted where

Above (by Jing Velos), Errolha Seballos, second from left wins “Ms Toursim Gensan 2013”. Left, Balut, a Filipino delicacy, takes center stage in the National Tourism Week (photo from CPIO).

baskets of baluts were distributed to the audience. RMMC Teatro Ambahanon performed the Balut-on-Parade in the tune of “Balut Penoy”, a jolly music that encourages the listeners to buy and eat balut.

MISS TOURISM PAGEANTMs. Tourism Gensan 2013 pageant, one

of the most awaited activities, was held on November 29, 2012 at SM City - Gensan, where Ms. Errolha Seballos claimed the crown. Ms. Annabelle Flote and Ms. Patricia Anne Turco garnered the crown for 1st Runner up and 2nd Runner up, respectively. A one-year job contract at CEMCDO was included in the prize package wherein they would serve as tourism ambassadors of

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General Santos City.Other activities of the celebration included

the Magandang Gensan School Tour, done last November 13-15, 2012, where staff members of Tourism Division of CEMCDO visited universities and colleges in the city and conducted lectures about the city and it’s branding – “Magandang Gensan!”

Photographs of festivals, celebrations, and historical heritage of General Santos City were exhibited in the Historical Destination/Events Photo Contest at SM City - Gensan last December 8-10, 2012. Mr. Remio Rojas and Ms. Mia Gemma Grace Salazar won 1st prize for the Professional category and Amateur category, respectively. v

Managing Ecotourismby: JING VELOS

On rope! I shouted as I started my descent down this unforgiving world of underground cavities devoid of sunlight. This is a caver’s call when someone is descending a vertical pit to warn others of possible falling rock debris. Once inside, we maneuver the darkness of the cave with only our headlamps as our source of light. We squeeze our limbs through a small, muddy passage and emerge in a chamber full of overhanging calcite minerals called stalactites. On the walls are flowstones and draperies, while on the ceiling are thousands of insect-eating bats.

How’s that for fun and adventure? That is ecotourism in action.

and rural transformation. Its goal is to develop Klaja Karsts Ecotou-

rism Park (KKEP) into an ecotourism destination that will benefit the tourism industry of the city as well as the local communities.

The KKEP encompasses the barangays of Conel, Olympog, Upper Labay and Mabuhay.

Early in the 1990s, small groups of outdoor enthusiasts frequent the area for rock climbing, caving, camping and waterfall adventure. This was seen by tourism planners of the city and was supported with various programs in the development of an ecotourism park.

The concept of the development was designed to ensure the elements of a successful ecotourism program that includes understanding and targeting the market, the desired experience and sense of place.

The Klaja Karsts Ecotourism Park now plays a vital role in the development of the tourism industry of the city.

Advocated by the United Nations as an instrument for poverty alleviation and rural transformation, ecotourism was adopted by the Philippines in 1991 in collaboration with the United Nation Development Program and World Tourism Organization and was formally introduced in the country in 1992 during the national Tourism Congress.

1n 1999, EO 111 was issued creating the National Ecotourism Development Council paving the way for the creation of the country’s National Tourism Strategy in 2002 as a framework for sustainable tourism development.

Over the last 20 years, ecotourism has evolved as a conservation strategy, improving the well-being of the communities and generating new businesses.

In General Santos City, the Klaja Karsts Ecotourism Development Project (KKEDP) is a development anchored on the City’s 2010 Comprehensive Development Plan that addresses the call for sustainable development

National Tourism

Week 2012 Taste of Balut Success

The 8th National Tourism Week celebration was anchored on the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development” last November 22, 2012 at

Barangay Baluan. The celebration was launched at a promising tourist destination in General Santos City centered on the Filipino delicacy called “balut” – the Balutan sa Baluan!

General Santos City Mayor Darlene Magnolia R. Antonino-Custodio, Barangay Captain Armando Diamante of Brgy. Baluan, and Ms. Meriam L. Buguis, Department Head of CEMCDO (City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office), officially opened the celebration.

It provides tourists more places to stay and visit such that it contributes to the economy of the local host community and strengthen their participation in governance and environmental conservation.

The need to preserve the area in its na-tural state should be pursued to sustain a balance development between social, economic and environment such that it would address future problems in biodiversity loss, pollution and land conversion.

If you are interested in visiting the KKEDP, please contact the Tourism Divison of the Office of the Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office.

You may visit them at their headquarters at the 3rd Floor Barangay Dadiangas East Building, corners Laurel East - Quirino Streets, General Santos City.

Please look for Mr. Jing Velos.They may be reached at Telephone

numbers (083) 553-8338|8448. v

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