Blaan children receive presents from Mayor Rivera

By Ian John M. Lagare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (10 March 2014)  - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera led a team to the far-flung purok Daan Banwang in Barangay Upper Labay Friday (March 07) to visit pupils composed mostly of children from the Blaan tribe.

The mayor accompanied by the Ronnel C. Rivera (RCR) Foundation members crossed four rivers and traveled along cliff roads about 40 to 60 meters high to fulfill his monthly Parent Teachers Association donation advocacy.

Mayor Rivera’s team was warmly welcomed by the students of Daan Banwang Elementary School and Almatak Elementary School— the beneficiary of the project.

Daan Banwang principal Joel Penagunda said that the mayor and the RCR Foundation already shouldered the expenses of the 74 students from Daan Banwang and 57 from Almatak for the whole year.

The payment came from the mayor’s salary as chief executive of the city. Ever since he was elected as city councilor and even now as the city mayor, Rivera has been donating his salary to PTAs or schools in the city.

Aside from the PTA donation, the children also received small presents from Mayor Rivera in the form of candies, biscuits and packed juices.

In his speech, Rivera said that he makes it a point to set aside time from his busy schedule to personally see the situation of school children in the city.

In turn, the whole community of Daan Banwang simultaneously shouted "Bong Salamat" (Thank you very much) to Mayor Rivera for his heartfelt support to their school. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Ian John M. Lagare)