160k Ultra Marathon in Bogo City Participants

160k Ultra Marathon in Bogo City Participants

 The 160k Ultra Marathon is expecting 30 runners to join the race. This what the organizes said this afternoon during its briefing at the Bogo Lites Center right after the sumptuous dinner hosted by the City of Bogo LGU. This is because many of those who tried to register for the race were turned down. The organizers evaluated those who wanted to register and accepted only those who are capable for this hardcore marathon.

According to the marathon organizers, there is no cash prizes for this race, only medals, a buckle and t-shirts are at stake, and most of all, honor and fame.

160k Ultra Marathon in Bogo City Cebu

160k Ultra Marathon in Bogo City Cebu.

Yes, you read it right. Today, the local government of the City of Bogo will host once again an Ultra Marathon. The 160 Ultra Marathon or the so called Hardcore Hundred Miles Ultra Marathon will be in Bogo City.

An estimated 100 to 200 hardcore runners / athletes, support staff, marathon enthusiasts, physical fitness advocates and media men will be arriving today at the Bogo Lites Center in preparation for the said race that will commence at 1:00am, November 17, 2012 infront of the New Bogo City Hall, New Bogo Government Center and IT Park, Cayang, City of Bogo, Cebu.

At 12:00pm today, the runners and other visitors will have their welcome lunch at Bogo Lites Center hosted by City Mayor Celestino Junie Martinez, Jr. and other city officials.

The runners will arrive at the finishing line (still at the New City Hall of Bogo) on November 18, 2012, Sunday at 7:00 in the morning.

OTHER RACE INFO:
Cutoff  Time 1: 112 Kilometers (Borbon Municipal Hall)/ Twenty hours (Runners not able to make it in 20:00:00 hours / 9:00 PM November 17, 2012 will be declared DID NOT FINISH and will NO longer be allowed to continue). Registered pacers are allowed from this point on.

Cutoff  Time 2: 160 Kilometers /  Thirty hours (30:00:00 hours) after which the race shall be declared officially closed and all runners still on the course will declared DID NOT FINISH

Pre-race briefing: Bogo City Hall, 11:00 AM, November 16, 2012(Registered pacers are encouraged to join)

Race Route: Bogo-Medellin via Kawit-Daanbantayan via Maya-Bogo-Tabogon-Borbon-Sogod-Bogo via Central Nautical Highway (“EME”)


MORE RACE DETAILS:

Race bibs and pre-race items will be given at the briefing.

Free sleeping quarters will be provided for starting November 16, 2012 ONLY for registered
participants and pacers.

Lunch will be served at the briefing ONLY for registered participants and pacers.

Breakfast will be provided for at the close of the race (7:00 AM November 18, 2012) ONLY for registered participants and pacers.

THIS IS A SEMI SELF-SUPPORTING RACE. All runners have the option for crew support or carry their own provisions for the duration of the race.

There will be only THREE time checkpoints/food  and hydration stations at ~ Kilometers 50, 80 and 112 respectively.  Drop bags will be allowed at the said points where runners can have access to their personal things. Additionally, there will be roving vehicles bearing water/food in different areas.

Pacers will be allowed (Only one per runner and only the registered pacer is allowed to do the pacing) from Kilometer 112 (Borbon Municipal Hall) onwards or starting at 5:00 PM, November 17 whichever comes first. At no point before this distance or designated time are pacers allowed.

All runners must have the mandatory gear such as headlamps/reflectorized vest that must be worn at the appropriate times.

Runners are encouraged to stay on the left side of the road, that is, facing the traffic whenever safe and applicable.

It is the the responsibility of the runners to be familiar with the race route and to look after the safety and welfare of their support crew, if any.

The event title speaks for itself.

The Race Director may, at any time, modify the race rules and/or course with the welfare of the runners as the utmost consideration.

The City of Bogo will host the meals for the athletes and race officials on:
Nov. 16, 2012 - Lunch
Nov. 17, 2012 - Lunch
Nov. 18, 2012 - Early Breakfast


(Race Information courtesy of http://frontrunnermagph.wordpress.com)

Bogo, an LRED Champion

GIZ and DTI is conducting today the National Forum on Local Regional Economic Development (LRED) with the theme "Accelerating Public and Private Partnerships for Competitiveness and Local Economic Development".

The City of Bogo, being identified by DTI  as LRED Champion, was invited to the forum with Mayor Junie Martinez as one of the resource speakers.  The entire Bogo team is compose of:
Mr. Carlo Fernando G.Logarta
  -City Planning and Dev. Officer, Bogo LRED Team Member
Mr. Julio S. Ursonal Jr.
  -City Treasurer, Bogo LRED Team Member
Mr. Dante J. Mayor
  -City Budget Officer, Bogo LRED Team Member
Hon. Jose Brainard Y.Mayol
  - SP member, Chair Com. on Brgy Affairs
Hon. Domingo Armenton
  - SP member, Com.on Trade & Industry and Infra.
Hon. Geronimo G.Almirante
  - SP member, Com. on Peace and Order
Mr. Joseph Lepon
  -City Administrator
Engr. Margie M. Oliamot
  -City Assessor

This activity will help attract more investors to the City of Bogo.

New Barbecue Garden of the City of Bogo

The City Government of Bogo pushed the transfer of all barbecue stores from its original place near Gaisano at P.Rodriguez St. 

As we can recall when the Local Government moved the public market from that area to Cantecson in barangay Gairan, a new sports complex was built in that same area. 

And so barbecue business were established beside that sports complex filling the R.Fernan St. side of it.

When the barbecue stores grew more, in fact some of the new stores were established at M.H del Pilar St., near the famous gown rental of Tedy Oporto, the local government with the initiative of Mayor Junie Martinez transferred the barbecue stores to a new location beside Japers (Pards Hangout Disco & Restaurant before), it triggers a lot of contradiction among barbecue store owners and costumers. But it didn't last long since the transfer didn't cost much to the store owners since it was the local government who developed the place and Coca Cola built the barbecue stalls. Then the City Mayor who happens to be "parokyano" of the said "barbecuehan" noticed that people really comes to the barbecue stores, so he decided to improve the place by making it a barbecue garden and a plaza.

To make the long story short, the New Barbecue Garden/Plaza of the City of Bogo was inaugurated last September 29, 2012. The cutting of ribbon were led by Mayor Junie Martinez and Hon. councilor Belinda Rodriguez.

The evening was filled with music, laughter and partying. Mayor Junie Martinez invited the Femme Aura band of Rajah Park Hotel to perform in that small stage built at the center of the barbecue plaza. The employees of the city government of Bogo also formed a group of singers among themselves who also performed on that festive Saturday night with the Martinez Performing Scholars and other local dance group of the city.

Some of the prominent people who joined the occasion were Coca Cola officials, former congressman Tining Martinez, former Assoc. Justice Vicente L. Yap, city councilors Romeo Tinggoy Alarde, Geronimo Yoyong Almirante, Domy Armenton, Jose Brainard Digoy Mayol and TJ Labastida (SK). Also present were former San Vicente Brgy Capt. Virgie Rodrigo, former Vice Mayor and Legal Officer Atty. Vicente Rodriguez, department heads and employees of the city government, former Mun.Councilor Pociano Demiar, Dr. Valeriano Hortelano with his entire family, some barangay officials from different barangays of the city and some Korean and Italian guests.

In the middle of the occasion the crowd were surprised by the arrival of Businesswoman Rosemarie Gaisano and GMA7 stars Bella Padilla and Markki Stroem who just dropped by right after the Gaisano Bogo's Sakyanang Pangnegosyo Grand Raffle Draw.

Mayor Junie announced to the crowed that he will try his best to put up entertainment every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month in the new barbecue plaza so that Bogohanons will have a place where they can enjoy a good meal, with simple entertainment, good ambiance and a good conversation with family and friends.

City of Bogo Charter Day - Special Non Working Holiday

The City of Bogo will celebrate its 5th Charter Day as a component city of the Province of Cebu.

Malacanan has declared this day a Special Non Working Holiday in the City of Bogo per Proclamation No. 378 which reads as follows:

DECLARING SATURDAY, 16 JUNE 2012, AS A SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAY IN THE CITY OF BOGO

     WHEREAS, Saturday, 16 June 2012 marks the Charter Day anniversary of the City of Bogo.

     WHEREAS, it is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Bogo be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAQUITO N. OCHOA JR., Executive Secretary, by the authority of His Excellency, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, do hereby declare Saturday, 16 June 2012, as special (non-working) day in the City of Bogo.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

     Done in the City of Manila this 10th day of May, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twelve.


                                                                       By Authority of the President


                                                                                   [ SIGNED ]                                                                        PAQUITO N. OCHOA JR.
                                                                       Executive Secretary

Bogo Hosts Halad sa Kabataan

Vice-Governor Agnes Magpale graced the fourth year celebration of HALAD SA KABATAAN hosted by the City of Bogo last September 8, 2011. Children of twelve (12) to seventeen (17) years from the eight municipalities and lone city in the fourth district of Cebu competed in singing and guitar duet contests.

The event served as the elimination round where the top two (2) performers get to represent their respective city/municipality and compete in a provincial extravaganza scheduled on the Children’s Month - October of this year at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Representatives from the City of Bogo and the Municipality of San Remigio emerged victorious with the Bogo performer winning the top prize in singing and the second prize in the guitar duet. San Remigio had the best guitar duet team and copped the runner-up prize for the singing contest.

“The winners will undergo further screening and training as the organizers want to showcase music from Cebuano Artists for the provincial talent show.” said Amabelle Mayor, department Head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office. Her department assumed the hosting duties for the HALAD SA KABATAAN event.

HALAD SA KABATAAN is an initiative of Vice Governor Agnes Magpale which she began to implement when she was still a member of the Provincial Board (Cebu Province). Bogo City’s Mayor Celestino Martinez was also present at the event.

Update:
Champagne Tepan and Miss Capangpangan of San Remigio were chosen to represent the 4th district in the Provincial Contest. The two were able to perform in the said Halad sa Kabataan singing contest but were not able to get any prize, however they performed well in the said event. Below is the video of Miss Tepan's actual performance in the said contest:


Comment:
Our suggestion to the organizers of the Halad sa Kabataan (2011), the people who conducted the workshop to the contestants should not have been chosen as the members of the board of judges. Without prejudice to those who won, for delicadeza's sake, they should have stayed away from judging the contest proper since they were the one who conducted the "workshop daw" where they vocally express favoritism in favor of some contestants who happens to be students of their  school of music. In the eyes of the trainers of those children, it seems that you can only have a chance to win if you are studying in their school of music.

The Provincial Government should look into things like this, because some LGUs  are now discouraged to join any contests for doubt of "Lutong Makaw".

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

City of Bogo: PESO SENDS 31 TO MITSUMI, 13 ABROAD

The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) - Bogo sent thirty-one (31) Bogohanons to Cebu Mitsumi, Inc in Danao on August 19, 2011 while it sent a total of thirteen(13) to Dubai, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait on August 20, 2011.

Cebu Mitsumi, Inc. conducted a Special Recruitment Activity (SRA) in Bogo. At least fifty three applicants took the written exam and interview. Thirty-one were hired on the spot.

Al-Alamiah International Services also came to the city to conduct SRA for employment abroad as caregivers and domestic helpers. Most of those hired were female applicants in their 20s to early 30’s.

According to PESO Designate Officer, Elvira S. Cueva, her office announced the SRA through the local radio, DYCM, and through the barangay captains. Applications pending on file were also retrieved and applicants were called through their contact numbers. She encouraged all those in the job market to send in applications so they can be assisted in finding the right job as there will be more SRAs coming. - ROU

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

City of Bogo: POLAMBATO has Region VII’s Most Outstanding BNS

Marilyn A. Melendres, 44, of Polambato was adjudged the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (ROBNS) in Region 7 by the National Nutrition Council. She received a trophy and a cash award of P8,000.00. The citation made her advance to vie for the National Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (NOBNS).

Every year BNSs with outstanding performance at the provincial, city and regional levels are selected by the Provincial/ City/Regional Evaluation Teams which are composed of representatives from Department of Health (DOH), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Population Commission (PopCom), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

This year the BNS awarding ceremony was held during the BNS Congress on August 5, 2011 at the Parklane Hotel in Cebu City. Marilyn hails from Polambato, and is married with four children. Even without a college education, Marilyn has consistently demonstrated exemplary competence in her work. She met all the targets and submitted all her properly accomplished reports on time and the visual charts hanging on the walls of the Barangay Nutrition office are updated.

In more than two years as BNS – she has shown a rare commitment to her duties, unusual resourcefulness in accomplishing her tasks, the ability to learn as well as impart new skills, keen intellect and leadership qualities that earned for her the privilege of minimum supervision.

For all these credits to herself, undoubtedly she deserved to be cited as the Regional Oustanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar. - SMinguez

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

Bogo City Health Office Holds dengue and HGH Primer

Bogo’s City Health Office held a two hour activity at the City Session Hall last August 22, 2011; the event was an information drive for awareness of Dengue and maximizing a child’s height potential.

Attended barangay health workers from all over the city and the representatives of different city hall departments, Dr. Minerva Millor – via a video presentation laid out the facts people need to know about Dengue focusing on the areas of – transmission, communicability, identifying the carrier, recognizing the symptoms, supportive care options and preventive measures. This was the local health office’s initial response to the rising cases of dengue reported nationwide.


The presentation on Dengue was followed by another and this one was a guide on how to ensure that a child’s growth is optimized – this time touching on the relationship of the Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to the puberty stage of a human being; including the nutrients and activities to support a child at this stage of development.

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

City of Bogo Local Treasury Office is Most Efficient Collector

(from KANAAS)
The Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) and Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors-7 (REGATA-7) awarded the City of Bogo for obtaining the highest in overall collection efficiency based on collection from three local sources: Fees and Charges, Business Tax and Economic Enterprise with an average rating of 128.59%.

Sixteen cities in Central Visayas Region were evaluated not by mere figures of collection but performance efficiency. The City of Bogo also ranked first in Economic Enterprise category with an efficiency rating of 112.71%. It overshoots its target of P11M for CY 2010 by P2M.

City Treasurer, Julio S. Ursonal Jr., CPA received the award in a ceremony held at the Crown Regency Suites-Mactan, Lapulapu City on July 20, 2011 during the Regional Conference participated in by Treasurers and Assessors in the region. BLGF and REGATA-7 recognized the best performing local government units in revenue collection as part of their Revenue Generation Program. - ROU

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

BOGO BET WINS ‘GALING MASON’ REGIONAL TILT

(from KANAAS)

BOGO BET WINS ‘GALING MASON’ REGIONAL TILT

Barangay Cogon Councilor Rodrigo Veraque bagged the regional award for Holcim Galing Mason 2011, a masonry skills competition open to men and women mason workers with high productivity index, held at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority–Provincial Training Center (TESDA–PTC) on Sept. 22-23, 2011.

Veraque's skills were tested against the winners from the provinces of Bohol, Cebu and Negros. He went home with a medal, P25,000.00 as cash prize and an opportunity to represent Region 7 in the national level competition to be held in Manila.

The provincial level competition was held in June 2004 at the DESCO Compound in Libertad, City of Bogo where Veraque was hailed winner.

The competition aims to recognize mason workers with high productivity output, technical competence, maturity, adaptability and flexibility in work situation, among others. It is initiated by Holcim Philippines, manufacturer of leading brand of cement as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program in partnership with TESDA and Philippine Contractors Association (PCA). - ROU

Update: Rodrigo Veraque was able to compete in the national level for Holcim Galing Mason 2011 last November 2011 but he was not able to win because of a few technicalities. However he bagged a consolation prize of forty thousand pesos (P40,000).

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

GAIRAN - A GARDEN IN THE CITY - Part II

(from Kanaas)

GAIRAN - A GARDEN IN THE CITY

Boosting Community Participation in the Quest for Development

To enhance their insights and build capabilities in local governance, barangay officials of Gairan explored Tuburan-Tabuelan and Camotes Island.

“Sa atong unang tuig sa pagserbisyo sa barangay, nagkinahanglan tag mga ideas labi na mahitungod sa Environmental, Cultural and Heritage preservation programs, maong na-agni mi pagpahigayon aning educational tours.” (In our first year of service in the barangay, we need ideas especially on Environmental, Cultural and Heritage preservation programs. Hence, we are enticed to have this educational tours) words of Hon. Nestor Lumongsod, barangay captain.

Tuburan-Tabuelan Escapade
June 9, 2011, the tour started at the Municipality of Tabuelan where they were shown the municipalities’ gallery featuring their environmental programs, heritage preservation and cultural mapping. In the gallery were essential documentations detailing how they implemented those programs. Th irsty for more ideas, delegation then proceeded to one of the Best Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures program implementers, Barangay Olivo. The barangay’s museum, cultural maps and charts were inspirational and they resolved to have it replicated in Gairan. Competing their Tabuelan experience was Barangay Maravilla. The well-landscaped barangay hall fronting a white sand beach was an astonishing sight. The participants looked in the barangay’s gallery and display center, museum and mini library.

The group then visited barangay Carmelo in Tuburan - a barangay also recognized for its successful implementation of local government programs.

Camotes Island Experience
June 27, 2011-Barangay officials explored Camotes to acquire another set of ideas in local governance.

The first stop was in San Francisco where the group met the Municipal Officials. The group was accommodated in their Session Hall wherein strategies and methodologies in successful implementation of their Solid Waste Management were shared through film viewing and lecture. In his lecture Mr. Cliff Otadoy emphasized how San Francisco’s dumpsite was restored into a clean haven and how they harnessed peoples’ participation for successful implementation of the program. “Pareha ninyo, pagsugod namo nakaingon ming lisud gyud. Pero ang pag-sugod ray lisud” (Like you, when we started we say it’s difficult, but difficulty lies only in the start), Mr. Otadoy added.

The group looked at San Franciso’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and Vermiculture Facility. Mr. Rin Estrera, Solid Waste Management Team head explained the process from garbage collection which is already segregated from the household level and recycling the waste. “Importante kaayo ang Material Recovery facility aron ma-reduce ang volume sa garbage nga madispose, and we see to it nga ang mga residual waste ra gyud as much as possible” (Material recovery is very important in reducing the volume of garbage, as much as possible. We see to it that only residual wastes reach the landfill), emphasized by Mr. Estrera.

To prove that the system can be implemented at the barangay-level, the group headed to Barangay San Isidro which had a barangay-operated material recovery facility. The barangay was recognized for its successful implementation of environmental programs through a barangay-based competition.

With a day full of new learning experiences and fun activities, the participants left Camotes Island eager to implement what they have witnessed and learned in GAIRAN. - JNL




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GAIRAN - A GARDEN IN THE CITY - Part I

(from Kanaas)

GAIRAN - A GARDEN IN THE CITY

Gairan Goes on a PlanningWorkshop

 To craft long-term plans for the barangay, the Sangguniang Barangay holds strategic planning last July 9-10, 2011 at the Bogo LiTes Center. Bringing with them their wits and ideas are the Barangay and SK Officials, health workers and tanods, purok leaders and representatives from private and non-government organization. Inspired with the desire to formulate vision, mission, barangay development agenda, E-GWEN comprehensive action plan, and citizen’s charter the participants brainstorm thoroughly.

“If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail”, emphasized by Mr. Jose Neil Lumongsod on his workshop on Strategic Planning Model: Why Plan? The participants collate inputs on barangay assessment through Situational and SWOT Analyses facilitated by Ms. Tseryl Noynay.

With assessments in place, Mr. Carlo Fernando Logarta, of the City Planning and Development Office tackled the baseline component of the model through a workshop considering Gairan in the past, present and the future. “Basta naa ganiy barangay nga interesado kaayo nga mokat-on on matters of effective local governance, I won’t hesitate to help them. Malipay kaayo kog dako kon naay barangay nga magpahigayon ug sama niini kay ang City government nagkinahanglan kaayo sa inyong mga plano.”, said Mr. Carlo Fernando Logarta in his lecture.

After deliberations and brainstorming, Gairan’s Vision and Mission statements were crafted. Mr. Logarta also provided inputs on coming up with a Barangay Development Agenda and Citizen’s Charter.

The participants resolved not to sleep until the Barangay Development Agenda and Citizen’s Charter were formulated. Each group was assigned to different sectors like health, environment, infrastructure, education, tourism, agriculture, peace and order among others wherein they would deliberate on programs and activities on the group level then present it to the body.

Driven by the desire to participate in the E-GWEN provincial program, the participants came up with a comprehensive action plan. Each group was assigned on a per criteria basis wherein the entire body of participants commented and made suggestions for the improvement of their proposed programs and activities relative to the criteria assigned to them. An open forum followed.

With the desired outputs and upshot accomplished, the participants journeyed back to Gairan hopeful that the plans formulated would be translated into concrete actions. - TJL

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

City of Bogo Social Programs 2011

Here are a few of the Social Programs of the City of Bogo through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (published in KANAAS):

FEEDING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN

Beneficiaries : Children who live in the streets of a city, deprived of family care and protection; children who live in a house with irresponsible adults; children who belong to families with insufficient income.
Objective : The alleviation of short-term hunger in children.

For the year 2011, the feeding program was held successfully in Barangay La Purisima Concepcion under the personal supervision of the CSWD head, staff, day care teachers and barangay officials. The program is implemented with the support of non-government organization(s).


In photo: children pose for the camera after a successful feeding activity.


SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR BALIK ESKWELA

Beneficiaries : Children of three to four years who are enrolled in any Day Care Center in the City of Bogo.
Benefits : School supply set

This is an annual, LGU- funded initiative implemented under the auspices of the City Social Welfare office. At the start of the school year, a set of school supplies (bag, paper, crayons, pencil, eraser and sharperner) is given to the beneficiaries. For this year - the project has benefited a total of 1061 children.

In photo: Bogo City Mayor Junie Martinez led the distribution of school supplies. 

Update: Another Balik Skwela Program will be conducted this coming June 2012 by the City Government of Bogo through the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development.

DAY CARE TEACHERS TRAINING

Beneficiaries : All Day Care Workers in the City of Bogo
Benefits : Availment of refresher-course in PES (Parents’ Effectiveness Service) and the Day Care Teacher’s curriculum

The facilitators were the MSWDO from Bantayan Island, Catmon along with a few day care teachers from the Regional Social Welfare and Development Office.

In Photo: participants of CSWD office’s week-long Day Care Teacher’s Training wearing their best smile for the camera.


SOCIAL PENSION FOR SELECTED SENIOR CITIZENS

Beneficiaries : Indigent Senior Citizens over 77 years with no income and no support from famiy; with disability or health issues.
Benefits : Monthly Pension of five hundred pesos (PhP 500.00)

The Program is implemented under RA 9994 or The Expanded Senior Citizen’s Act of 2010. From the start of this year to date, 63 citizens in the city of Bogo who qualified under the implementing guidelines - have enjoyed the benefits of the program.

In photo: A beneficiary of the Social Pension Program was assisted by CSWD office staff.


RICE SUBSIDY THROUGH CASH FOR WORK

Beneficiaries : Disaster-affected or displaced small-scale farmers and fishermen
Benefits : Temporary employment for 11 days at 267 a day

This is a short-term intervention for those in the farming and fishing industry to help them cope with the rising prices of basic commodities. The participants of the program are required to use 50% of their pay to purchase rice and/or food.

In photo: Beneficiaries in the Cash-For-Work program in action.


BOGO WOMEN’S MONTH

Activities : Oath-taking (for Women’s Federation), games, feeding, short program
Benefits : Empowering the Bogohanon Women

The Bogo City Women’s Federation was organized so that the women may have an opportunity to initiate programs for livelihood.

In photo - new officers of Barangay La Purisima Conception take their Oath of Office before the City Mayor Celestino E. Martinez Jr

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

Five Bogo Cops Promoted

(from KANAAS )

Another milestone for the PNP elements of Bogo City Police Station as five (5) PNP personnel were promoted a rank higher because of their exemplary performance and dedication shown in the field of police service.

SPO3 Rolando Salazar Torquido was promoted to SPO4; PO3 Winston Alburo Isnani to SPO1; PO3 Jovito Saraga Aballe to SPO1; PO2 Edwin Yurag Dignos to PO3; and PO1 Julius Gablines Bellezas to PO2. Their promotion passed through a meticulous and thorough process based on their eligibilities, time-in-grade and other qualifications.

The simultaneous pinning of ranks was done during the traditional Monday Flag-Raising Ceremony at the Bogo City Hall on August 22. The said ceremony was witnessed by Bogo City Vice-Mayor Hon. Santiago A. Sevilla, Chairman of City Peace and Order Council Hon. Geronimo Almirante, heads of different offices, regular and casual employees and respective spouses of the promoted personnel.

The said promotion gave a lift to the morale of other PNP personnel of this station. It is fulfilling to be promoted not just for monetary remuneration for the service done but also for the satisfaction being able to achieve and reach the heights they’re capable of becoming. - RAlarde

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

New City of Bogo : ON GREAT THINGS AND SLOW BEGINNINGS

by CELESTINO E. MARTINEZ JR.

It is possible some of our fellow Bogohanons have not yet seen our new city hall - the one whose construction has been stopped when our funds ran out after our Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) as city was unceremoniously cut in the wake of the “cityhood” controversy instigated by the country’s League of Cities. Fortunately, the issue has been resolved with finality and although the sizable amount of IRA withheld from us (together with those of the 15 other new cities who waged the fight against the League at the Supreme Court), has not yet been restored, we are hopeful we will be able to recover them in time.

The hope is based on nothing less than the principles of equity and justice – principles without which good public governance is impossible. These are principles which the Philippine government, especially with Pres. Noynoy Aquino at the helm, has ardently subscribed to.

I brought up this issue for three reasons. First, I want to inform our constituents that even if we will not be able to recover the withheld IRA, work on the new city hall will soon be resumed. It’s just a matter of time. Second, I wish to highlight why finishing the new city hall is imperative. In a very recent media forum in Cebu City to which yours truly was invited (September 27, 2011), I told the TV reporter who interviewed me regarding the status of our IRA, that we will do our best to really recover the withheld funds because we need them to fund our development projects, especially for our new city hall. The importance of the latter with respect to our long-range goals cannot be overemphasized.

The site of any city hall becomes a place where many people converge because of transactions with the government. It cannot, therefore, avoid eventually becoming a node for heavy foot and vehicular traffic – which is important for business. This is precisely the reason why the land and properties developer giant, Robinson’s, bought a property in the area where it saw our new city hall was constructed. It intends to soon develop in said property a mall with plenty of space for different types of businesses.

The choice of the City Government to move the city hall to the identified new business district has been dictated by topographical as well as geographical considerations. It will be observed that this area is so flat, so vast and so vacant that development will definitely be not difficult compared to one which would be done on rugged terrain.

Then there is the matter of geography. The location is at the virtual mouth of the road network through which people going to and from the six other municipalities comprising northern Cebu, must pass. In addition, the location is very near the port of Polambato which, even with its potential not yet fully developed, is already bringing in passengers and cargo in volumes never experienced by our City before. There is also the nearby 42-hectare Fernan property which has been declared a Special Economic Zone which, when developed, will most likely prove to be another economic engine that will propel our beloved City to new economic heights. Anyone with even a moderate capacity for imagination will not have a difficult time painting a picture of how the place will look like a few years from now. There is, therefore, need for our people to be on the lookout for the opportunities that will come with the coming tide of new developments.

My third reason for bringing up in this edition of “Kanaas” the topic of the stopped work on the new city hall is to tell our fellow Bogohanons not to get discouraged if our efforts do not seem to be getting the desired results fast enough. Some people, especially those who want to see us fail, might have kept on saying that we have abandoned our project which, they contend, as too ambitious and unnecessary, in the first place. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We were merely temporarily stopped because of circumstances beyond our control, but we never had a moment where we lost sight of the importance of the project. Also, neither was there a moment when the City Government wavered in its resolve to finish what it had started. This is simply in keeping with my principle in life to always take good care of things started.

Anyway, I would like to remind our constituents that if some of our endeavors happen to have slow beginnings, so do many of the great things the world is now enjoying.

The first electric light by Thomas Edison was so dim that it was necessary to light a candle in order to see its socket. The first steamboats were so slow they could only travel at a speed of 5 miles per hour. The first airplane flight by Wilbur and Orville Wright lasted only 12 seconds. The first automobiles were so loud and so slow they could only run at 2 to 4 miles per hour and they often broke down. In fact, they were so slow that horse-drawn carriages would overtake them with ease, and passengers would shout, “Get a horse!” But look at what these things are capable of doing now.

In our efforts, whether as government, as community, as church, as individuals, it is important that we do not get discouraged easily by slow beginnings.

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

BALANCING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

KANAAS EDITORIAL

Hon. Belinda N. Rodriguez
Editor-In-Chief
KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

Now that the economic engine for Bogo’s growth and development is on the move, our city’s future looks bright. The development in what is now called the “new Bogo City” in the economic zone augurs well for our people. Bogo will no longer be a totally agricultural economy as this new economic zone will be home to commercial and industrial centers, as well as a port that will be the pride of the northern part of Cebu province. Already, a new city hall and a housing project named the “Teachers’ Village” are in the works. A master development plan has been commissioned by the city government so we could have a holistic approach in planning our city. Needless to say, we welcome this new phase in our city’s quest for progress and prosperity as it will mean more jobs for our people and more opportunities for a better life for all Bogohanons.

But in the process of industrialization and commercialization, we should bear in mind that we also have a responsibility to take care of the environment. We should therefore see to it that in giving in to these developments we are assured that our seas, mountains, trees and the rest of the natural  environment are not destroyed.

We should invite for investments only environmentally – friendly industries and businesses that are willing to help protect our environment. Our city has already initiated a massive tree planting activity and this is a very good start. The city council has also sponsored several ordinances and resolutions aimed at protecting the natural environment like regulating the opening of quarries, banning the capture and sale of the humble “kaka” or spider and requiring graduating students to plant ten trees each as a requisite for graduation. There are ordinances too for the protection of our bird and fi sh sanctuaries. In developing Capitancillo Island, we kept as much as possible its natural beauty since we want to promote Bogo as an eco-cultural tourism destination. The city council is also monitoring reclamation projects and oil exploration in our city.

Funding has also been given by the city government to our coastal barangays to rehabilitate their mangrove areas. It is therefore imperative on our part that before we reclaim portions of our seas, or give the go-signal to oil companies to explore our waters or permits to quarries, we should see to it first that these activities do not have a negative impact on our environment.

Too much human activity, according to a study, causes environmental problems such as pollution. Pollution is not only a killer of plants, animals and human beings but it also disrupts the balance of nature and pollution is the number one cause of climate change. We do not want our corals and other marine life destroyed and our beautiful mountains denuded all in the name of progress.

Thus, we must not only develop a pro-environment behavior but also the belief that nature is inherently fragile, interconnected, and threatened by human activity.

When we can do this for Bogo, then our city will have truly lived up to its vision as a “globally competitive and environmentally friendly center of trade and industry.”-

Bogo Joins PASIGARBO 2011

Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival of Festivals was once again held last August 10-13, 2011 at the Cebu International Convention Center grounds in Mandaue City. It featured the search for Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival Queen, Ritual Showdown, Streetdancing, Andas Making, and Best in Jingle Competition. Forty municipalities and cities of the Province of Cebu crossed the threshold together as the cultural activity was initiated. Bogo for the third time sent the Pintos Festival contingent choreographed by Christian Kay Yurango.

Dancers and propsmen of Pintos Festival entry were chosen from among the members of Katipunan ng Kabataan in their high school and college who passed the screening conducted in July. Eighty dancers and one hundred six props-men improved each day as they rehearsed the rituals that convinced the staff and committee they had the confidence to win the competition.

As part of the activity, the search for Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival Queen 2011 was also held on the first day, Aug. 10, participated in by thirty aspiring candidates. Mira Mae Dimmerling, 18, representing the City of Bogo’s Pintos Festival won as fourth runner-up. She went home with P5,000.00 and a trophy.

Princess Grace Alvorado of Kabkaban Festival (Carcar City) and Mikee Kristine Beltran of La Torta Festival (Argao) prevailed as 3rd runner up and 2nd runner- up, respectively. Leonora Cristina Kristensen of Sugat Kabanhawan Festival (Minglanilla) reigned as 1st runner-up and Halad Inasal Festival (Talisay City) candidate, Mary Lorens Goyenechea was crowned Pasigarbo sa Sugbo Festival Queen 2011.

City of Bogo’s Pintos Festival ranked fifteenth in the Ritual Showdown competition. Sarok Festival (Consolacion), Kagasangan (Moalboal), La Torta (Argao) and Isda Festival (Madridejos) placed 4th, 3rd and 2nd respectively. Kabkaban Festival (Carcar) won the event and received 1 million pesos. - TJL

Kagasangan Festival Moalboal, La Torta Festival Argao, Isda Festival Madridejos, Kabkaban Festival Carcar


Related Topic
Famous Bogohanon - Mira Mae Dimmerling

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

Bogo - NSO MOA Signed

(from KANAAS PUBLICATION)

Cebu City - THE NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE (NSO) – OFFICE OF THE CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL represented by its Civil Registrar General, Carmelita N. Ericta signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the City Government of Bogo represented by its City Mayor, Celestino E. Martinez Jr. covenanting the use of Philippine Civil Registry Information System (PHILCRIS) software.

PHILCRIS is an application developed by NSO. It is designed to automate civil registry information management. The new version is compatible with Microsoft’s Windows operating system and facilitates the encoding of relevant information from civil registry documents, storage of vital data, query and retrieval of encoded records, printing and issuance of certified copies of encoded civil registry documents, generation of transmittal files, data management and maintenance of the local civil registry databases. One of its key features is that the local Civil Registrar’s Office to may now preview and print the new civil registry forms directly.

“A better and more user-friendly civil registry information system is now within the reach of the public,” Engr. Ariel E. Florendo, the OIC Regional Director of NSO Region VII, announced during the MOA mass signing at the NSO Provincial Statistics Office last July 27. Mr. Firmo C. Diputado, the Provincial Statistics Officer of Region VII, emphasized that this system is granted to the LGU free of charge and is provided with technical support which includes assistance in the installation of the PHILCRIS software and troubleshooting the software and database problems.

The aim for world-class status runs true for both the NSO and the City of Bogo – the former as provider of statistical and civil registration products and services, the latter as a globally competitive and environmentally sound premier center of trade and industry. And both are steadily on their way to reaching the heights of it for both are committed to meet the expectations of the clientele for prompt, reliable and efficient services. - SFO

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

Science and Arts Academy to be Built

(Re-published from KANAAS)

Plans are underway for the establishment of the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy, a school that would cater to the needs of gifted and exceptionally talented children through a specialized curriculum in science and the arts, including sports and foreign languages. This is an integrated school from kindergarten to high school.

Conceptualized by Mayor Junie Martinez, this is a joint project of DepEd Bogo and the local government. DepEd will take charge of developing the curriculum, hiring, staffing and managing the school operations. While the City government provides the annual budget for its operation, renovation and construction of physical facilities, funds the salaries, wages and benefits for both teaching and non-teaching personnel including the managers and the procurement of the IM/ IT/ MM and its installation.

Expected to open in June 2012, the school will start with two sections of kindergarten and grade one and two sections of first year high school with 30 students in each section. The City Council has already approved an ordinance sponsored by Hon. Belinda Rodriguez, Chair, Committee on Education for the establishment of the school and the budget for its operation. - BNR

Update:
DepEd has already started screening for enrollees to CBSA. Preliminary screening was held last month.

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

Bogo Positions as Distribution Center

(Republished from KANAAS)

In Resolution No. 063-2011 dated July 16, 2011 the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Bogo makes a bold declaration of the City’s aspiration: to position the City as a regional logistics center and to develop the Polambato Port in preparation thereof. 

The aspiration is hinged on the City’s God-given strategic advantage that made it a natural springboard for people and goods going to the neighboring island provinces of Masbate and Leyte for a long time now. In addition, the city has always been some kind of a geographic bottleneck for people going to and from the nearby towns of northern Cebu, resulting in its becoming the hub of education and commerce in the north.

As far as transactions with the island provinces are concerned, this advantage was always the Bogo Bay with its cove that, with God’s grace and under San Vicente Ferrer’s benevolent watch, has always been a reliable shelter for seacraft in nasty weather. With the recent re-discovery of Polambato’s deep channel for big ships, interest in Bogo’s potential for inter-island shipping has been rekindled.

The City Government sees the potent reality of Bogo as Regional Logistics Center where manufactured goods from Manila get shipped down to the City for distribution around the region. It believes this is a sound alternative to the longer navigational time presently endured by the shipping industry in the belief that Cebu City is still the only place to land cargo for regional distribution. By longer navigational time, we are talking here of something like seven extra hours which, to shippers and shipping companies, mean unwanted downtime and unnecessary cost.

But if we are not yet seeing this reality on a scale that would put us on the map of big business, it is because some things have yet to be done. The Sanggunian is right in stipulating in the same Resolution that full-scale development of Polambato Port must be made with the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) even if at various phases, in order to make it a true major gateway to the national nautical highway.

Right now, two shipping companies have already made Polambato a regular port of call: Super Shuttle for its Palompon, Leyte route; and Montenegro Shipping for its Cataingan, Masbate route. Recently, the latter has decided to add another ship twice the size of its present one, in order to accommodate increasing passenger and cargo traffic.

Other shipping companies have been sending feelers of their desire to field other routes also. In addition, there is a large molasses carrier and a sand and gravel carrier that have become regular customers of the Polambato Port. Definitely this bodes well for the dream that underpins the resolution.

To the City Government, the urgency of the full-scale development of the Polambato Port is very real. Hence, Mayor Celestino Martinez, Jr. again made a personal follow up with the Cebu Ports Authority last September 21 to inquire into the status of the expansion project in Polambato as promised by the CPA.

In his talk with Engr. Mario Tan, Manager of the Engineering Services Department of the CPA, the Mayor was assured that the budget for the additional 40 meters of plank area as extension to the present capacity of the Port is already available. They expect the project to be bid by October and that, hopefully, implementation will start by November of this year. With the implementation of this project, the present port slipways will also be modified to maximize berthing capacity.

He was also assured that the curved nature of the channel makes it expedient for lighted buoys to be placed for further navigational safety. For the same reason, the sand bar that lies along the passageway will also be lighted, while it could not yet be extracted. More dredging is also in line for its next projects to further widen the turning basin, especially for bigger and longer ships.

With these developments soon taking place, it is imperative that Bogohanons ready themselves in order to share and contribute to the City’s march to progress. Probably, old ways of thinking and doing things need to be critically revisited. It is well to remember a line from one of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poems that goes, “The vine still clings to the moldering wall, but at every gust the dead leaves fall.”

It would be sad indeed when the march of progress comes and our constituents will just be watching by the wayside and later be staring at the marchers’ behind.

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BOGO QUARTERLY

KANAAS GIKAN SA AMIHANAN

OCTOBER 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 2

City Bogo: Home for the Aged Inauguration

A "HOME FOR THE AGED" located in barangay Anonang Sur, City of Bogo, Cebu was inaugurated last October 09, 2011.

This home for the aged will be the home for the aged women not only from Bogo City but from anywhere in Cebu.

The inauguration and blessing was led by the new Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu, Bishop Jose Palma and a lot of clergy men and religious personalities. Also in attendance are some sponsors and prominent people of Bogo with the Bogo City Council led by the City Mayor Celestino "Junie" Espinosa Martinez Jr.

Below are some pictures of the occasion:
Home for the Aged Inauguration



For the avid readers, sorry for not being able to update the site for a long time. Rest assured that I try my very best to keep you all up to date or at least be able to update this site once a month.
More details of this activity will be publish later here.