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OPENING NEW FRONTIERS The inauguration and blessing of the Santa Cruz Avenue opens new frontiers for the people of the City of Tagum. It opened the possibility for private individuals to directly participate in community building by sharing valuable land, a family legacy in order to open more roads, and consequently, more economic opportunities to the community. The city’s constituency, including its officials, witnessed as the Santa Cruz and Pereyras families went down in the history of the development of the new City of Tagum – the haven of golden opportunities - as partners in building a well-planned, well-thought-of avenue of growth and progress. |
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The cutting edge Providing the people opportunities for health services Frontier events LSB turns over musical instruments to DBCs, senior citizens Tagum City inaugurates Sta Cruz Avenue Getting ready for Tagum City’s millennium celebration Tagum City barangays attend orientation on health workers’ benefits and incentives act Visayan Village officials conduct pulisya laban sa krimen seminar Tagum LGU receives P 500T for Lingap Para sa MahihirapAmateur journalists reap honors CNC spearheads evaluation of nutrition program LOOKING GLASS BARANGAY IN FOCUS Barangay Busaon, a witch’s haven no more special feature Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative of Tagum City AGRICULTURE Updates / Projects implemented and supervised by the City Agriculture Office ProfiLe LEGISLATION Approved Resolutions & City Ordinances EDITORIAL |
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(Editor's Note: The following is the keynote message of the LCE during the national directorate meeting of the Medical Mission Group Hospital and Cooperative Services held at the Gaisano Function Hall, Tagum City) |
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The City Government of Tagum and its officialdom congratulate the Medical Mission Group Hospital & Health Services Cooperative of Tagum on the occasion of its 2nd National Annual Convention and welcome the delegates coming from the various chapters to their National Directorate Meeting. Malipayong pag-abot dinhi sa Siyudad sa Tagum. |
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I understand that you are hitting two birds in one shot by timing the annual convention with the National Directorate Meeting. Tagum City takes special pride in having been chosen as the venue of this very significant gathering of the Medical Mission Group national board of directors of the MMG. I am sure that whatever important decisions that will be made or agreements that may be forged here, the first beneficiaries will be the people of the City of Tagum. I know Dr. Racho. He is one who believes in striking while the iron is hot, and implementing a good health program is one opportunity he is not going to miss for anything. Since my administration took over the reins of the City Government, the delivery of comprehensive health services has been one of the top priorities among our programs for local governance. In fact, Dr. Racho can vouch for the many opportunities for health services that the LGU has made available to our people in the city, particularly those in the barangays. This is in pursuit of the belief that healthy people are productive people. And if we have productive people, there is no other way the City can go but up towards progress and development. Just recently, we concluded the Pulong-Tulong sa Barangay Program where the government delivered right at the doorstep of the people free medical-dental services. All the twenty-three barangays of the city have been recipients of the program. With the DILG, the barangay officials and our health workers, particularly the City Health Offices, as facilitators, the people from the barangays were gathered in one venue, usually the barangay hall or barangay gym, sometimes in the nearest elementary or secondary school. They not only receive free medical-dental services and medicines, they also bring issues and concerns, even complaints, for local officials to hear and address. The LGU has also linked up with non-government organizations, particularly the Soroptimist International of Davao del Norte for the implementation of a health program aimed to cater to barangays who cannot afford surgical services for eye ailments such as cataract and pterydium, and other conditions requiring surgery such as hernia, goiter, myoma,etc. The City Government has allocated half a million pesos for this program in coordination with the Regional Hospital located in Apokon, this city. Aside from this, any time this month or December, the city’s mobile hospital unit will be arriving and Dr. Racho is going to head the team who will do their round of the barangays and perform minor, medium and major surgeries on ailments such as goiter, hernia, myoma and similar diseases which require such surgeries. They will also deliver medical-dental and other health services which we were not able to address during the Pulong-Tulong stints we had had in these barangays. This mobile health unit will be equipped with the necessary medical gadgets modern equipment that will help them deliver health services effectively and efficiently: X-ray machine and film, dental chair, ECG , etc. There is also the proposal for Tutok Gamutan for tuberculosis, particularly in the barangays, where each identified patient has been allocated the amount of P 6, 000.00 for complete treatment. This is to curb the alarming increase of the TB infected pool and preventing the spread of the deadly disease especially among the younger generation. We have also laid down the foundation for the early realization of the proposed Cancer Center for Mindanao. The City Government has already donated the lot needed for such a facility and the necessary legworking for this project to materialize is on-going. This is not to mention the routinary health services going on in the diffferent health centers in the city. The health centers in the barangays are also being continuously upgraded in order to decongest our main health centers and the regional hospital and give way to those who really need them. Why am I telling you this when you are supposed to have your annual convention, or when the various MMG chapters’ board of directors are meeting? After all that we are doing to answer the health needs of the people, what else can the Medical Mission Group Hospital & Health Services Cooperative of Tagum do for our people? What about the other MMGs? What relevance does the LGU’s programs have on your organizations? As for the first question, if it is any consolation, let me tell you that despite the implementation of these health programs and the corresponding cost the LGU has to bear, this is only the tip of the iceberg, in a manner of speaking. The needs of the people are growing as complex as the world they are in. There is so much that can be done. There are services and other health concerns which we in the Local Government Unit cannot afford to offer them because fully catering to their needs will mean sacrificing other priorities which we have to meet too in favor of a greater majority. And that is where you can come in. I am also sharing what the LGU of Tagum is doing with those who come from other LGUs. There is much insight we can gain from each others’ experiences and exposure. You might want to replicate; or better still, MMG as an innovator might want to establish linkages with the LGU of Tagum City for viable health programs which may benefit our constituencies. For MMG Tagum, continue to shape the destiny of your organization and continue your pursuit of its vision, mission and goals. Personally, I stand in awe at the dedication and the commitment of those who really withstood the pioneering trials of those who started the organization and stood as its pillars. I also take this opportunity to commend you for your unique program on Total Health Care through the Cooperators Health Program. This is a very ideal way of complementing what the government is doing to meet the health needs of the people. Through this program, you impress upon the people a sense of responsibility for their family’s health and welfare. Keep up the good work and do not stop to explore other innovations which will help our people. More than any time, our people need all the help especially in the midst of the economic crisis gripping them. While the City Government appreciates all the efforts you are doing to be the best as far as health care is concerned, we also enjoin you to come up with specific programs which will answer the health needs of the less fortunate of our people. Let us translate our conviction that HEALTH IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT into concrete pro-poor programs that those who have little in life will truly and fully appreciate.
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Tagum City inaugurates Santa Cruz Avenue |
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The blessing and inauguration of the 2M project ofthe city government at barangay Mankilam, this city took place last Nov. 18, 1999. The project was made possible through the benevolent hearts of the Santa Cruz and Pereyras families who donated a portion of their property to the city government for the opening and concreting of a farm to market road in the said barangay. The project known as Santa Cruz Avenue which took only three months to be finally completed is expected to serve farmers from the neighboring barangays who will be transporting their farm-fresh goods to the city public market. It is also expected to decongest traffic at the Dalisay - Gante Road which, before the opening of Santa Cruz Avenue, was the only road from the poblacion proper to the new public market. "The people of the City of Tagum through the city government wish to thank all those who have given their contribution, especially the lot donors, for having made this project a success. This is a clear manifestation of Tagumweños helping fellow Tagumweños," the mayor said. Typical of the many other infrastructure projects of the city government, the project implementation is done by administration. Funds for the said project was made available through the 20% Development Funds of the city government. The ribbon cutting was led by Governor P. del Rosario and Mayor Rey T. Uy with the first lady of Tagum City, Ms. Alma Uy and the families of the lot donors. Bishop Wilfredo D. Manlapaz officiated the blessing ceremony of the newly completed project. |
LSB turns over musical instrument to DBCs, senior citizens. |
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The City Government of Tagum under the leadership of Hon. Mayor Rey T. Uy turned over a number of musical instruments to the drum and bugle corps of various public elementary and secondary schools in the city in a simple ceremony right after the flag raising ceremony last November 8, 1999 at the Audio-Visual Arena, this city. Eleven public elementary schools each received through their respective principals or heads of school musical instruments worth P 32, 875.00, while four public secondary schools each received a total of P63, 585 worth of instruments, and another one a total of P 382,995.00. The musical instruments ranged from the small snare drums to xylophones, cymbals, quadruple drums to trumpets. This is in keeping with the mayor’s promise of providing the public elementary and secondary schools in the city additional instruments for their drum and bugle corps in support of the city government’s efforts for the city to carve its own niche in the annals of the country’s tourism industry. |
Mayor Uy strikes a chord to try the new bass guitar which the LGU turned over to the senior citizens.
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"What we are doing here is to upgrade the equipment of our public schools not only to push forward our efforts of becoming known as the Music City of the country but more importantly to harness the potentials and capabilities of our youth. As early as today, we can show them our support as they discover their own potentialities and capabilities and hone their talents and skills until such time that they can stand on their own," the mayor said. The appropriation for the said instruments amounting to almost a million pesos is a cut from the Special Education Fund of the Local School Board (LSB) which this year has also allocated a considerable amount for several public elementary and secondary high schools in the city to receive a number of arm chairs and tables from the city government. This is not to mention school buildings that are currently under construction. "In our city, line agencies are given support regardless of their being a national or local agency. What concerns us here is in what way we can support these agencies in order for their office to fast track the delivery of services which every Tagumweño deserves," the mayor added. Meanwhile, the organization of senior citizens here also received their share of musical instruments through the City Social Welfare and Development Office through CSWD Officer Nora H. Lupiba. Several guitars, bandurias and a bass guitar were added to their already worn-out instruments to enliven the performance of the group during gatherings. |
Getting ready for Tagum City's millennium celebration |
On the other hand, as early as last month, members of the Tagum City Band, one of the special features of the city’s millennium celebration has been spending some time rehearsing their repertoire for the grand show time on December 31 on New Year’s Eve. Site of the merrymaking is set at the Tagum Cultural and Trade Center. The nightlong revelry will not only be the city government’s affair but every Tagumweno’s way of welcoming the new millennium. Everyone is expected to take part in the celebrations, including the private sector and the non-government organizations. In cooperation and coordination with its sponsors and benefactors from the private and business sectors, the city government may be spending more than a million pesos for the celebration, but what is remarkable here is not the money spent. It is the cooperation and unity of purpose that every Tagumweño can show to ensure the success of the celebration — not only because of the Christmas season, but mostly because the dawning of a new millennium is a once in a lifetime experience for everyone. |
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Tagum City barangays attend orientation on health workers' benefits and incentives act. |
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Punong Barangays, Barangay Councilman, Chairman on health committee and barangay health workers of the different barangays in Tagum City attended a one - day orientation on RA 7883, otherwise known as the "Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of 1995," dated February 20, 1995 which was approved during the incumbency of former President Fidel V. Ramos. Facilitated by the Local Health Board (LHB) through City Budget Officer Dean C. Briz, CPA in behalf of the LHB Chairman, Hon. Rey T. Uy, the orientation focused on the importance of providing direction and levelling off understanding between the city Government of Tagum and the barangays through their officials on the effective implementation of RA 7883. This is to safeguard the rights of the BHWs as frontliners in the delivery of basic health services. Invited resource speakers, Mrs. Albina Ilaga and Mrs. Fe Aranjuez from the Department of Health (DOH), Regional Office, discussed the implementing rules and regulations mandated by RA 7883 which include the provisions on BHWs’ roles and responsibilities, their registration and accreditation to the LHB, incentives and benefits and TECAPS (Training, Education and Career Enrichment Programs). Meanwhile, the group of the punong barangays raised many issues and concerns relative to the tough responsibilities of the BHWs whose services are voluntary in nature. The qualifications set forth in the Act are beyond what serving BHWs have in terms of educational status. There are certain provisions regarding the benefits and incentives which are not really commensurate to cover the needs of the BHWs. Barangay Captain Venerando Tano, said that citing Rule III, Section 3, before the BHWs can be accepted and accredited, they must undergo a basic training course for three consecutive years without receiving honorarium, but taking the present economic crisis into consideration, this is nor fair considering also that there is no such thing as "thank you" nowadays. The group recommended for the amendments of such rules. City Councilor Dr. Fortunato Dayot, LHB member who is at the same time Committee Chairman on Health, shared his views and made some clarifications pertaining to other queries of such provision. He recommended that in order to give just compensation for the BHWs’ work, the term honorarium should be changed; instead, it shall be called "Barangay Health Aid" so that the LGU could provide higher honorarium. But what can be done is to abide by this law while at the same time formulate strategies/resolutions instead of taking initiatives to amend this Act, which will be a long procedure. |
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Tagum LGU receives P500T for Lingap Para sa Mahihirap |
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Anent to Pres. Executive Order # 92 which provides for the general guidelines and institutional arrangements for the Lingap para sa Mahihirap Program Fund, President Joseph E. Estrada turned over a check worth P500T to the City Government of Tagum through Mayor Rey T. Uy for protection services for children and the youth through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This was learned from the City Social Welfare and Development Officer, Ms. Nora H. Lupiba during the consultation on the Convergence for Lingap Para sa Mahihirap Program Fund at Molave Hotel, this city. The President’s Lingap Para sa Mahihirap Program serves as a vehicle in putting together the efforts and resources of the government and the private sectors in order to solve the problem of poverty. The 1999 General Appropriation Act provides P 2.5B for this program to be released and managed by the six government implementing agencies: Department of Health (DOH) which has P 500M to handle food, nutrition and medical assistance; Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) which has another P500M for livelihood development; National Housing Authority (NHA) with P 500M for socialized housing; Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) P 300M for rural waterworks systems; Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) P300M for children and youth’s protection services; and National Food Authority (NFA) which has P400M for price support for rice and corn. In the consultative forum facilitated by the City Social Welfare and Development Office, these implementing agencies spoke of their project menu. The National Housing Authority (NHA), represented by City Planning and Development Coordinator, Mr. Reynaldo C. Cadeliña disclosed that Tagum City will receive P 1M in support to socialized housing. This will be turned over next year on the occasion of "Araw ng Lungsod ng Tagum" to be handed down, probably, by the President himself. Representatives from the National Food Authority (NFA), Marilyn Iligan and Engr. Vicente Malbas stressed that in Tagum City, four project components have been introduced. These include ERAP (Enhanced Retail Access for the Poor) Sari- Sari Store; Rice Subsidy; Emergency Relief Assistance Project (ERAP); and Farmers’ Alleviation Project. As of this writing, orientation and training have been conducted for the five identified poorest barangays in Tagum City where ERAP Sari – Sari Store will soon be established. Dr. Mary Joan J. Bersabe and Dr. Raquel Montejo, representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), said that DOH has P150T for Lingap fund. Part of the Lingap fund package in medical assistance, the Congressional District under Congressman Pantaleon Alvarez has P 500T in support to the rural health stations (RHUs) and barangay health stations (BHS) in the form of drugs, medicines and medical supplies. But, Tagum City is not included as health insurance beneficiary because it was not identified as one of the 100 poorest among the poor in Davao del Norte. Hon. Geterito Gementiza, City Councilor reacted by saying that the City Government of Tagum through Mayor Rey T. Uy, would like to make an appeal to the DOH to include Tagum City as a beneficiary of such. In order for Tagum City to avail of the fund, Dr. Bersabe said that the Sangguniang Panlungsod members of Tagum City should endorse to the Office of the Congressman list of barangays where families identified as poorest of the poor within Tagum City are located through the recommendation of the Local Chief Executive. City Social Welfare Officer, Nora H. Lupiba said that the amount turned over as Lingap funds, the 500T check will soon be encashed for the establishment of day care centers and the provision of supplies, trainings and subsidies. This is to provide opportunities for early childhood development in the depressed barangays. Recipient areas in Tagum City are the barangays of Nueva Fuerza, Pagsabangan, San Agustin, Pandapan and New Balamban where the 100 poorest families as identified by the Local Government Unit and the National Security Council (NSC) through the conduct of Minimum Basic Needs (MBN) of the poor communities and disadvantaged sectors are situated. In order for the program to be properly implemented, the RA 8425 mandates the creation of the National Anti – Poverty Committee (NAPC) as the coordinating and advisory body for the anti – poverty program to oversee policy implementation for the Lingap funds and to ensure that the general policies governing by the different implementing agencies are adhered to. The President’s Erap Para sa Mahihirap Program will sustain until year 2004 to determine its impact on the lives of the poor Filipinos. |
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Visayan Village officials conduct pulisya laban sa krimen seminar |
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The barangay officials of Visayan Village conducted Pulisya Laban sa Krimen Seminar last October 31, 1999 at the barangay gymnasium. It was participated in by 149 civilian volunteers and purok officials bringing the total of civilian volunteer officers to more than a thousand. Inspired by the Peace and Order Program of the city government, the seminar aimed at enhancing the peace and order condition of the barangay. The volunteers were briefed on the process of arresting a suspect, the campaign of the city government against the proliferation of illegal drugs, the role of women in development, and the five pillars of justice. Although their services are voluntary still they are consoled with the thought that if anything happens to them while on duty, they can be assured of the assistance of the barangay since the barangay has allocated an amount for that purpose. The activity was attended by DILG City Director Amando Zablan, SPO4 Corazon Vergara, who represented the Chief of Police, and of course the barangay officials of Visayan Village. |
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Amateur journalists reap honors |
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Tagum City’s school papers harvest regional recognition at General Santos City. "The Mover" and "Ginintuang Ani," the official student publication in English and Filipino categories of Tagum National High and Magugpo Pilot Central Elementary School, respectively, were adjudged Region XI’s Best School Paper (bracket A) in secondary and elementary category besting all school papers throughout the region. The said school publications led the harvest of regional recognition of the schools in Tagum City and the division of Davao del Norte during the Regional Schools Press Conference "99 at Pedro Acharon Central Elementary School, General Santos City on November 3-5, 1999 and catapulted the division to win as Region XI Over - all Champion in the Group Contest. Meanwhile, nine (9) pupils and students together with their school paper advisers from different elementary and secondary schools from Tagum City will be sent to Tacloban City on February 7-11, 2000 to compete in the National Schools Press Conference. These students are: Ciara Isabelle Uy, 2nd placer-photojournalism (English); Edwin Oscar Gutierrez Jr., 3rd placer – Editorial Writing (English); Sofia Grace Mascardo, 3rd placer – copyreading and headline writing (Filipino); Maricar Palomo, 6th placer – photojournalism (Filipino); Kay Saycon, 6th placer –newswriting (English); Kasiane Lynne Campo, 5th placer-feature writing (English); Denise Valerie Silfverberg, 4th placer – Editorial writing (English); Vanessa Garcia, 3rd placer -feature writing (Filipino); and April John Isagon, 5th placer –sportswriting (Filipino). It can be recalled that Tagum National High School and Tagum Central District also won as the Over-all Champion in the division level of the said contest. TNHS held the award for five (5) years while it was the second time for Tagum Central District. The delegation which was supported by the Special Education Fund (SEF) of the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte was accompanied by Mrs. Rhodora C. Pontioso, division campus journalism coordinator and Mrs. Adeleine B. Tabin, division Filipino coordinator. |
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CNC spearheads evaluation of nutrition program |
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After its recognition by the Regional Nutrition Committee as the Green Banner Awardee throughout the region for the exemplary performance in the planning and implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) and the Hot Lunch Plus Program through the support of the NGOs, the City Government of Tagum through the City Nutrition Committee (CNC) headed by the CNC Chairman, Mayor Rey T. Uy directed the City Nutrition Council to tap the 23 barangays in the conduct of a series of nutrition evaluation. This is to ensure a sustainable program towards the elimination of malnutrition in the city. "With the hope to eliminate hunger and malnutrition among the pre-schoolers and school children and to have a nutritionally improved city by the year 2000, there is a need to assess and evaluate the nutrition plan conceptualized by the Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) headed by the barangay captains and the extent to which the plans were implemented and achieved. This evaluation aims not only to gain awards and recognition, but to ensure the continuity of the nutrition program as the priority program of the present administration," City Nutrition Action Officer, City Councilor Allan L. Rellon said. The concerns of the barangay nutrition evaluation include the five impact programs: micronutrient supplementation and food fortification; home and community food production; credit assistance for livelihood; nutrition education; and, food assistance. To ensure the smooth implementation of the impact programs, enabling mechanisms were also carried out. These include organization, manpower development, nutrition advocacy, resource generation, research and overall planning, coordination, management and surveillance. Towards the end of the evaluation, representatives of the Rotary Club of Tagum North who acted as the team leader of the evaluators, facilitated the feedbacking together with the barangay council, barangay nutrition scholar and other concerned and gave the final assessment. The four mandated agencies are DECS, CHO, CSWD and CAGRO. Support agencies are the CTO, CAO, CBO, CACO, CPDO, DILG and CIO who perused and rated the supporting documents that will guide them in giving comments and recommendations regarding the BNC’s strengths and weaknesses. The City Nutrition Council staff provide technical assistance to every barangay. The awarding ceremony will be scheduled early by the year 2000. This will determine what barangays did best in the implementation of the nutrition program. |
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A Closer Glimpse at CSWD by Rufina Salig |
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People has always been the central focus of development in all institutions , organizations, groups’ endeavors, programs and activities. It must have been realized that infrastructures, building projects and other government programs, laws, ordinances will not serve fully its purpose if the rights of its constituents are abused and the basic services they so need are not attended to. There is therfore a need for all these to work together and serve the people to make them productive and effective members of the community; but above all to develop them into mature and responsible citizens to attain their full potential. The City Social Welfare and Development Office which initiates local social welfare programs keenly looks into these concerns -building people; safeguarding their welfare from womb to tomb, so to speak. Below are the programs and services that which the CSWDO oversees:
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WELFARE- program intended to assist socially disadvantaged families and communities to develop their capability in defining needs and formulating solutions as well as setting up variable community structures to bring about social change. • Parent Effectiveness Service-provision and expansion of knowledge and skills of parents and other involved in child caring, on early childhood development, health care, behavior management, improving the mother-father relationship and parenting rights and duties. • Marriage Counseling Service – counseling on preparing for conjugal and family life, handling marital adjustment problems /differences, enriching marital relationships and deciding about legal separation. • Responsible Parenthood Service-counseling on values of child spacing and planned family size as well as the resolution of psycho-social barriers to the practice of child spacing and planning the size of the family. • Social Preparation for People’s Participation-refers to assisting the community to experience the process of building consciousness/awareness of problem situations, analysis, formulation of goals and Acton plans implementation, monitoring and evaluation collectively. • Community Volunteer Resource Development service-refers to initiating, developing and sustaining people’s voluntary participation on responding to community needs/problems through knowledge-based and systematic service delivery system. • Social Welfare Structures Development Service-refers to organizing, strengthening or reactivating community welfare group(s) that will initiate community action and provide leadership in adapting measures to address prevailing community social problems in an organized and systematic manner. WOMEN’S WELFARE - programs which aims to promote the welfare of women giving special attention to the prevention or eradication of exploitation of women in any form, including prostitution, illegal recruitment as well as promotion of skills for employment and self-actualization. • Self-Enhancement Skills Development-provision of opportunities for the improvement of the women as human beings/persons, including the enhancement of their self-image through the discovery and understanding of their potentials and capacities leading to change/acquisition of appropriate values and attitudes about themselves, their families and the larger community and environment. • Maternal and Child Care- provision of knowledge and skills as well as the teaching of values to women based on their specific needs in areas of self-care including personal hygiene, breast examination, breast feeding and weaning, care of children and other members of the family, nutrition education including growth monitoring and promotion, environmental sanitation focusing on the use of sanitary toilets, proper refuse disposal, and safe water, usage of herbal plants as well as value of backyard gardening, livestock . • Productivity Skills/Livelihood development- provision of opportunities for women to acquire gainful occupation/livelihood through practical skills development and basic business management skills, provision of capital assistance for individual or groups projects under self-employment assistance, job referral under open employment including counselling and sheltered workshop. • Counseling-provision of opportunities for women to resolve their own problems of relationship by identifying their strengths and and weakness towards more effective social functioning. • Community Participation Skills Development – mobilization of women for them to able to relate and interact with other women in community over common interest and concerns CHILD and YOUTH WELFARE PROGRAM – program designed for the care, protection, and rehabilitation of children and youth age 0 to below 18 years who are neglected out-of-school youth, street children and delinquent youth. • Peer Group Service-opportunities provided to out-of-school youth who are members of the Pag-Asa Youth Association to enable them to engage in worthwhile and productive activities for their social, economic, physical, spiritual and mental development to become contributing members of the community. It is preventive and developmental in approach and is implemented through its social interventions. • Community Based-Services for Street children / Child Labor Program - are services provided to those below 17 years old who cannot benefit from structured rehabilitation in a center to get them off the street and eventually integrate them into society . It is provided through the conduct of of informal group meetings and supervised activities in the street or places of work to understand their situation, offer assistance and impart desirable values. It also includes provision of educational assistance for formal, informal or other forms of alternative education and at the same time provide their families opportunities to develop their parenting skills and improve their socio-economic condition. Community –Based Services for Delinquent Youth-provision of interventions and opportunities to prevent delinquent youth from entering the juvenile Justice system and direct their activities to more gainful and productive ones to enable them to acquire socially acceptable behavior. The service calls for a level of intervention addressed to the community and law enforcement. Emergency Assistance Program-provision of relief, mitigation, restoration and rehabilitation services to victims of natural calamities and social disorganization. Disaster Management Capability Building- activities undertaken to develop enhance individual/ family/community capabilities for quick, orderly and structured response to disaster to prevent loss of lives and property, minimize sufferings and speed up recovery/rehabilitation. •Crisis Intervention-a short-term casework counselling which aims to provide immediate emotional/psychological/clarification to relieve manifested anxiety/tensions of the victims as a result of the disaster/crisis. PROGRAM FOR DISABLED PERSONS AND ELDERLY-provision of services on disability prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities for physically, mentally and socially disabled persons in order to enhance their capability to attain a more meaningful, productive and satisfying way of life and ultimately become self-reliant and contributing members of society. • Information Dissemination on Disability Prevention- a series of activities designed to raise the level of awareness of individuals and families at risk regarding the causes and effects of disabling conditions and encourage the practice of disability prevention. • Assistance for Physical Restoration –involves helping the disabled persons and elderly attain maximum improvement of their physical residual capacities through the use of technical aids to facilitate integration to family and community life. • Self and Social Enhancement Services – this is done trough individual or group counseling, orientation and mobility, development of daily living and survival communication skills, sports and recreation, socio-cultural activities and organization of disabled persons. • Social and Vocational Preparation for Employment Services-activities which prepare the disabled person acquire vocational skills in community based settings in order to secure and maintain suitable job along open, self and sheltered employment. • After Care and follow-up Services- continuation of the rehabilitation process provided to disabled persons discharge from institution/rehabilitation facilities in order to assist them during their period of adjustment from full-time care to independent functioning with in the family and community setting. • Special Social Services for the Elderly-services designed to assist the elderly avail of opportunities to contribute to community development. DAY CARE SERVICE – provision of supplemental parental care by a Day Care Worker or a Child Care Worker. |
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BARANGAY BUSAON: a witch's haven no more... |
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ORIGIN - Barangay Busaon was created into a barangay through a Municipal Resolution in 1956. Some pioneers of the barangay claimed that Busaon got its name from the Muslim word, "Busaw," which means a witch, because according to them, the place was jungle-like and had an eerie surrounding suggestive of evil spirits roaming around the place. It took quite sometime before the people called the place as "Busaon" themselves. They celebrate their Araw ng Barangay every 22nd of August. GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES -Barangay Busaon is located at the central portion of southwestern Davao. Barangay Liboganon bound it on the north on the east by Davao Gulf, on the southwest by Barangay Tuganay and on the Northwest by Barangay Bincungan. It has a total land area of 1,056 hectares, which occupies 5.5% of the total land area of Tagum. It has a flat terrain, while some portions are muddy and swampy, yet there are fertile strips of land which are mostly located along the riverbanks.
RELIGION - Majority of the residents are Roman Catholics who constitute approximately 91.7% of the entire population. It is followed by the Islam- 3.3%; Foursquare - 2.7%; Seventh Day Adventist –0.8%; Iglesia Ni Kristo – 0.7%; Saksi Ni Jehovah – 0.4% PBMA – 0.3% and Mormons 0.1%. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES - The main source of income of the barangay folks are those derived from agriculture, fishing, fishpond production, while some find livelihood from the practice of their own profession. ROAD NETWORK / TRANSPORTATION - The barangay has a rough road (sand and gravel) which is maintained by the city government with a counterpart appropriation from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of the barangay. It is accessible by light and heavy vehicles. The mode of transportation in the barangay is the center cars (guyod) and motorcycles. EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES - It has two elementary schools, the Busaon Elementary School, and the Cabugan Elementary School. It has also three Day Care Centers catering to all the pre-schoolers within the barangay. HEALTH - One of the primary concerns of the barangay is to ensure good health of the barangay folks. To provide this service, the barangay has one (1) existing party and functional Health Center, which facilitates and delivers the basic health services to the constituents. WATER/POWER SUPPLY - The barangay has its own water supply system though it cannot serve the whole barangay because of its limited source. Meantime, water tanks are being constructed in every purok, which will be supplied by water trucks from the poblacion. Still, some of the residents rely on rainwater. Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO) energizes at least 70 % households in the barangay. The remaining 30% have yet to be supplied with electric power, which is presently one of the priorities of the barangay. HOUSING FACILITIES - Since the barangay is a rural area, 60% of the houses are made of wood; 25 % however are semi-concrete houses; and the remaining 15% are made of nipa and bamboo materials. OFFICIALS - The current set of barangay officials of barangay Busaon are as follows: Hon. Noel Tabacon-Punong Barangay; Kgd. Cynthia L. Barug; Kgd. Sylvia Nadal; Kgd. Filomeno L. Panoy; Kgd. Wilfredo L. Sotelo; Kgd. Pacita A. Ybanez; Kgd. Andresa Suba-an; Kgd. Ferdinand D. Soriano; Kgd. Aldrin T. Santillan. Mrs. Dolores D. Onyot is serving as the barangay secretary; Mrs. Annabella B. Buslon as barangay treasurer and Mr. Jomar Santillan is the barangay utility man. |
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IMPOSING FACADE. The MMG of Tagum City, located a few meters away from the National Highway in Visayan Village, stands proudly as a shining example of how a cooperative can help in the delivery of affordable health services. |
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Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative of Tagum |
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I. MISSION STATEMENT: VISION: To make health care accessible, available and affordable to all the people of Davao and the rest of the country through and by the hands of the people themselves by way of the cooperative health system. MISSION: To provide a wholesome and functional health structure in order to meet all their health needs as inspired by our mission statement that HEALTH IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. GOALS: To see every Filipino, enjoying his basic human right to health (irregardless of wealth) without discrimination. II. HISTORY: 1986 - 1989 - The Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services Cooperative Hospital of Tagum, started as a foundation on October 16, 1986. It leased a 24-bed medical facility (formerly the Jalandoni Hospital) along the National Highway. Its employees were receiving P300.00 to P350.00 salary per month. A very small group of doctors, nurses, midwives and a couple of administrative personnel who believed in its principle were tasked to run this health facility as a secondary level hospital. Its beginning was truly protoplasmic that even the janitorial works were in the hands of doctors, nurses and other professional workers. 1990 - Four years later (1990), the hospital encountered a labor problem. Meantime, the Board of Directors of the foundation was initiating a move to cooperativized the hospital. This cooperative movement was streamlined by the Medical Mission Group Consumers Cooperative in September 1990 with capitalization of only P15,000.00 as paid-up capital. 1991 - In January 1991, the MMGHHSCT was finally recognized by the Cooperative Development Authority as one with MMG Davao City but independent in management with an initial membership of fifty (54) common-share holders in Tagum. Henceforth, all the employees from janitors to the doctors became the owners of the hospital. Its metamorphosis from a foundation into a cooperative effectively diffused the ensuing labor problem. Upon the expiration of the five-year contract with the Jalandoni Family, the MMG Tagum moved to another site, a 20 - bed hospital (the Erum Medical Hospital) along Sobrecarey Street. This time the MMG has to rent this facility at P42,000.00 per month. The occupancy rate however remained very remarkable at 200% on the average. With all these encouraging developments, anticipation for a - bigger member of bed capacity - had been in a bigger medical facility; thought of by all and this dream began taking shape when on the second quarter of 1991, the Medical Mission Group Hospital of Tagum, was able to purchase
1993 - A little less than two years later, on December 18, 1993, a modern 60-bed hospital building was inaugurated. Its modern equipment and facilities: a 300 MA X-ray machine, Ultrasonogram, multifunction anesthesia machine, cardiac monitor and defibrillator among others, were acquired by the money generated among the common and preferred share investors. Others invested their units and equipment’s such as power generators, air-conditioning units, stretchers, wheelchairs, examining tables, suction machines, nebulizers and others. 1994 - On March 28, 1994 this modern medical facility became fully operational. The MMG Administration then was confronted with the challenge to operate two hospital facilities at the same time, the MMG Sobrecarey as the other unit. On June l, 1994, the Department of Health-Bureau of License and Regulation approved the operation of MMG Tagum as a Tertiary Level Hospital. MMG Tagum became the only privately owned tertiary care hospital in this region outside Davao City. Finally, on June 8, 1994, the MMG Sobrecarey unit was given back to its former proprietor and all the resources of the MMG Tagum were consolidated at the Visayan Village. Its first year of operation was remarkable. It has a 100 % occupancy rate and the administration found the need to expand its private room. On December l8, 1994, little by little the construction of six private rooms was started. Again, this was with the initiative of common and preferred shareholders. They put their investments in term of filling materials, cement, plywood sand and gravel and converted into shares of stocks and the shortfall was shouldered by the administration. 1995 - Meantime, as the growth of Cooperative Canteen was recognized, the Canteen Board of directors approves a resolution to construct its own descent building upon presentation to the assembly. April 28, 1995 was the ground - breaking ceremony and thereafter the construction started immediately. The income from this canteen was utilized for the construction but it was realized that its operation was hampered, so the board again approved a resolution to acquire a loan from Davao Cooperative Bank the amount of P300,000.00 which was released on July 28, 1995 and the building was inaugurated on December 18, 1995. This cooperative canteen is also engaged in a piggery project. The left over food in the hospital and canteen was utilized for feeding. This project provides for the hospital and employees consumption. Also, there is a plan for the canteen to accept catering for conferences, Baptismal, birthdays and etc. 1996 - As time goes on and the umbilical cord needs to be cut down, the MMG Davao and MMG Tagum moved to separate from each other. This was materialized in the General assembly last April 9, 1996. Meanwhile, because of the unstoppable growth and progress of the MMG, there was a shortage of private rooms, and the management decided to apply for a loan with the Davao Cooperative Bank for the completion of the phase 2 building and the acquisition of modern facilities and equipment. 1997 - 1998 - The groundbreaking ceremony for the phase 2 building was done last December 18, 1996 and the construction started last May 08, 1997. This was inaugurated last March 28, 1998. The completed projects that are operational are 3 Presidential rooms, each equipped with matching terrace which can be seen only in hotels and rest houses with 29" cable Television sets; Intensive Care Unit fully equipped with modern facilities; 6 Private Rooms; l Infirmary; l Semi-private Room - airconditioned. With the completion and operationalization of our new rooms, the number of our private rooms has risen to 22 all in all. All our Private and Semiprivate Rooms are equipped with Cable TVs as well as hot and cold water facility. Those TV and airconditoners found in our private rooms were acquired by the MMG as a deal from the different drug companies. 1999 - The Administration building and the Dietary department is now operational, and the designs of which are like banks - environment-friendly buildings which would enable one to see if everybody is working or not, A prayer room for Christians and Muslims are also provided. We have to be aware of the fact that being a member of the MMG family, and having to work faithfully for this institution being the best employer by far, is simply not enough. We need not stop just right here but instead, we should strive more to become the best of the best in the next millennium. |
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Update on Programs / Project implemented and supervised by the City Agriculture Office |
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CROP SECTOR A. PALAY SEED Distribution - (Rehab/PNPL)
B. CORN SEED Distribution -(Rehab/PNPL)
C. VEGETABLE SEEDS Distribution
D. INDUSTRIAL CROP Sector
LIVESTOCK SECTOR
FISHERY SECTOR
MULTI - SECTORAL Agri - Coops assisted with capitalization
RIC - FHRM (Rural Improvement Club - Farm HomeResource Management)
YOUTH
Agri - Related
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| Taking time out to play and unwind with fellow legislators. | Performing his duty as Chairman of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs. |
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HON. OSCAR BERMUDEZ: healing scars in politics |
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No one thought that they would one day see him joining the political arena- not even the guy himself. It is a common belief that politics has somehow left ugly scars in the hearts of people; that someone who is successful in his professional career is fool enough to allow political functions to meddle in his professional and personal life. But destiny is destiny, so they say. And this smart guy is bent on "healing" those ugly scars anyway. As if the exhausting and ever-shifting schedule of a doctor is no big deal to him, he embarked in a career where criticism is his constant companion; a career which does not even promise a load of benefits, but instead, poses a threat to his most treasured privacy. Today, more than a year after he assumed the position as a Sangguniang Panlungsod member of the city of Tagum, Hon. Oscar M. Bermudez, M.D., has found out that the political arena is not entirely different from the world which captured almost half of his life. For one, both worlds afforded him the opportunity to be with people; both worlds spell service. As a doctor, we saw less of the man’s genuine concern for the constituents of Tagum-except for his concern for his patients, who are under his care. His stint in politics allows us a glimpse of the man in his seemingly untiring efforts to make his presence felt in the lives of the people of the city of Tagum. In our ever-changing constellation of public servants, it is good to note that we have in our midst, not just a dedicated and determined person who is bent on playing his role to perfection, but also a doctor who is both busy in his civic and religious activities, and a friend- especially to the elderly whose affairs are directly under his supervision. As chairman of the SP Committee on Good Government/GO/NGO, he has been steadfast in his efforts to get involved in the many affairs of the city government. In fact, if one can find time to visit the SP session hall every Monday afternoon, one will surely find him actively participating in its deliberations. His sense of commitment and dedication to his craft has surpassed the vile accusations of skeptics who said that politics is no place for doctors. For those who have come to see him working hard for the people, describing him as a doctor, a civic and religious leader, and a public servant is not even enough. To them, the guy is made for all kinds of mission. That is Hon. Oscar M. Bermudez, M.D., Sangguniang Panlalawigan member of the City of Tagum. |
Planning and evaluation are two important factors that help any office attain its vision. The SP Legislative Office headed by Vice Mayor Gerardo Racho is no exception.
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APPROVED RESOLUTIONS & CITY ORDINANCES |
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| SANTA CRUZ AVENUE:
Opening new frontiers for Tagumweños |
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Last Nov. 18, just three days before the parochial fiesta of Christ the King, the city’s patron saint, a P 2-M road project was inaugurated and blessed at Barangay Mankilam, this city. Santa Cruz Avenue, named after one of the families who donated the lot for its opening, is 847 meters long, 6.70 meters wide and has a 15-m. road right of way (RROW). The P 2-M budget was taken from the 20% Development Fund of the city and was implemented by administration. It took only three months to complete the project. The proposed name of the newly completed road project was Pereyras-Santa Cruz Road but in order not to confuse it with a road of the same name, it was changed to Santa Cruz Avenue. The donors are the families of the late Numeriano Santa Cruz Sr., through his wife, Emilia and their children; and, the deceased Mr. and Mrs. Joaquin & Esperanza Pereyras, through their children. The City Government, through Mayor Rey T. Uy expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the donors and said that his administration is committed to open more new roads and widen existing ones. He cited the donors for their exemplary action and encouraged similar cooperation from other landowners who will be affected by future road openings. While they may lose a portion of their property to the road, they will also gain from the increase in the valuation of their real property as a result of the improvement established therein. Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario also lauded the generous act of the donors and congratulated them for their cooperation in order to facilitate the government’s road projects. He also commended Mayor Uy and the City Government for the initiatives that have been undertaken which benefited not only the city but the whole of the province of Davao del Norte as well. The event was significant because it highlighted the fact that the private sector can do a lot in helping the government realize projects that will open new frontiers for the people. It cannot be denied that the opening of Santa Cruz Avenue and similar other projects in the future will motivate very enterprising individuals or groups to situate their businesses and other economic activities along these roads. And where there are signs of economic endeavors, communities grow, and consequently, progress and development are sure to follow. With this generous act of the donors, the city government will also be able to encourage other landowners to follow suit and open their arms to give up a portion of their property to facilitate the opening of new roads in areas ideal for such projects. This will create a sense of ownership for development that takes place in the city, while at the same time, ensure that even as the City of Tagum grows into the metropolitan it aims to become, it will follow a well-planned pattern of development that will sustain its growth and assure her children quality living in the future. |
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