City Mayor joins Brigada Eskwela

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (27 May 2015) – While participating in the Brigada Eskwela program at Saludin Anas Elementary School in Barangay Labangal Monday, May 25, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said he will be donating armchairs to the school through his Armchair Donation Program with RD Foundation Inc. (RDFI). Known as Edukasyon Mo, Kabuhayan Ko, the program was launched by Mayor Rivera and RDFI in 2013 to aid the Department of Education provide armchairs in public schools. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

GTC helps Brigada Eskwela

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (27 May 2015) - The Gensan Tourism Council (GTC) led by Gensan first lady Jane Gollon Rivera (right) delivers paint and other materials to Saludin Anas Elementary School in Barangay Labangal as part of their participation in the Department of Education's Brigada Eskwela. GTC personnel also helped in painting the classrooms of the school and repaired some of its broken fences. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

231 franchises given to trike drivers, operators

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (24 December 2014)  – Two hundred thirty and one tricycle drivers and operators are now eligible to ply around the city after the release of their franchises by the Permits and License Division of the City Mayors Office Tuesday (December 23) at the Oval Gymnasium.

Arnolfo Alire, a tricycle operator from Doña Soledad Subdivision in Barangay Labangal, was among the happiest to receive the franchise.

“I started applying for the franchise since 2009 but I was successively rejected because I failed to comply some of the requirements. For me, this is a good Christmas gift already because my family is somehow dependent on the income of the tricycle,” Alire said.

Geraldine Zamora, head of the Permits and License Division, bared that her office should have released 400 tricycle franchises but due to the non-compliance of the applicants, almost half of the applications are pending.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, who was present in the turnover, congratulated the drivers and operators for acquiring the franchise.

“I hope that you all will take care of your franchises. By having such privilege, I hope you will also be responsible of the lives of your passengers and be their windows to how beautiful Gensan is,” the mayor stated.

But along with that, Mayor Rivera also warned them that they should obey traffic rules and regulations because anytime, authorities can confiscate or suspend their franchises.

On the other hand, Mayor Rivera announced that the results of the transport study conducted by the League of Cities of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, and the local government unit of General Santos City are already being finalized and will be presented to the stakeholders during the Transport Summit in January.

He said the data of the study will serve as reference in future programs that the city government will implement to address the transportation problems of the city. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)

Pupils get gifts from Mayor Rivera, RDEX

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (03 December 2014) - Pupils of Balunto Elementary School in Barangay Labangal receive early Christmas gifts from City Mayor Ronnel Rivera and RDEX Food International with the distribution of thousands of school supplies Tuesday, December 2. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera comforts fire victims

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (29 September 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera comforts seven families of Olaer, Barangay Labangal whose houses were raze by a midnight fire on September 18. The mayor committed to shoulder the schooling expenses of the kids of these affected families. He also offered financial support to them for their daily needs while they are reconstructing their houses. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Labangal civic orgs ready for action

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (29 September 2014) - Officers of various civic organizations of Barangay Labangal are now ready to fulfill their tasks as City Mayor Ronnel Rivera inducted them on September 25 at Balunto Elementary School. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

13 families relocated by Mayor Rivera

By IAN JOHN M. LAGARE

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (July 19, 2014) - Carmen Villarosa, 50, a former resident of Purok Matinabangon, Barangay Labangal, an area beside the Silway River, expressed her joy after she and her family were relocated to Promise Land Village at Barangay Mabuhay with the help of the local government led by the city mayor.

Due to the succeeding swelling of Silway River, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera ordered a mandatory relocation of residents living within the 10-meter "no residential zone" of the said area. This 10-meter no residential zone is from the main river to the riverbank where Purok Matinabangon is located.

The Villarosa family is among the13 families relocated to Promise Land on Wednesday (July 16).

The most recent flooding that struck the river was on June 30 which had scoured the foundations of Silway Bridge resulting into its one-day closure. Also, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRM) reported at least 20 families were affected during the flooding.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the standard "no residential zone" should be 25 meters away from the river, but has limited it to 10 meters after considering the plea of the residents of Purok Matinabangon.

In the case of Carmen, her family is among the 13 families that were identified by the City Housing and Land Management Office (CHLMO) and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) that are living in the danger zone of the river.

Carmen is happy that she and her family are finally relocated here in Promise Land, knowing the dangers of living in the Silway riverbank.

"We lived there for 21 years already. We had experienced a lot of floods already and it really scared us," Carmen stated in vernacular.

"For many years, we have been requesting the local government of General Santos City to relocate us to a safer place, but it is only now, when Rivera is already the city mayor, that we have been finally relocated," Carmen divulged.

The Gawad Kalinga, a non-profit organization, has also helped in the relocation of the families. They have provided the materials for the construction of their new houses in Promise Land.

The Promise Land village is a government-owned relocation site that has the basic amenities that makes it conducive for living such as electricity, water system, and paved roads.  (GENSAN CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)

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)

Foreign medical missions in GenSan continue with Mayor Rivera

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (08 March 2014) - Barangay Labangal resident Jamilla Gaos, 29, gets a visit from City Mayor Ronnel Rivera Wednesday, March 05, after her goiter had been successfully removed through the free medical operation of Canadian Medical Mission Society (CMMS). Under Mayor Rivera, various foreign organizations have come to GenSan to conduct medical missions. These are the Starkey Foundation, World Surgical Foundation, and recently the CMMS.  (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

Medical mission in GenSan benefits thousand

By Ian John M. Lagare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (06 March 2014) – At least a thousand people in the city and nearby areas are benefitting from the free medical mission being conducted by the Canadian Medical Mission Society (CMMS) in partnership with the city government and RD Foundation Inc.

The free medical mission, which started on February 24 and will end on March 7, is being held at Mindanao Medical Center (MMC).

It aims to cater to some 3,000 patients all over the SOCKSARGEN Region.

As of March 04, the dental operations alone have already served more than 1,800 patients. The minor and major surgeries have serviced at least 153 people.

These figures are expected to increase significantly before the medical mission ends.

On Wednesday (March 05), City Mayor Ronnel Rivera visited the patients at the medical mission.

One of these patients is Ailyn Baluran, 43 years old and a resident of Labangal who has undergone a successful gall stone removal operation. Baluran said “daku ug tabang si Mayor ug ang medical mission kay dakong tabang sa amo. Di mi makapaopera kay tungod pinansyal na kalisod" (The Mayor and the medical mission are really great help to us. We can’t afford the operation due to financial constraints).” (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Ian John M. Lagare)

Tricycle franchise released to operators, drivers

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (06 February 2014)  – Staying true to his words during the election campaign, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera recently approved 934 tricycle franchises with the supervision of the Land Transportation Office (LTO-GenSan), Land Transportation Office - 12, (LTO 12) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

On Wednesday (February 05), at the Oval Gymnasium, Mayor Rivera together with LTO- 12 Assistant Regional Director Manuel Betaizar, LTO-RO XII Chief Operation Division Head Rasid Romaob, LTO - Gensan Director Ishmael Almanza, City Mayor’s Office Business Permits and Licensing Division (CMO-BLPD) head Geraldine Zamora, and City Councilor Dominador Lagare III initially distributed 690 to qualified tricycle operators and drivers.

Aladino Bancali, a tricycle operator from Barangay Labangal echoed the sentiments of drivers and operators in the city who have been waiting for their franchise for a while now.

“September 2013 pa nako ni gi-applyan, naa na gyud sakong kamot,” Bancali exclaimed.

Bancali also commended the city mayor for finally releasing the franchise.

“Abi nako di tumanon ni Mayor Rivera ang iyang promise. Pero gihatag gyud niya ang mga prangkisa,” Bancali said.

All tricycle-for-hire applying for a Motorized Tricycle Operator’s Permit (MTOP) or “franchise” in GenSan must present the following requirements: proof of Filipino citizenship, certificate of registration from the LTO, sketched location of garage or residence and income tax return.

They are also required to adhere to the traffic rules of the city.

SP Ordinance No. 5, Series of 2013, pursuant to the local government code of 1991 (R.A. 7160), also set the standards and guidelines for the franchising of tricycle-for-hire in the city.

LTO GenSan Director Almanza also said that Mayor Rivera has ordered them to prioritize operators and drivers from General Santos City.

“It is one of the reasons why we defer some applications for MTOP because in the first place, they are not really from the city. They are from the neighboring areas of GenSan and are just making the city one of their travel routes,” Almanza said.

Mayor Rivera also bared that the city council “Ordinance No. 6 Series of 2013” established the color and size for all tricycle-for-hire in the city.

As stated in the ordinance, powder-blue will be the “official” color of all tricycles routing in GenSan.

Rivera also said that the city government is currently teaming up with the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) to create a schematic and comprehensive transportation plan in the city.

“All these and other future plans are to make sure that GenSan will have a smooth traffic system for the safety and convenience of the city,” Mayor Rivera said. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Ian John Lagare)

Young artist cheer up Paskuhan sa City Hall opening

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 December 2013) - National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) 2013 Traditional Music Category champions from P. Kindat Elementary School of Barangay Labangal perform before City Mayor Ronnel Rivera and City Hall officials and employees during the opening of "Paskuhan sa City Hall" Monday, December 16. The mayor said that it is important to recognize young talents in the city as well as to give them proper credit for bringing honor to GenSan. The performing arts group of P. Kindat Elementary School will receive an amount of P20,000 as honorarium from the city government. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

Thousands of PhilHealth cards for GenSan beneficiaries

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (20 September 2013) - Grace Medrano, a resident of Barangay Labangal, beams with her PhilHealth card during the card distribution Friday, September 13, at Lagao gymnasium. She was among the 3,409 beneficiaries during the PhilHealth card distribution by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

Flood victims get relief goods

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (22 July 2013) - Mayor Ronnel Rivera distributes relief goods to flood victims Sunday, July 21, at the evacuation center in Barangay Labangal. Some 32 families were affected as the puroks of Fatima, Kasilak, Silway, Blaan and Bolaong extension were submerged due to heavy downpour on Friday brought about by a Low Pressure Area. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)