Mayor Rivera gives tribute to fathers

By Ian John M. Lagare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (17 June 2014) – Father-employees of the city government were feted by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera on Monday (June 16) as an extended celebration of Father’s Day.

During the City Hall flag ceremony, all father-employees were greeted by Mayor Rivera with adulation for their services not only to the constituents of the city but to their families as well.

“Being a father is a serious responsibility. It is not easy to raise a family whether you are rich or poor. That’s why I salute all the fathers here,” the mayor said.

Mayor Rivera also provided overflowing free coffee exclusively for fathers as a morning treat to them.

Russell Delvo, photographer at the City Public Information Office (CPIO), thanked Mayor Rivera for giving importance to all the fathers.

“Mayor Rivera is really a good dad. As a father to the city and as a father to his family, I can see that he is really good,” Delvo said. .

But during the celebration, Mayor Rivera was caught off guard when his entire family came and surprised him with Father’s Day greetings.

“It is really nice in General Santos. Father’s Day celebration is extended and you gave a good tribute to our fathers,” Jane Rivera
stated.

“Let me tell you about my husband, Mayor Ronnel. As a father, he is really sweet and caring to us especially to our kids. Every time he is around, he is always having fun with the kids, which is very nice of him as a parent.”

“Now that he is the Mayor of GenSan, I can see that the he is now extending his brand of responsible fatherhood to the constituents of the city.”

“Since he became the mayor, he has been so occupied with so many things. But we understand him because he is now the father of the city and that is his responsibility.”

“We want to tell you Mayor Ronnel, that we love you. Happy Father’s Day to you,” Jane Rivera said, before planting a kiss.  (GENSAN CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare)

MSMEs convene in GenSan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (17 June 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera joins entrepreneurs in the first Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Regional Congress at KCC Convention Center Tuesday, June 17. Rivera encouraged businessmen and entrepreneurs to rise in the challenge of globalization and strive towards smart innovations. He also thanked MSMEs in the rural areas for making use of labor-intensive production processes which create employment opportunities. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Special birthday celebration at City Hall

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (17 June 2014) - All June birthday celebrators from the city government mark their day with City Mayor Ronnel Rivera Tuesday, June 17, at City Hall. The celebrators expressed their
gratitude to the mayor for making their birthday special. Among them is Councilor Rosalita Nunez who will celebrate her birthday on June 19. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

City Mayor tours student council officers at City Hall

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 June 2014) - The student council of SPED Elementary School meets with City Mayor Ronnel Rivera Friday, June 13. Mayor Rivera accompanied the kids and toured them to every department of City Hall. Also with the mayor is his wife and GenSan Tourism Council chair Jane Gollon Rivera. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo

Day care officers take oath of office

GENERAL SANTOS CITY ( 16 June 2014) - Day Care Workers Federation's new set of officers take oath before City Mayor Ronnel Rivera at Amandari Cove on June 13. The newly-installed officers pledged to cooperate and support Rivera's thrust towards education for all. The mayor’s program called Early Childhood Care Development Initiative seeks to ensure that children in GenSan avail of their right to education. (GENSAN CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Day care workers celebrate

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 June 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera joins the fun during the Day Care Worker's Day at Amandari Cove on June 13. Rivera thanked all day care workers for their continued service for the children. He said it will always take a community to rear a child with dignity. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Retirees to help city government

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 June 2014) - The new set of officers of General Santos City Retirees Association Inc. (LGU-GSCRAI) is inducted by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera on Friday, June 13, at the City Mayor's Office. LGU-GSCRAI president Digna Gonzales, former department head of the City Population and Management Office and the mother of current Assistant City Administrator Glenville Gonzales, assured Mayor Rivera that their organization will be active in helping the mayor in his aims to develop the city. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Worn out Philippine flags burned in ceremony

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 June 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera witnesses the annual ceremonial burning of worn out Philippine Flags on Friday, June 13, at Camp Fermin Lira. This ceremony is mandated under Republic Act 8491 or the "Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines” in which all worn out flags used in schools and any institution will be burned to prevent any misuse. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Police retirees pledge support to Mayor Rivera

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 June 2014) – Newly-elected officials of the Retired Philippine National Police (PNP) and Non-Uniform Personnel (NUP) Association Inc. are inducted into office by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera on Saturday, June 14, at Phela Grande Hotel. The retired officials also pledged their support to the city mayor and his endeavors to make GenSan safe and peaceful. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Parents urged: Send children to school

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 June 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera encourages parents to send their children to school during the 14th Center for Community Transformation 14th General Assembly at Pacman Gym Monday, June 16. Rivera emphasized the city government's thrust to bring quality education and ensure that all children avail their right to learn. (GENSAN CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera gets Father’s Day surprise

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 June 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera's wife and kids surprise him by giving a special Father's Day greetings during City Hall’s flag ceremony Monday , June 16. Jane Rivera, his wife, emphasized that for her, Mayor Rivera is not just a good father of the city but to his family as well. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera, officials, employees mark Independence Day

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (12 June 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, spearheads a wreath laying ceremony in front of Dr. Jose Rizal Monument at the General Santos City Park as part of the celebration of Independence Day together with some government officials and employees . (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera leads Independence Day celebration

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (12 June 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera gives his remarks regarding the meaning of freedom in relation to the city’s progress during the celebration of Independence Day in front of the General Santos City Park . (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

GenSan’s newest boxing pride returns home

By Ian John M. Lagare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (13 June 2014) – After successfully regaining the North America Boxing Federation (NABF) featherweight title, Marvin Sonsona has returned to his hometown General Santos City on Wednesday (June 11) to the welcome of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera.

In his recent 10-round match in Madison Square Garden, New York last Sunday (June 8), Sonsona won in a split decision against former tormentor, Wilfredo Vasquez Jr..

Vasquez dealt Sonsona his only loss in his professional boxing career last 2010.

With a 19-1-1 (15 KOs) boxing record, Sonsona is now both the NABF Featherweight Champion and World Boxing Organization (WBO) International Featherweight Champion.

Sonsona, 24, is a resident of Alunan, Barangay Bula, General Santos City.

Upon on his arrival at General Santos City International Airport, he was warmly welcomed by Mayor Rivera along with the Sonsona family.

Mayor Rivera also organized a “hero’s welcome” for the newest boxing pride of General Santos City.

“Just like Manny Pacquiao, we should fete our other constituents who have given pride to the city. Sonsona did well in his last fight and we should acknowledge it,” the mayor said.

The welcome float ended up in the City Hall grounds where a press conference was waiting for him.

In the press conference, Sonsona narrated the travails he experienced before and during the fight against Vasquez.

“It was hard for me”, Sonsona stated in vernacular. “I had so much little time to adjust to the temperature in New York. It was really cold there. We stayed in San Francisco for seven days and another five days in New York. It was really hard.”

“I trained hard but the fight is much harder. Vasquez’s punches are very painful. I scored a knock down on the first round, but after that, I couldn’t score another one so i just played safe in the succeeding rounds.”

Despite his victory, Sonsona admitted his disappointment on his last fight.

“I don’t like my fight. I could have shown more but I failed to. It goes to show that I have a long way to go”.

When asked if he would follow the footsteps of Cong. Manny Pacquiao to the world of politics, Sonsona just shook his hands and said, “that is not for me”.

Sonsona is expected to have his next fight this coming September.

Before the press conference ended, Sonsona thanked Mayor Rivera for supporting him in his fight.

“I am really thankful to mayor and to the constituents of General Santos to the support you have given me. I know I have not shown my very best but I’ll train hard next time so that I can give you a good fight,” Sonsona said.

In response, Mayor Rivera affirmed the statement of Sonsona. “I am thankful to people like Sonsona who work hard to give honor to our city. That’s why in my term, we are doing our best to support these individuals. The recently concluded Summerfest 2014 is a proof that we are showcasing the talents here in our city, not only in the line of sports but also in performing arts and other fields.” Mayor Rivera emphasized. (GENSAN CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare)

Mayor Rivera hosts presscon for new boxing champ

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (11 June 2014) - A press conference is held at the City Hall Wednesday, June 11, for GenSan's new boxing champ, Marvin Sonsona, who won a rematch with Wilfred Vasquez Jr. at Madison Square Garden last Sunday, June 8. In the press conference are City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, Sonsona and his parents, Luminada Sonsona and Hovencio Sonsona. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

GenSan’s new boxing champ arrives

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (11 June 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera welcomes the return of another boxing pride of General Santos City, Marvin Sonsona, at General Santos City Airport Wednesday,  June 11. A hero's welcome is also set by the city government for the new boxing champ. Marvin Sonsona's recent victory was a rematch against Wilfred Vasquez Jr. on Sunday, June 8, at Madison Square Garden, New York for the North American Boxing Federation featherweight title. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Senior citizens elect new chair

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (09 June 2014) - Senior citizens cast their votes to select the top three nominees for the next chairperson of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) Monday, June 9, at Lagao Gymnasium. After the top three nominees are determined, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera will screen and select among them the next OSCA head. Jacinto Gutang is the outgoing OSCA chairperson. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera hails elderly for role in nation-building

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (09 June 2014) - Thousands of the city's elderly listen to City Mayor Ronnel Rivera as he points out their importance in the nation-building process during the Mid-year Assembly and Election of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) at Lagao Gymnasium. It was also the first time for a mayor of GenSan to grace their event, according to Jacinto Gutang, outgoing chairperson of OSCA. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera supports construction of new power plant in GenSan

By Ian John M. Lagare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (05 June 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera has voiced out his support to the ongoing construction of a 20-megawatt power plant in the city.

The bunker fuel fired power plant being constructed by Peak Power SOCKSARGEN Inc., (PSI) is set to operate in September this year.

On Tuesday (June 3), Mayor Rivera attended the public hearing set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) regarding the Power Purchase and Transfer Agreement (PPTA) between South Cotabato Electric Cooperative II (SOCOTECO II) and PSI.

 “The entry of Peak Power here in GenSan is an opportunity for us to give a lasting solution to the brownouts that are hitting the city. Of course, these brownouts are really affecting us severely and we in the local government are coordinating with SOCOTECO to address the concerns,” Mayor Rivera said.

For the past months, GenSan has experienced 2-4 hours of rotational brownouts, with other areas being served by SOCOTECO II also experiencing the same problem, or worse. 

According to SOCOTECO II, this is due to the low power allocation given by the National Power Corporation (NPC) to the cooperative, which is around 30MW.

It has dropped from 50MW to 20MW.

There are three independent power plants, aside from NPC, that supply electricity to the city; Therma Marine Inc. (30MW), Mapalad Power Corporation (30MW), and SoEnergy (15MW).

To sum up, GenSan’s total power supply is around 100MW which is still insufficient for the 120MW power requirement of the city.

PeakPower is contracted by SOCOTECO to provide around 20MW of electricity to augment the power insufficiency.

These power plants will operate during the city’s peak hours (8AM-10PM), when most establishments and individual consumers are usually using high loads of electricity.

Edgardo Calabio, PSI vice president, disclosed that the contract between SOCOTECO II and Peak Power will last for 15 years for their capital recovery.

Afterwards, the power plant will be turned over to SOCOTECO II as part of the Build, Operate Transfer (BOT) scheme adopted by the two companies. 

Mayor Rivera projects that this will be a long-term solution to address the power concerns of GenSan.

Aside from that, Mayor Rivera divulged that he is eyeing to put solar power plants somewhere in Barangay Bawing.

He reported that together with Councilor Dominador Lagare III, he had already prior engagements with solar power plant contractors from Manila.

“We need as much power as we can get to boost the development of the city. Clean and renewable power source is a good venue as new power source,” Mayor Rivera said. (GENSAN CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare)

ERC holds public hearing on power agreement

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (05 June 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera attends the public hearing of Energy Regulatory Commission on the Power Purchase and Transfer Agreement between the SOCOTECO II and Peak Power SOCSKSARGEN Inc. (PSI) Tuesday, June 3, at SOCOTECO Conference Hall. Prior to the hearing, Mayor Rivera has already agreed to the entry of PSI in the city, in which it is expected to generate 20MW of electricity to curtail the power shortage in GenSan. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

GenSan marks Men’s Day

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (05 June 2012) - General Santos City celebrates 7th Men's Day in observation of the city's local ordinance on gender and development Monday, June 02. Free health services were organized such as HIV-test consultation, dental and iridology check-up and body mass index computation. (GENSAN CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera at 2014 Siglakas

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (31 May 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera speaks before members of peace-keeping agencies of Region 12 as they play traditional Filipino games during the 2014 Siglakas Friday, May 30, at Camp Fermin Lira. Participants are the General Santos City Police Office, Joint Task Force GenSan, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, Civil Security Unit, and National Security Unit. The mayor said such activity will result to stronger coordination between these agencies in securing peace and order in the region. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Peace forces play at Siglakas

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (31 May 2014) - Peace-keeping agencies of Region 12 play traditional Filipino games during the 2014 Siglakas Friday, May 30, at Camp Fermin Lira. Among the participants are the General Santos City Police Office, Joint Task Force GenSan, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, Civil Security Unit, and National Security Unit. In the event, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said such activity will result to stronger coordination between these agencies in securing peace and order in the region. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Partners support Mayor Rivera’s Barangayan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (31 May 2014) - In the Barangayan Program of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, basic yet necessary services are being rendered by the city government and its partners to the constituents of the city. Here, a free haircut is being offered to the residents of Barangay South sponsored by some local radio stations and fraternities. The Barangayan is an initiative of Mayor Rivera to bring government and other related services closer to the people. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

General Santos City Hospital opens new facilities

By Michelle Ann Gonzales

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (31 May 2014) - After almost a decade of not being used, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of General Santos City District Hospital (GSCDH) has now re-opened its doors to the citizens of GenSan and other neighboring towns.

On Tuesday (May 28), City Mayor Ronnel Rivera with City First Lady Jane Rivera and Department of Health (DOH) Regional Assistant Director Francisco Mateo led the opening ceremony of GSCDH's newest facilities.

The district hospital's ICU can accommodate three patients with severe general or surgical cases. It is equipped with three latest ventilators, 12 infusion pumps, Electro Cardio Gram machine and other ICU apparatus.

Aside from the ICU, GSCDH has also opened two newly-functional Obstetrics and Gynecologist ward with 36 beds. There are now 63 beds for the whole Ob-Gyne section of GSCDH.

For many years, hospital congestion has been one of the ailing problems of GSCDH where it is not uncommon for three patients to share a single bed.

With the additional beds and modern facilities, Mayor Rivera is hopeful that this will address the problems of the patients

"I am downhearted every time I see our patients share in a single rusty bed. Since we started running this city, we have tapped national agencies, companies and even international organizations to help us with our needs," Rivera said.

The city mayor also emphasized that proper hospital management is a key towards a satisfying public health service.

"Modern facilities and equipment would be very useless if we don't have responsible and excellent people to administer, guide and manage our undertakings," Mayor Rivera said.

In his pursuit to improve GSDCH's operation, Rivera has also requested the DOH Hospital Management Information System (HOMIS) Bureau to help the hospital in computerizing all flows and transactions.

"The DOH will continually support the endeavors of the city. With the request of Mayor Rivera, HOMIS is now beginning to coordinate with General Santos City District Hospital," Director Mateo announced.

Rivera has been advocating health care accessibility especially for the poor. In his city development agenda, he is prioritizing health along with education and modified social services. (GENSAN CPIO/ Michelle Ann Gonzales)

Community Teach holds commencement rites

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (31 May 2014) – One of the 200 pupil-beneficiaries of the 15-day summer reading and feeding Community Teach program receives from City Mayor Ronnel Rivera the certificate of completion on May 27 at Oval Gymnasium. Mayor Rivera was joined by DepEd Schools Division Superintendent Gildo Mosqueda and Assistant SDS Mario Bermudez. Community Teach continues every Saturday during the school year in the same schools with the same students. The Community Teach is an all year round educational initiative by the mayor and DepEd, with support from Smart Communications. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera hosts 200 Community Teach pupils

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (31 May 2014) - As a personal gift of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera to the 200 pupil-beneficiaries of the Community Teach who finished the program on May 27, he gave each kid a bag full of food and school supplies. The mayor also hosted lunch for the kids at McDonalds and a tour of SM GenSan--a first time experience for most of these children. Community Teach continues every Saturday during the school year in the same schools with the same students. The Community Teach is an all year round educational initiative by Mayor Rivera and DepEd, with support from Smart Communications. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)