Gensan Summer Youth Fest pits Bula vs San Isidro

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (27 May 2015) – Barangay Bula and Barangay San Isidro play the championship game of the Gensan Summer Youth Fest Summerlympics at Oval Covered Court on May 20.  The game ended 109- 98 in favor of Barangay Bula. (Gensan CPIO/ Jan Rey Libunao)

City government to develop public market

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (30 April 2015) – Mayor Ronnel Rivera announced on Tuesday (April 28) that the city government will be developing the old City Public Market.

During the 2nd Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) Regional Congress press conference in Greenleaf Hotel, Mayor Rivera divulged that the plan to improve the public market is already in the pipeline.

He specified that there are two options he is looking at: first is to redevelop and refurbish the existing public market in Barangay Bula; and second, to relocate it to a new site.

Mayor Rivera said the most efficient way to redevelop the “obsolete” public market is through a Public – Private Partnership (PPP).

The mayor emphasized that aside from the local government, there should be a third-party partner that would manage, regulate, and maintain the public market for it to be properly preserved.

More than the financial cost for the renovation, “the greatest challenge” he said “is the maintenance.”

It is estimated that it would take more than P100 million for the development of the existing public market.

In July 2014, Mayor Rivera signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the PPP Center to train and equip the local government officials on managing PPP linkages.

Specifically, the PPP Center will capacitate the local government pursuing PPP linkages for the integrated food terminal and city public market components of the Integrated Economic Development for Regional Trade in General Santos City.

PPP Center is a devolved agency of the National Economic Development Authority.

On the other hand, Mayor Rivera also revealed that relocating the public market is also a viable option, given that there is an available area for it.

He bared that the Aurelio Family has donated a land to the local government located in Barangay Labangal. It is near the road going to Doña Soledad Subdivision.

“We will be conducting a study for the relocation of public market so that we will know how it will affect the economic flow and mobility of the city,” Mayor Rivera said.

“But of course, I am also compelled to construct multiple public markets on strategic areas to cater the growing population of the city,” the mayor added.

It is projected that by the next seven years or less, the population of Gensan will be close to 1 million due to factors like migration patterns and birth/death ratio.

In December 2014, it was stated by the World Wildlife Fund and Bank of the Philippine Islands Foundation Inc. that Gensan is “too attractive” due to its promising growth, and thus can cause the increase in the number of people from neighboring areas to move in to the city.

“If we cannot address this situation, we will be having problems in the near future. It is important that we should not look on the present alone; we have to find sustainable solutions to every problem that we have now,” the mayor said.

The 2nd MSME Regional Congress will be held May 5 – 6 in the city.

It is organized by the Small Medium Enterprises Development Council Inc. (SMEDCI) of Gensan headed by Rosanna Bernadette Contreras.

More than 1,000 participants from the entire Region 12, and possibly from outside SOCSKSARGEN, will be attending the congress. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John Lagare)

Gensan celebrates Sto. Niño patronal fiesta

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 January 2015) – At least 200 fishing vessels sailed the waters of Sarangani Bay to join the fluvial procession for the Feast of Sto. Niño Thursday (January 15).

The Feast of Sto. Niño is one of the most awaited festivals here in General Santos City.

It is a celebration centered in Barangay Bula as a way of giving thanks to the patron saint for the bountiful catch of fishing firms that have flourished in the city.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera was present to show support for the festival and explained why it is a very significant event.

“Gensan is a city made and built by fishing. A huge portion of our economy is sustained and developed by our fishing industry for decades already. It is a good thing that we celebrate… and we give thanks,” Mayor Rivera said.

In line with that, the SOCKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries has already stated that they support Mayor Rivera in strengthening the fishing industry of the city.

“We may not expect a huge rise in the industry anymore but we do not expect also a big fall. The fishing industry will remain stable for the years to come,” the mayor said.

The fluvial parade is one of the most anticipated events of the festival. It features Bula’s fishing vessels sailing from the shore of Gensan at Queen Tuna Park towards Sarangani Bay and then back while carrying the statue of Sto. Niño.

A fishing boat from the RLG Fishing Company carried the Sto Niño statue and led the fluvial parade which started at around 6:30am and came back to shore at around 8:30am.

Later the Sto. Niño was handed to an amphibian vessel owned by Domeng Congson to be transported to Barangay Bula. This part of the festival is locally known as the “Salubong”.

Devotees rushed towards the amphibian vessel as it reached the shoreline in attempt to get a flower from its decorated bow. The faithful believed that the flower will bring blessing and abundance for an entire year.

Some devotees have also brought their own Sto. Niño statues to partake in the celebration.

More or less 2,000 people were present during the fluvial parade.

Aside from the parade, the Isda-Isdaan Festival is also integrated in the Patronal Feast of Barangay Bula giving more color and flavor to the activity.

It was anticipated that thousands of people from other barangays of Gensan were coming to Bula for the celebration.

The Joint Task Force Gensan and Philippine National Police deployed additional personnel in the area to beef up security throughout the duration of the festival.  (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)

Fluvial parade for Sto. Nino

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 January 2015) - The amphibian boat (center) carrying the statue of Sto. Nino heads towards the shoreline of Queen Tuna Park after the fluvial parade for the patronal festival of Barangay Bula Thursday, January 15. The Sto. Nino was then brought back to the Bula Parish Church through a foot procession. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Fisherfolk, coastal villagers mark Sto. Nino fiesta

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 January 2015) - At least 200 colorful and decorated fishing vessels participate in the fluvial procession at Sarangani Bay for the annual Sto. Nino patronal festival of Barangay Bula Thursday, January 15. City Mayor Ronnel Rivera has expressed his support for the festivity, emphasizing the role of fishing industry in the economy of Gensan. (Cocoy Sexcion for Gensan CPIO)

Fire victims get relief goods from City Hall

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (10 January 2015) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera visits the 20 families in Barangay Bula Friday, January 9, whose houses were razed on January 4. Together with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Mayor Rivera also distributed relief goods to the fire victims. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera leads Barangayan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (8 December 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera (2nd from left) explains to the barangay council during the Barangayan in Bula Friday, December 5, that the city government is their partner in implementing programs for their constituents. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera delivers donation for scholars

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (18 November 2014) - Amalia Caballes, principal of Bula National School of Fisheries, raises the cheque donation given by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera to their school on November 14. This donation is a personal initiative of Mayor Rivera called "PTA Donation" where he provides personal monetary help to different needy but deserving scholars in the city. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera funds fisheries school’s repair

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (18 November 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera inspects one of the inundated classrooms of Bula National School of Fisheries on November 14 subsequent to his PTA Donation Program. Mayor Rivera will allocate P700,000  for the improvement of the drainage system and elevation of ground floor of the school. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

JTF Gensan changes command

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (11 August 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera witnesses the change of command ceremony of the incoming commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) Gensan Col. Paterno Reynato Padua and OIC-JTF Gensan outgoing commander Col. Orlando Labutong at the JTF Gensan headquarters in Barangay Bula on August 8. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Community Teach project tutors, parents feed pupils in school

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (22 May 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera joins pupils over lunch on Thursday, May 15, at Bula Elementary School. The pupils are beneficiaries of Community Teach project of the mayor wherein pupil beneficiaries are given free breakfast and lunch for a 15-day duration of their remedial reading classes. Their Commencement Exercises will be on May 26 during the City Hall flag raising ceremony. Afterwards, the beneficiaries will be toured to SM City and treated with sumptuous lunch by the mayor. Community Teach continues every Saturday during the school year in the same schools with the same students. The project is in partnership with DepEd GenSan and Smart Communications. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Kids dine with Mayor Rivera

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (20 May 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera enjoys his meal together with the student beneficiaries of Community Teach Project at Bula Elementary School on May 15. The nutritious meal was cooked by the parents of these kids, part of the supplemental feeding program of the Community Teach project. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

GenSan's new boxing champ honored by Mayor Rivera

By Ian John M. Lagare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (28 February 2014) - New World Boxing Organization (WBO) International Featherweight Champion Marvin Sonsona has returned to General Santos City to the warm welcome of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera.

After a convincing victory in Cotain Arena, Macau, the 19 year old Filipino boxer came back to his hometown Tuesday (February 26).

Sonsona is a resident of Barangay Bula.

Also present to welcome the new boxing sensation were City Councilors Dominador Lagare III, Brix Tan, Ramon Melliza, Shandee Llido Pestano, Rosalita Nunez and Association of Barangay Captains president Ruel Pacquiao.

Mayor Rivera feted the new champ who defeated former WBO International Featherweight Champion Akifumi Shimoda with a stunning short left uppercut in the 1:17 minutes of the third round.

The match was a scheduled 12 rounder for the vacant WBO International Featherweight belt.

Rivera said that Sonsona's triumph already cemented GenSan's name as the "Home of the Champions," after the legendary boxing icon such as Manny Pacquiao, Rolando Navarette and Nonito Donaire.

As part of his CLEAN GenSan initiative, Rivera also wants to make GenSan as the breeding ground for future champions while addressing the needs of athletes.

Through the support of the city government, GenSan earned the overall top place in the recent SOCSKSARGEN Regional Athletic Association at Koronadal.  (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Ian John M. Lagare)

PWDs benefit from Mayor Rivera’s foundation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (26 November 2013) – Thirty-five Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) were given additional livelihood through the “Edukasyon Mo, Kabuhayan Mo” program, a joint venture of the local government of Gen. Santos City, RD Foundation and Ronnel C. Rivera (RCR) Foundation.

“In lieu of hiring chair fabricators, the RD Foundation and RCR Foundation have designated 35 PWDs to construct the said armchairs with an agreed payment of P700 per chair finished, which seems more prolific and profitable for these people (PWDs),” according  Ryan Vidanes, executive director of RD Foundation.

According to City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, the joint venture by RD Foundation and RCR Foundation will not only help in reducing the number of lacking chairs in schools, this will also provide additional opportunities for members of the PWD community.

Right now, the PWDs have already constructed 700 armchairs for Zone 11B, Uhaw, Barangay Fatima.

There were 294 armchairs already turned over to Bula Elementary School and another 132 armchairs to Jose Devina Gracia Elementary School last October 23 with a total cost of P292, 800.

The City Mayor’s Office runs the Armchairs Project under the umbrella of AKLAT program or Alay sa Kabataan Lahat ng Alaga at Talino, an education and children’s program. AKLAT aims to make schools and kids perform better by involving private-public partners in giving classrooms, chairs, books and other school needs. Mayor Rivera prioritizes children as the recipients of his three main agenda (health, education and modified social services).

Vidanes also stated that the budget that will be utilized for the fabrication of armchairs, as well as the salary for the PWDs, will come directly from the RD Group of Companies and donations from their business partners and associates.

“Aside from the armchairs, the RD Foundation and RCR Foundation plan to hopefully yield two classroom buildings in public schools in the city next year to support the priority of Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera in education,” Vidanes added. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Ian John Lagare)

JTF changes command

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (31 October 2013) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera attends the turnover of command of 10th Infantry Division Joint Task Force (JTF) Barracuda held at JTF Compound in Barangay Bula Wednesday, October 30. The outgoing commander, Col. Victor Tan, was replaced by Col. Rolando Joselito Bautista from the 7th Infantry Division. Col. Bautista assured that he will work hard under Rivera's administration to make sure the peace and order condition in GenSan is stable. In response, the mayor disclosed that the Sangguniang Panglungsod is currently working on the augmentation of the task force’s budget. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

Department heads, Rivera confer with Bula officials

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (9 October 2013) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera discusses with local leaders of Barangay Bula their concerns and necessities during a barangayan on October 3. Rivera also brought all City hall department heads to attend to the local leaders’ queries. Mayor Rivera initiated the Barangayan to deliver government services closer to the people. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

Beneficiaries receive cash-for-work assistance

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (20 September 2013) - 205 victims of typhoon Pablo and another 70 beneficiaries for the Circumferential Road Project (Road Right of Way) received monetary compensation through cash-for-work assistance given by the City Social Welfare and Development Office, in partnership with Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 12, Tuesday, September 17, in Barangay Bula. A total of P471, 492 allocated by the national government to the beneficiaries was distributed by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)