Barangayan goes to Mabuhay

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (27 May 2015) – Residents of Barangay Mabuhay get free haircut from the city government through its Barangayan Program on May 22. (Gensan CPIO/ Jan Rey Libunao)

Major highway of Gensan soon to be developed, expanded

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (18 April 2015) - The Department of Public Works and Highways is already preparing for the development and expansion of the National Highway-Mabuhay road junction to ease rush hour traffic there.

During the Tagboan sa City Hall monthly press conference, Engr. Nerio Concepcion said the DPWH regional office is already gearing for the development of the junction which would involve the construction of an overpass and underpass.

Concepcion said this project, although originally set to start in 2016, would be underway on the first or second semester of this year, or before the election ban takes effect.

Concepcion said the development of the highway is one of the DPWH major projects in Gensan for 2016. He said the project would cost around P350 million. The Bulaong-National Highway section is also included in the project.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera expressed his gratitude to the DPWH for helping the city solve one of its major problems, which is traffic.

“I thank the DPWH for heeding our request to rehabilitate and develop the National Highway – Mabuhay junction. The traffic there is really severe especially in rush hours, that is why we had prior talks with them (DPWH) regarding this matter,” Mayor Rivera said.

The mayor also said the city government is actively counter-parting every project that the DPWH downloads to the city.

For 2015, the DPWH has poured 72 hard projects to Gensan alone, which comprise the construction and redevelopment of secondary roads, streetlights, bridges, and drainage system.

“Most of these projects are in their 90% completion,” Concepcion said. “All these have amounted to around P600 million.”

The street lighting of the main highways of the city such as in the DARBCI – Hadano Park, Hadano Park – Makar, Lagao – Katangawan, and Lagao – Tinagacan were made possible through the partnership of the DPWH, the city government, and SOCOTECO II.

As of now, Mayor Rivera is overseeing the upcoming refurbishment of the Plaza Heneral Santos with the help of the City Engineer’s Office (CEO). The Sangguniang Panlungsod has already approved the P4 million budget for this project.

The overall plan and design for the development of the plaza is already being managed by the CEO headed by Engr. Francisco Provido. (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John Lagare)

City government helps relocated families

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (28 February 2015) - The 38 families relocated from their coastal residence in Purok Tinago, Barangay South due to coastal erosion received assistance from the city government on February 25.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, accompanied by the City Housing and Land Management Office, City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office, and City Social Welfare and Development Office, went to Promise Land—a relocation site in Barangay Mabuhay—and distributed aid to the affected families.

The assistance from City Hall came in the form of "family packs” consisting of basic commodities such as 10-kilos of rice, canned goods, basin, kitchen utensils, and clothes. 

Arsenia Agraviador, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her delight for “rescuing them” from imminent danger and providing for their basic needs.

“We were so afraid when the soil underwater was devoured. I thought first that it was a sinkhole, but it was even more dangerous. I really thank the local government for caring for us,” Agraviador said.

The same sentiment was also expressed by other residents who were relocated from Tinago, now a no-build zone.

The city government has been coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development so that these affected families can avail of the Core Shelter Assistance Project.

Gawad Kalinga also indicated willingness to help these families build more decent homes.

The 38 families were prioritized to be relocated first because they were living very close to the shoreline.

The remaining 1,000 families living in Tinago will be relocated in a three-hectare relocation site in Lanton, Barangay Apopong.

“I want everyone to be safe that is why I ordered a forced evacuation. If some will not heed our warnings, then we will give a waiver that the local government will not be responsible if something will happen to them,” Mayor Rivera explained. “But of course, I am not heartless that is why I still plead for them to voluntarily evacuate.” (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)

Relocated Tinago families get aid

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (27 February 2015) - City Mayor Ronnel Rivera gives aid to the 38 families relocated in Promise Land, Barangay Mabuhay Wednesday, February 25. These families came from the perilous Purok Tinago where a coastal erosion took place. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Silway Bridge to connect Mabuhay and Apopong

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (12 December 2014) - After a series of delays, the construction of the Silway Bridge in the Circumferential Road Northern Section that will connect Barangay Mabuhay and Barangay Apopong has started. This structure is under the second phase of circumferential road project funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways and in coordination with City Mayor Ronnel Rivera. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

White corn production eyed in Gensan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (12 November 2014) - The local government of General Santos City is eyeing a 100-hectare land as the site for its agricultural development.

The property which is located in far-flung Purok 15, Barangay Mabuhay is owned by the Manero family.

Edel Manero, one of the heads of the clan, said that he is “willing to let his land be used by the government so that agricultural development will soon take place.”

Because of this, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 12, created a project that would utilize the waived land as a major site for white corn production.

The program is aligned with the Agri-Pinoy Corn Program of the Department of Agriculture which seeks to meet the food needs of the Philippines, particularly for staple food, and make them nutritious and affordable for the residents of General Santos.

Aside from Barangay Mabuhay, DA and the LGU-GSC are also eyeing to develop the lands of San Jose, Tinagacan, and Upper Labay for white corn production.

According to the Department of Science and Technology, white corn is next to rice when it comes to the potential source of staple food in the Philippines.

As much as 20% of the population eats corn rice as staple food. (Gensan CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare)

City Hall employees in tree planting activity

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (06 November 2014) – City Hall employees conduct a tree planting activity at Manero Farm in Purok 15, Barangay Mabuhay Wednesday, November 5. Two hundred Mahogany and 200 Akli seedlings were planted at the site. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Farm inputs delivered

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (06 November 2014) – The City Agriculture Office delivers inputs for 52 hectares -- 52 bags of open pollinated variety white corn seeds, 260 bags of fertilizer and 260 packs of Bio-N -- during the turnover ceremony of Agri Pinoy Corn Program held at Manero Farm in Purok 15, Barangay Mabuhay Wednesday, Nov. 5. The Manero family also awarded a certificate of commitment to the city government as a co-partner in the development of five hectares to be used as an agri tourism site. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

SM’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan benefits local farmers

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (29 September 2014) – City Hall employees show the harvest of local farmers from the fertile soil of Barangay Mabuhay on September 24. The farmers participated in SM's Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Program in partnership with the City Agriculturist’s Office. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

Silway river bank residents relocate to Promise Land

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (17 July 2014) - Thirteen families residing within the 10-meter "no residential zone" of the Silway River are being relocated to Promise Land, Barangay Mabuhay with supervision from the City Housing and Land Management Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, and barangay government of Labangal Wednesday, July 16. This relocation has been directed by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera due to recent swelling of the Silway River which threatened the lives and properties of those who are residing in its banks. (GENSAN CPIO/ Russell Delvo).

Villagers patronize Barangayan

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (21 June 2014) - Villagers from far-flung areas troop to the Barangay Hall of Mabuhay to avail of Barangayan's free health and basic social services Friday, June 20. Barangayan is a program of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera which aims to bring the government closer to the people. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Rivera)

More PhilHealth MDRs to barangays

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (22 May 2014) - Five more barangays receive their PhilHealth Member Data Records (MDR) on Tuesday, May 20, with the coordination of City Mayor Ronnel Rivera and the City Social Welfare and Development Office. These barangays are Mabuhay (1,180), Conel (782), Olympog (476), City Heights (883), and San Isidro (1,102). The giving of MDRs is part of Mayor Rivera's thrust to provide accessible health services to all the constituents of the city. It is under the mayor’s flagship CLEAN GenSan (Creating a Livable Environment for All Generals towards Nation-building) agenda. (GENSAN CPIO/Russell Delvo)

Arizala family donates land for school

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (15 March 2014) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera listens as Marcela E. Arizala declares her family’s donation of 8, 942 sq. meters of land to Arizala Elementary School of Barangay Mabuhay during the turn-over of land title Friday, March 14. Mayor Rivera has been closely partnering with Department of Education to address the problem on classroom shortage. Earlier that day, a land bought by the city government was turned over to DepEd where the Calumpang National High School would soon rise. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)

City Mayor Rivera donates salary to PTA

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (1 October 2013) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera donates P20,000 of his salary to the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Arizala Elementary School in Barangay Mabuhay on September 24  which will benefit 40 scholars. During the event, the mayor urged the parents to persevere for their children's schooling, reminding them that education is the only treasure they can impart. (GENSAN INFO OFFICE/Russell Delvo)