Stop using vulgar words, local media urged

In response to the Statement of Appeal signed by 637 people, Erline C. Grafilo, Focal Person of GSC Gender and Development Office, urged the media to stop the display, printing, and broadcasting of violent, abusive and discriminatory remarks on men and women.

"May we request the terms used in any of your programs be reviewed and modified to make it more gender sensitive. And if in case your station publishes tabloids/displays billboards within the city or any of your staff is a contributor of articles, that language/terms use and any sexist, vulgar, insulting and violent words by any person that degrades another person or groups be omitted", she said in a letter forwarded to all media outlets in the city.

The Statement of Appeal "condemns the proliferation of sexually malicious and provocative materials in the print and broadcast media, including those advertisement materials displayed by some businesses that contained the same content."

Also attached with the letter is a copy of text message sent to the office of the City Mayor on March 2, which says, "Mayor, the MEDIA people are not excused from moral responsibility specifically in using obscene term like SPO10, matigas 24 oras, TARUGO, pagtatalik stories, maayo mobirada sa kama etc. These terms encourage scrupulous people to commit crimes. Why not use metaphor para dili paminawon."

Grafilo further enjoined the media to work together in achieving "Magandan Gensan" free from any exploitation and discrimination of women, men, and children.

General Santos City has adopted the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Agains Women (CEDAW) and Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) through the enactment of Ordinance No. 12 series of 2010 or the Gender Development Code.

Gensan sanitary landfill construction starts

Key officials of the City, DENR, EMB

City officials took the lead in the ceremonial ribbon-cutting which signals the start of construction of 382M Gensan Sanitary Landfill Thursday, April 11, at Barangay Sinawal. The project is situated in a 63-hectare lot; a property that was awarded to the Indigenous People of the said barangay twenty years. Under the agreement with the City Government, the lot shall be used specifically for the waste disposal. The fund shall be sourced out from a loan granted by the World Bank.

"In fulfillment of the laws as well as logically for the protection of the environment in order to ensure the livability and sustainability for generations to come, I congratulate each and everyone who has put in their duty, time, their efforts, their skills and energy for finally coming up with the approved design and uumpisahan na din", said Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio.

Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio:I congratulate each and everyone...

She also praise and thanked the Project Implementation Unit headed by City Planning and Development Officer Engr. Yael Cruspero for coming up with the best design that suits the needs of the city as well as the nearby provinces.

This is the first sanitary landfill in the region which also sees to cater the needs of the surrounding places due to its wide area and big capacity. It will be showcased as a model landfill in the region where different LGU's could visit for an educational tour, said Datu Tungko M. Saikol, Regional Executive Director of DENR XII.

Atty. Juan Miguel Cuna, Director of Environmental Management Bureau, commended the leadership of the city amid it problems it encountered pushing it through. "Nagpapasalamat po kami na bagamat dito sa Heneral Santos at nagkaroon ng matagal na panahon para maituloy po ang landfill na ito, finally po nangyari. Pare-pareho po ang mga suliranin pagdating sa landfill. Walang space, maraming oppositor, maraming mga problema pero dito nagpapasalamat ako at binabati ko ang Lunsod ng Heneral Santos na finally, maitutuloy na po", he said. He assured the city officials that his office is willing to provide technical assistance and education for its success.

Atty. Juan Miguel Cuna, Director of Environmental Management Bureau, praised the officials of the City for this significant project.

Long Overdue

"This project has long been overdue", according to Congressman Pedro Acharon, Jr. He stressed that it's not just an issue about dumpsite, but also a "health concern, an important aspect of city development and nation-building." Though many don't understand the importance of a sanitary landfill they would continue to pursue projects that they deem are important for their constituents even unpopular, he added.

Benefits of the IPs

When the LGU starts to operate, two percent of its gross income shall be given to the IPs in a form of tangible projects and livelihood programs. Under the Design-Build-Operate-Transfer Scheme, the contractors will manage the operation of the landfill for a period of 18 months, and then it will be turned over to the LGU.

The project is expected to be complete and fully operational in December this year. The contractor is R-II Builders/PhilEcology Systems Corporation with the help of Woodfields Consultants Inc. They also built the sanitary landfill in Boracay. They assured the local government that they will finish the project on time with quality and meet all the tedious requirements set by the PIU.

The project is located in Brgy. Sinawal.

Gensan City Council congratulates VSM Realty Corporation

The General Santos City Sangguniang Panlungsod with representatives of VSM Realty Corporation during the SP Session Tuesday, April 16, 2013

General Santos City council, through a resolution authored by Hon. Vivencio Dinopol, congratulates VSM Realty Corporation on its "success having received various awards as best housing developer in Mindanao."

The corporation has received various accolades such as Best Developer in Mindanao awarded by PAG-IBIG last December 2012, Leading Developer for Socialized Housing in Region XII (House and Lot Development Category, 2007) given by Housing and Land Regulatory Board, and Outstanding Developer in Mindanao (Small Developer Category, 2003) given by Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

DOLEFIL honors Caravan of Hope partners

photo credit: Joy delos Santos

DOLEFIL Philippines honors RPN-DXDX, RMN-DXMD, and Kabataan Media Production as media partners of the Caravan of Hope in a ceremony held at Kalsangi Club House, Polomolok, South Cotabato on April 4. Caravan of Hope is a relief operated initiated by DOLE for the victims of Typhoon Pablo victims conducted last week of  February and March 6-8 this year. The Caravan provided relief goods to 16,000 families in various barangays in New Bataan, Baganga, Cateel, Boston, and Compostela Valley.

"This event is dedicated to give gratitude to the partners and volunteers", said Ms Jacynth Bernaldo, public relations officer of the company.

The media visitors were delighted by the thank-you dinner offered by the hosts in Kalsangi Club House. Station managers James Catalan (RPN-DXDX), Mr. Alex Josol (RPN-DXMD) and Chairperson of the Kabataan Media Production Mr. Pericles Justiniani received a plaque of appreciation recognizing their valuable contribution on the project. The recipients reaffirmed their willingness to stay as partners in the future DOLE activities.

DOLE Philippines had been doing relief operations in different disasters such as during the Typhoon Sendong, and floods in Valencia Bukidnon. Its main partners are Mahintana Foundation, Kasilak Foundation, Lutheran World Relief, and PHILDRA.

DOLEFIL will celebrate its golden anniversary since its establishment this year.

SOCOTECO: No rate increase with the 185M project

Miss Sylvette Rose Pepanio, financial analyst of SOCOTECO, assured the consumers that there will be no increase in reinvestment fund rate when the 185M Capex Project is approved. In a hearing conducted by the Energy Regulatory Commission on April 3, she said that the existing rate plus the savings is enough to pay the proposed 185M loan to finance the project. She also recommended that the payment to be sourced from National Electrification Administraion (NEA) shall be on a term of 10 years at 8% per annum.

The CAPEX Project cost is Php 185, 108, 186 which includes: (1.) 2-35 MVA/43.75 MVA substation-Php 125, 208, 186.00 (2.) 2 units 69kV Circuit Breakers 4,900,000.00 (3.) New Main Office Building-Php 55,000,000.00.

With the projected annual increase of 5.87% in the City's demand of power, the substations will be constructed to avoid overloading of some stations which could cause brownouts. As of the present four out of 16 substations are overloaded.

The hearing was presided by Commissioner Gloria Victor C. Yap-Taruc of Energy Regulatory Commission. Representatives from different sectors and residential consumers attended the event.

Mediamen in Gensan join spiritual retreat

(photo credit: Joy delos Santos)

About 160 media personnel attended the Spiritual Growth Seminar, spearheaded by the Kapisanan ng Broadcaster ng Pilipinas-SOCSARGEN CHAPTER, at Glorious Church, Lagao, General Santos on Holy Thursday, March 28, 2013.

The seminar aimed to develop the spiritual aspect of the members of the KBP and have fellowship among them.

“This is not about religion, this is about relationship with our God”, said Rev. Thom Gloria in the midst of a multi-denominational audience. He preached the assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ and the depth of God’s love and and forgiveness. He also emphasized that rest, freedom and salvation can only be found in Jesus Christ when we accept Him as our personal Lord and Saviour.

In the afternoon, Congressman Manny Pacquiao arrived  and preached on the importance of God’s word in our spiritual growth. “Tungod kay pagbasa nako ug Bible, gi-meditate nako ang word of God, and giapply nako sa akong kaugalingon, mao nang mamunga.” he said referring to his decision to stop his vices due to impact of God’s Word in his life.

Quoting the verse, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes out from the mouth of God”, he emphasized that amid the busyness we should continually read the Bible and apply it.

After his talk he then sponsored a Bible Quiz with cash prizes.

This is the first Spiritual Retreat conducted by the KBP. Under the leadership of Mr. Alex Josol, KBP President-SOCSARGEN Chapter, many are hoping that the same will be conducted next year. For this year, there are scheduled activities which include tree planting, sports fellowship, and journalism-related seminars.