BHW association officials take oath

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (11 April 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera congratulates the newly-elected officials of Barangay Health Workers in Gensan Association Inc. (BHWGAI) who took their oath of office before the mayor Thursday, April 10, at the Family Country Hotel. Mayor Rivera feted the new officials for stepping up for heavier responsibilities as the body that would represent all Barangay Health Workers in the city. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

GenSan hosts national hog convention

GENERAL SANTOS CITY  (4 April 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera welcomed Senator Cynthia Villar and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala as he led the opening of the 23rd Hog Convention Wednesday (April 2).

South Cotabato Swine Producers Association (SOCOSPA) president Chester Warren Tan and National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NFHFI) president Vicente Mercado were also there to witness the event.

SOCOSPA and NFHFI are the major organizers of the 23rd Hog Convention

Secretary Alcala expressed his gratitude at the enthusiasm that Mayor Rivera showed when it comes to agriculture related initiatives.

Earlier this year when Sec. Alcala was also in the city, Mayor Rivera proposed two projects to the Department of Agriculture for the development of the mango industry and of the Integrated Food Terminal in the city.

"Sana di ka magsawa na makita ako ni Mayor kung ganito," Alcala kidded.

Senator Cynthia Villar, Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food chair, also thanked Mayor Rivera for inviting her to the hog convention.

In the same event, Mayor Rivera also led the ceremonial slicing of lechon (roasted pig) and the ribbon cutting ceremony which signaled the start of the Trade Exhibits.

The 23rd Hog Convention is the biggest gathering of swine investors and stakeholders in the country. It is a three-day event, starting from April 3 to 5.

Seminars regarding swine herd health management and strategies, updates on the prevention and control of swine-related diseases, consolidation of swine market ideas and schemes will also be held as part of the convention.

SOCOSPA president Warren Tan said he is happy that after 17 years, the city was able to host the Hog Convention.

"Proud tayo after 17 years, malaki na ang pagbabagong narating ng GenSan kaya ngayon ay napili ang city para maging host ng convention," Tan stated.

"There are two factors bakit matagal ulit naging host city ang GenSan. First, dahil ang selection ng city ay cycle and second, dahil nung nakaraan, kulang pa ang hotels ng GenSan para mag accommodate ng at least 2,500-3,500 na participants," he added.

The emergence of Greenleaf Hotel, Sun City Suites, Microtel and Roadhouse hotel have supplemented to the capacity of East Asia Royale Hotel and other existing inns and hotels in the accommodation of the visitors for the convention.

Tan stressed that they want to expand the hog industry in GenSan and the rest of Region 12.

Tan said that every year, there is an increasing production of swine and swine products in the region by not less than 10%.

In the 2013 data given by the Department of Agriculture Region 12, the hog production of Region 12 ranks 3rd in Mindanao and 7th in the entire Philippines.

He is also thankful to Mayor Rivera for the support given by the local government of General Santos City to the hog convention.

"I really appreciate the support of the local government, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, other government agencies and of course to the city mayor. They are all very cooperative"

Aside from staging the expansion of the hog industry, Tan said that he wants to promote GenSan as a hog industry player to help Mayor Rivera make the city as the agri-industrial hub of the region.

A map shown by the DA indicated GenSan as the hub for the market trade of livestock. Products from the areas of Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani are delivered here in GenSan before being marketed in Davao, Iloilo, Negros and Cebu.

"With this 23rd Hog Convention, we want to showcase GenSan as a must-visit city. 70% of GenSan's visitors are first timers so we want to take this opportunity to help promote the city's tourism," Tan added. (GENSAN CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare)

City receives medical equipment, supplies

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (10 March 2014) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera signs the deed of donation of the medical equipment and supplies donated by the Canadian Medical Mission Society to General Santos City District Hospital Friday, March 07, at Tierra Montana Hotel. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera pitched P200M projects to DA

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (07 February 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera has proposed two projects for the agricultural and food/trade transport development for the city to Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala and to DA Regional Field Unit 12 (DA-RFU XII) director Amalia Datukan.

Mayor Rivera personally pitched the projects while he was in a meeting with Sec. Alcala and Director Datukan at Greenleaf Hotel Wednesday (February 05).

The first project is the "Value Chain for Mango in General Santos City" which was formulated by the Office of the City Agriculturist head Merlinda Donasco and the General Santos Mango and Fruit Growers Association headed by Camar Paidumama.

The proposal highlights the needs of GenSan’s mango industry in terms of funding support for mango production (flower induction), funding support for marketing mango, and a research on the good agricultural practices of mango growers and contractors in the city.

A total of P45,284,800 is requested for the project.

According to Mayor Rivera, there are about 1,929.93 hectares of land in the city that are being planted with mango by around 263 farmers and growers. 

Rivera emphasized that the project will significantly increase the potential of the mango growers and farmers to innovate their practices and methods of bolstering their production throughout the region.

The second project includes the local government of General Santos City (LGU-GSC) through the City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office (CEMCDO) to redevelop the City Central Public Market and its surrounding areas.

The redevelopment could either be a total or partial refurbishment of the public market.

The CEMCDO estimates the cost of the project at around P20 million through a counterpart funding support from DA.

Another component of the second project proposal is to structuralize the Integrated Regional Food Terminal (IFT) in the city which includes the construction of food terminal with processing area, "AAA Hog Abattoir" and "AA Cattle, Goat and Sheep Abattoir".

Last November 20, 2013, the IFT was already endorsed by the SOCSKSARGEN Area Development Project (ADP) Board through Resolution Nos. 2 and 3 with a budget of P130 million .

Rivera emphasized that GenSan will have problems attaining a "trade hub" status for Region 12 if the city has no facility such as the IFT.

The mayor also emphasized that he is doing his best to prepare the city for the upcoming Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Integration this 2015, which will include more liberalized trading when the ASEAN Economic Community will come into play.

Sec. Alcala indicated his support for the endeavors of Mayor Rivera and acknowledged the importance and worthy effects of his agricultural plans for GenSan. 

The agriculture secretary personally endorsed the said projects to Director Datukan for review and immediate approval. (GEN. SANTOS INFO OFFICE/Ian John M. Lagare)

GenSan kids celebrate own Paskuhan event

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (27 December 2013) - Jane Rivera, the wife of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, paints Christmas colors of fun and happiness in kids during a special Christmas party for children called "Paskuhan para sa mga Batang Heneral" at Oval Plaza Grounds on December 21. In coordination with the City Social Welfare and Development Office, Sun City Suites, RD Group of Companies and other partners, some 520 kids from the 26 Barangays of General Santos were invited to the Christmas party which was filled with games and prizes. Paskuhan para sa mga Batang Heneral is also a part of the Paskuhan sa Gensan 2013 led by Jane Rivera, who is also Gensan Tourism Council chairperson.  (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

City govt., private groups initiate Noah's Ark Project

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (13 December 2013) - The Corporate Network for Disaster Response (CNDR) and Smart Telecommunications partner with the Local Government Unit of General Santos City (LGU-GSC) in the presence of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera for the implementation of Noah's Ark Project Tuesday, December 10, at Sun City Suites. Noah's Ark Project aims to increase the capacity of local governments and high-risk communities to prepare for and cope with disasters resulting from flooding. The project will then be integrated to the disaster response program "MRCR Shares" (Manage, Respond, Contain, Rehabilitate) of Mayor Rivera to create comprehensive disaster plans in the city. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera in 1st Tri-Media induction

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (26 November 2013) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera (center) attends the 1st Tri-Media Association of GSC & South Cotabato, Inc. Charter Induction on November 15, with Rep. Pedro Acharon Jr. (left) at Phela Grande Hotel. Rivera thanked Tri-Media president Mario Basilio (right) for the partnership between the local government of General Santos City and the media.  (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

GenSan hosts PH’s biggest real estate event

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (20 October 2013) – City Councilor Atty. Arturo Cloma, representing City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, opens GenSan as the host city for the 53rd Annual Conference and Expo of the Philippine Association of Real State Boards (PAREB) at Greenleaf Hotel on October 10. The convention is the biggest gathering of the country's real estate developers, investors, consultants, appraisers, brokers and salespersons. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera pushes for health service reforms

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (9 October 2013)  - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera attends the 2nd Health Congress spearheaded by the City Health Office and General Santos City District Hospital held at Family Country Hotel Tuesday, October 8. The health conference which followed the first 100 Days Report of Mayor Rivera focused on the concerns of health stakeholders and health workers of the city themed as "Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Targets in 2014". Health is one of the three areas of concern of the mayor, aside from education and modified social services. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

Greenleaf Hotel officially opens for business

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (25 September 2013) - From left, Domingo Teng, owner of Greenleaf Hotel; Nelly Nita Dillera, Department of Tourism Region 12 director; City Mayor Ronnel Rivera; Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Mindanao Development Authority chairperson; and Rep. Pedro Acharon Jr. of 1st District, South Cotabato lead the ribbon-cutting rites during the grand opening of Greenleaf Hotel in GenSan. It is a six-storey, 111-room business hotel that caters to businessmen and tourists. Greenleaf is the second hotel to open after the 66-room Microtel opened earlier this year (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)