Remote Intake Operation launched for Region XII

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (12 May 2015) - The Human Rights Violations Claims Board has assessed the listed applicants of human rights violations of Martial Law in Region 12.

The assessment called Remote Intake Operations was being held in Barangay Hall of Lagao. It would end on Friday.

This is the first time the intake immersion went to General Santos to reach the far-flung clients. 

As of today, about 400 individuals have been listed out of the 5,000 soon-to-be identified human rights violations victims.

They were assessed by the heads of the three divisions of the board, namely, Atty. Ginber Luna, Atty. Rachelle Patam-ki and Atty. Maureen dela Cruz, of the first, second and third division, respectively.

To be identified as Human Rights Violations Victim under the law, and to be enlisted eventually in the Roll of Victims, the clients of the board have to undergo interview and submission of requirements to prove their claim.

"The perpetrators must be state agents during Martial Law. If NPA-CPP, they cannot be considered victims," said Karol Hernandez, board administrative assistant.

The board is an offshoot of Republic Act 10368, otherwise known as the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013. It was passed into law on February 25, 2013.

It provides for the recognition of monetary and non-monetary reparation for victims whose human rights were violated by persons acting in an official capacity and/or agents of the state, from September 21, 1972 to February 25, 1986.

"The board is attached as a separate body to the Commission of Human Rights, but not under it," Hernandez added.

A joint resolution was approved last February 17 to extend the period for filing the claim for reparation until the end of this month. (Gensan CPIO/Sharmagne Villacastin)

CDRRMC trains barangays for disaster response

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (24 March 2015) – The Integrated Barangay Affairs and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) have conducted a Rapid Community Response Program (RCRP) to train barangay volunteers for calamity preparedness. 

The RCRP was a two-day training-workshop implemented by the city government to equip residents of different barangays with the basics of disaster preparedness and mitigation skills. 

The participating barangays were Baluan, Fatima, Lagao, San Isidro, San Jose and Sinawal. 

CDRRMC action officer Bong Dacera handled the seminar and introduced the volunteers to the plausible hazards their respective barangays are prone to. 

He also taught them how the CDRRMO analyzes community risk assessment and tools for hazard assessment.

A simulation drill was set on March 21 after the one-week planning.

“After the two-day classroom seminar, they will go down to the purok level and facilitate community organizing,” said Dacera.

“We give them one week to plan, and then the following week is the drill simulation of the first batch,” he added.

The RCRP is also part of the advocacy of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera to attain environmental security and rehabilitation through disaster risk resilience.

The city mayor plans to make the activity regular in order to empower barangays in times of disaster or emergency. (Gensan CPIO/ Sharmagne Villacastin)

Gensan school receives translated Rizal book

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (8 December 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera (left) witnesses the Memorandum of Agreement-signing between Regina Millare, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Information Office, RCBC Bankcard (center), and Efren Lemana (right), principal, Lagao National High School Friday, December 5, at Greenleaf Hotel for the donation of newly-translated Noli Me Tangere books to the said academe. National Artist for Literature Dr. Vergilio Almario was the one who translated the Noli Me Tangere books. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Gensan school receives sports equipment from Korea

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (05 December 2014) - Prof. Henry Daut of Mindanao State University (3rd from left) and Dr. Won-Kang Cho (4th from left) and Dr. Yong Koo Noh (5th from left) of Korea Institute of Sports Science (KISS) hand over sports equipment worth P20,000 to City Mayor Ronnel Rivera (6th from left) for the Lagao Central Elementary School Thursday, December 4. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

20MW power plant in Gensan inaugurated

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (26 November 2014) - Local government officials, businessmen, and other stakeholders attend the inauguration of the 20MW power plant of PeakPower Inc. (PPI) on November 20  in Barangay Lagao. Raul Castro, president of PPI, said the power plant will be fully operational before the year ends, as an aid to City Mayor Ronnel Rivera in mitigating the insufficient power supply in the city. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Binay meets Gensan teachers, students

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (07 October 2014) - With the presence of Vice President Jejomar Binay, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera tells teachers and students of Lagao National High School that good governance should be characterized by harmonious coordination with different government offices--from the national offices down to the LGUs. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Mayor, teacher sign deed of donation for chairs

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (20 January 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera and DepEd GenSan Training Division head Nerissa Alfafara sign the deed of donation of the 100 armchairs for Lagao 2nd Barrio Elementary School Friday, January 17. The donation was through the initiative of Mayor Rivera in partnership with RD Foundation to address the lack of 14,000 armchairs in both public elementary and high schools in the city, as reported by DepEd. Improving the educational system of the city is one of the priority areas of Mayor Rivera as stated in his banner program “CLEAN GenSan” (Creating a Livable Environment for All Generals towards Nation Building). (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

City government workers assured of incentives

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (23 December 2013) - "Every year I will try to improve everything (incentives)"- this is the assurance of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera to the employees of the local government of General Santos City during their Christmas party on December 19 at Lagao Gymnasium. For the first time, through the effort of Mayor Rivera, regular employees of City Hall received a P35,000 Christmas bonus while the Job Orders (JOs) received a P5,000 Christmas bonus plus a P470 worth of Noche Buena package. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

Mayor Rivera pursues people empowerment, values

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (13 December 2013) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera emphasizes the importance of people empowerment and values formation to the development of the city during the convention of the members of "FRAME Movers" (Family Resource Allocation Management Enhancement) at Lagao Gymnasium Wednesday, December 11. Rivera assured the 25,000-strong FRAME that the city government will support their programs and activity in his endeavor to empower the public under the banner platform "CLEAN GenSan" (Creating a Livable Environment for All towards Nation building). (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

New barangay officials take oath

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (29 November 2013) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera leads the oath taking of the 208 newly-elected barangay officials of General Santos City at Lagao Gymnasium Thursday, November 28. The oath taking was also attended by Vice Mayor Shirlyn Banas Nograles, city councilors, City Hall department heads and assistant department heads, COMELEC officials, Department of Interior and Local Government City Director Rilimin Saldoval, and Philippine National Police City Director PSSUPT. Froilan Quidilla. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)