68 years later, elementary school gets land title

By IAN JOHN M. LAGARE 

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (26 August 2014) - The West Central Elementary School (WCES), one of the topnotch public schools in the city, has finally received its land title after 68 years of waiting. 

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera handed to principal Renato Odi, representative of Department of Education (DepEd Gensan), the land title of WCES on August 18.

The school has been in the same plot of land since December 1946, but it does not have a title due to issues with previous school administrations. It was also attributed to the slow processing by former city administrations. 

Principal Odi expressed his gratitude to Mayor Rivera for hastening the release of their school's land title.

"Sixty-eight years is too long already for us not to have our land title. Finally, we have it now and I am thankful to the city mayor and the DepEd for making this possible," the principal said.

"When I wrote a letter to Mayor, channeled through Councilor Rosalita T. Ñunez for our request, he immediately approved it. Subsequently, DepEd Gensan Schools Division Superintendent Gildo Mosquesda has also given his approval for our land title," Odi added. 

WCES has a land area of 16,927sq.m. with an estimated value of P238 million. 

As for the mayor, he said that he will do his best to help fix the "problems that surround the public schools in the city."

"The local government is working hand-in-hand with DepEd Gensan to improve the educational system of the city," Mayor Rivera emphasized. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)

At last, public school gets land title

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (19 August 2014) - Stakeholders of West Central Elementary School (WCES) headed by its principal, Renato Odi, are all thankful to City Mayor Ronnel Rivera as he finally handed their school's land title on Monday, August 18. WCES has waited for 68 years before receiving its land title due to some impediments in the process encountered in the past. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera calls emergency meeting at damaged Silway Bridge

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (30 June 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera makes an emergency meeting Monday, June 30, at Silway Bridge with officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, City Engineers' Office, City Housing and Land Management Office and officials of Barangay West and Barangay Labangal to take an immediate action for the damage caused by heavy flooding last Sunday (June 29). Mayor Rivera is set to declare a 10-meters "no-build-zone" away from the river banks to reduce risks. (GENSAN CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Wedding in barangay

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (21 January 2014) – The wedding of ten couples from Barangay West are solemnized by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera on January 18. (GENSAN CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Parents, community vital to children’s education

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (20 May 2014) - City Administrator Arnel Zapatos and a CSWDO community worker engage in a lively discussion with mothers of the student beneficiaries of Community Teach program at Pedro Acharon Elementary School in Barangay West on May 15. Atty Zapatos explained why the participation of parents and their respective communities is important in rearing their children's education. City Mayor Ronnel Rivera and Department of Education with the partnership of Smart Communications have organized the Community Teach to encourage the entire community to work hand-in-hand in shaping an accessible, quality public school education in the city. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera leads GenSan pioneers’ tribute

By Ian John M. Lagare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (28 February 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera led the traditional tribute to the pioneers of General Santos City during the culmination day of Kalilangan Festival.

Early Thursday (February 27), Mayor Rivera with city First Lady Jane Gollon - Rivera along with the Sons and Daughters of General Santos president Virginia Llido gathered at Pioneer Park, Barangay West in front of Dadiangas beach to do the "Salubong."

"Salubong" or "Welcome" is a yearly practice organized by the Sons and Daughters of General Santos which is held every Kalilangan to re-enact the landing of General Paulino Santos together with the 82 pioneers aboard the M/V Basilan at Dadiangas on February 27, 1939.

During the “Salubong,” ground fireworks were lit as if paving way for the arrival of General Santos. 

Afterwards, Mayor Rivera and the rest of the pioneers offered flowers at the Pioneers’ Park as homage to the pioneers of GenSan.

After the “Salubong,” the group joined the executives of Mindanao State University-General Santos City and the city government as they walked the length of Acharon Boulevard to witness the "Cadena de Amor” or “Parada ng Lahi".

The parade started at the Queen Tuna Park which passed through Pioneer Avenue then proceeded in front of the General Santos City Park.

In coordination with the Department of Education-GenSan headed by the new Schools Division Superintendent Gildo Mosqueda, all public school teachers including principals, district supervisors and barangay officials from different clusters paraded wearing their designated customary attires.

The traditional march ended in front of the monument of General Paulino Santos in front of City Hall which was punctuated by a 21-gun salute.

According to Llido, the Sons and Daughters of General Santo are so overwhelmed with the emphasis that Mayor Rivera has given to the pioneers of the city in this year's Kalilangan. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Ian John M. Lagare)

The landing site of General Paulino Santos

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (28 February 2014) – Descendants of GenSan pioneers Shandee Llido Pestano (extreme left), Virginia Llido (2nd from left), City Mayor Ronnel Rivera (2^nd from right) and his wife Jane Rivera (extreme right) visit the Pioneers’ Park in front of Dadiangas beach in Barangay West Thursday, February 27, to reminisce the landing of General Paulino Santos in the site. They offered flowers. The activity was part of the "Salubong" program initiated by the Sons and Daughters of General Santos. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)