DTI opens Negosyo Center

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (6 May 2015) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera expresses his support to the Department of Trade and Industry for opening Tuesday, May 5, the Negosyo Center--formerly known as National Economic Research and Business Economic Center--along South Osmeña Avenue. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

City hosts regional MSME congress

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (6 May 2015) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera welcomes more than 1,000 entrepreneurs across Region 12 as they attend the 2nd Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Regional Congress on May 5 to 6 at Phela Grande Convention Center. The congress is organized by the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council in partnership with the city government, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Labor and Employment. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

City Hall backs MSME congress

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (30 April 2015) - In a press conference at Greenleaf Hotel on April 28, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera stresses out that the local government unit of General Santos City is supporting the Small Medium Enterprises Development Council Inc. in hosting the 2nd Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) Regional Congress this coming May 5 - 6. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo

DTI gives sewing machines to women’s group

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (23 April 2015) - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) turned over 15 units of heavy duty Juki Sewing Machines to Socsargen Peace Network Inc. Tuesday (April 21) at Barangay Fatima.

Engr. Arnel Sayco of DTI General Santos City Office facilitated the turnover ceremony of the equipment amounting to P270,000 to Fr. Angel Buenavides, organizer of the women’s group.

Sayco said this Shared Service Facility Project is in line with the Philippine Development Goal (PDG) of the national government.

One of its purposes is the inclusive growth and job generation, a goal that is also prominent with the initiatives of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera.

Sayco also mentioned productivity and efficiency as one of the four pillars of DTI’s mandate on Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED) where Shared Service Facility project belongs.

The project is aimed at helping small business groups which cannot support more production due to few number of tools or equipment available.

The peace network in barangay Fatima, which belong to the small business enterprise sector, was one of the beneficiaries of DTI’s HD sewing machines for rag production.

“Mabigat ang makina, mabigat din ang challenge,” said Fr. Buenavides who organized the group for rag production three years ago.

He further stated how the group had a very good start with the rag production which continues until now.

“If you have produced rags before, you can do more with the new HD sewing machines given to you by DTI, like t-shirts, pants or anything” he added.

Father Buenavides challenged the women to never stop growing and take the opportunity to improve not only their livelihood but also their character. (Gensan CPIO/ Sharmagne Villacastin)

Business firms host jobs fair

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (18 April 2015)  – The General Santos Doctors Medical School Foundation, in partnership with Department of Labor and Employment and Public Employment Service Office,  hosts a jobs fair at Robinson’s Place on April 8. Fifty four local and 20 overseas companies joined the activity.  (Gensan CPIO/ Jan Rey Libunao)

Smart, CNDR empower Gensan's disaster preparedness

By IAN JOHN M. LAGARE

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (04 October 2014) - Smart Communications in partnership with Corporate Network for Disaster Response (CNDR), Albay’s Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (APDCC), and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) have conducted emergency drills in two barangays here in the city as part of the Noah’s Ark Project.

Barangay Baluan and Barangay South were subjected to a simultaneous warning and emergency drill on September 27 to test their capacities in disaster management after six months of training under the project.

Noah’s Ark project is an initiative by CNDR that aims to help different calamity-prone areas in the Philippines by capacitating comprehensive disaster preparedness and response trainings.

Founded in August 2010, a year after the catastrophic typhoon Ondoy struck the country, the project had already empowered many barangays in the country in terms of handling disasters.

Smart Communications has been aiding CNDR since then in their disaster preparedness endeavors.

Gensan is the second city to undergo the Noah’s Ark initiative, next to Malabon, since this project was originally focused on barangay-level training.

Nonetheless, the APDCC headed by its executive director Jukes Nuñez, has trained the 26 Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (BDRRMC) for six months, starting March of this year.

They were taught how to respond to emergency situations by instilling human resource capacity, institutional capacity, and developing community participation.

The Noah’s Ark project has adopted the disaster plan and management of Albay since the province can attain “zero casualty” despite being usually hit by calamities.

The Noah’s Ark project has also enabled these BDRRMCs to have an uninterrupted and fast communication with CDRRMC through an updated info-board powered by Smart.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed last February 2014 between City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, CNDR, and Smart for the Noah’s Ark project.

Barangay Baluan and Barangay South were chosen by the CNDR to undergo the simultaneous emergency drill because the two barangays are disaster prone areas.

Baluan constantly experiences flooding as it is a “catch basin” of the rainwater coming from the hills of Olympog, Ligaya, and Conel. On the other hand, Barangay South is susceptible to disasters such as fires, earthquakes, and floods.

The disaster drill subjected the two barangays in realistic “worst case” scenarios to gauge how the BDRRMC and the city will respond to different settings. Barangay Baluan (rural area) simulated a flashflood incident and Barangay South (urban area), a coastal flooding.

The communities also took part in the drill. Hundreds of families participated while NGOs and public safety agencies were present.

On the other hand, the DepEd Gensan has allowed some public schools to serve as evacuation sites for the evacuated families. Many teachers also joined in the drill as the managers of the evacuation sites.

The evacuation sites were strategically managed. Each room is assigned for each purok affected by the disaster. They also installed lactating rooms for breastfeeding mothers, medical and treatment facilities, kitchens, and relief operation areas.

Both barangays restructured their BDRRMC by forming different core groups to man different tasks such as evacuation, security, relief operations, and transportation.

The barangay halls headed by their barangay captains served as the command posts for the drill. They were in constant communication with the CDRMMC and gave real-time updates and warnings.

Personnel from the CDRRMC and City Social and Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) were delegated to each barangay to assist them in the disaster mitigation and response process.

The drill took off at 9:00and and ended by 12 noon. It was observed by Mayor Rivera, CNDR head Monet Flores, Smart Community Partnerships Head Darwin Flores, CDRRMC Action Officer Bong Dacera, other barangay representatives, and community stakeholders.

Mayor Rivera, upon observing the drill at Barangay Baluan, was amazed how the event has transpired.

“From the giving of advisories up to the evacuation process, everything was so smooth and synchronized. Even though this is just a drill, I can really see that everyone is serious about it. I guess we leveled up in terms of disaster preparedness,” the mayor expressed.

Dacera even joked that he can now “take a leave” after seeing that the BDRRMCs are now prepared.

A debriefing and post-assessment headed by Jukes Nunez took place after the drills. The two barangays received a high passing grade.

Arbaya Manibpil, 33, a resident of Purok Sarif Mucsin, Barangay Baluan has endured many floods in her stay in the area for the same number years also.

“I and my family have been here in Baluan for a long time already. If I would add the length of residency of grandmother here, then our clan has been staying here for 75 years now. And along those years, the flood has been with us,” Manibpil stated in vernacular.

“You can say that we became so used of the flooding, but still, we can never be accustomed of the fear of our lives and properties. There is one time that the posts of our house were drifted away to the sea because of the flood.”

“Sometimes, our bangkas (small fishing boats) would also sustain damage since the flood could bring large branches of trees and other solid materials. But above all, our palayan (rice fields) are the most affected when a flood occurs”

“It is really a blessing that we became a part of this Noah’s Ark Project. It is good to know that our barangay is now empowered when it comes in aiding us during the times of flooding.”

“I cannot thank enough the mayor, the CNDR, and Smart for bringing this project to us. We are hopeful that in the future, this project would really lessen the indemnities of the flood,” Manibpil ended.

The Manibpil family is one out of the 165 families in Baluan who participated in the emergency drill there.

Barangay Baluan experiences minor flooding as much as three times a year, especially when strong rains hit the city. It takes a week or two before the water levels would subside.

Mayor Rivera first met the team of CNDR and Smart Communications last December 2013 for the implementation of Noah’s Ark in Gensan.

The mayor, who just came from Tacloban after typhoon Yolanda, immediately expressed his approval and support to the project.

“I was awed on what happened in Tacloban. I do not want that to happen to our city that is why I am happy that we are chosen by the CNDR as the recipient of Noah’s Ark project,” the mayor said during the drill. (Gensan CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare)

Farmers pass Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan training course

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (29 September 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera congratulates the 110 local farmers who have recently passed the three-month farming program "Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan" of SM Group of Companies in partnership with the City Agriculturist’s  Office on September 25 at SM City of Gensan. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Gensan to pursue agri-fest plan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (29 September 2014)  – Local government officials are pursuing plans of holding an agricultural festival here in the city, after looking at the potential of General Santos as the agri-industrial hub of Region 12.

Councilor Ramon Melliza, chair of the Committee on Agriculture, emphasized his intent to create an agricultural festival to showcase the bountiful harvest of Gensan farmers.

In his visit to Barangay Mabuhay during the culmination of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Program in partnership with the City Agriculturist’s Office, the councilor was awed to see the potentials of the farmers. He said if given the proper training, local farmers would be more successful.

“I am really astonished that even local farmers like you can grow as healthy and as ripe as these fruits and vegetables. Now, I do really want to propose to Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera and to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) for Gensan to have an agri fest,” Councilor Melliza said in vernacular.

“Also, highlighting Gensan’s agricultural potential is a great leap to make us more than just the Tuna Capital of the Philippines,” he added.

Mayor Rivera has always indicated his aspiration to make Gensan as the agri-industrial hub of the SOCSKSARGEN region as a way to diversify the economy of the city.

If realized, Gensan would have three major festivals already, adding to the recent Tuna Festival and the upcoming Kalilangan in February.

SM’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan is a nationwide corporate social responsibility program of the SM Group of Companies, in which they train local farmers to innovate their farming methods and improve the quality and quantity of their yields.

In Gensan, there are already two barangays that became recipient of this program, last year in Katangawan, and now in Mabuhay.

This year, 116 local farmers were chosen by the City Agriculturist’s Office to be trained by HarBest, an SM agricultural company, for three months which started last July.

SM will be their market also, as the mall committed that it will purchase their yields and sell them in their different branches. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)

Gensan’s hotels, inns, fully booked

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (15 September 2014)  – Gensan Tourism Council Officer and Gensan Hoteliers Association president Philip Pabelic has confirmed that all hotels and inns in the city were fully booked since two weeks ago, thanks to the big events that were taking place in the city in the month of September.

Pabelic declared that in the first week of September, Gensan has been flocked by visitors and tourists from around the country and the world as well.

He said that this was due to the successive grand and highly significant events that were held in the city starting September 1.

These events included the 23rd Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon), 16th Tuna Congress, and the 16th Tuna Festival.

Pabelic explained that the importance of these events have certainly peaked the flow of incoming visitors in the city. 

The 23rd MinBizCon highlighted one of the crucial issues the nation is facing today, the ASEAN Integration 2015, while the 16th Tuna Congress delved on the different accomplishments and the current challenges faced by the tuna industry and fishing industry as a whole.

On the lighter side, the 16th Tuna Festival, as City Mayor Ronnel Rivera described during an interview after the opening of the celebration on September 5, has been so “successful” in drawing many people to witness it. 

Pabelic also said that the influx of visitors is a proof that Gensan can already accommodate hundreds up to thousands of people with the rise of new hotels and inns.

As of now, Gensan has 26 hotels and 35 pension houses. 

With the increase in the number of visitors, Mayor Rivera has already tasked the PNP and the Joint Task Force (JTF) Gensan to beef up the security in the entire city. This includes the augmentation of additional checkpoints, police visibility, and force multipliers.

The implementation of “gun-free zone” and “no-back-pack” policy took effect in the Oval Plaza where most of the Tuna Festival booths and activities were held. 

The National Convention of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) will also be held in the city this coming September 24-25. This event is expected to have more than one thousand delegates. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)

Jobs Fair held in 16th Tuna Festival

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (15 September 2014) - Jerome Amoguis, 23, a resident of Barangay Conel, expressed his joy after he was hired on the spot during the 16th Tuna Festival Jobs Fair at the Gaisano Mall atrium.

Amoguis, who vied for a utility position, was immediately employed by the Express Manpower Services after his interview in the company.

“I am in a hunt for a job for a couple of months already. Before the jobs fair, I felt that I was certainly unlucky because I cannot find one. Thanks to this jobs fair,” said Amoguis in vernacular.

Amoguis is one of the hundreds of job seekers the local government unit of General Santos City (LGU-GSC) through Public Employment and Services Office (PESO) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sought to help in the 16^th Tuna Festival Jobs Fair.

According to PESO head Nur Juanday, the jobs fair is held during the Tuna Festival to let the people know that celebration is more than just revelry but also an opportunity to provide civil service.

Juanday also explained that the jobs fair was assigned by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera to them to help foster employment in the city.

There are 175 local companies and 30 international companies that participated in the event, opening more than 5,000 job vacancies.

As of September 11, the PESO has already registered 546 job seekers.

Sheena Banuelos, HR Staff of the Marbel Food Company, advised job hunters to bring the necessary requirements such as bio-data, resume, and certificate of past employments or any prior employment credentials, if available. (Gensan CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare)

Gensan gears up for ASEAN 2015

By IAN JOHN M. LAGARE

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (1 September 2014)  – While the city gears up for the coming of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) this 2015, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera assured that General Santos City is ready for the outcomes it would bring.

In a press conference last Tuesday (August 26) for the 23rd Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) this September 1-3, Mayor Rivera explicated the implications of the AEC or ASEAN Integration.

Mayor Rivera specifically mentioned the main objective of the ASEAN Integration in 2015 is to create a unified market among ASEAN Member States (AMS) through an unhampered flow of investments, services, and goods. He also said that all entrepreneurs within the AMS can operate in the entire ASEAN region without work permit.

By this, the mayor explained that Gensan will be opening its doors for ASEAN products and services without import duties by 2015.

But even for these information, Mayor Rivera still admitted that the integration may still bring other unexpected outcomes, especially to the economy of the city.

“It is still uncertain what the ASEAN Integration will bring to us, but I will make sure that Gensan will be taking advantages of it,” Mayor Rivera said.

Because of this, the mayor outlined what preparations the city is doing to seize the possible opportunities in 2015.

He said the Sangguniang Panlungsod has recently approved the new Local Investment Code of the city which will make Gensan more business-friendly for investors.

Mayor Rivera has already tasked different organizations such as the SMED Council in equipping small entrepreneurs to be more competitive and aggressive in the ASEAN market.

The Department of Transportation and Communications is expected to grant the General Santos City International Airport P900 million for the construction of a new terminal building by next year.

The construction is expected to start in the first quarter of 2015 until 2019.

With this, several airline services are already eyeing additional Manila-Gensan direct flights.

In the recent Port Summit organized by Mayor Rivera, the Philippine Ports Authority and different stakeholders proposed a P1.3 billion budget for the modernization of the General Santos City Port.

As of now, there is an on-going construction for the development of the western wharf and is expected to be completed this year. Underwater structures were re-enforced and railings were also added.

Mayor Rivera constantly works hand-in-hand with the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (GSCCCII)  in addressing the issues that surround the port such as the route of vessels, shipper’s fee and the inadequacy of facilities that will cater to the various shipments and cargos.

The GSCCCII is eyeing to work out the Gensan-Davao-Tahuna-Bitung Port Connectivity.

Along with this, the mayor is pushing for the construction of the Integrated Food Terminal, as this will be the consolidating area for the different products across the region.

Mayor Rivera also confidently declared that Gensan will have a stable power supply by 2015 and up to the next five years. This will support the city for the possible influx of new businesses.

With the entry of PeakPower Plant, the power issue in Gensan is expected to be mitigated before the year ends.

The Energy Regulatory Commission has already committed that the city will get higher power supply this 2015 from the NPC.

On the other hand, companies like San Miguel and Aboitiz are on their way to construct additional power plants that will augment the 1,300MW dependable power supply of Mindanao. Their aim is to increase the island’s energy supply up to 3,000MW. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)

Gensan to host MinBizCon

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (26 August 2014) - In a press conference Tuesday, August 26, for the upcoming 23rd MinBizCon this September 01, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera says he is gearing the local government unit of General Santos City for the ASEAN Integration 2015. He said that this will be an opportunity for the city to "grab its dream" to become an Agri-Industrial Hub in the entire Region 12. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera lauds MSMEs

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (26 August 2014) - During the 6th Yaman Gensan Awards on August 23, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera praises the small and medium enterprises for their role in helping the economy of the city. He also emphasized that the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have been the partner of the local government in improving the business atmosphere of Gensan. (Gensan CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Yaman Gensan gears up

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (19 August 2014) - During a press conference Monday, August 18, the Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED) Council and the City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office (CEMCDO) announce that they are all geared up for the 6th Yaman Gensan Awards this coming Saturday (August 23). City Mayor Ronnel Rivera also expressed support to the event while citing the relevance of such in paying tribute to the different enterprises in the city. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

First MSME Regional Congress held in GenSan

By Ian John M. Lagare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (23 June 2014) – Hundreds of Micro, Small and Medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) across Region 12 gathered in General Santos City on June 17 for the first ever MSMEs Regional Congress.

Held at KCC Convention Center, the “Yabong Maliliit na Negosyo sa Rehiyon 12: the 1st MSMEs Regional Congress” was hosted by the General Santos City Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council Inc. (GSC SMEDCI), in coordination with City Mayor Ronnel Rivera.

The congress garnered support and attendance from different government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Budget and Management, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Science and Technology, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority .

Rosanna Bernadette Contreras, GSC SMEDCI president, expressed her delight for the success of the congress and expressed her high hopes that the event would yield good outcomes for the MSMEs community.

“Perhaps, the person right beside you or the person on the next table will be your future business partner. Anyone in here could be your next supplier, associate, or investor,” Contreras stated.

“The goal of this event is to acknowledge the role of MSMEs in gearing the economy of this region. We play an important role in creating progress and employment in our respective places, and that what we should develop more,” she added.

Also discussed in the congress were the overview of MSMEs in Region 12, the RA 9178 or the Barangay Micro Business Enterprise, the local government units’ initiatives in support of MSME development, and the government agencies’ initiatives in support of MSME development in Region 12.

The GSC SMEDCI included topics regarding the role of social media in the growth of MSMEs to teach local business owners to utilize the benefits of the technology.

Contreras also thanked Mayor Rivera for helping the GSC SMEDCI in organizing the 1st MSMEs Regional Congress.

Mayor Rivera stressed the importance of the congress to support MSMEs in the entire Region 12 and gave his insights as a fellow businessman.

“I understand that the role of our MSMEs is imperative in creating new industries and employment. They generate jobs in the locality, and they bring about a more balanced economic growth and equity in income distribution,” Mayor Rivera said.

“To attract investments, there are several critical areas we must address. There are several steps to be taken and several processes to undergo. We need to give them the support and mechanisms that will strengthen their capacity to sustain and to expand, to create and innovate,” the mayor said.

Mayor Rivera emphasized that he supported the 1st MSMEs Regional Congress because it “serves as a venue to help the constituents of the city in giving them employment and income.”

The GSC SMEDCI is also gearing up for the 12th Yaman Gensan this coming July. (GENSAN CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)

Senator Villar supports GenSan’s MSMEs, agri-industrial hub

By Ian John M. Lagare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (23 June 2014)  – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera got the support of Senator Cynthia Villar for his thrust to develop and give opportunities to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the agricultural business sector in the city.

On Friday (June 20, 2014), Senator Villar, Senate Committee Head on Agriculture, graced the opening of the 12th Yaman Gensan organized by the General Santos City Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council Inc. (GSCSMEDCI), in coordination with Mayor Rivera.

During the event, Senator Villar lauded the efforts of Mayor Rivera for GenSan to have a more business-friendly atmosphere.

“I have attended several big conferences and events here, including the 23rd Hog Convention and 17th Dairy Congress, in which I have seen the effort of Mayor Rivera in opening opportunities for the city,” Sen. Villar said.

“You can find many good things here in GenSan and all over in Mindanao. Some of my business ideas came here based on the things that I’ve seen,” the senator added.

One of the priority areas that Mayor Rivera want to develop during his administration is in making GenSan the agri-industrial hub of Region 12.

Mayor Rivera said this is possible because of the strategic location of General Santos City as an entry and exit point of products.

The mayor has already submitted to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala a list of possible projects and budget allocations for the city.

Currently, the mayor is hoping that the P200 million worth of projects he proposed to the Department of Agriculture will be approved.

That project proposal is for the creation of the Integrated Food Terminal (IFT) and for the development of the mango industry in the city.

On May 7, Secretary Alcala turned over to Mayor Rivera the certificate of completion of the newly-developed General Santos City Soils Laboratory at Barangay Lagao.

“Many of our businesses here are involved in agriculture. We want to give them a chance to grow and that is our objective in this 12th Yaman Gensan. Of course, the same support will be given to other small and starting businesses,” Mayor Rivera stated.

According to Senator Villar, two-thirds of the country’s population is directly or indirectly involved in agriculture.

“But these individuals are facing constraints too. Example, coconut farmers here in Mindanao earn less than P50 a day. In the country, the daily income of a farmer is P156 while for the fishermen, P178,” the senator said.

“My mandate is to raise the standards of living of farmers and fishermen because we also consider them as entrepreneurs. That’s why I’m happy that Mayor Rivera and GSCSMEDCI are having this event to promote the same advocacy,” Senator Villar added.

Nieda Ramos, a health product entrepreneur selling in GenSan, expressed her support for the 12th Yaman Gensan and its drive to give better opportunities to small businesses like them. Ramos’ Cresing’s Foods from Maitum, Sarangani produces organic rice coffee and corn coffee, and the MASE Juice made of brown rice, lemongrass and fruit extracts. (GENSAN CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare)

Rivera, Villar open Yaman Gensan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (21 June 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera and Senator Cynthia Villar cut the ribbon to signal the opening of 12th Yaman Gensan Friday, June 20, at KCC Veranza. Also joining them in the ribbon cutting ceremony were General Santos City Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council Inc. president Rosanna Bernadette Contreras (extreme left) and Diamond Lifestyle Company Country manager Grace Co (extreme right). (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera welcomes MSME conference participants

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (21 June 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera welcomes participant from all over the country to the "Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises: Going Global Conference" on Friday, June 20, at KCC convention center. The conference was also attended by Senator Cynthia Villar to show her support to the 12th Yaman Gensan. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera backs small bizmen, farmers

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (21 June 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera pays tribute to small businessmen and farmers during the opening of the 12th Yaman Gensan on Friday, June 20, at KCC Veranza. The focus of this year’s Yaman Gensan is to give a better opportunity for the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and agricultural enterprises in GenSan to compete and market their products here and around the globe. (GENSAN CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Agri-industrial hub bid of GenSan gets Sen. Villar’s support

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (21 June 2014) - Senator Cynthia Villar and City Mayor Ronnel Rivera talk during the opening of the 12th Yaman Gensan at KCC Veranza Friday, June 20. The senator said the move of the mayor to make GenSan as agri-industrial hub of Region 12 would be favorable for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and small agricultural enterprises in the city (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)