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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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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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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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 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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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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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